As our friends Gabe & Louise pointed out this past Saturday, by this time next week we'll be dancing the night away at our wedding. Crazy! It takes having people point out these details to really sink in that this is happening! We are so excited to see our many family and friends converge on Portland in just a few short days from now. Before we get too consumed with the final preparations this week, we wanted to leave our visiting guests with some suggestions for things to do, that is, when you're not cutting loose on the dance floor with us next Saturday!
If you haven't been acquaintedwith the city, check out my previous post on orienting yourself in Portland!
Downtown & Westside Portland:
Take a stroll along the Waterfront, stopping by the Portland Saturday Market, an open-air craft market located under the Burnside Bridge & open both Saturday and Sunday.
For a more "organic" approach, try Portland Farmer's Market near PSU in the South Park Blocks on Saturday mornings, great to walk around after breakfast, or grab a coffee and oogle the local produce and food products. Also in that area is the Portland Art Museum (which I recently visited as part of the best bachelorette party ever!)
If you are looking for quick eats in the downtown area, I suggest Kettleman's Bagels (845 SW 4th Ave), a quick breakfast & lunch option. Though really the best food (like most cultures world-wide) is the street food. In Portland, these are in the form of food carts amassed together into pods. Our top choices include Addy's Sandwich Bar (SW 10th and Alder), Tabor (SW 5th and Oak/Stark), Vahalla Sandwich Co, (SW 9th and Alder), and tons of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, etc cuisines as well. Some do take cards, but best to be equipped with cash.
Voodoo Donuts (22 SW 3rd) is not just for breakfast; open 24, it's Portland's shrine to the donut gods.
Work off that donut with a peaceful trip to the Classical Chinese Garden (NW 3rd and Everett) in Portland's Old Town or head straight to Ground Kontrol (511 NW Couch St) for some classic arcade games with a classic Pasbts Blue Ribbon!
A visit to Portland is often not complete without a trip to Powells City of Books, (1005 W Burnside) located in the nearby Pearl District where art galleries and lofts now occupy much of the former warehouse district.
While there, you are just a steps away from many brew pubs & public houses that have come to make Oregon beers among some of the best in the word, including: BridgePort Brewpub (1313 NW Marshall), Deschutes Portland Pub (210 NW 11th Ave) Rogue Distillery and Public House (1339 NW Flanders) Also of note is Henry's 12th St Tavern (10 NW 12th Ave), though not a brew pub, offers over a 100 beers & hard ciders on tap & occupies the former brewing site of Henry Weinhard's.
Venture a little further west of downtown to one of the largest urban parks in the country: Forest Park (over 5000 acres and 70 miles of trails). Very close by and more accessible for a short jaunt or scenic vantage points is Washington Park. While there you can visit the Japanese Gardens, Hoyt Arboretum (free) or the Oregon Zoo.
In the Northwest Nob Hill offers great shopping & people watching opportunities. If all this walking around has your stomach rumbling, try Ken's Bakery (338 NW 21st) or Escape From NY Pizza (622 NW 23rd) for a quick bite (be sure to bring cash); Kornblatt's Deli (628 NW 23rd) has hearty lunch options, or for more civilized dining, try Besaws (2301 NW Savier St.) or Papa Haydn (701 NW 23rd), the latter are known for their amazing cakes and pastries.
Eastside Portland and Beyond:
The best way to describe the general differences between the Westside and the Eastside of Portland is if the Westside is your sophisticated, older sibling, the Eastside is the more rebellious youngster. There's still plenty of "sophistication" to go around east of the Willamette River, but while the Westside has more of an urban attitude, the Eastside is a bit more laidback. That said it's all still Portland.
The Southeast's Hawthorne District exemplifies a more residential Portland experience. Great for afternoon shopping with another Powell's location (not as massive as the downtown store, but still well stocked), used & vintage clothes and miscellany, record stores, and lots of eating options. Our favs include: Grand Central Bakery (22nd and Hawthorne Blvd), Zach's Hot Dogs (4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd), and Por Que No (4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd). Apizza Scholls (4741 SE Hawthorne Blvd) is great and all, but really the no reservations, no takeout policy combined with the excruciating wait makes it almost a painful, albeit eventually tasty, dining experience. For spectacular views, head up Mt Tabor (SE 60th and Salmon) by foot, bike, or car, then head back down for lovely cocktails and ambiance at Sapphire Hotel (5008 SE Hawthorne Blvd) or check out the Bagdad pub theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd), also part of the local McMenamins chain.
Speaking of pub theaters (of which Portland has many!), we like the Laurelhurst Theater (2735 E Burnside). Afterwards, we highly recommend Navarre (10 NW 28th Ave) for tapas or nearby Ken's Pizza (304 SE 28th Ave) for artisan pizza (and able rival of Apizza Schols). Also in this area is Laurelhurst Market (3166 E Burnside) which has some of the most amazing sandwiches we've ever tried, but get there before 5PM! We suggest picking it up, then picnicking in nearby neighborhood park.
Further north, is the Alberta Arts District with lots of good breakfast places like Helser's (1528 NE Alberta St), Tin Shed (1438 NE Alberta St) and Vita Cafe (3023 NE Alberta St) - all of which tend to get crowded on the weekends, so go early or expect a wait); Also of note, is the Art Walk on every last Thursday where many local artists and crafters display their goods for perusal or sale.
Another similar neighborhood to Alberta that we enjoy is the Mississippi: More food carts, shopping, and more great breakfast options like Gravy (3957 N Mississippi Ave). Also not far is Pix Patisserie (3901 N Williams Ave) and the most amazing desserts you've ever seen or tasted, Russell Street Bar-B-Que (325 NE Russell St) and the Secret Society Lounge (116 NE Russell St) for classy cocktails. For a great view of the city, step over to the hidden Skidmore Bluffs (2206 N Skidmore St).
Also of note Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in SE Portland. Many say it trumps the Rose Garden, and is likely to be in bloom now with our early spring weather.
Beyond Portland:
For more abundance of nature (and waterfalls!), Columbia River Gorge just 30 mins west of the city on I-84 never seems to disappoint.
Finally, our Honorable Mention goes to Burgerville, with multiple locations; please don't overlook it as typical fast food. We like 'em since they specialize in using local and seasonal ingredients. Try the milkshakes!
More than you ever wanted to know & hopefully not just the same info in every city guide, though likely close. We hope you have a fabulous visit, and we can't wait to see you!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Portland Primer
What's the deal with Portland anyway? I heard it was all hippies, er, vegans, er, college-educated baristas/bartenders/musicians etc.
Like most stereotypes, there's a tiny nugget of validity lurking in the background of those claims. Portland is characterized by its overwhelming population of non-native Oregonians in its urban center. Jacob & I were each drawn here separately, from Texas by way of Nevada, and Pennsylvania by way of Washington, respectively, for many of the same reasons folks from California, Arizona, Colorado, New York and Florida were as well: the scenery, the sensibility, and the livability (and for most Californians, the affordability). Recycling is commonplace. Composting and rainwater harvesting is too. Bicycles are everywhere, and bike lanes are (usually) observed. Wal-mart is not welcome, and we love our small businesses. Good coffee, good food, and, generally, good people. Not so much the good jobs, but at least for now they can blame it on the national economy.
Just a bit of explaination of why we live so far away from our incredible families. (I miss you too, Grandma!) We choose to make our home here for a reason, and we're excited that our friends and families will get the chance to see why.
Walk the walk:
Stay with me on this:
There are 5 major "quadrants" to the city, aptly called, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, and the infamous 5th Quadrant, North. Yes, I said quadrants, not quintrants...don't get me started.
Talk the talk:
Stumptown: Used to be Portland's nickname, but now it's synonymous with the local coffee roaster by the same name.
Couch Street: It's pronounced "COO-ch."
the MAX: stands for Metropolitan Area Express, but doubtful you'll be a minority not knowing that detail. More importantly, it is the light rail system in town, operated by Trimet. Use it to get from the Airport to downtown for ~ $2.50 one way.
PDX: not just the code for the Portland International Airport, but often used by locals in place of writing or saying "Portland"
The Merc, or Mercury: The Portland Mercury is one of the local, free weeklies, comes out every Thursday. Not to be confused with the Willamette Week, another, similar weekly in town; this comes out on Wednesdays. To know which one to pick up: if you're easily offended by crude images and/or descriptions, best to reach for the Willamette Week. Both are good for finding out what's going on that week. The Mercury is generally more "entertaining."
Powells: The bookseller in town. Famous for its massive downtown location. First brick and mortar store to shelve used and new titles side-by-side. Radical, I know!
McMenamins: pronounced: Mc-Men-A-mins. Local chain of quirky restaurants, pubs, and pub theaters in town. Most locations are unique, one-offs until you get to the outskirts of town. They have their own brand of microbrews, wines, and liquors. Decent enough food, okay beer, best for familiar American fare in a family-friendly atmosphere. I'll cover more on that in the upcoming food post.
Other useful references:
Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon by Portland's own Chuck Palahniuk
NYT's 36 Hours in Portland, Ore.
NatGeo's Intelligent Travel Portland Blog Post
Like most stereotypes, there's a tiny nugget of validity lurking in the background of those claims. Portland is characterized by its overwhelming population of non-native Oregonians in its urban center. Jacob & I were each drawn here separately, from Texas by way of Nevada, and Pennsylvania by way of Washington, respectively, for many of the same reasons folks from California, Arizona, Colorado, New York and Florida were as well: the scenery, the sensibility, and the livability (and for most Californians, the affordability). Recycling is commonplace. Composting and rainwater harvesting is too. Bicycles are everywhere, and bike lanes are (usually) observed. Wal-mart is not welcome, and we love our small businesses. Good coffee, good food, and, generally, good people. Not so much the good jobs, but at least for now they can blame it on the national economy.
Just a bit of explaination of why we live so far away from our incredible families. (I miss you too, Grandma!) We choose to make our home here for a reason, and we're excited that our friends and families will get the chance to see why.
Walk the walk:
Stay with me on this:
There are 5 major "quadrants" to the city, aptly called, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, and the infamous 5th Quadrant, North. Yes, I said quadrants, not quintrants...don't get me started. Burnside Street cuts the city into North & South, while the Willamette slices it into East and West. The 5th-wheel of the group, North Portland, is defined as east of the Willamette & west of Williams Ave. This is also where Jacob & I currently reside.
When in doubt, most street signs denote the sector, i.e. E Burnside Ave, NW 23th Ave, SE Hawthorne Blvd, NE Alberta St.
More info can be found on the Wiki Travel Guide.
Stumptown: Used to be Portland's nickname, but now it's synonymous with the local coffee roaster by the same name.
Couch Street: It's pronounced "COO-ch."
the MAX: stands for Metropolitan Area Express, but doubtful you'll be a minority not knowing that detail. More importantly, it is the light rail system in town, operated by Trimet. Use it to get from the Airport to downtown for ~ $2.50 one way.
PDX: not just the code for the Portland International Airport, but often used by locals in place of writing or saying "Portland"
The Merc, or Mercury: The Portland Mercury is one of the local, free weeklies, comes out every Thursday. Not to be confused with the Willamette Week, another, similar weekly in town; this comes out on Wednesdays. To know which one to pick up: if you're easily offended by crude images and/or descriptions, best to reach for the Willamette Week. Both are good for finding out what's going on that week. The Mercury is generally more "entertaining."
Powells: The bookseller in town. Famous for its massive downtown location. First brick and mortar store to shelve used and new titles side-by-side. Radical, I know!
McMenamins: pronounced: Mc-Men-A-mins. Local chain of quirky restaurants, pubs, and pub theaters in town. Most locations are unique, one-offs until you get to the outskirts of town. They have their own brand of microbrews, wines, and liquors. Decent enough food, okay beer, best for familiar American fare in a family-friendly atmosphere. I'll cover more on that in the upcoming food post.
Other useful references:
Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon by Portland's own Chuck Palahniuk
NYT's 36 Hours in Portland, Ore.
NatGeo's Intelligent Travel Portland Blog Post
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Keeping the madness on the court
So it's March already! Here in Portland it feels like spring is really trying to make its presence known, while the Eastern part of the country still struggles with a rentlentless late winter and, in some cases, an uncharacteristic winter that involves snow?!
While we here keep our fingers crossed the mild temps and dry weather hold over for the next month, no promises can be made. If you are a stranger to the Pacific Northwest, think foggy & damp. We suggest bringing a jacket, preferrably something with a hood. Check out the weather tracker added to the sidebar.
February has been full of all kinds of non-wedding excitement. Jake's been keeping busy with a new semester of students & new songs to learn, plus he's still managing to squeeze shows with Atole. Indeed, they had two this month - one at the East End on Feb 13 and another on Feb 25 at Backspace. The Backspace show was almost a bust - with their bass player falling ill that week. Fortunately, the band pressed on, and they were able to pull together a lively slightly-improvised set with the help of a special guest member that kept the crowd gyrating in their assorted & stylish boots. If you're local reading this, the next show is this Friday, March 5 @ Branx.
For V-Day, it was a cooperative one: my contribution to the day was an ice skating trip (most likely inspired from hockey season in full swing). Later, Jake took us to dinner at Fenouil. Being my first time there, I had high expectations, and, while everything was prepared well, the overall *food* experience was not one I'm clamoring for immediately. There are just too many darn good restaurants in this town! Stay tuned for more of that in an upcoming post.
Both the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Valentine's ice skating trip invigorated us, even inspiring Jacob to develop "a new appreciation for winter sports." We followed most of the big names over the Olympics, fostered a strange attraction to curling, got loud for the men's hockey (okay, maybe just me), and overall wowed by almost anything involving arial stunts and snow. Go Harry Potter, er, Simon Ammann!
The most exciting news of the month isn't our own, but rather our friends, Nate and Penelope, who became parents just less than two weeks ago! We are so happy for them and cannot wait to see more of the littlest lady, Bell Lu, and her parents. That is of course, if she ever takes a break from eating! Oh, babies.
One final note & a plug for our neighborhood: we're getting a new neighborhood library just walking distance from our house! The grand opening is March 8. Go Kenton. This also proves I am my mother's daughter, getting excited about a public library.
By the way...of all sports, college basketball & March Madness ranks just a hair above the NBA at the bottom of the list. Sorry, Blazers.
While we here keep our fingers crossed the mild temps and dry weather hold over for the next month, no promises can be made. If you are a stranger to the Pacific Northwest, think foggy & damp. We suggest bringing a jacket, preferrably something with a hood. Check out the weather tracker added to the sidebar.
February has been full of all kinds of non-wedding excitement. Jake's been keeping busy with a new semester of students & new songs to learn, plus he's still managing to squeeze shows with Atole. Indeed, they had two this month - one at the East End on Feb 13 and another on Feb 25 at Backspace. The Backspace show was almost a bust - with their bass player falling ill that week. Fortunately, the band pressed on, and they were able to pull together a lively slightly-improvised set with the help of a special guest member that kept the crowd gyrating in their assorted & stylish boots. If you're local reading this, the next show is this Friday, March 5 @ Branx.
For V-Day, it was a cooperative one: my contribution to the day was an ice skating trip (most likely inspired from hockey season in full swing). Later, Jake took us to dinner at Fenouil. Being my first time there, I had high expectations, and, while everything was prepared well, the overall *food* experience was not one I'm clamoring for immediately. There are just too many darn good restaurants in this town! Stay tuned for more of that in an upcoming post.
Both the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Valentine's ice skating trip invigorated us, even inspiring Jacob to develop "a new appreciation for winter sports." We followed most of the big names over the Olympics, fostered a strange attraction to curling, got loud for the men's hockey (okay, maybe just me), and overall wowed by almost anything involving arial stunts and snow. Go Harry Potter, er, Simon Ammann!
The most exciting news of the month isn't our own, but rather our friends, Nate and Penelope, who became parents just less than two weeks ago! We are so happy for them and cannot wait to see more of the littlest lady, Bell Lu, and her parents. That is of course, if she ever takes a break from eating! Oh, babies.
One final note & a plug for our neighborhood: we're getting a new neighborhood library just walking distance from our house! The grand opening is March 8. Go Kenton. This also proves I am my mother's daughter, getting excited about a public library.
By the way...of all sports, college basketball & March Madness ranks just a hair above the NBA at the bottom of the list. Sorry, Blazers.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
