3 INCREDIBLE BBB's

If you're a classical music lover, the 3 BBB's are Bach, Beethovan and Brahms. If you're coming to Portland, the 3 incredible BBB's are Birds, Bikes and Brewskis.

Birds. On June 6, from 7-8 a.m., there's a bike tour along the Columbia River Slough; you can register at www.audobonportland.org. The following day, on June 7, from 8-11 a.m., there's a 2-mile stroll along the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Preserve; that afternoon, from noon to 3 p.m., you can watch nesting herons at the South Waterfront. On June 8, thre's a 3-hour paddle trip around Ross Island to see herons and other birds; register at www.audobonportland.org. All of these locations are within 5-minutes of The Fulton House except Columbia River Slough, but that's only about 15-minutes away.

Bikes. Portland has been selected as the most bike-friendly city in America. There are bike lanes throughout the city, and our public buses are specially equipped to carry bikes at no extra charge. At The Fulton House, we cater to bikers....with delicious and energy-laden breakfasts and free maps of all the most popular bike tours in Portland, most of them within a few minutes of us.

Brewskis. If you like real craft beers, you've just got to come to Portland, a city with more brewpubs than any city in the world. And there's more.... On June 27-29, the North American Organic Brewers Festival, featuring the beers of 35 brewers from the U.S. and Europe, comes to Portland. An event not to be missed! (Check www.naobf.com)

I'm tempted to add a couple more B's: like boating....the mighty Willamette River cuts right through the heart of Portland and it's only 1 block from The Fulton House, and check my blog about the annual dragon boat races held as part of the Rose Festival (blog posted on April 9); and B for beef....either go to one of Portland's many excellent steakhouses or buy a cut of your choice at one of the 3 nearby meat markets and cook it on the outdoor built-in barbecue at The Fulton House while enjoying a bottle of complementary red wine.

Not to mention the B for the fantastic breakfasts at The Fulton House as well as B for our ultra-comfortable pillow top-mattress beds fitted with 600-count Egyptian cotton sheets.....

SMILE WHEN YOU SAY CHEESE!

A number of months ago, I blogged on the terrific cheeses being produced in Oregon. There was a tremendous response from readers and The Fulton House guests, so it's time to update and expand on the state of the Oregon cheese industry, specifically our specialty cheese makers.

First of all, why Oregon? The answer is easy: Oregon has a thriving dairy industry, largely because our soils and climate are perfect for growing grass, which is, of course, the primary food of dairy animals.

When you come to Portland, you'll find numerous retail food stores which are staffed by knowledgeable cheese aficionados who can guide you to the perfect selections for your taste.

To whet your appetite, here are five fabulous Oregon cheeses, selected as some of the finest by the food editors and writers at "The Oregonian," the state's largest daily newspaper.

1. "Tumalo Tomme" from Juniper Grove Farm. A semifirm goat cheese with a delicious nutty flavor.

2. "Rogue River Blue" from Rogue Creamery. Probably Oregon's best-known specialty cheese, produced but once a year with autumn's cow's milk and aged from 8-12 months.

3. "Perrydale" from Willamette Valley Cheese Co. A rich Gouda made from 80% cow's milk and 20% sheep's milk.

4. "Up in Smoke" from Rivers Edge Chevre. A smoked-over-alder-and-hickory-chips fresh chevre which is wrapped in smoked maple leaves misted with fine bourbon.

5. "Hannah Bridge" from Ancient Heritage Dairy. A washed-rind sheep's and cow's milk cheese that is pungent and slightly salty.

And there are many more....

Stay at The Fulton House and mention your interest and love of cheese to your innkeepers (John and Wendy), and they'll happily serve you a selection of excellent cheeses as part of the next day's luscious breakfast. That day, visit one or both of the two retail upscale grocery stores within just a few blocks of The Fulton House (the first a two-minute walk away), and store your purchases in the private refrigerator in every room.

PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL -- 2008

Portland's biggest and best attended event each year is the Portland Rose Festival, which begins in late May and continues on through much of June. One major happening is the Grand Floral Parade, celebrated by the International Festival and Events Association and "USA Today" as one of the top five parades in America.

Rather than use my limited space to highlight the multitude of events and venues, I think it best to refer you to the main link: www.rosefestival.org.

At this website, you'll be able to explore in some detail those activities that interest you most, learning about their histories as well as what's planned for 2008.

Please note that The Fulton House is located in southwest Portland, the same quadrant of the City as Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the mooring of the naval vessels and the tall ships, and many of the activities. All the parades, including the Grand Floral Parade, wind through southwest.

If you drive, it's about 5 minutes away. If you prefer public transportation to avoid the hassle and expense of downtown parking, there's a bus stop about a half-block away from us.

But make your reservations now. Thousands pour into Portland each year for the Portland Rose Festival.

FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC LOVERS....

For the first time in almost 40 years the Oregon Bach Festival comes to Portland. Opening night is Friday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland.

The concert, conducted by Grammy Award winner Helmuth Rilling of Stuttgart (Germany), is "Bach Mass in B Minor," an outstanding culmination of Bach's work completed shortly before he died. This breathtaking composition is considered one of the masterpieces of all classical music.

Guest soloists are renowned European singers: Sibylla Rubens, soprano; Ingeborg Danz, alto; Christopher Cock, tenor; and Michael Nagy, bass.

Conductor Rilling, a founder and artistic Director of the Festival, is an internationally acclaimed conductor and teacher, who has recorded more than 100 albums, including the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach on 172 CD's.

The Oregon Bach Festival has performed across the U.S. for many years.

Tickets to this one-night event are available at 1-866-448-7849 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Consider The Fulton House for your stay in Portland. We are very conveniently located in S.W. Portland, which is where the Festival is staged (downtown Portland is in the S.W. area of the City). It's only about a 5-minute drive to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and public transportation is available a short block away, so you can easily avoid the expense and hassle of downtown parking if you wish.

But make your room reservations right after you purchase your tickets. Summer in Portland brings many visitors.

See you soon!