Tortoise Room @1234 HOUSE in SE PDX

Tortoise Room is a guest room in a 1902-built guesthouse in SE Portland renovated by a team of local artists near Hawthorne, Belmont, Division & Downtown. Walking distance to variety of restaurants, bars, theaters, shops, grocery stores, parks & public transit. PRIVATE BATHROOM. Memory-foam queen bed, number-code locks, A/C unit in room, WiFi. Shared kitchen, dining room, living room, laundry, outdoor patios, record collection/plsyer, living room piano.

Tortoise Room gets its name from the giant tortoise mural adorning its wall. From the mind of graffiti artist CircleFace, the space feels deep yet light, childlike yet knowing. The private bathroom (large shower with three shower heads and bidet toilet seat) and attached private porch make Tortoise Room convenient and luxurious. It’s located on the main floor, so there can be some sound transfer from people coming and going and hanging out in the living room or kitchen, FYI.

1234 House was built in 1902 and fully renovated by a team of local artists and craftspeople in 2015 when it opened as a guesthouse for travelers visiting Portland. Over the years, dozens of creatives have contributed wall murals, tile mosaic, stained-glass art, paintings, pottery, furniture, musical instruments and custom wood installations to the house, which is an ongoing, long-term community art project. With private guest rooms and shared common spaces (living room, dining room, kitchen, outdoor bench patios), the house becomes home to an always-changing ephemeral community of guests.

In addition to the room's private bathroom, there are two shared bathrooms, one on the main floor with a shower and one on the second floor with a clawfoot tub and tile mosaic wrapping the walls. Make use of the washer/dryer on the second floor. Relax on the living room MCM chaise lounge in the living room or the piano or other instruments. Spring records. Take a break from the restaurant crowds and make a meal in the kitchen. Sit at the 11-foot Doug-Fir-slab dining table.

Other features:

•WiFi

•Keyless number-code locks on front and bedroom doors

I’m Evan. I own and manage 1234 House and live two blocks away. I’m often at the house working on projects and making sure everything runs smoothly. My father, Bob, lives at the house and is a co-host, co-owner. I’m always available to answer questions. As a native Portlander who enjoys conversation, I’m usually down to chat and share city recommendations. Bob is pretty sociable, too. Our priority is that our guests enjoy their time and feel at home at 1234 House.

1234 House is in the Buckman neighborhood of Southeast Portland, which is dense with homes 100-plus years old, and, like most of Portland, is experiencing a wave of new, modern consruction. 1234 House is a mile from the Willamette River, which separates the eastside of Portland and the westside city center. The house is nestled between Hawthorne Boulevard and Belmont Street, both lined with restaurants, bars, shops, theaters and music venues. A few blocks down the street is Col. Summers Park, a popular meet up spot to hang in the summer, especially on Monday Funday, and especially if you are down to play a mean game of dodgeball.

This neighborhood is very walkable. There is a city bikeshare. Just look for bright orange bikes lined up on bright orange racks. The closest one to 1234 House is two blocks south at Hawthorne and 20th. It's about $12.00 a day. Also on Hawthorne you can catch a 10-minute bus ride downtown, where you can then connect to anywhere you wish to go. $2.50 for a two-hour transfer. $5.00 day pass.

There is no off-street parking here. We live on a corner, so there is typically plenty of curbside parking in front of the house. A local church has a 40-spot parking lot across the street they make available to the public everyday but Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

If you arrive before our 2 p.m. check-in, or when departing your travel plans are later than our 11 a.m. check-out, you're welcome to leave your luggage at the house where they'll be safe and head out on an outing, or you're more than welcome to hang out in the common areas of the house (kitchen, dining room, living room, front outdoor patio). Just leave your bags in the dining room against the wall below the big painting.