Todj is wonderful to work with, very responsive and friendly. He made adjustments to the diningroom couch so my aunt could stay there since navigating the stairs was difficult for her. Overall we enjoyed our stay. The house is located on a busy street and is close to Hawthorne with all the wonderful shops and dining options. My husband would walk to the local bars for the happy hour, especially My Vice on Cesar Chavez. The neighborhood was quiet and felt safe and has a very Portland-like feel to it, which some could find a little overgrown and a bit shabby. It was comfortable and friendly.
Parking in the driveway can be challenging and it was sometimes easier to park around the corner on a residential street. There is street noise as well so we learned to keep the windows on the street closed during the night. Once we did that, the noise was manageable. We found that keeping windows open on the 2nd floor helped cool the attic. I think another guest mentioned there aren’t screens on the windows. We only saw a few flies.
You should know that the property is shared by guests in the Magic Barn, a cottage in the back, as well as Hobie, the caretaker who lives in the basement apartment. We had our dog with us who can be protective so we had to make sure there was no one in the backyard when we let him out so he didn’t bark. We also needed to make arrangements with Hobie to do laundry in the basement.
The bedrooms are all large and upstairs on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The stairs to the 2nd floor are easy to climb with a gentle rise. The attic stairs are a steep rise and quite shallow so we had to go up and down carefully. Over our 2 week stay we became accustomed to it. The attic bedroom is large with an attached bath and lots of light.
The Magic House is funky and charming with all the attributes of an old Portland home. There are some things to be aware of when staying in an older home vs a newer one, but if you want an authentic Portland experience, the Magic House can provide it.