Slide Show: Fruitful Fete
Hotel general manager Mike Castro is proud of how connected the new Courtyard Marriott is to the city. “We commissioned all Portland artists for the artwork in the hotel,” he said.
Photography by Meghan Colson
On the back wall of the lobby guests are greeted by Daniel Long’s “6 Travelers.” Long appreciates the exposure from having his art at the hotel. “It’s permanent—it feels more special because more people are going to see it,” he said.
Photography by Meghan Colson
p:ear director Pippa Arend helped create the nonprofit group after a similar program with the Salvation Army shut down six years ago. “We work with kids of all levels,” she says. “Some are going after college, others are learning second-grade English.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Jason Okamoto and Michael Papillo play some shiny-suited tunes for the party guests.
The sustainable fashion show included garments from local designers Idom and Amei Unmei.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Portland Fashion Week’s Tito Chowdry (left), who produced the sustainable show, spoke about the local fashion scene’s amazing growth. “We have designers moving here from New York,” he said. “And the Portland Fashion Week has become one of the biggest
Photography by Meghan Colson
Members of SERA, the design team behind the Courtyard Marriott, bunch up in the Bamboo Grove.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Work from p:ear students Scribe, Jane Hoffman, and Joseph Eason was displayed prominently.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Lobby artist Daniel Long’s parents, Owen and Hilary Long, salute the soiree.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Local photographers also get some wall space at the Courtyard Marriott.
Photography by Meghan Colson
The Garden of Delights included tempting desserts such as marbled chocolate brownies and hazelnut torte, while an enticing vanilla scent permeated the room.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Not only was the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott filled with local art, so were the guests’ rooms themselves.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Guests exiting the elevator are greeted with this nearly life-size photograph of the Made in Oregon sign.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Words of wisdom scattered on the tables distracted guests from their pear-tinis. Or was it the other way around?
Photography by Meghan Colson
Tiffany Sullivan and Nicolette Gonzalez ready Erin Dierking for the fashion show.
Photography by Meghan Colson
The design team wanted to avoid having too many straight and parallel lines in the rooms. “We stylized the Oregon landscape, and turned it into the hotel environment,” said Lisa Zangerle, SERA’s director of interior design.
Photography by Meghan Colson
Better late than never. Clichés only make sense when there’s a hint of truth in them, which was certainly the case with the opening of the new Courtyard Marriott downtown at SW Sixth and Oak. Despite officially opening for business on May 27, the powers that be waited until July 16 for the actual opening shindig. For this auspicious event, the Marriott paired with p:ear, a local nonprofit program that mentors homeless youth and provides them with creative opportunities and a chance to acqu...
