Cut pasted from recs I made in another forum: Voodoo donuts. I find that this is probably the most tourist-friendly place in Portland. It has that Portland atmosphere combined with the Portland tendency to combine everything with chocolate and bacon. Kennedy School. Locals don't tend to think very highly of the McMenamin's bars. They're a bit expensive and the food is subpar. The beer is okay, but you can find better at more individualized breweries. All that said, the Kennedy School is worth visiting if only to see what an elementary school looks like when it's been converted to a bar. It's kind of eerie. Pyramid Brewery. Decent place to go and puts out my favorite Hefeiveizen in Portland. There are a number of different breweries in Portland, and different people will have different opinions on the best ones. There are enough microbreweries in Portland that it's not going to be advisable to try them all in a week. Not impossible, but definitely not advisable. Music. I feel like the music scene got a bit derailed in combination with the economy, but there are still some good things going on in Portland. The Willamette Weekly is somewhat maligned by various Portlandians, but I find it has the best comprehensive music listings in the city. I'm a little bit out of "the scene" but I currently recommend Typhoon and World's Greatest Ghosts if they're playing. Full disclosure: I sort of know somebody in Typhoon, but since half of Portland is in Typhoon, it's not a big thing. Ground Kontrol. It's an arcade. It's a bar. It's big. Powell's Books. It's a bookstore. It's a very big bookstore. Have I mentioned that it's a bookstore? One city block and three stories that I know of, if it's not the best bookstore in the county, it's definitely in the top 5. Get lost on the bridges. Hey, were we supposed to turn left--OH CRAP, I didn't want to go downtown! Why are you taking me downtown?! I can't get off until downtown?! I can't take a left?! What the hell man, what the hell?! This will be your experience for at least two years if you attempt to drive yourself in Portland. Nature. Portland is not really for tourists. There are a lot of things to do, but not a lot of things to see. The more touristy stuff is out in the wild. The Oregon Coast. Mt. St. Helens, Multnomah Falls, etc. Picnic at Mt. Tabor. Who is that statue supposed to be? Some newspaper magnate? Okay. Why is he pointing out in the middle of nowhere? It's one of a series of clues leading to his hidden tomb, and his lost fortune in gold bullion.* Pirate Day-Glow Mini-Golf. I suppose I could explain this further, but I'm not sure it's really necessary. *I might have completely invented this.
Unfortunately, Voodoo downtown is closed for renovations for about 6 weeks. There is VoodoToo at 1501 NE Davis. Same donuts, not the same atmosphere. http://voodoodoughnut.com/menu.php And there are 34 brewpubs in town that all brew their distinctive beers. Every one will have something you like. http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/city/16 Touristy stuff: Chinese Garden - on the Max line japanese Garden - #63 bus- doesn't run weekends, or it's about a mile walk from Jeld-wen uphill mostly though ritzy neighborhoods and Washington Park Rose test garden - Same stop as Japanese Garden - free Portland art museum south Park blocks - great permanent exhibit on NW Coast Tribes. Other exhibits rotate. Portland History museum - near PAM currently has a history exhibit on all the incarnations of the Timbers, including the NASL version. If you read, don't miss Powells. Lots of food carts around town (over 500) all kinds of cuisine. The fun is trying them all. http://www.foodcartsportland.com/ Favorite restaurant. Pambiche( say it fast and it sounds like Palm Beach) -Cuban http://www.pambiche.com/2011/ Call ahead to see how busy they are. It's small. Rent a mountain bike and do Forest Park- largest city Park in the world. http://fattirefarm.com/ Shopping on 23rd or in the Pearl district. ( both near the stadium) Lots of other stuff, but have to know what you consider fun.
Powell's is also considered one of the best places to meet girls in Portland. It's a very bookish town.
Cheap movies and beer! Portland's got great second-run movie theaters, you have to be 21 and over, but you pay $3 for a ticket and then can drink beer and eat pizza (or just get normal movie food) with reckless abandon. Some places (Kennedy School, St. Johns) have comfy couches, most have movie theater seating but with tables stuck in every other row so that you have a place to put your grub. The McMenamins theaters in town are the Kennedy School, the Bagdad, the Mission (closest to downtown), and the St. Johns Theater. Check showtimes at http://www.mcmenamins.com/theaters Also good is the Laurelhurst, which has multiple screens and therefore more selection... also has a better beer selection because they aren't limited to McMenamins' in-house beers. See showtimes at http://www.laurelhursttheater.com
If you have an Apple mobile device, download PDXbus for bus maps, routes, and trip planner - free. Also PDXart for a nice map centered where you are and nearby attractions. And get a free walking tour map at Powell's Books.
The Davis Voodoo is better in my opinion. Reminds me of something straight out of a David Lynch flick. Super cool, but DREADFULLY dirty.
haha. There's a testimonial for a food establishment Enjoy it. They will probably throw a grenade into that one next.
Head over to "Barmuda" (vecinity of SE Hawthorne and NE 50th) and there you'll find the triangule that's between Sewickly's Addition and Angelo's a couple of blocks down. There's some hidden little gems there and some really good food, namely East Side Deli and Zach's Hot Dogs.
IMO the Voodoo experience is less about the store and more about waking up the next morning, reeking of alcohol and the knowledge that you and (hopefully) several of your friends consumed several boxes of pastries made with Mountain Dew and Fruit Loops.
The stadium is virtually in the middle of downtown. Lots of shops and eats. There are a bunch of places to eat pretty near by. http://www.urbanspoon.com/ps/24/4354/Portland/Sports-Venues/Pge-Park.html A nice boutique area is on 23rd Ave north of Burnside. But if you walk about 8 blocks toward the river, you get to the free rail zone, which gets you free travel on the light rail (MAX) and the Portland trolley in the central city. http://trimet.org/maps/citycenter.htm that will extend your reach to most of the city proper. As for the Boddington's, that's easy. The Bitter end pub ( 20th and Burnside, virtually at the stadium entrance) has Boddington's, but only in the can. You will meet TA there. http://www.portlandbitterend.com/beer.html Henry's Tavern ( 12th and Burnside- 8 short blocks. On the site of the old Weinhard brewery) has it on Nitro right now. http://henrystavern.com/page/menu/4...rptMenu_ctl01_rptMenuCategory_ctl04_liControl But Portland is Beervana. Try the local fare while you are here. There are dozens of yummy offerings. One of hallmark pubs/ eateries is the goose hollow inn owned by a former Mayor a couple block south of the stadium. ( follow the tracks until they make a right). A bit more sedate crowd.
Well, our refreshments in a department meeting this morning were Voodoo donuts so it isn't necessary to be drunk to enjoy them. Honestly, while they're pretty good but they are a bit overrated.
Saw a pic of a Timbers Axe shaped doughnut before the RSL match. Pretty slick. Didn't go see if I could get one though. Did some kava instead.
I'm going to the match on the 21st against the Crew. I have some friends I'm visiting in Portland and bought two tickets in the Timbers Army section. Well turns out I need two more, anyone know of someone selling two GA tickets for the 21st?
While we welcome visiting supporters in our stadium and pubs, the section is a little different. We normally don't have any problems, but a few issues with larger groups of supporters in our section have already emerged this season and our Front Office would like to encourage any away fans to purchase in the away section or other parts of the stadium.
Sure, I will be cheering for Columbus, but Ill be with three people who live in Portland, we are more neutral than anything. I just want to stand in the part of the stadium that is likely to be the most fun.
I couldn't find a better thread for this. I'm coming to town for the Rapids game and my parents (who now live in Beaverton) are joining us at the game. I grew up as the only real sports fan in my house, Seahawks, Mariners, Huskies, etc. My parents showed just enough interest to have an idea what was important but that's it. Suddenly, since the start of the season, my Dad has turned into a Timbers fan. He rides the red line past the stadium to get to work and it seems that every weeknight you guys play he's texting me about the game on the way home as he passes the stadium, he's on-line asking me where to get scores, and he just texted me this morning about how you guys are undefeated at home. Whatever you guys are doing up there is working if you can turn my family into sports fans. I'm looking forward to checking it out next month! (They'll be sitting with Class VI and the rest of the travelling Rapids fans for their first soccer game though. )
So I'll be traveling to the first SKC game in PDX on July 2nd and had to arrive late Wednesday evening instead of Friday morning, so I'm a bit lost on what all to do in town. I have the plans of Powell's Books, Voodoo Donuts, all the good touristy type stuff, but now with an extra day, what all else is there to do while there?
http://timbersarmy.org/portland-guide And make sure not to be shy about being a KC Fan before and after the match, you should be more than welcome.
Go on a walking tour of our city's awesome water fountains (map and info on page 2): http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=49358&a=225489