ACRL 2015 Angie Beiriger and Dan Kelley
Neighborhoods of Portland Visit. Shop. Play.
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out and about, get in some guilt-free shophe city of Portland is known by many ping—there’s no sales tax in Oregon! Some nicknames—Stumptown, the Rose City, suggestions for neighborhoods and places Bridgetown, Rip City. No matter what you to visit, shop, and play follow. The public call it, that name refers to a city renowned transportation serving the neighborhood is for its diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. included, but check with Trimet for specifThe vast majority of these pedestrianics. Take some extra time to find your own friendly neighborhoods are easily accessible favorite park, gallery, by foot or bike (rent or boutique. If you a bike at one of the want a more guided many shops in town). experience, walking Portland’s world-class and bicycling routes public transportation are available from city (trimet.org) will get planners. Check out the you to each neigharchitectural, culinary, borhood by bus, MAX and “weird Portland” light rail, or streetcar. group tours. To learn Getting around is easy, more about neighborsince most of the city hoods of Portland and is laid out on a grid find the perfect way that spreads across the to spend your time, city quadrants: North, visit www.travelporNorthwest, Northeast, tland.com/things-to-do Southwest, and SouthPioneer Courthouse Square signpost. Photo / n e i g h b o r h o o d s east. (Remember, Portcredit: Cavale Doom, https://www.flickr.com/photos -regions/. land has to keep it /cavale/8376789007/. We’ll be profiling weird by having a fifth neighborhood restaurants, breweries, and quadrant.) The Willamette (rhymes with coffee shops in an upcoming article, stay Janet) River separates the city into east and tuned. west. Burnside Street separates north and south. Look for the N, NW, NE, SW, SE in The Lloyd/Broadway district in NE the street address to help figure out where Portland is one of the closest neighborhoods you are. One of the highlights of a visit to the Rose City is visiting these neighborhoods and discovering their unique offerings. Deciding Angie Beiriger is digital assets librarian and liaison to Classics & Religion at Reed College Library, email: beiriger@ what neighborhood to explore can be diffireed.edu, and Dan Kelley is faculty outreach librarian at cult, but rest assured no matter where you go Lewis and Clark College, email:
[email protected] there will plenty to do and see. While you’re © 2014 Angie Beiriger and Dan Kelley
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stellar resto the Contaurants vention and funky Center. It’s boutiques home to from takthe Lloyd ing a hold Center, on the Oregon’s neighborlargest hood. East mall and Burnside popular is divided family desinto upper tination. and lower Shop at districts. one of its The lower more than 150 stores Downtown Portland at sunset from the Burnside Bridge. Photo credit: district is closest to (Made in C.M. Keiner, https://www.flickr.com/photos/cmkeiner/6178373872/. the ConOregon, vention Center. Peruse the offerings at one Macy’s, and H&M), catch a movie at one of of the vintage shops like Modo Boutique, the 18 screens, or rent some skates at the Bombshell Vintage, or Rock n’ Rose. A visit to indoor ice rink. If the mall isn’t your thing, the iconic Hippo Hardware is on many a Portstroll over to Broadway Street to check out land visitor’s bucket list. Catch an indie rock one of the city’s best independent bookstores, show at Broadway the Doug Books. Fir Lounge Cooking (located in enthusiasts the Jupiter should visHotel) or it Kitchen just visit Kaboodle, the bar a locally upstairs o w n e d to experishop full ence the of gadmodern gets, home log cabin accessoambiance. ri es, a nd Take a cookware. walk over High-end the masconsignsive Burnment store Wall of salts at The Meadow. Photo credit: lesleyk, side bridge H e r e We https://www.flickr.com/photos/lesleyk/5851679537/. into downGo Again town Portland to catch stellar views of the features a great selection of vintage and modriver, bridges, and skyline. (Bus, Streetcar) ern fashion. (Bus, MAX, Streetcar) One of the hippest neighborhoods in A short distance to the south of the conStumptown is Historic Mississippi Avenue vention center is the up-and-coming Lower (N). The street’s recent transformation and Burnside Area. Burnside may be one of the development has made it a destination for busiest streets in town, but that hasn’t stopped November 2014
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Ampersand Gallery & Fine Arts. Parents of shoppers, diners, and people watchers. young children may want to pop into GrassThe Meadow features an extensive selechopper to choose a gift from a well-curated tion of salt, chocolate, and flowers. In fact, selection of toys. A visit to the neighborthe owner, Mark Bitterman, actually wrote hood should include a short walk north to the book on salt—the James Beard award the Kennedy School, a historic elementary winning Salted: A Manifesto on the World’s school converted into a mixed-use buildMost Essential Mineral, with Recipes. Check ing featuring hotel rooms, a movie theater, out Paxton Gate, a true curiosity shop with several bars and restaurants, a soaking pool, a huge selection of fossils and minerals, and (of course) walls lined with murals and taxidermy and bones, plant oddities, and artwork. (Bus) really funky jewelry. After perusing one of Division, Hawthorne, and Belmont are the many vinyl, comic book, or paper goods parallel streets in SE Portland, located close stores, round out your visit by catching some enough to be easily accessed via a quick bus live local music at Mississippi Studios. (Bus, or bike ride MAX with or even a walk) brisk stroll. Want to T h e s e check out three older one of the streets all most dihad busy verse art streetcars scenes in linking town? Take them with some time downtown to stroll the before the more than rise of the 20 blocks automoof the Albile. Afberta Arts ter some District. r o u g h In addition decades to myriad Jugglers at Last Thursday on Alberta Street. Photo credit: MookieLuv following established https://www.flickr.com/photos/mookieluv/4747558427/. World War art gallerII, they have all bounced back and now are ies, the street is brimming with boutiques, brimming with restaurants, boutiques, bars, shops, and cafes, many of which line their and Portland’s quirky vibe. They are a short walls with work by local artists. The biggest distance from one of Stumptown’s jewels, draw to the neighborhood is the almost Mt. Tabor. With a forest-like setting and pananything-goes Last Thursday festival. Art oramic views of the city, the 196-acre park vendors line the streets and galleries host situated on an extinct volcanic cinder cones new exhibitions in what has become one in the middle of the city is another must-visit of Portland’s largest street parties. It should for bikers, hikers, and trail enthusiasts. (Bus) be in full swing on March 26 during the The furthest south of the three streets, conference. Division Street, has developed rapidly The district is a great place to shop for a recently and now boasts some of the best locally designed clothing at boutiques like restaurants in the city. Visit some of the Tumbleweed or designer shoes at PedX. boutiques and witness the transformation of Check out the fascinating selection of art a sleepy neighborhood into a culinary desbooks, photographs, and ephemera at C&RL News
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as the other two neighborhoods, but it’s great tination. Hawthorne Boulevard is P-town’s place to hang out and pretend you’re a local. original hippie neighborhood. While some The Avalon Theatre offers old-school video of the peace and love vibe may have melgames and pinball for kids of all ages. The lowed a bit, you can still catch glimpses of its boutiques patchouli, Noun and tie-dye Superpast. The Maker feapopular ture vinneighbortage and hood is a modern great place gifts. Grab for peoplea cup of watching coffee at and ofStumpfers great town and shopping. stroll over Browse the to beautishelves of ful LauPowell’s relhurst Books on Shops on Hawthorne Boulevard. Photo credit: Curtis Perry Park to Hawthorne https://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisperry/8375296421/. see how or check Portlandout the ers play in rain or shine. For a more historic huge cookbook selection at Powell’s Books and contemplative experience, visit Portfor Home and Garden. Catch a film at McMeland’s oldest namin’s Bagcontinudad Theater ously used and Pub or cemetery pick up some and de facto of the city’s arboretum, best cheese Lone Fir and import Cemetery. foods at The west Pastaworks. side of the If soccer is river hosts your thing, some of check out Portland’s 4-4-2, a oldest neighgreat place borhoods to catch a and iconic Timbers, landmarks. Thornes, or D o w n English Pretown, Chimier League Portland’s living room, Pioneer Courthouse Square. Photo credit: natown, match. The A. Davey https://www.flickr.com/photos/adavey/8699673325/. Old Town, neighborand the Pearl District may look like sepahood is also a great place to look for colrate neighborhoods on a map, but they lectibles, antiques, and vintage clothing. The flow into each other without any clear divibusiness strip on Belmont Street isn’t as big November 2014
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Hugging the Wilsions. Portlanders lamette River on the are rightly proud edge of downtown, of the Downtown Old Town and Chiarea (SW), which natown (NW) were is brimming with pretty sketchy until food carts, cultural a few years ago, institutions, and and can still be a (of course) tons of bit gritty, but its hiscyclists. The South toric architecture Park Blocks link the and lively nightPortland Art Mulife make it very seum and Oregon worthwhile. A true Historical Society Portland institution, with Portland State Darcelle XV has University and are hosted some of the beautiful to walk area’s most iconic through. The blocks “female impersonfeature Portland ators” for almost 50 largest Farmer’s Maryears. Other dance ket, which runs on and burlesque clubs Saturdays from midmix with dim sum March through midDecember. Water- Female Fu Lion in Front of Chinatown Gate. Photo restaurants and herb credit: camknows, https://www.flickr.com/photos shops to make up front Park, close to /camknows/4148599230/. one of the most the Willamette River, eclectic areas of the city. Find out about is also a great place to explore. Closer in, the Portland’s seedy past with the free Secrets beautiful Multnomah County Library main of Portlanbranch dania or should be a guided on every Portland librarians Underbucket list. ground Pioneer t o u r. T h e Courthouse hub of the Square has area is the been called incred“Portland’s ible Lan l i v i n g Su Chinese room” and Garden, an is great for authentic peopleM i ng Dywatching nasty style anytime of garden that day. Union is the epitWay, PortPearl District Go by Streetcar sign: Photo credit: Steve Boland. ome of an l a n d ’ s https://www.flickr.com/photos/sfcityscape/4997559367/. urban refeclectic uge. Stroll through the breathtaking gardens shopping arcade, features high-end retail then relax in the Teahouse in the Tower of and a true hipster vibe. C&RL News
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A bit further out from the city center is one of Portland’s original destination neighborhoods, the Northwest District/ Nob Hill district. NW 23rd and 21st streets feature high-end boutiques like the jewelry haven Twist as well national retailers like Urban Outfitters, Restoration Hardware, and Pottery Barn. Historic homes and elegant vintage apartment buildings line the side streets. Catch the most recent indie documentary at Cinema 21. With breathtaking views of the surrounding forests, bridges, and mountains, the vast historic Pittock Mansion is another must-see jewel of the city. (Bus, Streetcar) Find your own adventure at those described here or go off the beaten path by exploring other the notable neighborhoods, such as St. Johns/North Portland, Upper Burnside/Laurelhurst, Alameda/Fremont, Montavilla, Williams, Woodstock, Sellwood /Moreland, and so many more. Whether you prefer the bustling vibe of an urban center or a quiet encounter with one of the many Bridgetown parks, there’s a neighborhood in Portland waiting for you to explore. And remember, we’ll be profiling the bars, breweries, and restaurants in theses neighborhoods in an upcoming article.
Cosmic Reflections while you enjoy the best tea in Portland. Stop into the Pendleton flagship store for a lovely selection of goods from the iconic Oregon company. (Bus, MAX, Streetcar) With its high-rise condos, wall-to-wall shopping, and endless dining options, the Pearl District is one of Bridgetown’s most urban residential centers. Any visitor’s first stop should be to the legendary Powell’s Bookstore. You may need a whole day to explore the exceptional selection of books, gifts, zines, and maps. A shoppers paradise, the Pearl is home to outdoorsy shops like REI, Patagonia, and North Face, as well as retailers like West Elm and Anthropologie. Antique and interior design shops abound. Paper aficionados will love Oblation Papers & Press, a letterpress print shop, paper maker, and retail store. Stroll down the South Park Blocks to watch the old-timers playing Bocce, tech workers eating lunch, and young neighborhood kids on the playgrounds. Nestled on a corner next to the blocks is the historic DeSoto Building, which hosts high-profile art institutions like Blue Sky Photography Gallery, Charles A. Hartman Fine Art, The Museum of Contemporary Craft, and Augen Gallery. (“Let’s get this party started” cont. from page 553 4. Michelle Armstrong and Julia Stringfellow, “Promoting Faculty Scholarship through the University Author Recognition Bibliography at Boise State University,” New Review of Academic Librarianship 18, no. 2 (2012): 171. doi:10.1080/13614533.2012.717901. 5. Bai, Sheryl, and Pamela Kelly, “Development of a Web-based faculty publications database,” Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 88, no. 2 (2000): 189. 6 Sara Tabaei et al., “Building a Faculty Publications Database: A Case Study,” Public Services Quarterly 9, no. 3 (2013: 200. doi:1 0.1080/15228959.2013.816127. 7. Connor, “Using Wiki Technology,” 16. 8. Julia Stringfellow and Michelle Armstrong, “The University Authors Recognition November 2014
Reception at Boise State University: A Celebration of Scholarship,” The Idaho Librarian 62, no. 1 (2012): 2. http://theidaholibrarian. wordpress.com/2012/05/09/the-university -authors-recognition-reception-at-boise-state -university-a-celebration-of-scholarship. 9. Tabaei et al., “Building a Faculty Publications Database,” 202. 10. Barbara Blummer, “The Availability of Faculty Publication Databases from Library Web Pages,” Journal of Web Librarianship 1, no. 2 (2007): 35. doi:10.1300/ J502v01n02_03;Vanette Schwartz and Bruce Stoffel, “Building an Online Faculty Publications Database,” College & Undergraduate Libraries 14, no. 3 (2007): 5. doi:10.1300 /J106v14n03_01. 559
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