Alpha Broadcasting stations KINK, KUPL, and KXL present Shades of Pink: An Evening of Women, Wine, and Wellness. This event is presented by PacificSource Health Plans on Thursday, September 30th from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. This event will be located at the PacWest Center Atrium on 1211 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland. There will be multiple exhibitors and booths at this event ranging from medical spas, wineries, clothing manufactures, boutiques, jewelers, resorts and hotels, salons, and travel providers. The American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and other women charities will also be hosting booths there. This event is targeted to benefit women, their health, their lives, and their well-being. This event is free and open to the public, so be sure to stop by after work or after a hard day, relax and sip on wine with your girlfriends, while learning about ways to take care of yourself!

The Willamette Valley remains a broad plain swept with green vegetation, crystal-like rivers, and endless views of gorgeous scenery. Last week, two Bravo! colleagues traveled up and down Interstate 5 on a site tour of Willamette Valley venues.

First stop, Chemeketa Eola. This facility is enveloped by a framework of trees, offering spectacular panoramic views of their vineyard and the rest of the Willamette Valley. Chemeketa Eola can accommodate up to 225 seated guests inside, and host many others on their expansive patio outdoors (weather permitting). They can also divide a particular room into four different areas for meeting and event spaces. The staff ads to the ambiance with their warm and welcoming demeanor. The Mission Mill Museum was the next stop,  offering a venue with a rich history, and unique spaces for special events and celebrations. This venue was established in 1834, and still displays the original woolen mills that have been preserved over the years. A quaint church sits on this settlement, offering couples a site for intimate weddings and vow renewals.

Next stop, The Oregon State Fair Grounds & Expo Center. Stretching 185 acres, this establishment has a variety of amazing buildings, such as the historic Old Brick Horse Arena, which has been used for decades as a prize jumping and showing area. This venue is more than just a fair grounds, but rather a place to hold concerts, road shows, Quincenera parties, wine tastings, tradeshows and more. There is a building for any event or purpose! The Grand Hotel Salem, located in the heart of downtown Salem, offers luxurious business class accommodations and guest amenities. It can be used as a high-end conference center as well as an elegant location for weddings & receptions. If land isn’t your thing, then be sure to check out The Willamette Queen Sternwheeler. This boat turns back the hands of time when a sternwheeler was the main mode of transportation down the river. It is a perfect venue for small parties or weddings. The captain of the Willamette Queen said that he just married a 78 year old woman and an 84 year old man. They loved the small intimate setting the sternwheeler had to offer. They have recently helped plan a wedding in two weeks with a budget of $500, showing that this option is affordable and memorable. Right next to the dock, stands a bronze statue by our new client Rip Caswell, from Rip Caswell’s Gallery.

Once back on land, the Oregon Electric Station is a romantic setting to dine in a historic train depot. This depot was built in 1912 and contains three lounges adorned with train cars and railroad paraphernalia. Located on the banks of the Willamette River, the Vally River Inn has 15,000 square feet of meeting space, three ballrooms, scenic river views,  outdoor decks, and more. The event coordinators at the Valley River Inn, ensure that things run flawlessly on any given event or wedding day. If these amenities were not enough, they also host their own vegetable and herb garden that the chefs use when preparing meals.

Next stop, the Hilton Eugene & Conference Center. The hospitality given at the Hilton Eugene is unsurpassed, offering appetizers, drinks, and complimentary tours of the entire facility, guest rooms, meeting areas, and the ballroom. Their ballroom can accommodate up to 800 people, and before booking an event here, a bride can use the new “Design Lounge” as an area that can feature a full table set-up and decoration of what a bride might picture on her wedding day. This new room is so beneficial when planning your special event. If an individual wanted to host their event outside, then the Ogren Gardens would be a perfect fit. Tucked behind ornate gates, sits this beautiful venue, home to flower gardens and a romantic outdoor gazebo. A Victorian house is being built to accommodate small receptions, and a quaint barn is a perfect venue for parties.

If Italy has been your dream setting for a wedding, but your budget won’t allow it, then look no further than King Estate Winery. It’s been called the “Italy [of] Oregon” by Bella Vista. This spectacular venue is right in Portland’s backyard, accommodating both indoor and outdoor facilities that can meet any bride’s dreams. Guests can indulge in delicious food and wine while overlooking the rolling hills, olive trees, and grape vines. Perhaps a homey country estate fits your fancy. The Red Rooster Bed & Breakfast in Eugene is a rustic outdoor farm area that makes the perfect venue for a country style event. Geese roam in front of the classic 1898 barn, which opens up to an amazing dance floor and venue, while inside the inn, there are quaint hand painted murals and cozy guest rooms. Another great B & B along the Valley is the Campbell House. It was built in the 1800′s with classic architectural elements in its unique curved windows. The Campbell House will be featured on A & E soon in a paranormal episode, featuring the 18 newly renovated guest rooms and quaint parlor. Our Bravo! colleagues were welcomed with open arms to a tour, and later, a relaxing game of Scrabble with wine and hors’ de vours.

From the Campbell House to Chateau Lorane. The best words to describe the Chateau Lorane are calm and serene. This venue is encompassed by trees that reflect in the calm mirror lake with an outdoor gazebo nearby. This venue has stunning views that are picture perfect for any event. The owners say that deer and wildlife regularly visit the Chateau and grace their presence to those visiting. Next was the Historic Deepwood Estate in Salem, a house with Victorian spindles leading up to the ornate door and original screen shutters. Impeccably manicured gardens showcase this home, creating an elegant backdrop to special events. Log House Gardens is another venue with a gorgeous setting for weddings and special events. Log House Gardens is a family owned venue in Keizer, Oregon, with well-manicured gardens and a grand log structure that acts as an alter for any marriage ceremony.

Finally, the epicenter of the Willamette Valley is the Travel Salem/ Travel Oregon company. Travel Salem has a wealth of knowledge about venues and services in the Salem area. They can answer all your questions, and find the perfect location for you and your special event! The Willamette Valley has so much to offer, and these are just a few of their hidden treasures. Be sure to keep them all in mind when planning your next event.

Pictures From Left to Right: (Above) Chemeketa Eola, Mission Mill Museum, Oregon State Fair Grounds & Expo Center, King Estate, Campbell House, & the Hilton Eugene. (Below) Willamette Queen Sternwheeler, Bronze Statue by Rip Caswell by the WQ Sternwheeler, The Grand Hotel Salem, Vally River Inn, Ogren Gardens, Historic Deepwood Estate, & Log House.

Be prepared to see the Bravo! Event Resource Guide come to life at the 16th annual Bravo! Live Showcase of the Hospitality & Meeting Industry. As the largest show of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, this showcase collects the top area businesses in the event industry into one location and invites an audience of more than 2,000 attendees to this one day event on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. The show will run from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Hall D at The Oregon Convention Center.

Bravo! Live will feature new and creative ideas for keeping events exciting and affordable. Tablescapes and furniture will be placed along the show floor to provide the newest in place settings, design and furniture. New this year, National and local speakers will be presenting information on Entertainment Trends, Venue Selection, Sponsorship, Auctions and Social Media. Bravo! Live provides an interactive experience showcasing local businesses in the event industry, in one afternoon.

Any person planning a corporate outing, holiday party, wedding or general event – no matter how large or small – is encouraged to attend. Bravo! Live offers FREE admission for qualified planners. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to book an event; vendors will be offering discounts for services booked onsite. For more information and to register go to www.bravoevent.com.

Everyone attending the showcase will receive a complimentary copy of the 2011 Resource Guide, a local, annual resource guide for Oregon and SW Washington.

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September & October are more than just months when school begins, the leaves begin to change colors, and your anxiety rises about what you want to dress up for Halloween; it is a month of remembrance, love, and support for those who are dealing with or who have dealt with breast cancer. Thousands are touched my this disease directly and indirectly every year. We as a nation have gathered together to raise money for the efforts in finding a cure for this disease.

Although the 19th Annual Oregon Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has come and gone, Oregonians are still mindful of fund raising efforts & want to do all they can in helping find a cure. On Friday October 1, 2010, the Portland Spirit will be hosting a fundraiser called “Get On Board For Breast Cancer.” This event will not only to raise money for the prevention of this disease, but it will also be in memory of one of their longtime co-workers, Lori Miller. Miller was the Director of Sales for the Portland Spirit, and unfortunately lost her battle with inflammatory breast cancer. Inflammatory Breast Cancer is not a well-known type of cancer, since it is so rare, and the Portland Spirit wants to bring awareness to this disease and others that affect thousands of people year-round through this event.

With the “Get on Board For Breast Cancer” fundraiser, it will help keep Lori Miller’s spirit alive, and help raise money for ‘Breast Friends,’ a local non-profit organization, and a scholarship which has been set up in Miller’s name. Tickets are on sale for $20.00 per person, which includes a 2 hour cruise, live entertainment from Tall Jazz, and food, beverages and raffle tickets for purchase on board. The ship will be boarding passengers from the Salmon Street Springs dock at 2:45 p.m. and the cruise will go from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

We have all been touched in some way by breast cancer. Our mothers, our sisters, our aunts, our best friends, or maybe ourselves. Come join the Portland Spirit in their efforts to raise money for a great cause and to keep Lori Miller’s name and spirit alive and well in our thoughts and in our hearts.

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That’s right, Northwest Navigator is welcoming two new model year Executive Luxury Mini Coaches to their fleet! One of the coaches can hold up to 29 passengers, while the other can hold up to 33. These Luxury Mini Coaches are ideal for corporate trips, shuttles, holiday outings, wine tours, sight seeing expeditions, etc. If you are planning an event which exceeds 33 travelers, then look no further, because  NW Navigator has multiple 56 passenger full-size luxury coaches just waiting to take you where you want to go.

Northwest Navigator has another announcement coming in a few weeks; their “Green Coach Certification” for all of their ‘green’ fleets and ‘green’ company practices.

Book your next trip to the Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge, or Mt. Hood with NW Navigator or experience the luxury of being chauffeured to your favorite college football game! For more information regarding NW Navigator’s fleets, tours, and events, contact them with the information provided below.

Phone: 503.285.3000

E-mail: info@nwnavigator.com

Fax: 503.285.5493

ISES Portland is announcing their first annual Tabletop Competition called the “Art of the Party.” This competition will be part of ISES Portland’s monthly September meeting, and will be judged by two of the industry’s foremost event designers, Pauline Parry and Dan Smith. Parry is President and Smith is Creative Director for Good Gracious, and even design and production company in Los Angeles. Parry and Smith will also be presenting the educational content for this special evening meeting. “If you are in catering or even decor, you KNOW who these people are. If you aren’t, you soon will!” says Nick Apap (of Royce’s Prop Shop), ISES Portland board member.

The Tabletop Competition is open to all area event providers and designers-florists, caterers, rental companies, etc., all may enter! The entrance fee is $50.00 for members and $80.00 for non-members, which includes one admission to the evening’s education and networking event. Entrants will have the opportunity to show their tabletop design skills and creativity not only to many other local industry professionals, but to two of the best-known tabletop decorators in the country. “Feedback is so valuable to us as designers,’ says Maria Corvallis (of Peter Corvallis Productions), President of ISES Portland. “It’s great that we’ll have a chance to show our work to experts from another part of the country as well.”

Three prizes will be awarded: Best Use of Theme, Best Use of Alternative Materials, and People’s Choice. Each winner will receive a framed certificate, an autographed copy of Pauline Parry’s book “Food Fun Love, Party Styles,” and a $50.00 gift card from Stanford’s Restaurant. In addition, winners will receive recognition on all ISES electronic promotional materials (newsletters, the webiste, social media outlets and the blog). A 60″ round table will be provided for each entry. Entrants may register for the compettion by emailing alesia@alesiazorn.com. Tabletops are limited, and contest entries are on a first-come first-served basis.

Interested attendees who do not wish to enter the competition may still attend this event as always. Tickets for the vent are only $25.00 for members and $40.00 for non-members, and will be available at Tickets Oregon soon.

YOU’RE INVITED:

What: Art of the Party & Tabletop Decorating Contest

To Apply Download and Fill out the Tabletop Application Form

When: September 28, 2010 from 5:30p.m.- 8:30p.m.

Where: Embassy Suites Hotel, Downtown Portland

You’re Invited!!

Come to the Rip Caswell Gallery located in Troutdale, OR on Friday September 3, 2010,  from 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., for an Open House.

Visit and tour this beautiful venue site, enjoy appetizers and wine tastings, listen to live music, view beautiful artwork from local NW artists, and meet gallery owner and sculptor Rip Caswell himself.