Lunch at Mercato
May 15, 2008
Mercato is vintage London mod meets urban contemporary. And it’s very very orange. The dining area is really spacious and all the chairs and couches are orange, Read more
Dolly Parton Hoot Night! Yes!
May 15, 2008
I collect records and would have to say that among my favorites are a couple of early Dolly Parton albums. Not many people know this, but Parton has written and published over 600 Read more
Alotto Gelato
May 6, 2008
Right in front of the pig statues on NW 23rd (between Lovejoy and Kearney) you will find Alotto Gelato, one of the true artisans of this Italian specialty in town. Alotto Gelato sports a wide variety of flavors, some classics and some not-so-classic. Over the weekend they had Maple Bacon, which no doubt pays homage to the classic Voodoo Donut gem the Bacon Maple Bar. The first few bites were good, but I think its best to just sample this one so you can say you tasted it. After that, get a nice fruity raspberry or lemon. Enjoy the flavors Alotto Gelato has to offer while people watching on one of the best streets in Portland.
Alotto Gelato
931 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 228-1709
Lunch at The Sultan Cafe
April 30, 2008
There just isn’t enough written about lunch spots in Portland. As we all know, finding that delicate balance between quality, quantity, price and atmosphere isn’t easy. Luckily Read more
Spike & Mike’s Twisted Animation
April 25, 2008
I went to Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation Festival a few years ago. I remember taking a date and about halfway through thinking how proud I was that my date was still laughing when the baby got melted in the microwave. I remember thinking “this could be love.” Well, the years have rolled by and the girl didn’t turn out to be The One, but my urge to see a claymation baby run through a blender has not waned. Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation Festival is a time honored tradition. Since 1990, the duo has been collecting and producing the most vile and disturbing animation shorts in the world for your viewing pleasure. So select your date wisely and head out to Cinema 21 this week for some ecstatic and confused laughs. Find out more about Spike and Mike here.
Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Animation Festival
Cinema 21 : 616 NW 21st Ave : (503) 223-4515
Friday April 25-May 3
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
See other Portland neighborhoods:
Portland Indie Wine Festival
April 18, 2008
Think of it as a farmers market with wine. In the Pearl District. Rising star winemakers not only presenting their wines, but pouring them too. Read more
Free Rides in Broadway Cabs Today!
April 2, 2008
Portland, Oregon’s Broadway Cab company is offering free rides around downtown today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help celebrate the new “eco-friendly” cars added to their fleet. That’s right, Broadway Cab is rolling out six Toyota Prius hybrid compacts, and may eventually replace half of its fleet with hybrid vehicles. Cities like New York, San Francisco and Vancouver, B. C. actually have regulations in place that require high-mileage or hybrid taxis in order to cut their city’s carbon emissions. Others cities like Boulder and Baltimore have some hybrids in place. Bravo to Broadway Cab for getting the ball rolling in Portland, hopefully paving the way for more and more hybrid taxis to come!
Portland Farmers Market: Opening Day This Saturday!
April 1, 2008
Portland’s well loved Farmer’s Market, located near PSU on the Park Blocks, is having its grand opening this Saturday, April 5, 2008. There will be over 100 local vendors selling fresh produce, cheeses, eggs, pastries, breads, and loads of yummy food to munch on. Each weekend they will have guest speakers covering topics such as gardening, healthy meals, edible plants, smarter use of space, and much more. The opening of Portland’s Farmers Market always welcomes spring and gets us all excited for our weekend shopping for all of spring and summer.
Portland Farmers Market Schedule:
Nob Hill
March 26, 2008
Nob Hill [Portland Zip Code 97209] is an historic neighborhood in Northwest Portland, OR nestled comfortably between the city’s west hills and the Pearl District. The neighborhood is a shopping and dining destination virtually unmatched in Portland and features some of the finest Victorian architecture this side of San Fransisco. The strips of NW 21st and NW 23rd Avenue flourish all year round, but especially during the holiday season. Finding a parking spot this time of year is not a task for the faint of heart. Nob Hill is a delicate balance of residential and commercial space, at times stirring animosity between the neighborhood businesses and homeowners. But mostly it is a thriving consumer ecosystem which benefits the city.
Nob Hill Food
Nob Hill lays claim to some of the most successful and popular restaurants in the city. One of Portland’s best Italian restaurants, Serrato (2112 NW Kearney), is located in Nob Hill. Here you will find an expertly curated (and reasonably priced) Italian wine list, some unique standout dishes (such as the Wild Boar Tagliatelle), and a fine dining atmosphere. For one of Portland’s best Thai food experiences, visit Typhoon! (2310 NW Everett) where they serve up both traditional and unique twists on Southeast Asian cuisine, such as their pumpkin curry. If you are looking for the classic dark and cavernous steakhouse experience, you will want to check out Ringside (2165 W. Burnside), open since 1944 and firing up prime steaks and seafood every night of the week. A new entry into the Nob Hill dining directory is Cha Taqueria & Bar (305 NW 21st Ave.), which offers up fresh upscale Mexican food along with outstanding specialty cocktails and tequila. Some standout dishes are the Lomo de Puerco and the Ceviche flight. Cha also has an excellent happy hour, with a tapas style menu and discounted margaritas. Across the street from Cha you will find one of the finest bakeries and coffee shops in the city, Ken’s Artisan Bakery (338 NW 21st Ave.). Ken’s is always packed, due to its fresh Stumptown coffee and delicious homemade bread and pastries.
Nob Hill Fun
Portland’s Nob Hill neighborhood is home to a bustling night life scene. Due to the large number of service industry people working, and often living, in Nob Hill, there are many bars and clubs that stay open ’til 2:30. Bar/restaurants like Muu-Muu’s (612 NW 21st) and North 45 (517 NW 21st) pack them in night after night, along with dive bar institutions like the Gypsy Lounge (625 NW 21st). Nob Hill’s premier rock club is the up-and-coming Slabtown (1033 NW 16th) where the drinks are stiff and garage rock is king.
Nob Hill Shopping
Nob Hill is perhaps best known for its shopping. From friendly little independent businesses like City Market Northwest (735 NW 21st), a cooperative specialty food and wine market, to larger corporate destinations like Urban Outfitters (2320 NW Westover Rd.) or the Levis Store (2307 NW Westover Rd), Nob Hill has something for everyone. For high-end jewelry from national and local designers, check our Twist (30 NW 21st Place).
Nob Hill Real Estate
The Nob Hill neighborhood real estate market, while increasingly expensive, is a highly popular spot to buy a property. It attracts younger upwardly-mobile couples as well as middle-aged urban-minded couples and families. With a variety of homes, apartments and condos to choose from, Nob Hill is one of the most diverse and exciting Portland zip codes. What makes the Nob Hill neighborhood so unique is its proximity to downtown, its immaculately restored Victorian and Craftsman homes and its wealth of small and large businesses offering shopping, food, entertainment and more. It’s also an extremely walkable, green and pet-friendly neighborhood. In April 2008, the average home price in the Nob Hill neighborhood was $321,915.
Nob Hill History
The NW Portland area, which contains Nob Hill, was originally home to much of Portland’s poor and struggling working class. Because many residents couldn’t afford properly cut firewood, they had to use cheap slabs of wood from the local sawmills, which led to the area being dubbed Slabtown.
Nob Hill on Portland Octopus
Nob Hill Photo Gallery
|
Northwest Neighborhood Facts
Association - Northwest District Association
Coalition - Neighbors West/Northwest
Area - 3.44 km²
Population - 11455 (density 3330/km²)
Households - 7567 (94% occupied)
Owned - 1137 (15%)
Rented - 6430 (85%)
Size - 1.51 persons (average)
See other Portland neighborhoods:
