5 Unique Event Ideas

Unlike most folks, those in our department get to plan & see events daily. With engagement season upon us, we wanted to share trends & ideas from recent weddings on our properties!

1. HOMEGROWN & WILD FLOWERS

• 1st Picture: My favorite centerpieces of 2009. This group used Queen Anne's Lace - turning an invasive weed into an elegant decoration. I've also read that you can dye the flowers by changing the water color, much like carnations.


• Below that: Hop vines!

2. TENT DECORATION

Awesome big splashes of color provided by artwork & lanterns:

3. BIRD THEME

We saw lots of bird-themed decorations this year - especially bird cages for cards.

Below: lemon drops in bird's nests.

4. BLACK & WHITE

While this classic combo never went out of style, we've seen more damask prints & checkered dance floors this year:

5. UNITY CEREMONIES

We've seen lots of new twists on old traditions. Instead of a candle or sand ceremony, one of our '09 groups opted instead for a unity sandwich, bringing peanut butter & jelly together in holy matrimony.

-Meghan Schuck, Sales Coordinator, McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, salescpr@mcmenamins.com

Limited-Edition Beer Release Parties

Hello again!

Calling all fellow beer drinkers:

On the last Wednesday of every month, our brewers host my favorite in-house event: THE BEER RELEASE. Here they take their most experimental beers public. We tap the featured keg at 6pm and guests can stay until the beer is gone.

2 of the most memorable concoctions from this past year include:

* Nutty Buddy - the beer made with Nutter Butter cookies

* Jalapa Gold - made with peppers; satisfyingly spicy

Brewers Chris Oslin & Brady Romtvedt are on site for the duration of the event to talk shop, answer questions & discuss their creations with anyone interested. Chris says, "Come out & try 'em! These are not available anywhere else!"

Meet your co-workers at our Dec. 30th release in the Roadhouse. Entry is free, and it's a great escape from the rat race mid week - if only for a few hours! Our location is especially convenient for those at Intel, Nike & other Hillsboro & Beaverton businesses.

This month's release: Biere de Noel

-Meghan Schuck, Sales Coordinator, McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, salescpr@mcmenamins.com

McMenamins' 1st Annual Christmas Market

Hi everyone!

This month we decided to try our hand at a German-style Christmas Market here at CPR, and I'm happy to report that we had a successful first year! We sold out of vendor spaces, had live music, and despite the "arctic blast," shoppers graced each area.

We used our 3 indoor spaces: the Octagonal Barn, Imbrie Meadow, & Roadhouse. My German pals will be glad to hear that the hot, mulled wine ("Glühwein") was a hit in all 3 buildings. Of course, its being 12 degrees outside helped!

If you didn't make it this year (or even if you did!) you'll have to stop by next December - especially those with weddings & other events here, as it's a great (and free!) chance to see spaces decorated, alive & full of people.

For those who attended, if you have suggestions or would like to rent one of the rooms you saw, let me know!

Pictures (from top to bottom): Octagonal Barn, Octagonal Barn, Cellist Skip vonKuske, Roadhouse, Caricaturist Robert Villegas, Imbrie Meadow

-Meghan Schuck, Sales Coordinator, McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, salescpr@mcmenamins.com