The one on the west coast. I was there for a long weekend and in traditional limestone fashion wanted to draft a top ten…
(1) The Hollywood Theater at PDX. My favorite shorts from the Summer Program are Oregon: Only Slightly Exaggerated and The Famished Frog. I also liked The Water’s Fine because it reminds me of the work we’re doing on the Bike and Pedestrian Committee.
Tip: The Fish & Chips at Mo’s Seafood and Chowder at PDX is delicious.
(2) Bikes, bikes, bikes! There are bike lanes and bike shops everywhere. Bike culture is thriving in Portland. If cycling had a patron saint it would be Elly Blue.
A couple of notable shops are North Portland Bike Works, Community Cycling Center, Upcycles, and Clever Cycles.
Tip: Don’t miss the mural at the Community Cycling Center and stop for a cup of coffee at the Fresh Pot if you’re at the North Portland Bike Works.
(3) Union Station. The ‘Go By Train’ neon sign beckons would be travelers / adventurers.
(4) The Chapel of Christ the Teacher at the University of Portland. The chapel/campus is on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River.
“Slowly the procession advances, across the meadows and over a bridge…
Bonus: Ed’s story: Lose a dream, find a life
(5) Boys Fort, Powell’s Books, and the Portland Outdoor Store. You could get a one-of-a-kind journal at Boys Fort, a travel guide at Powell’s, and a coat at the Portland Outdoor Store before heading to Union Station to start your adventure in the Pacific Northwest.
Tip: Budget plenty of time (and pack a really comfortable pair of shoes) since there is some amazing (and unique) retail in Portland like Chrome Industries.
(6) Pearl District. You could spend a full day with just a camera immersed in the architectural detail of this developing area. Visit the Bridgeport Brewing Company when you’re thirsty.
(7) St. Johns / Cathedral Park. Stand in the shadows of St. Johns Bridge before enjoying the neighborhood retail/restaurants.
“…Finally, we enter a vast forest, and the branches of its trees interlace in the likeness of gothic arches…”
Bonus: Dinner at Wood Fired Eats.
(8) Portland Saturday Market. Impressive array of arts/crafts/food along the Waterfront Park Trail.
(9) Bridges. A trestle of delights for bridge enthusiasts like the Broadway, Steel, and Fremont.
“…Soon we emerge into a blaze of morning light. Once again, the powers of life and death have triumphed over the hosts of death and despair.”
(10) Entrepreneurialism. The industriousness and creativity of Victor Atiyeh endures in so many Portland businesses (everything from breweries to messenger bags). There is a statue of this former governor at PDX.
*Photo is from the marble tabernacle inside the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Quote is from The Legacy Collection: Fantasia.