We enjoyed our stay at the flat very much! My husband I were in town for combined work travel/vacation, and we used it as a home base for the week. The details:

The host: Fred was wonderful! In spite of not being in town, he was very responsive and helpful. We had a small plumbing problem (shower drain) on Sunday morning. I sent an email, not expecting to hear back until later, and Fred replied immediately. He got a plumber in as quickly as possible, and made arrangements for us to use another shower on the floor in the meantime.

The neighborhood: The swanky northwest side of Portland is a good place for eating out and shopping, and we were just a couple of blocks from the streetcar into downtown. There is tons within walking distance, including a car rental place if you want to get out of town.

Nesting: Because we're homebodies with severe dietary restrictions, we tend to do a lot of cooking when we travel. There are multiple grocery stories within walking distance, and the apartment has a pretty functional kitchen. It's a little cramped, though, and doesn't have a microwave, so it is probably a better fit for folks who want to eat out most of the time, which...you're in Potland! Why wouldn't you? (Unless you're us.) The street is also pretty quiet. There is a major renovation project happening on the house next door, but they didn't start work until 7 or 8, by which time we were already up and moving, and it honestly wasn't that bad even when they were in full swing. I actually managed to take a nap one afternoon while they worked.

The art: I'll admit that art isn't the first thing I look for when choosing a place to stay, but it was delightful being surrounded by color and quirky beauty. Fred has obviously put a lot of thought and care into decorating the flat, and the result is a very nice environment.

Overall - I would recommend ArtFulLife II to art lovers (obviously) and those looking for a nice retreat while exploring all Portland has to offer. Thanks for having us, Fred!