Moving to Portland

March 17, 2008 6:11 AM

I'm moving to Portland, OR next week, and wanted to get a feel for the area. What are some places that I absolutely should visit, places to dine and drink, and so forth?

I'll be living off SW 21st Ave, and will not have access to a car for several days until the movers get it out there, so I'm really looking for suggestion within walking/rail distance. Several things on my mind:

1) Good, cheap places to eat. I won't be able to cook for a few days until, once again, the movers get my stuff out there.

2) Pet stores - I need food and a new litter box for the cats.

3) The local dive bars - where are they?

4) How is the public transportation system, in your opinion?

Plus anything else you can think of that can help an ATLien adjust to the new town. Thanks mefis!

posted by triolus to society & culture (13 comments total)

I was there on a day trip once.

Powell's. ENORMOUS used & new bookstore. (like a whole city block, + satellite stores enormous)

The only bar I went to was the Horse Brass. Pretty decent irish-style pub.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 7:05 AM on March 17, 2008

Eat at 'A Taste of Mexico'.
posted by Camel of Space at 7:56 AM on March 17, 2008

I moved away from Portland years ago and I still miss India Chaat House. It's basically a food cart....but WHAT a food cart! Excellent vegetarian Indian food and very cheap. The weather may still be a bit too inclement to really enjoy the outdoor eating experience, but as soon as it starts to warm up you can pick up a huge plate of food and walk over to Pioneer Square or the riverfront to dine. It actually might be in reasonable walking distance from where you live, too.
posted by otolith at 8:35 AM on March 17, 2008

Pizza Ascholl's. Voodoo Donuts.
posted by hal_c_on at 9:43 AM on March 17, 2008

#1 - around the northwest and the pearl district, it's quite a lot of posh eating, so cheap eats are a bit harder, but doable. Once you learn the bus/max system, you can visit us on the eastside and find a ton of tasty cheap places. But on the westside near you, I'd recommend Thai Orchid, Escape from NY Pizza, Mr. Moto, Demetri's, Muu Muu's, Swagat, the Mission Theatre, or the Blue Moon, for a start.

for breakfast, there's the Stepping Stone Cafe, and your neighborhood organic/hippie grocery store is Food Front (also next to your local library branch). For socializing and coffee, skip past the starbucks on 21st and keep heading north to Anna Banana's.

The Willamette Week and Mercury have cheap eats directories, and Portland Food and Drink and ExtraMSG are good local food websites.

#2 - hmm, probably your quickest bet is the fred meyer on 20th and burnside... not really an expert on pet stores around there, but i can recommend the vets at animal medical clinic if you need one.

#3 - ok, dive bars, now to the fun stuff: if i do understand where you're living correctly, you're in very good luck. within two blocks (or so) of each other on burnside are the Matador and the Bitter End. right outside the east gates of PGE Park is the Bullpen (and when you go to Portland Timbers games, the Timbers Army gathers pre-game in the Bitter End, and post-game in the Bullpen). Not too far a walk up 16th and you'll find Slabtown and Yur's. Then deeper into the pearl district, there's the Low Brow Lounge. Really, though, just make BarFly your homepage and pick a new spot each week. You'll be busy.

#4 - so you're basically in the king's hill area (21st south of burnside)? if so, you'll be just fine for public transport. you're just outside the fareless area, but it's a few blocks away to a max station, and three or four bus lines go through there. just check out the TriMet page for lots of schedule tools and trip planner webapps.

On Preview: yes yes yes voodoo donuts. You will also find it surrounded by affordable drinking establishments. rinse, repeat.
posted by acid freaking on the kitty at 9:45 AM on March 17, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Hmm. Southwest 21st, huh? Most of the action is on the NW side. I'll assume that your digs are on the wee section of SW 21st behind the stadium and not significantly further south. (I hope you like baseball). That would place you close to W Burnside, which is convenient both as a major east-west bus route and a street of bars, restaurants, groceries, Powells and so on. You ought to be able to satisfy your cat's needs at the Fred Meyer grocery store at 20th and Burnside. There is also a Cost Plus World Market and a Trader Joes nearby, but that's more for wine, furniture and food. Go to Freddy's for the litter box.

Bar wise, you could do worse than to consult Bar Fly. You may not always agree with their assessment of a place, but they're dive-positive and will steer you in the right direction. It's not my neighborhood, but friends of mine who used to live over there were regulars at Wimpy's (521 NW 21st Ave). If I were over there, I'd be doing a fair bit of my drinking at The New Old Lompoc, but that's because they brew their own and I'm damned fond of the C-Note, their 100 IBU 6.9% IPA (The LSD is good, too, if you like more malt). Oh, but for cheap(ish) eats, you could do worse than to frequent the after-9PM happy hour in the bar at The Ringside, where the exquisite aged beef from the steakhouse is on the menu in small $3 portions that you can make a fine meal of.

The public transportation system is, in my opinion, pretty awesome. It has room to improve, no doubt, but Trimet is pretty damned keen (I know nothing about Atlanta's public transit network, so I can't compare them). Trimet is generally clean, generally on time, has decent coverage, and is not merely the transportation choice of the poor. I guess that's the biggest distinction I'd make between Trimet and other cities' transit networks I've used: Trimet is used by people from all strata of society. It's free throughout much of downtown, but not where you'll be living. You should be able to do without a car your local needs, though it might take a bit of effort to break the habit. I'd buy a $65 monthly pass (you probably only need a 2-zone) if your employer doesn't already provide it (tax incentives mean lots of 'em do). With that in your wallet, the city is your oyster.

Further advice should probably wait until you confirm that you're on SW 21st near Burnside, and not the SW 21st that's on the other side of Hwy 26. If the latter, than that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.
posted by mumkin at 9:46 AM on March 17, 2008

Thanks for the answers so far. I'll be sure to check those places out. Also, thanks for recommending a vet, AFOTK. I'll be needing one of them eventually. =)

mumkin: the place I'm moving to in about a block south of Burnside.
posted by triolus at 10:25 AM on March 17, 2008

That's my old neighborhood! The answeres you "bested" give you a good idea of where to go in that particular area.

One thing I would add: You will be near PGE Park. In April, the Portland Timbers season will start (the local USL soccer team). Even if youare not a rabid soccer fan, it's worth checking out as there is a loud and sizeable supporter's section that really adds to the experience. General Admission is $10.

There are lots of places to go for excellent decently priced meals outside of your neighborhood, but I won't throw those out yet, since you don't yet have your bearings. Ask later or mefi me and I'd be happy to give more suggestions.
posted by DrGirlfriend at 10:37 AM on March 17, 2008

Ah, excellent. Well then, all of the above applies and you are in the catbird's seat, as it were. It's really hard to make a list of things to absolutely see and do, though, 'cos, well, you're in the thick of it. Better you should be more specific with your wants, because otherwise there's just too much of it, and, you know, there's Citysearch and the like. You should go to the Blue Moon at least once, because then you'll know what a McMenamin's is and can decide if you wish to frequent them in the future. They're all over, and the beer and menu are pretty much the same at all locations. Also, see previous questions obviously, for must-see, must-do recommendations.

I respectfully take issue with acid freaking on the kitty's characterization of your local library branch being the one at 23rd and Thurman, however. Take the Max or walk the .6 mile to Central Library, which is actually closer, has slightly better hours, and is a fucking temple of library goodness.
posted by mumkin at 11:21 AM on March 17, 2008

ah, good call on the library, mumkin. triolus, if only for the architecture alone, make a trek to the central library!
posted by acid freaking on the kitty at 12:01 PM on March 17, 2008

definitely the Central library over the one on Thurman

I second Animal Medical Clinic--we've had good experiences there
and if you have a dog---Couch Park is the closest sanctioned off-leash place
Wallace Park is nice, too, and bigger--although a bit further (definitely don't miss the Chapman swifts this fall!)
of course, there's Washington Park and the Rose Garden, too
There's concerts in the parks during the summer, so be sure to check those out if you're into that.

Yelp is a good resource for eats and other services
Eat Pizza is a little place on the corner of the building with the Kingston (near PGE Park/Fred Meyer)---it's delicious and local. Fred Meyer has buy one get one for $5 coupons on their receipts. Also, farmers markets.

Honestly, the best part about living in this neighborhood is that it's within walking distance to so much---it's great to walk down to the Crystal Ballroom of The Roseland for a concert and walk home when it's all over. Super convenient. Oh, and don't forget the Mission Theater for $3 movies and a lot of other good stuff (free screenings of TV shows, the Oscars, etc.). Living Room Theaters is fun, but more expensive. And don't forget about readings and other events @ Powell's (in addition to the shopping).

If you have a car I can recommend the place right across the street (north) from the Crystal Ballroom (Steve's??). And Radio Cab is the cheapest place to get gas.

Sauvie Island is the place to go to get your countryside on----wildlife refuges and farms galore. Forest Park is another great place to get wild.

There is so much within walking distance you'll have fun scoping it all out if you don't mind putting feet to pavement. We've lived in NW PDX for almost 2 years and although it is noisy and dirty at times, it's fun, too. Welcome to the neighborhood!
posted by hulahulagirl at 7:25 PM on March 17, 2008

Also, NW23rd Street is referred to as "trendy third" and it can get annoying at times when it gets infiltrated by suburbanites, but depending on the time of day/day of week it can be fun, too. Oh, and then there's Cinema 21, too---that's a keeper. It's by the Trader Joe's.
posted by hulahulagirl at 7:29 PM on March 17, 2008

Have a beer at the Kennedy School. Hell, see a movie while you're there. For $3, you can't go wrong.
posted by 2oh1 at 10:43 PM on March 17, 2008