Mississippi
May 16, 2008
Mississippi is a neighborhood in the inner-North section of Portland, Oregon. Over the last 10 years, it has become an increasingly popular place to live. With a great central location and a slew of unique shops, galleries and restaurants, Mississippi exemplifies the Portland “DIY” aesthetic. Many of the homes and commercial spaces, which were once run-down, have been renovated. While not officially recognized as a neighborhood, most people in Portland refer to the area in and around N Mississippi and N Albina St. as “Mississippi.”
Mississippi Food and Fun
One funky place to check out is Sunlan Lighting (3901 N Mississippi), where Kay Newell, known as the Light Bulb Lady, stocks over 15,000 kinds of bulbs. For your starter plant and pullet needs, visit Pistils Plant Nursery (3811 N Mississippi ). If small-batch roasted coffee and delicious baked goods are your thing, you will want to enter the tiny Portland gem that is Blue Gardenia (3747 N Mississippi), where “microregional” coffees are brewed from house-roasted beans. A popular dinner spot is Lovely Hula Hands (4057 N Mississippi ), named after a sentimental 1940s song. Also on the strip are Amnesia Brewing (832 N Beech St. - a great little Portland microbrewery), Gravy (3957 N Mississippi - comfort breakfast food specializing in you know what as well as a variety of hash) and Por Qué No? (3524 N Mississippi - irresistible tacos and flautas).
Mississippi Real Estate
Real estate in the Mississippi neighborhood has been on the rise, with home and property values increasing every year at an astounding rate. The houses, which include cute cottages and bungalows, are modest, tasteful, and best suited for couples, individuals or small families. The neighborhood is safe, walkable and offers several bus lines.
Mississippi History
For many years, Portland’s North Mississippi Avenue served a diverse and thriving community. Unfortunately, after Interstate 5 cut into the neighborhood, the area got run down and dangerous. In the 1990s, long-time Mississippi residents joined city planners to lure new merchants, and young singles and couples began to move in. Now the area is triving beyong anyone’s wildest expectations.
Mississippi on Portland Octopus
Pearl District
April 21, 2008
The Pearl District [Portland Zip Code 97209] is a newly-renovated industrial neighborhood in Portland, Oregon which has become perhaps the most trendy, pricey and successful urban neighborhood in the entire Northwest. The Pearl offers every kind of business, from boutique shops and galleries to clubs and cafés. Condominiums and apartment complexes have also become a fixture of the neighborhood, and have been built from scratch as well as converted from abandoned buildings. But before the Pearl was a hot-spot for developers and well-paid young professionals, it was an old warehouse district populated with artists who flocked to the old buildings because of the cheap living and work space. Almost ironically, the area is now a hotbed for art retailers. Every First Thursday of the month, you can participate in the largest art open house in the Northwest. The Pearl is also home to a Portland landmark, Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent book store in the world (it takes up an entire city block).
Pearl District Food
Some of Portland, Oregon’s hottest restaurants reside in the Pearl district. Bluehour (205 NW 13th) in its relatively short existence (seven years now) has become an institution for Portland foodies. Toting a stunning international wine and cheese list, an adventurously high-brow meat and seafood menu (foie gras, American Sturgeon caviar, etc.), an atmosphere that can safely be described as “theater-eque” (e.g. several fromagiers mingling and lecturing from behind their cheese carts), Bluehour would have to be near the top of a list of “Places to Be Seen in Portland.” For the best Peruvian fare Portland has to offer, check out Andina (1314 NW Glisan), where innovative seafood or spicy meat concoctions come in three sizes: small, medium and large. And a new restaurant that has made its mission to utterly shatter peoples illusions regarding the culinary potential of chicken-on-a-spit is Manzana Rotisserie Grill (1203 NW Glisan). At the core of their menu is fire-roasted Oregon-raised rotisserie chicken, rubbed with a special blend of 30 spices.
Pearl District Fun
The Pearl District boasts a vibrant club and bar scene. There are staples like the singles-heavy Henry’s Tavern (10 NW 12th) and the hipster-clad Low Brow Lounge (1036 NW Hoyt). If you dig jazz, one of the few places to see this uniquely American art form performed at a high level is Jimmy Mak’s (221 NW 10th), which Downbeat magazine listed in its Best 100 Places in the World to See Jazz list. The Pearl is also home to Portland’s premier professional theater company, Portland Center Stage (128 NW 11th), located in the recently-restored historic Armory building.
Pearl District Shopping
The Pearl District in Portland, Oregon is a consumer haven, filled with every kind of shop you can dream up. From sheepskin specialists (Sheepskins of Oregon, 1218 NW Glisan) to fine jewelers (Gold Leaf, 634 NW 12th) to locally designed Scandinavian attire (Hanna Anderson, 327 NW 10th), the Pearl has a little something for everyone. You might also want to check out a few of the dozens of art galleries such as The Attic (525-539 NW 10th), which happens to be Portland’s oldest and largest fine art and framing gallery. Oh, and there’s that little place called Powell’s City of Books (1005 W. Burnside) that you may have heard of.
Pearl District Real Estate
The Pearl District boasts one of the hottest real estate markets of any Portland neighborhood. If you are looking to buy a property in the Pearl, you are most likely looking to buy a condo or a loft. And with all the new high rises that are going up, there are PLENTY to choose from! What makes the Pearl District neighborhood so unique, is that it has a completely urban feel to it, with industrial buildings converted into hip lofts and condos. The trend seems to be a minimalist design and layout with high ceilings and open space. In April 2008, the average home price in the Pearl District neighborhood was $580,878, making it one of the most expensive Portland zip codes.
Pearl District Schools
The Pearl District has two colleges: Pacific Northtwest College of Art and Willamette University. Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) is located at 1241 NW Johnson St. and is a nationally accredited art and design college. It features campus galleries and a faculty that consists of regional and national artists. Willamette University at 1120 NW Couch St. is Willamette University’s Portland Center. It offers a convenient AACSB accredited professional MBA program. The Pearl District has several private K-12 schools, such as Child Peace Montessori (1516 NW Thurman Street), Emerson Charter School (105 NW Park) and Chapman Elementary (1445 NW 26th Ave.). In the Portland Public School system, residents of the Pearl District fall under the jurisdiction of West Sylvan Middle School (8111 SW West Slope Dr.) and Lincoln High School (1600 SW Salmon St.).
Pearl District History
More than ten years ago, a local gallery owner named Thomas Augustine coined the phrase “The Pearl District” to suggest that the buildings in the warehouse district were like crusty oysters while the galleries and artists there within were like pearls. As local business people scampered to label the quickly improving area (named like the “warehouse district” or the “brewery district” were a few of the suggestions), an Alaska Airlines writer borrowed Augustine’s phrase and the name stuck. There were many artists who lived or worked in the area back then in loft buildings like the Maddox on Hoyt Street, however these people were by far outnumbered by a more blue collar crowd. Despite some initial cynicism about the name, few can deny that it has caught on quite well.
Pearl District Neighborhood Facts
Association - Pearl District Neighborhood Association
Coalition - Neighbors West/Northwest
Area 1.21 km²
Population 1113 (density 920/km²)
Households 746 (91% occupied)
Owned 391 (52%)
Rented 355 (48%)
Size 1.49 persons (average)
Pearl District on Portland Octopus
Deschutes Brewery and Public House
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Boise
April 3, 2008
Boise [Portland Zip Code 97227] is a neighborhood in north/northeast Portland, Oregon bordered by the Humboldt, Alberta Arts, Elliott, Overlook and Sabin neighborhoods. Boise has become one of the hottest and trendiest neighborhoods in town due to the booming Mississippi Street area. With shopping, dining and nightlife haunts popping up all over, Boise has quickly become one of the most rejuvenated and most gentrified neighborhoods in Portland. Housing prices have soared, with seemingly no end in sight. And it seems at times that no one over the age of 35 lives in the neighborhood.
Boise Neighborhood Facts
Association - Boise Neighborhood Association
Coalition - Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
Area - 1.12 km²
Population - 3119 (density 2785/km²)
Households - 1168 (90% occupied)
Owned - 525 (45%)
Rented - 643 (55%)
Size - 2.67 persons (average)
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Humboldt
April 3, 2008
Humboldt [Portland Zip Code 97217] is an up-and-coming neighborhood in north/northeast Portland, OR bordered by the King, Boise, Overlook and Piedmont neighborhoods. It is known for its modest homes, its creative DIY spirit and its proximity to the popular Mississippi arts district, centered around Boise neighborhood’s Mississippi Street.
Humboldt Neighborhood Facts
Association - Humboldt Neighborhood Association
Coalition - Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
Area - 1.42 km² (PDF map)
Population - 5061 (density 3564/km²)
Households - 1921 (92% occupied)
Owned - 821 (43%)
Rented - 1100 (57%)
Size - 2.63 persons (average)
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Piedmont
April 3, 2008
Piedmont [Portland Zip Code 97217] is an up-and-coming neighborhood in northeast and north Portland, Oregon. It borders the Vernon, Humbolt, Overlook, Arbor Lodge and Kenton neighborhoods. Piedmont is an older neighborhood that has been getting a face lift recently with many new home owners and businesses moving in. Piedmont is right on the Max line and therefor offers convenient access to downtown Portland.
Piedmont Neighborhood Facts
Association - Piedmont Neighborhood Association
Coalition - North Portland Neighborhood Services
Area - 2.49 km²
Population - 6427 (density 2581/km²)
Households - 2518 (95% occupied)
Owned - 1699 (67%)
Rented - 819 (33%)
Size - 2.55 persons (average)
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Grant Park
April 3, 2008
Grant Park [Portland Zip Code 97212] is a quiet residential neighborhood in northeast Portland, Oregon. It includes Grant Park itself, as well as Grant High School, making this a popular neighborhood for young families in Portland. Grant Park is bordered by the Rose City Park, Sullivan’s Gulch, Irvington, Alameda, Beaumont-Wilshire and Hollywood neighborhoods. Grant Park’s claim to fame is that is was the setting for Beverly Cleary’s popular series of “Klickitat Street” books.
Grant Park Neighborhood Facts
Association - Grant Park Neighborhood Association
Coalition - Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
Area - 1.18 km²
Population - 3469 (density 2940/km²)
Households - 1364 (97% occupied)
Owned - 1205 (88%)
Rented - 159 (12%)
Size - 2.54 persons (average)
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Multnomah
April 2, 2008
Multnomah [Portland Zip Code 97219] is a neighborhood in southwest Portland, Oregon falling between SW 45th Ave., SW Capitol Hill Rd., SW Vermont St. and Interstate 5. Multnomah is bordered by the neighborhoods of Hillsdale, South Burlingame, Ashcreek, Maplewood, Hayhurst and Markham. It is centered around the thriving Multnomah Village shopping district and has a quaint, Rockwellian feel to it, especially during its annual Multnomah Days festival.
Multnomah Neighborhood Facts
Association - Multnomah Neighborhood Association
Coalition - Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.
Area - 3.74 km²
Population - 6625 (density 1771/km²)
Households - 3196 (95% occupied)
Owned - 1582 (49%)
Rented - 1614 (51%)
Size - 2.07 persons (average)
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Goose Hollow
April 2, 2008
Goose Hollow [Portland Zip Code 97204] is a small neighborhood in Portland, Oregon at the foot of the southwest hills. Goose Hollow is one of Portland’s oldest neighborhoods, with many turn-of-the-century homes and several of Portland’s historic restaurants. The neighborhood is a mix of commercial and residential and its centralized location offers convenient access to downtown Portland, PGE Park, the parks and gardens of the west hills as well as the shopping and dining in Nob Hill. One landmark spot in Goose Hollow is the historic Goose Hollow Inn (1927 SW Jefferson), known for having the best Reuben sandwich in town! Another notable spot is the Leaky Roof Global Bistro (1538 SW Jefferson), open since 1947 and claiming to have the best Irish Whiskey selection in the city.
Goose Hollow Neighborhood Facts
Association - Goose Hollow Foothills League
Coalition - Neighbors West/Northwest
Area - 1.17 km² (PDF map)
Population - 5433 (density 4644/km²)
Households - 3792 (91% occupied)
Owned - 540 (14%)
Rented - 3252 (86%)
Size - 1.43 persons (average)
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Happy Hour at Blue Dragonfly
March 31, 2008
One of the best, and lesser-known, happy hour spots in Portland, OR is Blue Dragonfly on 12th and SE Powell Blvd in the Abernathy neighborhood. One can chill out in the sleek, upscale barroom and a enjoy local microbrew (like Old Lompoc LSD) along with a gourmet meal–all for under $8! That’s right, from 3-6 pm Monday through Saturday, everything on the bar menu is $3.99. And these are not small portions either. Try the Lamb Skewers with Curried Crème Fraiche or the Washington Manila Clams with Chorizo and olive oil. Or venture into the burger menu, which includes some exotic patty options such as elk and deer. All burgers come with fries to boot. For whatever reason, this Portland happy hour spot remains relatively undiscovered. But I have a hunch this won’t last for long!
Downtown
March 28, 2008
Downtown Portland [Portland Zip Code 97205] is Portland, Oregon’s main business and financial district. Located on the west bank of the Willamette River and on the northeastern section of southwestern Portland, downtown extends west from the river to Interstate 405, and south from West Burnside St. to just south of the Portland State University campus. Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s the city took determined measures to ensure the success of the downtown area. The downtown transit mall, waterfront park, Pioneer Courthouse Square, The Max line and Pioneer Mall have all helped make downtown Portland what it is: a thriving all-hours business, shopping and dining district.
Downtown Portland is home to many of the city’s cultural treasures: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, the Portland Art Museum, Portland Opera Repertory Theatre and the Oregon Historical Society, to name a few. It also contains many of Portland’s high-rise buildings, like the iconic KOIN Center and the US Bancorp Tower (or “Big Pink” as it is often called).
Downtown Neighborhood Facts
Association - Downtown Neighborhood Association
Area - 2.58 km²
Population - 9965 (density 3862/km²)
Households - 6384 (89% occupied)
Owned - 525 (8%)
Rented - 5859 (92%)
Size - 1.56 persons (average)
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