Walk home from dinner or carry a lunch?

May 20, 2009 3:55 PM

Okay to walk back to our hotel (Riverfront Residence Inn) from Simpatica (Portland, Or) on a Saturday night?

Mr Dbmcd and I will be in Portland for our anniversary this year (again!) and I just made reservations at Simpatica for Saturday night. We won't have a car while we're there, and the bus there looks pretty straightforward - my question is: Is the walk 'safe' at night on a Saturday? We're not skeeved out by much, but may not be at our most alert after a big meal/wine, so just trying to figure out if we should take the bus back, or if the walk would be okay.
Thanks for your help.

posted by dbmcd to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

oh, you're so cute... i wanna pat you on the head.

seriously, though, you can walk through almost anywhere in portland at anytime and be just fine. if you just slip down to the esplanade from burnside, walk down to the hawthorne bridge and cross there, you'll not only have a safe walk, but an incredibly romantic waterfront stroll/view of downtown at night to enjoy as well. the downside is that you'll probably be sober by the time you get to your hotel.
posted by acid freaking on the kitty at 4:13 PM on May 20 [3 favorites]

madison down by the willamette can be kind of weird but i don't think anyone would jump you. in that part of portland. probably ever.



acid kitty - even 82nd? reheally?
posted by beefetish at 4:16 PM on May 20

i've heard some areas out by UP are "bad," and my wife is way more cautious about these things than I, but yeah, i've never found 82nd anything more than depressing.
posted by acid freaking on the kitty at 4:53 PM on May 20

Oh, 82nd isn't that bad. There are worse places to be in Portland. I agree with Acid Kitty -- but that will be about two miles so bring some walking shoes!
posted by amanda at 7:48 PM on May 20

i'd agree with acid kitty. i'm a small woman, and i'd walk pretty much anywhere in pdx at any time. it's a wonderfully safe city. have fun!
posted by dizziest at 7:51 PM on May 20

I've done this walk at all hours of the late PM and AM with no scratches. Done the romantic riverwalk thing pushing midnight, too. Come to think of it, I was catching the last #12 bus last night (this morning) on W. Burnside.

You might get asked for change. Might see some sketchy people of all demographics and income levels (Saturday night clubbing, ugh). You'll pretty likely see some people sleeping in doorways or on benches, since the west side of the Burnside bridge is near a lot of shelters and services. You'll certainly be fine. Almost all, if not all of, Portland is super safe compared to similarly sized cities, but, yeah, it's still a city and there's still risk.

I'd say, cross Burnside bridge, walk on Naito Parkway until you're past all the construction, then romantic waterfront park all the way back. That's a pretty decent walk, though. Pushing a half hour probably.
posted by Skwirl at 7:59 PM on May 20

Just a neat-o website I found after reading your question:
Portland vs Bremerton crime rates
And just for fun
Portland vs NYC crime rates
posted by Grither at 5:36 AM on May 21

Thanks to those who answered!
From my previous visits, I figured Portland was pretty "tame" by other standards, but I also didn't want to start something that we'd decide halfway through was a baaad idea.
We'll see how energetic we feel after dinner - Google sez it's about 2.5 miles.
Grither, thanks for the crime stat sites - very interesting.
Acid, you can pat me on the head anytime you want - thanks for making me smile!
posted by dbmcd at 11:05 AM on May 21

Wow, who knew we were such avid rapers?! Thanks, Grithner. That is weird.

Also, I vote for crossing the Hawthorne, not the Burnside bridge as was suggested above. The Hawthorne seems a little prettier to me and with a wider sidewalk. So, you'd go south on the eastbank esplanade from Burnside to Hawthorne and then south along the waterfront to your hotel. If you get lost, ask anyone.
posted by amanda at 1:22 PM on May 21

Wow, who knew we were such avid rapers?!

i lol'd, i'm ashamed to admit.
posted by acid freaking on the kitty at 4:10 PM on May 21

A final shoutout to the all the helpful Portlanders on AskMe.
We had a great dinner - the experience exceeded our expectations, and I recommend Simpatica Dining Hall to anyone who isn't afraid of eating with strangers.
Turned out we didn't need to walk home - a couple at our table offered us a ride, they lived close to our hotel. We did, however, walk across the Hawthorne bridge during the day, and on both the riverfront paths, confirming my love for Portland.
posted by dbmcd at 3:20 PM on June 1