diff --git a/src/core/portal/README.md b/src/core/portal/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dadd650f397
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/portal/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# Portals
+
+### Overview
+
+A `Portal `is a piece of UI that can be dynamically rendered to an open slot on the page. 
+
+The "piece of UI" can be either a `Component` or a `TemplateRef`.
+
+The "open slot" is a `PortalHost`.
+
+Portals and PortalHosts are low-level building blocks that other concepts, such as overlays, can
+be built upon.
+ 
+##### `Portal<T>`
+| Method | Description |
+| --- | --- |
+| `attach(PortalHost): Promise<T>` | Attaches the portal to a host. |
+| `detach(): Promise<void>` | Detaches the portal from its host. |
+| `isAttached: boolean` | Whether the portal is attached. |
+
+##### `PortalHost`
+| Method | Description |
+| --- | --- |
+| `attach(Portal): Promise<void>` | Attaches a portal to the host. |
+| `detach(): Promise<void>` | Detaches the portal from the host. |
+| `dispose(): Promise<void>` | Permanently dispose the host. |
+| `hasAttached: boolean` | Whether a portal is attached to the host. |
+
+
+
+
+### Using portals
+
+
+
+##### `TemplatePortalDirective`
+Used to get a portal from a `<template>`. `TemplatePortalDirectives` *is* a `Portal`.
+
+Usage:
+```html
+<template portal>
+  <p>The content of this template is captured by the portal.</p>
+</template>
+
+<!-- OR -->
+
+<!-- This result here is identical to the syntax above -->
+<p *portal>
+  The content of this template is captured by the portal.
+</p>
+```
+
+A component can use `@ViewChild` or `@ViewChildren` to get a reference to a 
+`TemplatePortalDiective`.
+
+##### `ComponentPortal`
+Used to create a portal from a component type.
+
+Usage:
+```ts
+this.userSettingsPortal = new ComponentPortal(UserSettingsComponent);
+```
+
+
+##### `PortalHostDirective`
+Used to add a portal host to a template. `PortalHostDirective` *is* a `PortalHost`.
+
+Usage:
+```html
+<!-- Attaches the `userSettingsPortal` from the previous example. -->
+<template [portalHost]="userSettingsPortal"></template>
+```
diff --git a/src/core/portal/portal-directives.ts b/src/core/portal/portal-directives.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8b070838f0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/portal/portal-directives.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+import {Portal} from './portal';
+import {TemplatePortal} from './portal';
+import {ComponentRef} from 'angular2/core';
+import {ComponentPortal} from './portal';
+import {Directive} from 'angular2/core';
+import {TemplateRef} from 'angular2/core';
+import {BasePortalHost} from './portal';
+import {DynamicComponentLoader} from 'angular2/core';
+import {ElementRef} from 'angular2/core';
+import {ViewContainerRef} from 'angular2/core';
+
+
+/**
+ * Directive version of a `TemplatePortal`. Because the directive *is* a TemplatePortal,
+ * the directive instance itself can be attached to a host, enabling declarative use of portals.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ * <template portal #greeting>
+ *   <p> Hello {{name}} </p>
+ * </template>
+ */
+@Directive({
+  selector: '[portal]',
+  exportAs: 'portal',
+})
+export class TemplatePortalDirective extends TemplatePortal {
+  constructor(templateRef: TemplateRef) {
+    super(templateRef);
+  }
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * Directive version of a PortalHost. Because the directive *is* a PortalHost, portals can be
+ * directly attached to it, enabling declarative use.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ * <template [portalHost]="greeting"></template>
+ */
+@Directive({
+  selector: '[portalHost]',
+  inputs: ['portal: portalHost']
+})
+export class PortalHostDirective extends BasePortalHost {
+  /** The attached portal. */
+  private portal_: Portal<any>;
+
+  constructor(
+      private dynamicComponentLoader_: DynamicComponentLoader,
+      private elementRef_: ElementRef,
+      private viewContainerRef_: ViewContainerRef) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  get portal(): Portal<any> {
+    return this.portal_;
+  }
+
+  set portal(p: Portal<any>) {
+    this.replaceAttachedPortal_(p);
+  }
+
+  /** Attach the given ComponentPortal to this PortlHost using the DynamicComponentLoader. */
+  attachComponentPortal(portal: ComponentPortal): Promise<ComponentRef> {
+    portal.setAttachedHost(this);
+
+    // If the portal specifies an origin, use that as the logical location of the component
+    // in the application tree. Otherwise use the location of this PortalHost.
+    let elementRef = portal.origin != null ? portal.origin : this.elementRef_;
+
+    // Typecast is necessary for Dart transpilation.
+    return <Promise<ComponentRef>>
+        this.dynamicComponentLoader_.loadNextToLocation(portal.component, elementRef)
+        .then(ref => {
+          this.setDisposeFn(() => ref.dispose());
+          return ref;
+        });
+  }
+
+  /** Attach the given TemplatePortal to this PortlHost as an embedded View. */
+  attachTemplatePortal(portal: TemplatePortal): Promise<Map<string, any>> {
+    portal.setAttachedHost(this);
+
+    let viewRef = this.viewContainerRef_.createEmbeddedView(portal.templateRef);
+    portal.locals.forEach((v, k) => viewRef.setLocal(k, v));
+    this.setDisposeFn(() => this.viewContainerRef_.clear());
+
+    // TODO(jelbourn): return locals from view
+    // Typecast is necessary for Dart transpilation.
+    return <Promise<Map<string, any>>> Promise.resolve(new Map<string, any>());
+  }
+
+  /** Detatches the currently attached Portal (if there is one) and attaches the given Portal. */
+  private replaceAttachedPortal_(p: Portal<any>): void {
+    let maybeDetach = this.hasAttached() ? this.detach() : Promise.resolve(null);
+
+    maybeDetach.then(_ => {
+      if (p != null) {
+        this.attach(p);
+        this.portal_ = p;
+      }
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/core/portal/portal.spec.ts b/src/core/portal/portal.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..68686d7fb33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/portal/portal.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+import {
+  inject,
+  ComponentFixture,
+  TestComponentBuilder,
+} from 'angular2/testing';
+import {
+  it,
+  iit,
+  describe,
+  ddescribe,
+  expect,
+  beforeEach,
+} from '../../core/facade/testing';
+import {Component, ViewChildren, QueryList} from 'angular2/core';
+import {TemplatePortalDirective} from './portal-directives';
+import {Portal} from './portal';
+import {ComponentPortal} from './portal';
+import {PortalHostDirective} from './portal-directives';
+import {fakeAsync} from 'angular2/testing';
+import {flushMicrotasks} from 'angular2/testing';
+
+
+export function main() {
+  describe('Portal directives', () => {
+    let builder: TestComponentBuilder;
+
+    beforeEach(inject([TestComponentBuilder], (tcb: TestComponentBuilder) => {
+      builder = tcb;
+    }));
+
+    it('should load a component into the portal', fakeAsyncTest(() => {
+      let appFixture: ComponentFixture;
+
+      builder.createAsync(PortalTestApp).then(fixture => {
+        appFixture = fixture;
+      });
+
+      // Flush the async creation of the PortalTestApp.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      // Set the selectedHost to be a ComponentPortal.
+      let testAppComponent = appFixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+      testAppComponent.selectedPortal = new ComponentPortal(PizzaMsg);
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Flush the attachment of the Portal.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      // Expect that the content of the attached portal is present.
+      let hostContainer = appFixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.portal-container');
+      expect(hostContainer.textContent).toContain('Pizza');
+    }));
+
+    it('should load a <template> portal', fakeAsyncTest(() => {
+      let appFixture: ComponentFixture;
+
+      builder.createAsync(PortalTestApp).then(fixture => {
+        appFixture = fixture;
+      });
+
+      // Flush the async creation of the PortalTestApp.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      let testAppComponent = appFixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      // Detect changes initially so that the component's ViewChildren are resolved.
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Set the selectedHost to be a TemplatePortal.
+      testAppComponent.selectedPortal = testAppComponent.cakePortal;
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Flush the attachment of the Portal.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      // Expect that the content of the attached portal is present.
+      let hostContainer = appFixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.portal-container');
+      expect(hostContainer.textContent).toContain('Cake');
+    }));
+
+    it('should load a <template> portal with the `*` sugar', fakeAsyncTest(() => {
+      let appFixture: ComponentFixture;
+
+      builder.createAsync(PortalTestApp).then(fixture => {
+        appFixture = fixture;
+      });
+
+      // Flush the async creation of the PortalTestApp.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      let testAppComponent = appFixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      // Detect changes initially so that the component's ViewChildren are resolved.
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Set the selectedHost to be a TemplatePortal (with the `*` syntax).
+      testAppComponent.selectedPortal = testAppComponent.piePortal;
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Flush the attachment of the Portal.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      // Expect that the content of the attached portal is present.
+      let hostContainer = appFixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.portal-container');
+      expect(hostContainer.textContent).toContain('Pie');
+    }));
+
+    it('should load a <template> portal with a binding', fakeAsyncTest(() => {
+      let appFixture: ComponentFixture;
+
+      builder.createAsync(PortalTestApp).then(fixture => {
+        appFixture = fixture;
+      });
+
+      // Flush the async creation of the PortalTestApp.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      let testAppComponent = appFixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      // Detect changes initially so that the component's ViewChildren are resolved.
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Set the selectedHost to be a TemplatePortal.
+      testAppComponent.selectedPortal = testAppComponent.portalWithBinding;
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Flush the attachment of the Portal.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      // Now that the portal is attached, change detection has to happen again in order
+      // for the bindings to update.
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Expect that the content of the attached portal is present.
+      let hostContainer = appFixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.portal-container');
+      expect(hostContainer.textContent).toContain('Banana');
+    }));
+
+    it('should load a <template> portal with extra locals', fakeAsyncTest(() => {
+      let appFixture: ComponentFixture;
+
+      builder.createAsync(PortalTestApp).then(fixture => {
+        appFixture = fixture;
+      });
+
+      // Flush the async creation of the PortalTestApp.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      let testAppComponent = appFixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      // Detect changes initially so that the component's ViewChildren are resolved.
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      let locals = new Map<string, string>();
+      locals.set('appetizer', 'Samosa');
+
+      let templatePortal = testAppComponent.portalWithLocals;
+      templatePortal.locals = locals;
+
+      // Set the selectedHost to be a TemplatePortal.
+      testAppComponent.selectedPortal = templatePortal;
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Flush the attachment of the Portal.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      // Now that the portal is attached, change detection has to happen again in order
+      // for the bindings to update.
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Expect that the content of the attached portal is present.
+      let hostContainer = appFixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.portal-container');
+      expect(hostContainer.textContent).toContain('Samosa');
+    }));
+
+    it('should change the attached portal', fakeAsyncTest(() => {
+      let appFixture: ComponentFixture;
+
+      builder.createAsync(PortalTestApp).then(fixture => {
+        appFixture = fixture;
+      });
+
+      // Flush the async creation of the PortalTestApp.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      let testAppComponent = appFixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      // Detect changes initially so that the component's ViewChildren are resolved.
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Set the selectedHost to be a ComponentPortal.
+      testAppComponent.selectedPortal = testAppComponent.piePortal;
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Flush the attachment of the Portal.
+      flushMicrotasks();
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Expect that the content of the attached portal is present.
+      let hostContainer = appFixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.portal-container');
+      expect(hostContainer.textContent).toContain('Pie');
+
+      testAppComponent.selectedPortal = new ComponentPortal(PizzaMsg);
+      appFixture.detectChanges();
+
+      flushMicrotasks();
+
+      expect(hostContainer.textContent).toContain('Pizza');
+    }));
+
+  });
+}
+
+
+/** Simple component for testing ComponentPortal. */
+@Component({
+  selector: 'pizza-msg',
+  template: '<p>Pizza</p>',
+})
+class PizzaMsg {}
+
+
+/** Test-bed component that contains a portal host and a couple of template portals. */
+@Component({
+  selector: 'portal-test',
+  template: `
+  <div class="portal-container">
+    <template [portalHost]="selectedPortal"></template>
+  </div>
+
+  <template portal>Cake</template>
+
+  <div *portal>Pie</div>
+
+  <template portal> {{fruit}} </template>
+
+  <template portal #yum="appetizer">{{yum}}</template>
+  `,
+  directives: [PortalHostDirective, TemplatePortalDirective],
+})
+class PortalTestApp {
+  @ViewChildren(TemplatePortalDirective) portals: QueryList<TemplatePortalDirective>;
+  selectedPortal: Portal<any>;
+  fruit: string = 'Banana';
+
+  get cakePortal() {
+    return this.portals.first;
+  }
+
+  get piePortal() {
+    return this.portals.toArray()[1];
+  }
+
+  get portalWithBinding() {
+    return this.portals.toArray()[2];
+  }
+
+  get portalWithLocals() {
+    return this.portals.last;
+  }
+}
+
+function fakeAsyncTest(fn: () => void) {
+  return inject([], fakeAsync(fn));
+}
diff --git a/src/core/portal/portal.ts b/src/core/portal/portal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..303a1f90b63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/portal/portal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+import {TemplateRef, Type} from 'angular2/core';
+import {ElementRef} from 'angular2/core';
+import {ComponentRef} from 'angular2/core';
+
+import {BaseException} from 'angular2/src/facade/exceptions';
+
+
+/**
+ * A `Portal` is something that you want to render somewhere else.
+ * It can be attach to / detached from a `PortalHost`.
+ */
+export abstract class Portal<T> {
+  private attachedHost_: PortalHost;
+
+  /** Attach this portal to a host. */
+  attach(host: PortalHost): Promise<T> {
+    if (host == null) {
+      throw new BaseException('Attempting to attach a portal to a null host');
+    }
+
+    if (host.hasAttached()) {
+      throw new BaseException('Host already has a portal attached');
+    }
+
+    this.attachedHost_ = host;
+    return <Promise<T>> host.attach(this);
+  }
+
+  /** Detach this portal from its host */
+  detach(): Promise<void> {
+    let host = this.attachedHost_;
+    if (host == null) {
+      throw new BaseException('Portal has no host from which to detach');
+    }
+
+    this.attachedHost_ = null;
+    return host.detach();
+  }
+
+  /** Whether this portal is attached to a host. */
+  get isAttached(): boolean {
+    return this.attachedHost_ != null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Sets the PortalHost reference without performing `attach()`. This is used directly by
+   * the PortalHost when it is performing an `attach()` or `detatch()`.
+   */
+  setAttachedHost(host: PortalHost) {
+    this.attachedHost_ = host;
+  }
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * A `ComponentPortal` is a portal that instantiates some Component upon attachment.
+ */
+export class ComponentPortal extends Portal<ComponentRef> {
+  /** The type of the component that will be instantiated for attachment. */
+  public component: Type;
+
+  /**
+   * [Optional] Where the attached component should live in Angular's *logical* component tree.
+   * This is different from where the component *renders*, which is determined by the PortalHost.
+   * The origin necessary when the host is outside of the Angular application context.
+   */
+  public origin: ElementRef;
+
+  constructor(component: Type, origin: ElementRef = null) {
+    super();
+    this.component = component;
+    this.origin = origin;
+  }
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * A `TemplatePortal` is a portal that represents some embedded template (TemplateRef).
+ */
+export class TemplatePortal extends Portal<Map<string, any>> {
+  /** The embedded template that will be used to instantiate an embedded View in the host. */
+  templateRef: TemplateRef;
+
+  /**
+   * Additional locals for the instantiated embedded view.
+   * These locals can be seen as "exports" for the template, such as how ngFor has
+   * index / event / odd.
+   * See https://angular.io/docs/ts/latest/api/core/EmbeddedViewRef-class.html
+   */
+  locals: Map<string, any> = new Map<string, any>();
+
+  constructor(template: TemplateRef) {
+    super();
+    this.templateRef = template;
+  }
+
+  get origin(): ElementRef {
+    return this.templateRef.elementRef;
+  }
+
+  attach(host: PortalHost, locals?: Map<string, any>): Promise<Map<string, any>> {
+    this.locals = locals == null ? new Map<string, any>() : locals;
+    return super.attach(host);
+  }
+
+  detach(): Promise<void> {
+    this.locals = new Map<string, any>();
+    return super.detach();
+  }
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * A `PortalHost` is an space that can contain a single `Portal`.
+ */
+export interface PortalHost {
+  attach(portal: Portal<any>): Promise<any>;
+
+  detach(): Promise<any>;
+
+  dispose(): void;
+
+  hasAttached(): boolean;
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * Partial implementation of PortalHost that only deals with attaching either a
+ * ComponentPortal or a TemplatePortal.
+ */
+export abstract class BasePortalHost implements PortalHost {
+  /** The portal currently attached to the host. */
+  private attachedPortal_: Portal<any>;
+
+  /** A function that will permanently dispose this host. */
+  private disposeFn_: () => void;
+
+  /** Whether this host has already been permanently disposed. */
+  private isDisposed_: boolean = false;
+
+  /** Whether this host has an attached portal. */
+  hasAttached() {
+    return this.attachedPortal_ != null;
+  }
+
+  attach(portal: Portal<any>): Promise<any> {
+    if (portal == null) {
+      throw new BaseException('Must provide a portal to attach');
+    }
+
+    if (this.hasAttached()) {
+      throw new BaseException('A portal is already attached');
+    }
+
+    if (this.isDisposed_) {
+      throw new BaseException('This PortalHost has already been disposed');
+    }
+
+    if (portal instanceof ComponentPortal) {
+      this.attachedPortal_ = portal;
+      return this.attachComponentPortal(portal);
+    } else if (portal instanceof TemplatePortal) {
+      this.attachedPortal_ = portal;
+      return this.attachTemplatePortal(portal);
+    }
+
+    throw new BaseException(
+        'Attempting to attach an unknown Portal type. ' +
+        'BasePortalHost accepts either a ComponentPortal or a TemplatePortal.');
+  }
+
+  abstract attachComponentPortal(portal: ComponentPortal): Promise<ComponentRef>;
+
+  abstract attachTemplatePortal(portal: TemplatePortal): Promise<Map<string, any>>;
+
+  detach(): Promise<void> {
+    this.attachedPortal_.setAttachedHost(null);
+    this.attachedPortal_ = null;
+    if (this.disposeFn_ != null) {
+      this.disposeFn_();
+      this.disposeFn_ = null;
+    }
+
+    return Promise.resolve(null);
+  }
+
+  dispose() {
+    if (this.hasAttached()) {
+      this.detach();
+    }
+
+    this.isDisposed_ = true;
+  }
+
+  setDisposeFn(fn: () => void) {
+    this.disposeFn_ = fn;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/demo-app/demo-app.html b/src/demo-app/demo-app.html
index 18fb54d3bac..b86a6681bcb 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/demo-app.html
+++ b/src/demo-app/demo-app.html
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
-
-<h1 class="title">Angular Material2 Demos</h1>
-<ul>
-  <li><a [routerLink]="['ButtonDemo']">Button demo</a></li>
-  <li><a [routerLink]="['CardDemo']">Card demo</a></li>
-  <li><a [routerLink]="['SidenavDemo']">Sidenav demo</a></li>
-  <li><a [routerLink]="['ProgressCircleDemo']">Progress Circle demo</a></li>
-</ul>
-<button md-raised-button (click)="root.dir = (root.dir == 'rtl' ? 'ltr' : 'rtl')">
-  {{root.dir.toUpperCase()}}
-</button>
-<div #root="$implicit" dir="ltr">
-  <router-outlet></router-outlet>
-</div>
\ No newline at end of file
+<div class="demo-content">
+  <h1 class="title">Angular Material2 Demos</h1>
+  <ul>
+    <li><a [routerLink]="['ButtonDemo']">Button demo</a></li>
+    <li><a [routerLink]="['CardDemo']">Card demo</a></li>
+    <li><a [routerLink]="['SidenavDemo']">Sidenav demo</a></li>
+    <li><a [routerLink]="['ProgressCircleDemo']">Progress Circle demo</a></li>
+    <li><a [routerLink]="['PortalDemo']">Portal demo</a></li>
+  </ul>
+  <button md-raised-button (click)="root.dir = (root.dir == 'rtl' ? 'ltr' : 'rtl')">
+    {{root.dir.toUpperCase()}}
+  </button>
+  <div #root="$implicit" dir="ltr">
+    <router-outlet></router-outlet>
+  </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/src/demo-app/demo-app.scss b/src/demo-app/demo-app.scss
index e01f8052f13..03466bc4b90 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/demo-app.scss
+++ b/src/demo-app/demo-app.scss
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 
-div.content {
-  padding: 10px;
+.demo-content {
+  padding: 15px;
 }
diff --git a/src/demo-app/demo-app.ts b/src/demo-app/demo-app.ts
index c605849491a..ca7b94b6029 100644
--- a/src/demo-app/demo-app.ts
+++ b/src/demo-app/demo-app.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import {ProgressCircleDemo} from './progress-circle/progress-circle-demo';
 import {Route, RouteConfig, ROUTER_DIRECTIVES} from 'angular2/router';
 import {Dir} from '../directives/dir/dir';
 import {MdButton} from '../components/button/button';
+import {PortalDemo} from './portal/portal-demo';
+
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'home',
@@ -27,5 +29,6 @@ export class Home {}
   new Route({path: '/card', name: 'CardDemo', component: CardDemo}),
   new Route({path: '/sidenav', name: 'SidenavDemo', component: SidenavDemo}),
   new Route({path: '/progress-circle', name: 'ProgressCircleDemo', component: ProgressCircleDemo}),
+  new Route({path: '/portal', name: 'PortalDemo', component: PortalDemo}),
 ])
 export class DemoApp { }
diff --git a/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.html b/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9918460f0d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.html
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<h2> The portal host is here: </h2>
+<div class="demo-portal-host">
+  <template [portalHost]="selectedPortal"></template>
+</div>
+
+<button type="button" (click)="selectedPortal = programmingJoke">
+  Programming joke
+</button>
+
+<button type="button" (click)="selectedPortal = mathJoke">
+  Math joke
+</button>
+
+<button type="button" (click)="selectedPortal = scienceJoke">
+  Science joke
+</button>
+
+<!-- Template vars on <template> elements can't be accessed _in_ the template because Angular
+    doesn't support grabbing the instance / TemplateRef this way because the variable may be
+    referring to something *in* the template (such as #item in ngFor). As such, the component
+    has to use @ViewChild / @ViewChildren to get these references.
+    See https://github.com/angular/angular/issues/7158 -->
+<template portal>
+  <p> - Why don't jokes work in octal?</p>
+  <p> - Because 7 10 11.</p>
+</template>
+
+<div *portal>
+ <p> - Did you hear about this year's Fibonacci Conference? </p>
+ <p> - It's going to be as the last two put together. </p>
+</div>
diff --git a/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.scss b/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.scss
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..06a7f64855c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+.demo-portal-host {
+  margin-bottom: 10px;
+  padding: 10px;
+  border: 1px dashed black;
+  width: 500px;
+  height: 100px;
+}
diff --git a/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.ts b/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9fe95ba3241
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/demo-app/portal/portal-demo.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import {Component} from 'angular2/core';
+import {PortalHostDirective} from '../../core/portal/portal-directives';
+import {TemplatePortalDirective} from '../../core/portal/portal-directives';
+import {Portal} from '../../core/portal/portal';
+import {ViewChildren} from 'angular2/core';
+import {QueryList} from 'angular2/core';
+import {ComponentPortal} from '../../core/portal/portal';
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'portal-demo',
+  templateUrl: 'demo-app/portal/portal-demo.html',
+  styleUrls: ['demo-app/portal/portal-demo.css'],
+  directives: [TemplatePortalDirective, PortalHostDirective]
+})
+export class PortalDemo {
+  @ViewChildren(TemplatePortalDirective) templatePortals: QueryList<Portal<any>>;
+
+  selectedPortal: Portal<any>;
+
+  constructor() {
+    console.log('~~ contructor ~~');
+  }
+
+  get programmingJoke() {
+    return this.templatePortals.first;
+  }
+
+  get mathJoke() {
+    return this.templatePortals.last;
+  }
+
+  get scienceJoke() {
+    return new ComponentPortal(ScienceJoke);
+  }
+}
+
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'science-joke',
+  template: `<p> 100 kilopascals go into a bar. </p>`
+})
+class ScienceJoke { }
diff --git a/src/index.html b/src/index.html
index 8118f53babc..387f28e5829 100644
--- a/src/index.html
+++ b/src/index.html
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   <meta charset="utf-8">
   <title>Material2</title>
   <base href="/">
+  <script src="vendor/systemjs/dist/system-polyfills.js"></script>
   <script src="vendor/angular2/bundles/angular2-polyfills.js"></script>
   {{content-for 'head'}}
   <link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="favicon.ico">
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@
   <demo-app>Loading...</demo-app>
 
   <script src="vendor/systemjs/dist/system.src.js"></script>
-  <script src="vendor/systemjs/dist/system-polyfills.js"></script>
   <script src="vendor/rxjs/bundles/Rx.js"></script>
   <script src="vendor/angular2/bundles/angular2.dev.js"></script>
   <script src="vendor/angular2/bundles/http.dev.js"></script>
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 8d9d774a95e..b75aa025324 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import {bootstrap} from 'angular2/platform/browser';
 import {DemoApp} from './demo-app/demo-app';
 import {ROUTER_PROVIDERS} from 'angular2/router';
+import {HashLocationStrategy} from 'angular2/router';
+import {LocationStrategy} from 'angular2/router';
+import {provide} from 'angular2/core';
 
-bootstrap(DemoApp, [ROUTER_PROVIDERS]);
+bootstrap(DemoApp, [
+  ROUTER_PROVIDERS
+]);
diff --git a/test/karma.config.ts b/test/karma.config.ts
index 780a7db7ece..8719f49536a 100644
--- a/test/karma.config.ts
+++ b/test/karma.config.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ export function config(config) {
       {pattern: 'node_modules/systemjs/dist/system-polyfills.js', included: true, watched: true},
       'node_modules/angular2/es6/dev/src/testing/shims_for_IE.js',
 
+      // Angular 2 polyfills *must* be loaded after es6-shim and system-polyfills in order to
+      // setup the monkey-patches for zones.
       {pattern: 'node_modules/angular2/bundles/angular2-polyfills.js', included: true, watched: true},
       {pattern: 'node_modules/systemjs/dist/system.src.js', included: true, watched: true},
       {pattern: 'node_modules/rxjs/bundles/Rx.js', included: true, watched: true},