forestofglory | I'm Going to Portland!

I'm going to Portland, OR in few weeks. A friend has work trip there with a weekend free. Since she normally lives in the UK, I'm taking this opportunity to hang out with her. Anyways I'm posting to asking for recommendations for things to do and places to eat. Anyone have advice?

Crossposts: http://ravingglory.livejournal.com/607150.html

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From:

forestofglory

Thanks for stopping by and offering advice. I like foodie places, and farm to fork stuff, but one of my traveling companions is rather picky, so small menu places aren't great for us. Also my friend is gulten-free.

I'd be interested to learn about local museums, especially science museums, also parts of town that are just nice to walk around in, and gardens to visit.

My friend is an engineer so she'd probably like to see interesting bridges or buildings and such like.

From:

liviapenn

Two vegan places that I hear good things about: The Sudra and Portobello. Also Cultured Caveman might be good for gluten-free. If you like Thai, Pok Pok and Lemongrass are both very good. For fancier dinner places: Clyde Common does regional cuisine & is within walking distance of Powell's but they have a smaller menu so you might want to look it up before you go. Veritable Quandary I used to hear really good things about, also Higgins.

* These are all in basically the same area of Northwest Portland: Portland Japanese Garden 5.5 acre Japanese style garden, right across the street from... Washington Park International Rose Test Garden (I don't know if any roses are blooming this time of year, but you also get a great view of downtown Portland, and it's free). Also nearby: the World Forestry Center (I've never been here) and OMSI, the childrens' science museum (haven't been here since I was little). A short drive nearby: Pittock Mansion built in 1914 for a Portland newspaper magnate.

* Downtown area: Lan Su Chinese Garden, worth visiting to see how they make 1 small city block seem like a vast space. (You can also get on the streetcar and ride from Powell's to Jamison Square and Tanner City Park, two very cool new parks with lots of nice shops around them.) Also the Museum of Contemporary Craft, small but always has some amazing stuff on exhibition. CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays, I always forget this and am disappointed. ^_^

For architecture fans: Pioneer Courthouse Square, also Portlandia, on top of the Portland Building (very controversial post-modern building-- hated by some, loved by others). It is a city building, so you can go inside, and on the 3rd or 4th floor, I think? there is a display about Portlandia, including a giant mold of her face, which I love to visit.

Every touristy guide you go recommends Voodoo Doughnuts but they are VASTLY overrated, there's always a huge line and the donuts just aren't very good.

Your British friend might be amused by the Horse Brass which is a "British-style" brewpub in Southeast. If you're a big movie buff you can also stop by Movie Madness just down the street which has a small collection of movie memorabilia.

Also in Southeast: I have never actually been to the Architectural Heritage Center or the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden but they exist. :D

Other neighborhoods:

Very trendy, very Portland-y shopping district: Alberta Arts district-- basically you can park and walk up one side of Alberta and back down, tons of art, craft, indie shops, galleries, coffee, ice cream, etc. I really love this area.

If you start from downtown Portland and drive to the St. John's neighborhood, you can drive over the St John's Bridge and then walk around underneath it in Cathedral Park. The St Johns neighborhood also has some good farmers' markets and produce markets. You might like Olive and Vine which has tons of specialty salts & vinegars.

South Waterfront/very close to downtown: you can check out our newest bridge, Tilikum Crossing, which is still under construction & going to be pedestrian/bus/bike only. Also you can ride the Portland Aerial Tram up and back (it's kind of expensive at $5 a ticket for a 4-minute ride, and there's not much to do at the top except sit around in a patio garden for a while -- it was basically built to relieve traffic going up the hill to the OHSU campus & hospitals -- but still fun and you get some nice views.)