The Ace Hotel: Iconic of Portland is so many ways

Ace Hotel Lobby

It oozes hip, and by hip I mean hipster. But I have to admit the vibe is more chic than hipster- dirty-and-cynical. Take that for what you will, but if you are in town for just a few hours and want to get a "feel" for Portland, the Ace Hotel will definitely infuse that unique flavor.

Grab a cup of Portland's brand of liquid crack, Stumptown Coffee and settle yourself on the squashy couches in the lobby for some people watching at its best. Scope out the hip and hurried travelers arriving with their vintage leather shoulder bags, or lounging on the couches with their beards, glasses and ironic plaid flannel. If it's a mealtime, beeline for the house-made pastrami, lox, bagels and bialys at Kenny & Zuke's next door, and if it happens to be the cocktail witching hour, imbibe at Clyde Common, where it oozes Portland chic and creative cocktails rule.

If you feeling artsy and indie, you're in luck because Living Room Theater is across the street! You can nosh while taking in an indie film that your friends probably haven't seen. (Which according to the book "Stuff White People Like" is a pretty big deal on the hipster hierarchy of coolness. See #41 "Indie Music" and #3 "Film Festivals").