Portland

Relatively few places give you the opportunity to visit the high desert plain, snowy mountains, temperate rain forest to dipping your toes in the chilly Pacific Ocean all in one day. But Portland can. Situated between the Cascade mountain range and the lava sculpted Oregon coast, it is often looked upon as the largest small town in the West. This budding metropolis has everything to offer without giving you that lost feeling that other big cities bring.

Read More »

Things you can only do in Portland

  • Kennedy School or Bagdad Theater McMenamin’s Brothers two best examples of urban renewal. Kennedy school offers a full late night restaurant, lovely patio, ‘Detention Bar’, ‘Honors Bar’, and a movie theater full of comfy sofas to cuddle, eat and drink beer while watching cheap second run films. All this set in an old elaborately painted elementary school. The Bagdad is SE Hawthorne’s Mediterranean movie wonder palace. It also offers cheap beer and pizza whilst movie watching in an elaboratly painted old world venue. Wander around to the Backstage bar and check out the seven story ceiling.
  • Oaks Park This 100 year old Park is so old-timey and sweet. It comes complete with a dance pavilion, both classic and new rides, train, and a roller skating rink with organ. Amy bruised up her backside ‘shooting the duck’ here a few year’s back.
  • Japanese Garden – Get lost and found in this beautiful, lush, rolling hilled, zen garden. Located in Washington Park in the west hills.
  • Classical Chinese Garden – This amazing little hidden Asian oasis takes up one whole block in the middle of Old Town. It can take you a few happily spent hours to get through if you explore all the nooks and crannies of the rooms here. Stop for almond cookies and Jasmine tea in the two story tea house overlooking the koi pond to realign your Chi.
  • Ground Kontrol – Get your Qbert on! 21 and over after 7pm as they serve alcohol. Old Town.
  • Wunderland Arcade – Whether in SE Belmont area or near Jereme and Amy’s house in NE, this place offers nickel (a nickel, for real!) arcade games, air hockey, pinball and great cheeseball prizes.
  • Saturday Market – Weekends under the Burnside Bridge will deliver an international food court, tons of arts & crafts, music, and all the stick jiggling you can handle.
  • Portland Walking Tours – Spooky, cultural, interesting little known facts of ‘Our Town’ whilst exercising.
  • Forest & Washington Park – The largest urban park in the country, lined with trails for hiking and biking, a zoo, arboretum, children’s museum and Forestry Center, rose gardens and more!
  • Powell’s Books – Where a lot of Portlanders spend their rainy winter days. It’s said of this Portland institution, that “there are a million stories in the City of Books”. It’s true. One of them is how Jereme and Amy met.
  • Reading Frenzy – Irreverent books and zines and lovely fun little things.
  • Everyday Music – Open until midnight. EM offers up over 10,000 used and new records, tapes, dvds, and vinyl titles at each location. Even in this digital era of downloadable music, it’s hard to leave without a stack of albums. Start at the guaranteed to play ‘scuffs’ bins where all CDs are $4. Locally owned, downtown W Burnside and E Sandy Blvd locations.
  • Velvetaria Although I haven’t been here personally, I do know they have an awesome ‘Mr. T’ painting at this Museum of Velvet Paintings.
  • Burnside Skate Park – Community built, internationally reknown skate park project under the bridge. Full tilt boogie!

Where you should eat if you are hungry (specific craving not found here? ask us)

BREAKFAST

  • Stumptown Coffee $ – Stumptown serves perfectly roasted coffee throughout the city daily. You may notice your regular ol’ cup o’ joe being brewed through a french press. A Portland staple.
  • Equinox $$ – Delicious, original meals with a bit of fanciness. Their perfectly portioned dishes are named after the Mississippi neighborhood. A fantastic outdoor patio. They even make their own ketchup.
  • Fuller’s Diner $ – Crinkle cut fries, ice cream shakes, yummy reubens. Oh yeah, and great affordable diner breakfasts all day – a Portland institution found just down the street from Powell’s.
  • Byways Café $$ – Fresh home made signature dishes like blue corn pancakes and creamy brioche french toast. Quirky & fun travel ambiance. Located on Glisan in the Pearl District.
  • Milo’s City Cafe $ – Jereme’s old hideout. He swears the breakfast potatoes are the best the town. Amy likes that you don’t have to wait in line. Located near Lloyd Mall on Broadway.
  • St. Honore Boulangerie – Amy listed this one so that everyone would have to pronounce ‘boulangerie’. Seriously, if you can push through the wealthy rich ladies and get to the counter, you can order THE BEST croissant in town.
  • Grand Central Baking $ – Grand Central has a plethora locations and a wide selection of freshly made baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. Jereme recommends the Bacon Egg Bolo. Amy prefers a simple Jammer.
  • Shhhhh…are they all gone? Okay, Amy and Jereme’s little secret is that they adore their neighborhood Pig `n Pancake $$ with their bottomless cups of coffee, waitresses in tacky aloha shirts, Pig parafernalia and the best Swedish pancakes (prepared medium) and chicken fried steak skillet ever.

LUNCH

  • Whole Bowl $ – To go only. The yummiest, healthiest bowl of goodness from a cart. Found in the NW Pearl district as well as SE Hawthorne.
  • Altengartz Brats $ – To go only. Jereme’s favorite sausages found on the corner of SW 10th and Washington.
  • Grand Central Bakery $ – Awesome Sammiches. Try the Turkey Chutney. For real!
  • Fong Chong $ – One of the best Dim Sum joints in Chinatown. Don’t leave without trying the ‘Onion Bun’, ‘Ginger Chicken’ and Amy’s fave, the ‘Pork Cookie’.
  • Geraldi’s Italian Eating Place $ – Jereme prefers the meatball sub. Amy, the chicken parmesan. The half size sandwich is enough. Yesiree! drooool. Downtown 4th Ave.
  • Burgerville $ – How we do fast food in the NW. Regional ingredients made to order burger stand style. The seasonal shakes are practically unbeatable if quick cheap treats are what you are after.
  • Pizza Hot Lips Pizza $ – Found in a few places about town. If you see Big lips on a pizza sign, you know fresh ingredients in creative combinations can be found. Escape From New York NW 23rd Ave location. Get in line, order at the counter and grab a stool at this no frills pizzeria. Every Portlander knows this place has the best NY style pizza in town.
  • Dog House $ – Can’t go wrong with a kosher beef frank with a little red/yellow and kraut on top. Grab a root beer and you are set for the day. Located on Burnside on the East side.
  • Pal’s Shanty $ When you’ve tired of Portland’s smugness, head out for the Hollywood district in Northeast for Pal’s Shanty. With dark wood-paneled walls and dirt-cheap clam chowder, the old-school Pal’s is a relic of bygone days when loggers and shipbuilders – dictated Portland’s social scene.
  • Hollywood Burger Bar $ – Tiny, round, blue building located on 42nd and NE Sandy in Hollywood. The burgers and RC cola are favorites of the locals. Like the Shanty above, this place is true old Portland.

FANCY DINNER

  • Lovely Hula Hands $$ – Creative, fresh, organic dinners in a quaint old world building in the Mississippi area. Amy recommends ditching the wonderful drink menu and ordering the ‘Silk Stocking’ cocktail for a deliciously rich, creamy raspberry goodness.
  • Equinox $$ – Unique organic fare specializing in seasonal dishes. Rustic and unassuming like the salmon wild mushroom encrusted, over creamy risotto with pasilla-tangerine cream sauce.
  • The Farm $$ – Some of the best vegetarian/vegan fare in Portland. Strangely filling for being so healthy. Fresh organic ingredients – and they have great cocktails! Located just east of the Burnside Bridge on SE 7th.
  • Screen Door $$ – Delicious, mouth watering Southern cooking like Po-boys, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, grits, ribs and so on. All crafted with seasonal and local ingredients whenever possible.
  • Toro Bravo $$ – The menu features both traditional and fusion-inspired dishes, creating a delicious mix of fresh Oregon and Spanish flavors.
  • Dan and Louis’ Oyster Bar $$ – This 100 year old seafood restaurant is a Portland institution. Located in an unassuming alley just south of Burnside, downtown.
  • Jake’s Famous Crawfish $$$ – Probably the town’s best seafood restaurant with classic yet casual Portland stylings. The happy hour has one of the best and cheapest burgers in town. Make sure you visit the SW 11th and Stark location for the original bar and Mt hood artwork.
  • Paley’s Place $$ – Pacific Northwest regional cuisine, served in the warm and inviting setting of a NW Victorian home. They offer fresh, local ingredients and finery. Small groups only. We go here on special occasions and always leave feeling happy and wonderful.

NOT SO FANCY DINNER

  • ?Por Que No? $ – It’s always busy. If you can get in, you will be happy.
  • PokPok $$ – Voted best restaurant in 2007, PokPok has the most authentic Thai food I’ve had since being in Thailand. Fresh, simple ingredients and amazing flavors. Not your typical mall Thai food. Located in SE.
  • Lorenzo’s $ – Creative, homemade, fresh Italian fare in the quaint Mississippi neighborhood. The grilled romaine salad is a treat.
  • Thien Hong $ – Vietnamese and Chinese fare. Known for having the BEST pepper salted squid in Portland. Hawaiians love to eat here since it reminds them of good Chinese food found back home. Located on NE 62nd and Sandy Blvd.
  • Piazza Italia $ – The first time Amy ever ate here, the owner broke out in an opera solo. Classic & authentic, you won’t find a more Italian restaurant outside of Italy. The minestrone is amazing. Located in the Pearl District.
  • Queen of Sheba $ – If you haven’t had Ethiopian food yet you are really missing out. Look past the lackluster atmosphere to the delicious stews of meats, lentils or veggies that you eat with yummy, spongey injira bread. We recommend the vegetarian sampler platter.
  • Old Town Pizza $ – Portland’s best haunted pizza parlor. Found in Old Town.
  • Ya Hala $ – Wander over to the west side of Tabor and you’ll find Portland’s best authentic Lebanese fare. Try the labna cheese appetizer with swollen hot pita bread for instant hunger gratification.

MICROBREWS & PUB FOOD

  • HopWorks – One of the new breweries on the SE side. Yummy burgers and a great ten beer sampler which includes seasonals. The building and business prides itself on being very Green.
  • New Old Lompoc With a few locations, the NW/23rd Ave original New Old Lompoc offers a great outdoor patio and hoppy ‘Lompoc Strong Draft’. Basic bar food and salads.
  • Widmer Gasthaus An award winning Hefeweizen, perfect on hot August days. One of the more successful local microbrews.

DESSERTS & DEELITES

  • Pix Patisserie – With a few locations around town now. Pix’s treats are fancy but this place has AMAZING award winning desserts and truffles. The Amalee and Ghetto Cake are da bomb and you are worth it.
  • Voodoo Doughnut – Downtown. Home of the Dirty Snowball and the Tony Bourdain’s favorite Maple Bacon Bar! Open 24 hours for crazed donut lovers.
  • Saint Cupcake – You know you are beloved when someone brings you a Saint Cupcake. SW and SE locations.
  • Annie’s Donuts – On your way to or from the airport, stop off at Sandy Blvd and NE 72nd and order the glazed donut and an ice cold milk. This little bit of fried heaven is the icing on the donut of your trip to Portland.

COCKTAILS for Celebratin’

  • Rontoms – Local liqours, retro vibe, grilled cheese and tomato soup on the happy hour menu. Say ‘hey’ to Casey Burns who occasionaly works here nights, the fantastic illustrator of our invites and site. Located just over the river on E Burnside and 6th. There is no sign out front – they are that cool.
  • Alibi – Over the top kitsch Tiki. Best neon sign in town. You might get ugly drunk here. Karaoke. Lots of fun if you are in the mood for a dive bar bar.
  • Portland City Grill – The best view in town coupled with EZ listening piano playing. Not for those afraid of heights. Go early and for happy hour only.
  • Mint yummy and original cocktails like the ‘Avocado Martini’ makes Mint a girlfriend’s hideaway. Hidden away under the Fremont Bridge, calamari and sweet potato fries complete the happy hour menu.
  • Huber’s – One of Portland’s oldest bars, they are known for their elaborate and lethal Spanish Coffees. One of Amy’s mom’s favorites.

SHOPPING & NEIGHBORHOODS