Chillin’ in Portland

Got your 2010 calendar up yet? Circle Jan.28-30. Those are the dates for the Portland Harbor Hotel Annual Ice Bar.

Never been? The wear-your-woolies event is just as it sounds. Executive Chef Ear Morse transforms the hotel’s courtyard into a lounge with bars sculpted from more than 18,000 pounds of ice (that’s nearly three times the amount of hard water than last year).

Belly up (okay, you might want a layer or two of down on that belly) to the bar and order specialty martinis, wine, local beers. Then chill (literally and figuratively), while nibbling on complimentary hors d’oeuvres and listening to light entertainment.

Morse know his way around the cubes. He’s won two bronze medals in the the World Ice Sculpting Championships and a gold in the European Ice Championships.

The Ice Bar is open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., and admission is by a $10 donation which supports the Center for Grieving Children, Share Our Strength, and Junior Achievement.

Portland Harbor Hotel deals

The four-diamond Portland Harbor Hotel is enticing guests to visit in late spring/early summer with a couple of sweet deals. If you can swing the price, the Old Port location is ideal for padding around the city.

• Long Weekend Getaway: Between May 28 and July 4, stay two nights Thursday through Sunday, and a third night is free. Ane yes, if you stay July 2 and 3, you get the night of July 4 free.

• Welcome Back: Through July 3, book any room, including the new suites, for two nights, and receive free breakfast for two and free valet parking.

Suite dreams at the Portland Harbor Hotel

Tough assignment, staying at the Portland Harbor Hotel and checking out the new suites. Bottom line, if you can swing it, book one.

Now Maine isn’t a state that’s big on the luxury schtick. No Four Seasons, no Ritz Carlton. Sure, there are some boutique B&Bs and small inns that do fussy well, but this is the first Portland hotel to really do the red carpet treatment.

Can’t think of another place where you can practically swim (yes, I mean swim, it’s humongous) in the whirlpool tub (supposedly for two, but heck, you could have a pool party in it) while watching the flames flicker in the fireplace AND view the flat screen simultaneously. Separate shower is equally oversized, with two shower heads and a bench. And two sinks. And, well, let’s just say the bathroom is larger than many a starter New York apartment.

Not much not to like here. If I have to draw upon my inner curmudgeon, well, the fake apples should be real and there should be more outlets near the desk. I had to unplug the phone to plug in my laptop. It was either that or the light, and I’ve got this thing about seeing what I’m typing. Like I said, minor complaints. I mentioned the outlet to the manager, and I have no doubt that will be corrected.

Decor is modernesque, beige tones, cool artwork, hardwood floors with area rugs. Nice change from the usual hotel vibe. Furniture is comfy, especially the bed. Nice white duvet, nightly turndown with robes, slippers, and chocolate lobsters. Gotta like that.

And downstairs in this new section of the hotel is the new fitness room. Greatly expanded (thank you!), with nice aerobic equipment (with TVs and iPod docks) and weights. No stretching area, but hey, can’t have everything. Big restrooms with showers provide a place for guests who stay beyond checkout to change before the long slog home. And a small spa, operated by Nine Stones, is expected to open soon, probably in March.

Breakfast was fine. Eve’s has a stellar rep., but the chef is leaving to start his own restaurant in the former Mim’s location. Hotel manager is upbeat about it. “Change is good, it’s good to mix things up and get new ideas,” he told me. Smart man. He’s already revewing a stack of resumes, so stay tuned foodies.

Harboring secrets

I toured the new addition to the Portland Harbor Hotel yesterday with the general manager, and no question, this is a great addition for those with the bucks to splurge.

On the street level are two retail shops: one will be occupied by an Italian pasta maker, who is moving here from the old country to open a fresh pasta shop; the other will be a showroom for a furnishings company.

Above these on two floors are six suites with gas fireplaces (really cool ones, with the flames shooting through stones–sames as the one in Eve’s), large whirlpool tubs in the bathroom, with sliding panels opening through to the bedroom. One is a two-room suite, where the flat-panel TV swings out so it can be watched from the tub. Fanciest suite is the honeymoon suite, with crane-your-neck glimpses of the harbor.

Downstairs is a well-equipped fitness room as well as two spa rooms, with services to be provided by 9 Stones. Future plans call for a Jacuzzi to be installed in the patio area out the back door.

Finally, there’s a new meeting room on the first floor with easy access to the courtyard through a small lobby area. Really a nice set up for biz.

The new building is expected to open in about two weeks.