Portland Oregon

L (updated!)

2010-08-23T22:09:00.001-07:00

Lacrosse
For tickets and information about Portland's lacrosse team, go to:
Portland LumberJax

Ladd's Addition
Gardens

Liquor & Distilleries
Clear Creek Distillery,
Highball
House Spirits (maker of Medoyeff Vodka)
Marteau
New Deal Distillery.
For more Oregon distillers, see OregonGetaways, the Companies & Products section, under L. Also, check out Oregon Bounty for information on events on Distillers' Row, between SE 7th and SE 20th Avenues and E Burnside & East Division Streets.

G (updated!)

2010-06-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Go Biodiesel

Guy W Talbot State Park
Picnicking, trails, waterfalls.

GR Scrub
As featured in Sunset magazine, March 07. One stop shop for all you need to clean, specializing in non-toxic items.

Grand Floral Parade
Takes place in June.

Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, a beautiful 62 acre Catholic Shrine and botanical garden. You don’t need to be Catholic to enjoy the beauty and serenity here. Perfect for a picnic.

C (updated!)

2010-05-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

Carousels:
Jantzen Beach Supercenter Merry-Go-Round 1920s carousel.
Noah's Ark Carousel. A 2 deck, Herschell-Spillman 'menagerie' model.

Charity Where do our values lie?
According to a 2007 Oregon Community Foundation report, Multnomah County residents gave $639 million to charity. (Portland Monthly, May 08)
The largest percentage (22%) was given to Education, compared to a national average of 14%. Philanthropy and volunteerism came in at 17%, not ranked nationally.
Human Services 17%, national 10%
Arts, Culture & Humanities 12%, national 4%
Health 9%, national 7%
Other 8%, national 9%
Environment 7%, national (includes animals) 2%
Youth Development 3%, not ranked nationally
Religion 2%, national 33%
Animals 2%, national percentage combined with environment
Public-society benefit 1%, national 7%
Not ranked in Multnomah Co giving: Foundations & International Affairs (10% & 4% respectively for national)

Cheese
Curds & Whey, 8036 SE 13th Ave, ph: 503-231-2877

Chinese Garden
Located in NW Portland, you enter to find a surprisingly peaceful and serene setting. The tea service is wonderful.

Chocolate
Alma Chocolate, Cacao, Chocosphere, DePaula Confections, The Meadow, Moonstruck Chocolates (one of Oprah’s faves), Portland Truffle, Sahagun, Xocolatl de David.com.
Interested in a chocolate tour? Check out Chocolate Tasting & More.
For more Oregon chocolatiers, see OregonGetaways, the Companies & Products section.

Christmas Ships
During the month of December, boats decorated with holiday lights parade up and down the Willamette River.

Cinco de Mayo
One of the largest Cinco de Mayo festivals in North America in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Clear Creek Distillery

Coffee
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Guatemala Finca Injerto was featured in Saveur magazine, Oct 08: "With a faint taste of rose petals and a toasted-almond finish, this delicate, medium-roast coffee shines when drunk without milk or sugar."

Crafting
Classes: DIY Lounge at Collage
Monthly get together Crafty Wonderland

Cupcakes
There are a few great places in the city to get cupcakes. Here's one:
St Cupcake

B (updated!)

2010-05-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

Baseball: Triple A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, Portland Beavers. The Beavers' fate is unknown now that MLS is coming to town and will be taking over PGE Park.

Basketball:
NBA Trailblazers

Beyond Bizarre
A Portland walking tour taking you to the creepiest parts of town.

Bicycling:
March 2006, Bicycling magazine named Pdx the best overall cycling city in the U.S.
According to Forbestraveler.com, Portland ranks #2 among bicycle-friendly cities in the world (Portland Monthly, Aug 08).
Portland ranks #1 among U.S. cities for % of residents who commute by bicycle (Portland Monthly Aug07).
Check out these websites for more information on bicycling in Portland:
Zoobombing, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Pedalpalooza, Livestrong Challenge, Providence Bridge Pedal, Mini-Bike Winter Olympics, Tour de Fat, Reach the Beach, Hottest Day of the Year Ride, 40-Mile Loop, Cross Crusade

Bite of Oregon
Benefiting the Special Olympics, this is your opportunity to “taste” some of Oregon’s restaurants & wineries. Takes place in August.

Blue Lake
A natural lake for a day of play.

Breweries
Famous for its microbrews, Oregonians drink more beer and better beer than folks in other states. If you’re visiting in July, don’t miss the Oregon Brewer’s Festival, the largest beer festival in N America attracting about 50,000 people from all over the world, and if you’re visiting in the spring, The Spring Beerfest.
Gallons of beer that the 45 brewer-members of the Oregon Brewer’s Guild produced in 2005: 20.77 million.
Roots Organic Brewing Company
Hopworks Urban Brewing (great Event listing!)

On A Budget

W (updated!)

2010-05-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

Waterfront Blues Festival
Not only does this festival attract some of the finest Blues musicians but, it also raises funds for the Oregon Food Bank. Takes place over the 4th of July weekend on the waterfront.

Weather
Average # of fully sunny days a year in Portland: 68
Average daily temperature in Portland: 60.2

Wine
Grape Escape Winery Tours
See also OregonGetaways.

Winter Hawks
Hockey.

World Forestry Center

Woodworking
Northwest Woodworking Studio, featured in Sunset Magazine, Jan 2010, offers woodworking classes and more.

R (updated!)

2010-05-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

Rebuilding Center

Restaurants
See Restaurants section.

River View Cemetery
Offering gorgeous views of Mt St Helens and Mt Hood, River View is the final resting place of Virgil Earp, governors, US Senators, baseball player, Carl Mays, the first US policewoman, Lola G Baldwin and more.

Rose City Rollers
Women's Roller Derby League.

Rose Festival
A variety of activities, parades and other celebrations during the month of June.

P (updated!)

2010-03-29T22:16:00.001-07:00

Pacific NW College of Art

Peacock Lane
During the month of December, the homeowners on this street decorate their homes with sparkling Christmas light displays.

Pearl District
NW Portland.

Peninsula Park Rose Garden

The Perfume House
Your favorite perfume discontinued? Looking for some of the rarest perfume in the world? Find it here, all with the help of one of the world’s 26 “noses”.

Pirate Festival
Held in Cathedral Park.

Pittock Mansion
Completed in 1914, the mansion also features a beautiful view of the city and beyond. The former Oregonian owner, Henry Pittock commissioned it’s construction.

Pizza
Featured in VIA, AAA's magazine as "Uncommonly good pizza places": Apizza Scholls, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Hot Lips (see H)

Plate & Pitchfork
21 and over. Delectable meals made with locally produced ingredients, served with local wines, and the privilege and experience of dining at local farms.

Portland Art Museum

Portland Cacophony Society

Portland Center Stage
Theatre

Portland City Grill
Although I’m not (many) listing restaurants in this bio, this one is the exception. It earns a listing not for the food (it’s good) or the fantastic happy hour they offer but for the spectacular view of the Willamette River, the mountains and the city. They have a large bar area (reservations unavailable) and a more elegant dining area (reservations suggested).

Portland Festival Symphony

Portland Farmer's Market

Portland International Airport
While PDX is the airport's code, you'll notice that locals frequently refer to the city, itself, as PDX.

Portland International Rose Test Gardens
FREE.

Portland Jazz Festival

Portland Marathon
A qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Portland Opera

Portland Spirit
Beautiful, romantic and not too expensive. They offer a number of short cruises down the Willamette including brunch & dinner cruises.

Portland Taste
Taste of the Nation, an event benefiting statewide projects fighting hunger.

Portlandia
The 2nd largest hammered-copper statue in the country (the Statue of Liberty is the largest). Artist: Raymond Kaskey. Installed 1985. Dimensions: 36' 10" high. Made from copper and steel. Location: 1120 SW Fifth Ave.

Powell's Books
Built in 1971, Powell's is one of the largest independent book distributors in the U.S. Used books, rare books, new books. There's something for everyone at Powell's. Get lost in reading.

Pride NW

L

2010-03-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

I (updated!)

2010-02-15T13:14:00.001-08:00

Indie Wine Festival

International Rose Test Garden
In Washington Park.

F (updated!)

2010-02-14T19:58:00.000-08:00

Farms
U-Pick Produce (.pdf)

Farmer's Market
In addition to Portland's main market, there are markets throughout the Metro area and throughout Oregon that are definitely worth checking out. Tips for making the experience a good one, for you and for others

Portland Fashion Week
See also Shopping.

Festa Italiana
Takes place each summer.

Flicks On The Bricks
Free movies shown in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Summertime.

Forest Park
One of the nation’s largest urban wilderness, covering 217,800,000 square feet; a labyrinth of hiking trails, nature and scenery. Free.

Frugal Portland
In the NY Times, May 10, 2009.

D (updated!)

2010-02-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

Dogs
Portland is a dog-friendly town. 31 off-leash areas (not every park is, so please check before you take Fido off his leash). Many hotels accept dogs (just ask) and if you'd like to get a brew while hanging out with your dog, go to Lucky Labrador Brewing Company. Also see PDX Dog.

Dragonboats

B

2010-01-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

Baseball:
Triple A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, Portland Beavers. The Beavers' fate is unknown now that MLS is coming to town and will be taking over PGE Park.

Basketball:
NBA Trailblazers

Beyond Bizarre
A Portland walking tour taking you to the creepiest parts of town.

Bicycling:
March 2006, Bicycling magazine named Pdx the best overall cycling city in the U.S.
According to Forbestraveler.com, Portland ranks #2 among bicycle-friendly cities in the world (Portland Monthly, Aug 08).
Portland ranks #1 among U.S. cities for % of residents who commute by bicycle (Portland Monthly Aug07).
Check out these websites for more information on bicycling in Portland:
Zoobombing, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Pedalpalooza, Livestrong Challenge, Providence Bridge Pedal, Mini-Bike Winter Olympics, Tour de Fat, Reach the Beach, Hottest Day of the Year Ride, 40-Mile Loop, Cross Crusade

Bite of Oregon
Benefiting the Special Olympics, this is your opportunity to “taste” some of Oregon’s restaurants & wineries. Takes place in August.

Breweries
Famous for its microbrews, Oregonians drink more beer and better beer than folks in other states. If you’re visiting in July, don’t miss the Oregon Brewer’s Festival, the largest beer festival in N America attracting about 50,000 people from all over the world, and if you’re visiting in the spring, The Spring Beerfest.
Gallons of beer that the 45 brewer-members of the Oregon Brewer’s Guild produced in 2005: 20.77 million.
Roots Organic Brewing Company
Hopworks Urban Brewing (great Event listing!)

On A Budget

Departure Restaurant in the Nines

2009-07-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

While I wouldn't plan a dinner at Departure, it's definitely worth a stop for a drink on their patio overlooking the city.

A (updated!)

2009-06-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

Aerial Tram
One of the first urban trams in the country, traveling 3,300 feet in 3 minutes over I-5.

Architecture:
Fennell House
House on a stick
John Yeon, home
Pietro Belluschi
The Portland Building

Art in the Pearl
Weekend festival, takes place each summer.

Artist's Repertory Theatre

T (updated!)

2009-06-15T15:21:00.001-07:00

Tanner Springs Park
One of Portlands Parks, this one is located in the Pearl District (NW) and contains a man-made wetland.

Transportation
Oregon’s largest city, Portland is, easy to navigate; very walk-able, cabs are inexpensive and buses
(Tri-met), MAX and the Streetcar are free in fareless square (the core downtown area). See also Aerial Tram.

S (updated!)

2009-06-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Santacon

Saturday Market
An eclectic array of arts, crafts, food and music.

SCRAP
Creative reuse center

Segway
Rent a Segway and see the city.

Shakespeare in the Park
Free. Live theatre in parks throughout Portland.

Shopping (updated!)
Oregon does not have a sales tax but we do have: one of 25 designer Nordstroms in the country, which includes leather goods & clothing-based Chanel boutiques, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany’s, Pioneer Place, St. John Knits, local designers at stores like Dragonlily, Sofada, Michelle DeCourcy, Poppi Swim, Magala Corzo,Emily Katz, Lisa Rietz, A Broken Spoke and Gold. See also IDOM boutique, located at 1600 NE Alberta Street. Despite our "grunge" reputation, Portland moves and shakes (and without a sales tax!). You just need to know where to look.
More clothing stores to check out: Mario’s (Armani and more), Le Train Bleu, The English Department, Una, Frock (where locally-designed DarBeka can be found), and Garment. Powell’s City of Books: More than a city block of books, approx 750,000 in the downtown store). The Pearl(neighborhood full of a plethora of fun shops). REI. Bridgeport Village, just outside Portland and Outlets, also just outside of Portland.
NY Times Portland Style Map,

Spas
There are plenty of spas in Portland but if you want to go where Mick Jagger goes when he’s in town, check out Aequis on 11th, downtown. If you’re looking for more of a hotel / spa experience check out The Avalon Hotel & Spa, located near downtown. And if you’re looking just to get your feet pampered after a long hard day of shopping, head to Barefoot Sage on Hawthorne.

Stark’s Vacuum Museum
More than 300 vacuums.

Strip Clubs
It’s true, Portland has more strip clubs per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. There are a fair number of guys that choose to have their bachelor parties here in “The City That Works” (that used to be the City’s motto).

Stumptown Comics Fest

Restaurants (updated!)

2009-05-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Portland has more restaurants per capita than NYC. Chefs come from all over the world to “play” with the fresh organic produce, livestock, fresh seafood and wine available here. There are simply too many great places to list in this blog (although I'm going to list some). If you’re looking for suggestions for anything from great breakfast places to where to find Ethiopian food ask the Oregon (on theNest or theKnot) board or try CitySearch.

A great resource to find vegan or vegetarian restaurants is VegPortland. You'll find that Portland is overall, very vegetarian friendly and a good majority of the restaurants in Portland offer vegan or vegetarian options on their menus –even the steakhouses.

Looking for gluten-free? Corbett Fish House on the westside and Hawthorne Fish House in SE.

Podnah's Pit, a Texas bbq joint was featured in VIA, AAA's magazine, Jul/Aug 08 issue. Looking for an inexpensive 4-course meal?

Check out the Oregon Culinary Institute.

Kenny & Zuke's, a Jewish-style deli, located downtown was featured in Bon Appetit, Aug 2008, "The Hot 10 Sandwich Shops".

Original Pancake House, a Readers' Favorite in VIA AAA's Sept/Oct 08 magazine. There are 5 other locations and Portland's is the first.

Wong's King Seafood, featured in VIA AAA's Nov/Dec 08 magazine as a place for Great Dim Sum.

Not a restaurant but one of Portland's many great food carts Flavour Spot, this one serves waffles and coffee.
For more information on Portland's food carts, go to Food Carts Portland and I <3 Foodcarts

Hot! Hot! Hot! Beast has been featured in many magazines as of late including Sunset, Gourmet, Portland Monthly and more.

Soup Delivery! Not a restaurant but a delivery service of delicious soups! Soup Cycle

Sustainable sushi can be found at Bamboo Sushi

P (updated!)

2009-05-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

Pacific NW College of Art

Peacock Lane
During the month of December, the homeowners on this street decorate their homes with sparkling Christmas light displays.

Pearl District
NW Portland.

Pirate Festival
Held in Cathedral Park.

Pittock Mansion
Completed in 1914, the mansion also features a beautiful view of the city and beyond.

Pizza
Featured in VIA, AAA's magazine as "Uncommonly good pizza places": Apizza Scholls, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Hot Lips (see H)

Plate & Pitchfork
21 and over. Delectable meals made with locally produced ingredients, served with local wines, and the privilege and experience of dining at local farms.

Portland Art Museum

Portland Cacophony Society

Portland Center Stage
Theatre

Portland City Grill
Although I’m not (many) listing restaurants in this bio, this one is the exception. It earns a listing not for the food (it’s good) or the fantastic happy hour they offer but for the spectacular view of the Willamette River, the mountains and the city. They have a large bar area (reservations unavailable) and a more elegant dining area (reservations suggested).

Portland Festival Symphony

Portland Farmer's Market

Portland International Airport
While PDX is the airport's code, you'll notice that locals frequently refer to the city, itself, as PDX.

Portland International Rose Test Gardens
FREE.

Portland Jazz Festival

Portland Marathon
A qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Portland Opera

Portland Spirit
Beautiful, romantic and not too expensive. They offer a number of short cruises down the Willamette including brunch & dinner cruises.

Portland Taste
Taste of the Nation, an event benefiting statewide projects fighting hunger.

Portlandia
The 2nd largest hammered-copper statue in the country (the Statue of Liberty is the largest). Artist: Raymond Kaskey. Installed 1985. Dimensions: 36' 10" high. Made from copper and steel. Location: 1120 SW Fifth Ave.

Powell's Books
Built in 1971, Powell's is one of the largest independent book distributors in the U.S. Used books, rare books, new books. There's something for everyone at Powell's. Get lost in reading.

Pride NW

O (updated!)

2009-05-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

Oak's Amusement Park
A carousel, rides and year-round rollerskating, not to mention lots of grassy spots for near-the-Willamette River picnicking.

Oregon Ballet Theatre
Don't miss OBT Exposed. Each summer, OBT practices outside, in the South Park Blocks for a week, FREE.

Oregon Children's Theatre

Oregon Historical Society & Museum

Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI)
Fun for kids & adults.

Oregon Zoo
Don't miss the summer concert series, some at only the cost of zoo admission, others additional.

N (new!)

2009-04-21T21:28:00.001-07:00

NW Film & Video Festival

L (updated!)

2009-04-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

Lacrosse
For tickets and information about Portland's lacrosse team, go to:
Portland LumberJax

Liquor & Distilleries
Clear Creek Distillery, Highball, House Spirits (maker of Medoyeff Vodka), Integrity Spirits (maker of Trillium absinthe), Marteau, New Deal Distillery.
For more Oregon distillers, see OregonGetaways, the Companies & Products section, under L. Also, check out Oregon Bounty for information on events on Distillers' Row, between SE 7th and SE 20th Avenues and E Burnside & East Division Streets.

G (updated!)

2009-04-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Go Biodiesel

GR Scrub
As featured in Sunset magazine, March 07. One stop shop for all you need to clean, specializing in non-toxic items.

Grand Floral Parade
Takes place in June.

Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, a beautiful 62 acre Catholic Shrine and botanical garden. You don’t need to be Catholic to enjoy the beauty and serenity here. Perfect for a picnic.

F

2009-02-26T20:42:00.001-08:00

Farmer's Market
In addition to Portland's main market, there are markets throughout the Metro area and throughout Oregon that are definitely worth checking out.

Festa Italiana
Takes place each summer.

Flicks On The Bricks
Free movies shown in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Summertime.

Forest Park
One of the nation’s largest urban wilderness, covering 217,800,000 square feet; a labyrinth of hiking trails, nature and scenery. Free.

C

2009-02-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

Carousels:
Jantzen Beach Supercenter Merry-Go-Round 1920s carousel.
Noah's Ark Carousel. A 2 deck, Herschell-Spillman 'menagerie' model.

Charity Where do our values lie?
According to a 2007 Oregon Community Foundation report, Multnomah County residents gave $639 million to charity. (Portland Monthly, May 08)
The largest percentage (22%) was given to Education, compared to a national average of 14%. Philanthropy and volunteerism came in at 17%, not ranked nationally.
Human Services 17%, national 10%
Arts, Culture & Humanities 12%, national 4%
Health 9%, national 7%
Other 8%, national 9%
Environment 7%, national (includes animals) 2%
Youth Development 3%, not ranked nationally
Religion 2%, national 33%
Animals 2%, national percentage combined with environment
Public-society benefit 1%, national 7%
Not ranked in Multnomah Co giving: Foundations & International Affairs (10% & 4% respectively for national)

Cheese
Curds & Whey, 8036 SE 13th Ave, ph: 503-231-2877

Chinese Garden
Located in NW Portland, you enter to find a surprisingly peaceful and serene setting. The tea service is wonderful.

Chocolate
Alma Chocolate, Cacao, Chocosphere, DePaula Confections, The Meadow, Moonstruck Chocolates (one of Oprah’s faves), Portland Truffle, Sahagun, Xocolatl de David.com. For more Oregon chocolatiers, see OregonGetaways, the Companies & Products section.

Christmas Ships
During the month of December, boats decorated with holiday lights parade up and down the Willamette River.

Cinco de Mayo
One of the largest Cinco de Mayo festivals in North America in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Clear Creek Distillery

Coffee
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Guatemala Finca Injerto was featured in Saveur magazine, Oct 08: "With a faint taste of rose petals and a toasted-almond finish, this delicate, medium-roast coffee shines when drunk without milk or sugar."

Crafting
Classes: DIY Lounge at Collage
Monthly get together Crafty Wonderland

Cupcakes
There are a few great places in the city to get cupcakes. Here's one:
St Cupcake

B See updated entry

2009-01-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

Baseball:
Triple A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, Portland Beavers

Basketball:
NBA Trailblazers

Beyond Bizarre
A Portland walking tour taking you to the creepiest parts of town.

Bicycling:
March 2006, Bicycling magazine named Pdx the best overall cycling city in the U.S.
According to Forbestraveler.com, Portland ranks #2 among bicycle-friendly cities in the world (Portland Monthly, Aug 08).
Portland ranks #1 among U.S. cities for % of residents who commute by bicycle (Portland Monthly Aug07).
Check out these websites for more information on bicycling in Portland:
Zoobombing, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Pedalpalooza, Livestrong Challenge, Providence Bridge Pedal, Mini-Bike Winter Olympics, Tour de Fat, Reach the Beach, Hottest Day of the Year Ride, 40-Mile Loop, Cross Crusade

Bite of Oregon
Benefiting the Special Olympics, this is your opportunity to “taste” some of Oregon’s restaurants & wineries. Takes place in August.

Breweries
Famous for its microbrews, Oregonians drink more beer and better beer than folks in other states. If you’re visiting in July, don’t miss the Oregon Brewer’s Festival, the largest beer festival in N America attracting about 50,000 people from all over the world, and if you’re visiting in the spring, The Spring Beerfest.
Gallons of beer that the 45 brewer-members of the Oregon Brewer’s Guild produced in 2005: 20.77 million.
Roots Organic Brewing Company
Hopworks Urban Brewing (great Event listing!)

A (updated!)

2008-12-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

Aerial Tram
One of the first urban trams in the country, traveling 3,300 feet in 3 minutes over I-5.

Art in the Pearl
Weekend festival, takes place each summer.

Artist's Repertory Theatre

W

2008-12-09T04:37:00.000-08:00

V (updated!)

2008-11-30T17:10:00.001-08:00

Velveteria Museum of Velvet Paintings
What else? Nearly 2000 velvet paintings, nearly 350 on display at one time.

Volunteerism
25.4% of US adults in a metropolitan area who volunteer
35.8% of Portland adults who volunteer
Portland Monthly, Nov 2008

R

2008-11-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

Rebuilding Center

Restaurants
Portland has more restaurants per capita than NYC. Chefs come from all over the world to “play” with the fresh organic produce, livestock, fresh seafood and wine available here. There are simply too many great places to list in this blog (although I'm going to list some). If you’re looking for suggestions for anything from great breakfast places to where to find Ethiopian food ask the Oregon (on theNest or theKnot) board or try CitySearch.
A great resource to find vegan or vegetarian restaurants is VegPortland. You'll find that Portland is overall, very vegetarian friendly and a good majority of the restaurants in Portland offer vegan or vegetarian options on their menus –even the steakhouses.
Podnah's Pit, a Texas bbq joint was featured in VIA, AAA's magazine, Jul/Aug 08 issue. Looking for an inexpensive 4-course meal? Check out the Oregon Culinary Institute. Kenny & Zuke's, a Jewish-style deli, located downtown was featured in Bon Appetit, Aug 2008, "The Hot 10 Sandwich Shops". Original Pancake House, a Readers' Favorite in VIA AAA's Sept/Oct 08 magazine. There are 5 other locations and Portland's is the first. Wong's King Seafood, featured in VIA AAA's Nov/Dec 08 magazine as a place for Great Dim Sum. Not a restaurant but one of Portland's many great food carts Flavour Spot, this one serves waffles and coffee.
Hot! Hot! Hot! Beast has been featured in many magazines as of late, Sunset, Gourmet, Portland Monthly and more.

River View Cemetery
Offering gorgeous views of Mt St Helens and Mt Hood, River View is the final resting place of Virgil Earp, governors, US Senators, baseball player, Carl Mays, the first US policewoman, Lola G Baldwin and more.

Rose City Rollers
Women's Roller Derby League.

Rose Festival
A variety of activities, parades and other celebrations during the month of June.

P

2008-11-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

Peacock Lane
During the month of December, the homeowners on this street decorate their homes with sparkling Christmas light displays.

Pearl District
NW Portland.

Pirate Festival
Held in Cathedral Park.

Pittock Mansion
Completed in 1914, the mansion also features a beautiful view of the city and beyond.

Pizza
Featured in VIA, AAA's magazine as "Uncommonly good pizza places": Apizza Scholls, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Hot Lips (see H)

Plate & Pitchfork
21 and over. Delectable meals made with locally produced ingredients, served with local wines, and the privilege and experience of dining at local farms.

Portland Art Museum

Portland Cacophony Society

Portland Center Stage
Theatre

Portland City Grill
Although I’m not (many) listing restaurants in this bio, this one is the exception. It earns a listing not for the food (it’s good) or the fantastic happy hour they offer but for the spectacular view of the Willamette River, the mountains and the city. They have a large bar area (reservations unavailable) and a more elegant dining area (reservations suggested).

Portland Festival Symphony

Portland International Airport
While PDX is the airport's code, you'll notice that locals frequently refer to the city, itself, as PDX.

Portland International Rose Test Gardens
FREE.

Portland Jazz Festival

Portland Marathon
A qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Portland Opera

Portland Spirit
Beautiful, romantic and not too expensive. They offer a number of short cruises down the Willamette including brunch & dinner cruises.

Portland Taste
Taste of the Nation, an event benefiting statewide projects fighting hunger.

Portlandia
The 2nd largest hammered-copper statue in the country (the Statue of Liberty is the largest). Artist: Raymond Kaskey. Installed 1985. Dimensions: 36' 10" high. Made from copper and steel. Location: 1120 SW Fifth Ave.

Powell's Books
Built in 1971, Powell's is one of the largest independent book distributors in the U.S. Used books, rare books, new books. There's something for everyone at Powell's. Get lost in reading.

Pride NW

H (updated!)

2008-10-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Hour
Go to Barfly , Unthirsty.com or UrbanDrinks.com to search for various places around town.

Hat Museum
1928 SW Ladd Ave, Portland. America’s only hat museum with over 600 head coverings.

High Tea
Heathman Hotel, Lion and the Rose, Victoria Mansion, Not high tea but see also Chinese Garden

Higgins Restaurant & Bar
Chef Greg Higgins buys from local farms.

Hillsboro International Airshow
Generally takes place in August or September.

Hockey:
Winter Hawks

Hot Lips Pizza
What's special about a pizza place? I figure since it was mentioned in Gourmet Magazine, Oct 07, it deserves a mention here. Hot Lips is Portland-born and prides itself on making pizza & soda with organic & sustainable ingredients. They even use bicycles for some of their pizza deliveries in the spirit of being environmental!

Hotel Monaco
Check out "The Carless Package" which includes bike rentals and light-rail passes.

Hoyt Arboretum
Views of Mt Hood, St Helens & Rainier. 4000 SW Fairview Blvd.

Huber's
Featured in Oct 08 Gourmet Magazine, Huber's is the oldest bar in Portland, dating back to 1879. Famous for their Spanish Coffees. 411 SW 3rd Ave, Portland.

Misc Facts: (updated!)

2008-10-19T21:58:00.001-07:00

* 1 -- 2006 Rank of Pdx as a breast-feeding-friendly city
* 1 -- Portland's rank among greenest U.S. cities according to Popular Science (Portland Monthly, Aug08)
* 1 -- Rank of Portland among U.S. cities for dog parks per capita (Portland Monthly, Aug07).
* 1 -- Rank of Portland among U.S. cities for driver courtesy.
* 1 -- Rank of Portland & Atlanta (a tie) on the Gay/Lesbian International News Network's list of Best Cities for Gays (Portland Monthly, Sep08).
* 3 -- 2006 Rank of Portland among American cities for # of coffee shops; WW’s poll of Starbuck’s outlets in Pdx, the est. % of local baristas with bachelor’s degrees or higher: 23%
* 5 -- Rank of Portland among America's increasingly unaffordable cities. Seattle ties with Dallas, TX at #1 (Forbes.com Jul08)
* 6 -- Portland's rank among 100 best cities in which to launch a small business according to Fortune Small Business Magazine (Portland Monthly 08)
* 8 -- Portland's rank among best U.S. cities in which to make a movie, according to Moviemaker Magazine (Portland Monthly, Aug08)
* 10 -- Portland's rank among the "25 Most Expensive Cities For A First Date." Seattle's rank: 9 (Forbes.com, Feb07)
* 10 -- Number of Bridges in Portland
* 31 -- 2007 Rank of Portland among the "Best Cities For Relocating Singles" according to nattional researchers. Seattle: 9. (Portland Monthly, May08)
* 37 -- Number of LEED-certified buildings in Portland (Portland Monthly, Aug08)
* 400 -- Hummers sold in Portland in 2007 (Portland Monthly, Feb08)
* 545,140 and rapidly growing -- Number of people living in Portland’s city limits according to 2003 census.

R (updated!)

2008-10-15T22:41:00.000-07:00

P (updated!)

2008-10-12T22:56:00.001-07:00

Peacock Lane
During the month of December, the homeowners on this street decorate their homes with sparkling Christmas light displays.

Pirate Festival
Held in Cathedral Park.

Pittock Mansion
Completed in 1914, the mansion also features a beautiful view of the city and beyond.

Pizza
Featured in VIA, AAA's magazine as "Uncommonly good pizza places": Apizza Scholls, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Hot Lips (see H)

Plate & Pitchfork
21 and over. Delectable meals made with locally produced ingredients, served with local wines, and the privilege and experience of dining at local farms.

Portland Art Museum

Portland Cacophony Society

Portland City Grill
Although I’m not (many) listing restaurants in this bio, this one is the exception. It earns a listing not for the food (it’s good) or the fantastic happy hour they offer but for the spectacular view of the Willamette River, the mountains and the city. They have a large bar area (reservations unavailable) and a more elegant dining area (reservations suggested).

Portland Festival Symphony

Portland International Airport
While PDX is the airport's code, you'll notice that locals frequently refer to the city, itself, as PDX.

Portland International Rose Test Gardens
FREE.

Portland Jazz Festival

Portland Marathon
A qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Portland Opera

Portland Spirit
Beautiful, romantic and not too expensive. They offer a number of short cruises down the Willamette including brunch & dinner cruises.

Portland Taste
Taste of the Nation, an event benefiting statewide projects fighting hunger.

Portlandia
The 2nd largest hammered-copper statue in the country (the Statue of Liberty is the largest). Artist: Raymond Kaskey. Installed 1985. Dimensions: 36' 10" high. Made from copper and steel. Location: 1120 SW Fifth Ave.

Pride NW

M (updated!)

2008-10-09T21:13:00.001-07:00

Mt Tabor Park
Views of the city. A volcano. SE 60th & Salmon.

Museum of Contemporary Craft
Located downtown.

Musicfest NW

L (updated!)

2008-10-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Lacrosse
For tickets and information about Portland's lacrosse team, go to:
Portland LumberJax

Liquor & Distilleries
Clear Creek Distillery, Highball, Medoyeff Vodka, New Deal Distillery.
For more Oregon distillers, see OregonGetaways, the Companies & Products section, under L. Also, check out Oregon Bounty for information on events on Distillers' Row, between SE 7th and SE 20th Avenues and E Burnside & East Division Streets.

K

2008-09-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

Kelley Point Park
Listed in VIA, AAA's magazine, Jul/Aug 08 issue as a Readers' Favorite for Secluded Beaches.

J

2008-09-29T07:11:00.001-07:00

Japanese Garden

I

2008-09-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

Indie Wine Festival

H

2008-09-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Hour

Go to Barfly , Unthirsty.com or UrbanDrinks.com to search for various places around town.

Hat Museum
1928 SW Ladd Ave, Portland. America’s only hat museum with over 600 head coverings.

Higgins Restaurant & Bar
Chef Greg Higgins buys from local farms.

Hillsboro International Airshow

Generally takes place in August or September.

Hot Lips Pizza
What's special about a pizza place? I figure since it was mentioned in Gourmet Magazine, Oct 07, it deserves a mention here. Hot Lips is Portland-born and prides itself on making pizza & soda with organic & sustainable ingredients. They even use bicycles for some of their pizza deliveries in the spirit of being environmental!

Hotel Monaco

Check out "The Carless Package" which includes bike rentals and light-rail passes.

G

2008-09-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

Go Biodiesel

GR Scrub
As featured in Sunset magazine, March 07. One stop shop for all you need to clean, specializing in non-toxic items.

Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, a beautiful 62 acre Catholic Shrine and botanical garden. You don’t need to be Catholic to enjoy the beauty and serenity here.

F

2008-09-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Festa Italiana

Flicks On The Bricks
Free movies shown in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Summertime.

Forest Park
One of the nation’s largest urban wilderness, covering 217,800,000 square feet; a labyrinth of hiking trails, nature and scenery. Free.

E

2008-09-23T08:37:00.001-07:00

EcoTrust Building
98% recycled materials renovated this building.

D (new!)

2008-09-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

C (updated!)

2008-09-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Carousels:
Jantzen Beach Supercenter Merry-Go-Round 1920s carousel.
Noah's Ark Carousel. A 2 deck, Herschell-Spillman 'menagerie' model.

Charity Where do our values lie?
According to a 2007 Oregon Community Foundation report, Multnomah County residents gave $639 million to charity. (Portland Monthly, May 08)
The largest percentage (22%) was given to Education, compared to a national average of 14%. Philanthropy and volunteerism came in at 17%, not ranked nationally.
Human Services 17%, national 10%
Arts, Culture & Humanities 12%, national 4%
Health 9%, national 7%
Other 8%, national 9%
Environment 7%, national (includes animals) 2%
Youth Development 3%, not ranked nationally
Religion 2%, national 33%
Animals 2%, national percentage combined with environment
Public-society benefit 1%, national 7%
Not ranked in Multnomah Co giving: Foundations & International Affairs (10% & 4% respectively for national)

Cheese
Curds & Whey, 8036 SE 13th Ave, ph: 503-231-2877

Chinese Garden
Located in NW Portland, you enter to find a surprisingly peaceful and serene setting. The tea service is wonderful.

Chocolate
Alma Chocolate, Cacao, Chocosphere, DePaula Confections, The Meadow, Moonstruck Chocolates (one of Oprah’s faves), Portland Truffle, Sahagun, Xocolatl de David.com. For more Oregon chocolatiers, see OregonGetaways, the Companies & Products section.

Christmas Ships

During the month of December, boats decorated with holiday lights parade up and down the Willamette River.

Cinco de Mayo
One of the largest Cinco de Mayo festivals in North America in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Clear Creek Distillery

Coffee
Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Guatemala Finca Injerto was featured in Saveur magazine, Oct 08: "With a faint taste of rose petals and a toasted-almond finish, this delicate, medium-roast coffee shines when drunk without milk or sugar."

Cupcakes
There are a few great places in the city to get cupcakes. Here's one:
St Cupcake

A

2008-09-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

Aerial Tram
One of the first urban trams in the country, traveling 3,300 feet in 3 minutes over I-5.

Art in the Pearl
Weekend festival, takes place each summer.

Introduction

2008-09-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Oregon’s largest city, Portland is, easy to navigate; very walk-able, cabs are inexpensive and buses (Tri-met) and Max are free in fareless square (the core downtown area).

More Ideas & Misc Facts

2008-09-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

Travel Portland Link

Misc Facts:
* 1 -- 2006 Rank of Pdx as a breast-feeding-friendly city
* 1 -- Portland's rank among greenest U.S. cities according to Popular Science (Portland Monthly, Aug08)
* 1 -- Rank of Portland among U.S. cities for dog parks per capita (Portland Monthly, Aug07).
* 1 -- Rank of Portland among U.S. cities for driver courtesy.
* 3 -- 2006 Rank of Portland among American cities for # of coffee shops; WW’s poll of Starbuck’s outlets in Pdx, the est. % of local baristas with bachelor’s degrees or higher: 23%
* 5 -- Rank of Portland among America's increasingly unaffordable cities. Seattle ties with Dallas, TX at #1 (Forbes.com Jul08)
* 6 -- Portland's rank among 100 best cities in which to launch a small business according to Fortune Small Business Magazine (Portland Monthly 08)
* 8 -- Portland's rank among best U.S. cities in which to make a movie, according to Moviemaker Magazine (Portland Monthly, Aug08)
* 10 -- Portland's rank among the "25 Most Expensive Cities For A First Date." Seattle's rank: 9 (Forbes.com, Feb07)
* 10 -- Number of Bridges in Portland
* 31 -- 2007 Rank of Portland among the "Best Cities For Relocating Singles" according to nattional researchers. Seattle: 9. (Portland Monthly, May08)
* 37 -- Number of LEED-certified buildings in Portland (Portland Monthly, Aug08)
* 400 -- Hummers sold in Portland in 2007 (Portland Monthly, Feb08)
* 545,140 and rapidly growing -- Number of people living in Portland’s city limits according to 2003 census.

Link to the OregonGetaways

Link to OR Wedding Vendor Reviews Bio

W (updated!)

2008-09-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

T, U & V

2008-08-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

T

Tanner Springs Park
One of Portlands Parks, this one is located in the Pearl District (NW) and contains a man-made wetland.

U

Urban Iditarod
On the first Saturday of every March…

"Umbrella Man"
Found in Pioneer Courthouse Square, this statue with a red tie, steps forward with an umbrella to greet newcomers. Artist: J. Seward Johnson. Installed in 1984. Dimensions: 6'6"x4'x3'6". Made of bronze.

V

Velveteria Museum of Velvet Paintings
What else? Nearly 2000 velvet paintings, nearly 350 on display at one time.

S

2008-08-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

Santacon

Saturday Market
An eclectic array of arts, crafts, food and music.

Segway
Rent a Segway and see the city.

Shopping
Oregon does not have a sales tax but we do have: one of 25 designer Nordstroms in the country, which includes leather goods & clothing-based Chanel boutiques, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany’s,
Pioneer Place, St. John Knits, local designers at stores like Dragonlily, Sofada,
Michelle DeCourcy, Poppi Swim, Magala Corzo,Emily Katz, Lisa Rietz and Gold. See also IDOM boutique, located at 1600 Northeast Alberta Street. Despite our "grunge" reputation, Portland moves and shakes (and without a sales tax!). You just need to know where to look.
More clothing stores to check out: Jeri Rice (Roberto Cavalli, Peter Som, and more), Mario’s (Armani and more), Le Train Bleu, The English Department, Una, Frock (where locally-designed DarBeka can be found), and Garment. Powell’s City of Books: More than a city block of books, approx 750,000 in the downtown store). The Pearl(neighborhood full of a plethora of fun shops). REI. Bridgeport Village, just outside Portland and Outlets, also just outside of Portland.

Spas
There are plenty of spas in Portland but if you want to go where Mick Jagger goes when he’s in town, check out Aequis on 11th, downtown. If you’re looking for more of a hotel / spa experience check out The Avalon Hotel & Spa, located near downtown. And if you’re looking just to get your feet pampered after a long hard day of shopping, head to Barefoot Sage on Hawthorne.

Stark’s Vacuum Museum
More than 300 vacuums.

Strip Clubs
It’s true, Portland has more strip clubs per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. There are a fair number of guys that choose to have their bachelor parties here in “The City That Works” (that used to be the City’s motto).

R

2008-08-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

P (updated!)

2008-08-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Peacock Lane
During the month of December, the homeowners on this street decorate their homes with sparkling Christmas light displays.

Pirate Festival
Held in Cathedral Park.

Pittock Mansion
Completed in 1914, the mansion also features a beautiful view of the city and beyond.

Pizza
Featured in VIA, AAA's magazine as "Uncommonly good pizza places":
Apizza Scholls, Flying Pie Pizzeria, Hot Lips (see H)

Plate & Pitchfork
21 and over. Delectable meals made with locally produced ingredients, served with local wines, and the privilege and experience of dining at local farms.

Portland Art Museum

Portland Cacophony Society

Portland City Grill
Although I’m not listing (many) restaurants in this bio, this one is the exception. It earns a listing not for the food (it's good) or the fantastic happy hour they offer but for the spectacular view of the Willamette River, the mountains and the city. They have a large bar area (reservations unavailable) and a more elegant dining area (reservations suggested).

Portland Festival Symphony

Portland International Airport
While PDX is the airport's code, you'll notice that locals frequently refer to the city, itself, as PDX.

Portland International Rose Test Gardens
Free.

Portland Jazz Festival

Portland Marathon
A qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Portland Spirit
Beautiful, romantic and not too expensive. They offer a number of short cruises down the Willamette including brunch & dinner cruises.

Portlandia
The 2nd largest hammered-copper statue in the country (the Statue of Liberty is the largest). Artist: Raymond Kaskey. Installed 1985. Dimensions: 36' 10" high. Made from copper and steel. Location: 1120 SW Fifth Ave.

Pride NW

O

2008-08-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

Oak's Amusement Park
A carousel, rides and year-round rollerskating, not to mention, plenty of space for near-the Willamette picnicking.

Oregon Ballet Theatre
Don't miss OBT Exposed. Each summer, OBT practices outside, in the South Park Blocks for a week, FREE.

Oregon Historical Society & Museum

Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI)
Great for kids & adults

Oregon Zoo
Don't miss the summer concert series, some at only the cost of zoo admission, others additional.

L & M

2008-08-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

L

Lacrosse
For tickets and information about Portland's lacrosse team, go to:
Portland LumberJax

M

Museum of Contemporary Craft
Located downtown.

I & J & K

2008-08-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

I

Indie Wine Festival

J

Japanese Garden

K

Kelley Point Park
Listed in VIA, AAA's magazine, Jul/Aug 08 issue as a Readers' Favorite for Secluded Beaches.

G & H

2008-08-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

G

Go Biodiesel

GR Scrub
As featured in Sunset magazine, March 07. One stop shop for all you need to clean, specializing in non-toxic items.

Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, a beautiful 62 acre Catholic Shrine and botanical garden. You don’t need to be Catholic to enjoy the beauty and serenity here.

H

Happy Hour
Go to Barfly, Unthirsty.com or UrbanDrinks.com to search for various places around town.

Hat Museum
1928 SW Ladd Ave, Portland. America’s only hat museum with over 600 head coverings.

Higgins Restaurant & Bar
Chef Greg Higgins buys from local farms.

Hillsboro International Airshow
Generally takes place in August or September.

Hot Lips Pizza
What's special about a pizza place? I figure since it was mentioned in Gourmet Magazine, Oct 07, it deserves a mention here. Hot Lips is Portland-born and prides itself on making pizza & soda with organic & sustainable ingredients. They even use bicycles for some of their pizza deliveries in the spirit of being environmental!

Hotel Monaco
Check out "The Carless Package" which includes bike rentals and light-rail passes.

E & F (updated!)

2008-08-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

E

EcoTrust Building
98% recycled materials renovated this building.

F

Festa Italiana

Flicks On The Bricks
Free movies shown in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Summertime.

Forest Park
One of the nation’s largest urban wilderness, covering 217,800,000 square feet; a labyrinth of hiking trails, nature and scenery. Free.

C

2008-08-11T20:11:00.000-07:00

Deleted. Updated version available.

B (updated!)

2008-08-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

Baseball
Portland Beavers

Beyond Bizarre
A Portland walking tour taking you to the creepiest parts of town.

Bicycling
March 2006, Bicycling magazine named Pdx the best overall cycling city in the U.S.
According to Forbestraveler.com, Portland ranks #2 among bicycle-friendly cities in the world (Portland Monthly, Aug 08).
Portland ranks #1 among U.S. cities for % of residents who commute by bicycle (Portland Monthly Aug07).
Check out these websites for more information on bicycling in Portland: Zoobombing, Bicycle Transportation Alliance,
Pedalpalooza, Livestrong Challenge, Providence Bridge Pedal , Mini-Bike Winter Olympics , Tour de Fat, Reach the Beach, Hottest Day of the Year Ride

Bite of Oregon
Benefiting the Special Olympics, this is your opportunity to “taste” some of Oregon’s restaurants & wineries. Takes place in August.

Breweries
Famous for its microbrews, Oregonians drink more beer and better beer than folks in other states. If you’re visiting in July, don’t miss the Oregon Brewer’s Festival, the largest beer festival in N America attracting about 50,000 people from all over the world, and if you’re visiting in the spring, The Spring Beerfest.
Gallons of beer that the 45 brewer-members of the Oregon Brewer’s Guild produced in 2005: 20.77 million
Roots Organic Brewing Company