EASY & QUICK | Silver and pewter are traditional materials for decorating and never go out of fashion. These metal place markers were created by cutting bannerlike shapes with scissors from a disposable aluminum baking sheet. Read more
TRAVEL ADVISORY | Forget Seattle, Vancou- verites. For a getaway where the food is the hottest (just Google “Portland Food Scene” and you’ll see), the hotels are the coolest and the shopping is sales tax free, spend an extended weekend in Portland, Oregon, especially this time of year.
Why now? Because Portland hoteliers are heading into what they call the low season, when their already reasonable rates drop even more dramatically—and the chicest hotels are seriously budget priced. (These rates are even more attractive with the Canadian dollar currently at par.)