Charming, historic building overlooking the Willamette River. The garden is well suited to an…read moreengagement or wedding event. There is a surprising amount of available street parking. Within walking distance of a light rail station.

We got married here September 8, 2018, and I am so glad that we chose this venue. Originally, I had…read moremy eye on a few other venues that were more expensive and didn't have any amenities included. We chose this venue due to the beautiful backyard, indoor option for food prep, bathrooms, and a rain plan B, and the included perks (DIY flexibility, tables, chairs, dishes, glasses, AND they wash the dishes for you after the event!) I wanted a low-stress, low-cost, beautiful and intimate wedding, and we had that. Our wedding had 60 people, and we held the ceremony and reception in the backyard. I rented chairs and a pallet bar because they chairs that they have, while free, look a bit like cafeteria chairs. The chair rental was my one splurge. The venue needed minimal decorations to make the space beautiful- the landscaping and arbor make for a beautiful backdrop. We used vendors/friends with businesses for: flowers, video, photo, chairs, ceremony musicians, and sound equipment. We went the DIY route for decorations, food (a friend coordinated cheese/meat trays), drinks (had a friend who has an OLCC license), and everything else. We were nervous about the trains down below, and while we heard them a few times, it was not a big deal at all. There is plenty of street parking and we walked over to the park for bridal party photos, which was nice. The couple who manage the venue are kind, quick to respond, and volunteers, so not available at all times of the day, like at other venues. That wasn't a problem for us. We emailed when we had questions, drove by when we needed a refresher, and visited during open house hours on Thursday evenings when we needed to visualize things. The venue rental is for 6 hours, with a fee for each additional hour, but that is my only complaint. I think if it's booked for the day, it would be nice to not have to worry about timing as much. A 7-8 hour rental feels reasonable to me, and would avoid stress of spending more money to ensure enough time to set/clean up. We were able to have a beautiful wedding that we could afford. I think their materials and website could be updated to reflect how great of a venue it is, but then it would probably get more competitive, and I was grateful to not have to worry about that.

We had our wedding reception at the Eleanor on New Years Eve...and it was so wonderful! The place…read moreis beautiful and simple...lights of beautiful lighting so you don't have to do a ton of decorating. The owners were really wonderful and very accommodating...we feel lucky to have found them!

I had my wedding reception at The De Soto in August of 2010. Arrangements and catering for this…read morevenue are through The Art of Catering. I have reviewed them (5 stars) separately. This review is strictly on the De Soto venue itself. It was a lovely space. Large enough for our 100 guests plus a 4-person gypsy jazz band and a dancing area. The terrace has a wood deck. There are trellis' and plants in big pots. White chairs and sunbrellas are available for use. The terrace was looking good already and then was transformed into a magical place by my florist, Adria Sparhawk of Lavish. The rooftop is about 4 floors up. It has a nice view of trees in the north park blocks as well as some of downtown Portland. Looking to the west, you have to look over AC equipment on the roof in order to see the trees. Adria came up with a great solution to that eyesore - she made gates out of willow and decorated them with vines and ribbon and placed these along the western railing. Problem solved! We had temps in the 90s. The roof was very hot with the sun beating down until it set over the west hills around 7 pm. After that, the temperature was perfect. If it is going to be a hot day, I recommend renting tents to add shade. We rented one 20x20 foot tent to cover the eldest and youngest. It looked fine and we could have used an additional one. There is no indoor space. Keep that in mind. The bathrooms are on the bottom floor so your guests will be up and down the elevator but that didn't seem to be a problem for anyone. The roof is wheelchair accessible. The entrance to the rooftop is on a pleasant block that has nice character. I'm taking a star off because of the AC eyesore, lack of indoor space and location of the bathrooms. Of all the rooftops and outdoor spaces I explored in Portland proper, the De Soto was the only one that met all my requirements. Still, I give 5 stars only if it's perfect!

This place is just gorgeous and if you like vintage this place is it!…read moreChristmas time here is always a treat with so many beautiful decorations inside and out. It's a gorgeous venue with two cool outdoor dining that's covered. Its use is for shows like tonight which was Burlesque. Weddings and other events are held here including tea parties. They have several rooms available with individual pricing that includes a great menu. I highly recommend it.

One of my good ex-coworkers and I have been inspired to go on a tour of many of the English tea…read morehouses between Aurora and Portland. Seeing this little Victorian Belle of a gem online really got us excited. I passed some run-down neighborhoods to get there. And the property itself isn't as large as I envisioned in my mind. Parking is minimal and most people just parallel where they can along the side. But the house itself is absolutely stunning. There is so much detail in the stained glass on every single door. Even the dust corners on the stairs are uniquely ornate. All three levels are completely decorated. And festive Christmas fixings are adorned everywhere you look. The house is so well managed, and it is so lovely to be able to actively enjoy a piece of history. The hostess was very flexible about changing our seats when we were too close to our other patrons. Personally, we were in the Winnie Holgate Room, which has creamy beige walls and blue accenting. It overlooks the courtyard and has very pleasant views. Foodwise, we got to trial some mushroom soup. It was so rich and tasty. It was concentrated, full bodied unami with a hint of herbs. Everything else was presented on a tiered serving stand. The cucumber cream cheese and salmon sandwiches were pretty basic. The smokiness of the salmon was muted. The caprese skewer had a nice tangy bite to it with just enough basil to give it some fragrance. Out of all the pastries, the peach scone was the best. There was just enough of the fruit pieces to give it some texture without overwhelming it. The accompanying jam and mascarpone were spot on. The cherry and chocolate scone was a little drier. And the fruit chunks were very large in ratio to the chocolate. It was not a complimentary combination. In regard to the tea, Smiths is always great quality. They have good full bodied flavors with low astringency. Overall, the food and tea were pretty decent. And this was indeed a unique experience in a historic location that not only serves high tea but also caters other events. I would much like to come back in the spring or summer when the fountains are functioning and everything is in full bloom.

Gray Gables Estate was the perfect venue for our wedding. The entire property is absolutely…read morebeautiful with stunning gardens, peaceful pathways, and romantic spaces that made our day feel magical from start to finish. Everywhere you turn feels like a picture perfect moment and our photos turned out breathtaking. The staff was exceptional. They were organized, kind, and truly invested in making our day everything we dreamed of. Every detail was handled with care and professionalism which allowed us to relax and fully enjoy the day. We felt supported and cared for the entire time. Our guests could not stop talking about how gorgeous the venue was and how smooth everything felt. It is rare to find a place that brings together such beauty, great service, and a warm welcoming atmosphere. Gray Gables gave us the wedding day we always hoped for. We are so grateful to Gray Gables Estate for making our celebration unforgettable. I highly recommend this venue to any couple looking for a stunning and stress free wedding experience.

Attended a gala and dinner fundraiser earlier this year and had a wonderful time! The wait staff…read morewas very accommodating and attentive; the food - superb, which as a vegetarian guest, I rarely can offer such accolades. The presentation and audio/visual - was easy to see and hear - no matter where you were seated in the ballroom of 200. Brava! We will return. Thank you!

My Sister and Brother-in-law had their wedding here, and I have to say it was absolutely amazing…read more The venue on it's own has a great set up, with beautiful views, cute photo opps, lucious landscaping, fire pit, lawn games, wonderful bridal suites, easy accessible bar area, and the staff... The owners Diana and Grady are so easy to work with, remembering every minor detail, from what bouttenier belonged to the Groom, groomsen, and father's - to the overall magic of pulling the vision together. I want to also take a moment to give a shout out to Tobin, who was nothing short of amazing from the moment we pulled up arms full of decor and food! He had a hand cart to us in seconds, a dolly for the kegs, and a welcoming smile. Tobin, was always within eyesight ready for any requests and needs, zipping around with all of the things, and to top it off he did it with a smile and great sense of humor. 10 out of 10 for Tobin! Tobin, thank you for lauging with us and keeping us on track all day! If you are looking for a place for your wedding, or any other special event, look no further! Tips from a sister of the bride who is an over the top planner by nature, that might help make your day even more stress free: -Get a caterer, as the venue itself doesnt prepare any food! (they have some suggestions if you aren't sure where to start) -Hire a service to serve, clean and handle all food items! -HIRE the bartender and MC through EFCE! YOU won't be dissapointed! -and for the love of all that is wedding day, make sure the bride and grooms 'night bag/ suitcase' is in the getaway vehicle early in the night!

Lovely wedding reception venue Great scenic views for photo…read morebackgrounds Delicious food and good service and polite staff Bar provides pleasant experience for your family and friends. Romantic atmosphere and decor

We attended one of their free tours of the home they give on certain days each month (check their…read morewebsite for details). It lasted about an hour and was very informative & interesting. The tour guide was a lot of fun and shared many fascinating details about the home and General Marshall, and she was happy to answer questions. There are a number of displays in each room with additional photos & memorabilia from the era, the home, and General Marshall. They also host a high tea around Christmas & also in the Spring each year, so that's definitely sometime we want to attend (check their website events calendar for dates & details).

Venue for my son and his fiancé wedding. Very nice place for a reception, at a reasonable price…read more Had wedding and reception at the venue.

Wow! Our wedding was perfect. We held our ceremony and reception in the same space. The venue…read moreincludes tables and chairs, and has an open vendor policy. These were huge must-haves for us and were ultimately the reasons why we decided to choose Baker. The space is a blank canvas with character and charm, making it easy to bring our wedding vision to life. One thing to note, the venue is NOT wheelchair accessible. It is on the second floor and is only accessible via a staircase with narrow steps. Jen and Mark (owners) were incredibly kind and accommodating, making the process easy and smooth. We would absolutely recommend Baker Building to anyone in need of a venue space.

The person in charge of giving us a tour was pretty rude. There is no need for smart ass remarks of…read moreany kind. If this place was handicap accessible, the staff would have turned us away today just by the attitude.