We may be biased, but we think Portland is the best place to live. Roughly 650,000 residents call it home, after all. With a population like that, where do all of these Portlanders eat, drink, play, and live?
We are setting out to answer that with PDXtoday’s Neighborhood Guides. Much like our past guide to St. Johns, this ongoing series will take you on an exploration of the communities that make Portland feel like home. We’ll dive into history, things to do and discover, places to park, where to live, and more to showcase some of the best qualities our unique neighborhoods have to offer.
While we love suburbs like Hillsboro + Oregon City, these guides will focus on small communities within our city (think: Hollywood and Brooklyn). These small but mighty parts of Portland typically feature restaurants, parks, living spaces, festivals, events, and more, and span one to a handful of blocks.
How will we choose what neighborhoods to cover?
This is where you come in. We are asking you to rave about all of your favorite neighborhood communities in Stumptown — whether it’s one you call home, always stop by with out-of-town visitors, or daydream about moving to.
Are you intrigued by Irvington’s history? Do you love being able to walk from a Pearl District coffee shop to a clothing store in a matter of minutes? Ever wonder why Sunnyside gained popularity so quickly? We want to hear all about it + share the inside scoop with our readers.
Head to the button below to point us in the direction of some of the best neighborhoods around town — from areas with rich history and unique architecture to the best places to retire or purchase your first home.
Safe Together Workshop | Mon., Aug. 1 | 6-8 p.m. | Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th Ave. | $23 | Learn self-defense techniques in this LGBTQ+ focused class. 💪
Lavender Wreath-Making | Mon., Aug. 1 | 3 + 6 p.m. | Wayward Winds Lavender Farm, 17005 NE Courtney Rd., Newberg | $60 | Get crafty on the outdoor deck overlooking acres of vibrant lavender, while sipping a refreshing beverage. 💜
Llama Experience | Mon., Aug. 1 | 4 + 5:30 p.m. | Evergreen Llamas, 1570 Green Mountain Rd., Kalama | $10+ | This experience offers the chance to walk + pet llamas. 🦙
Tuesday
Rising Appalachia | Tues., Aug. 2 | 8 p.m. | McMenamins Crystal Ballroom | $28 | Hear a sonic mixture built on folksy southern roots and global influences. 🪕
Wednesday
Timbers vs. Nashville SC | Wed., Aug. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Providence Park | $20+ | Do you hear that, Music City? It’s a tiny violin playing for your chances of victory. ⚽
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
The Pickathon Music Festival is back after a two-year hiatus and it’s shaking things up. This year’s Pickathon will feature new stages, a layout that takes advantage of its natural surroundings, and an art installation that aims to reuse materials. Pick up your tickets before they sell out. 🎸(Portland Mercury)
Community
Local organizations have been working with the Oregon Health Authority to distribute free AC units to at-risk Oregonians. Portland Open Bible Church, Rockwood Community Development Corporation, and Somali American Council of Oregon lent a hand in distributing hundreds of units last week and some organizations even helped with installations. (OPB)
Pets
Tin Shed Garden Cafe made Yelp’s list of Top 100 Dog-Friendly Restaurants in the US. This go-to brunch spot placed in the top 10 for its dog menu + branded bandanas (proceeds go to the rescue organization Street Dog Hero). Bone appétit. 🐶 (Yelp)
Traffic
More bikes for the residents of Parkrose. There’s a new Biketown station on Northeast Sandy Boulevard + 96th Ave. so you can snag a ride after hopping off a TriMet bus. Check out the other Biketown locations online. 🚲
Eat
Tip your server… or don’t?DesiPDX and Masala Labwill now charge a 20% service fee to ensure that their staff are paid living wages. All members of the serving staff — including the dish + preparation crews and the front of house team — will receive a portion of this charge based on their hours.
Sports
The Portland Football Officials Association (PFOA) is looking for officials to service fifth grade to high school varsity games in the area. The PFOA needs approximately 200 more officials and runs a three-year mentorship and guidance program for new officials. Interested candidates can apply here, no player background necessary. 🏈 (FOX 12)
Community
We’ll cross that bridge
The Blumenauer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge is finally open and ready to welcome pedestrians and cyclists. In case you missed it, the new bridge is the latest phase of The Green Loop. Located on Interstate 84 at Northeast Seventh Ave, it connects the Lloyd and the Central Eastside neighborhoods.
The bridge is 475-feet long and 24-feet wide. | Rendering via City of Portland
Ride your bike or take a stroll across Ned Flanders Crossing (named for “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening who grew up in Stumptown). The best part? The bridge is totally car free.
Editor’s pick:Hi there, I’m Multi-City Editor, Jessalin. I work for PDXtoday’s parent company 6AM City, and support newsletter products across the country — including Greenville, SC (GVLtoday); Lakeland, FL (LALtoday); Charleston, SC (CHStoday); Columbia, SC (COLAtoday); Louisville, KY (LOUtoday) + Lexington, KY (LEXtoday).
I’m not from Portland, but my mom is a Lewis & Clark alumna and lived here for six years. She still raves about the Portland International Rose Test Garden. Hi, Mom. 👋
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