Will I actually be the first, besides Douglas, to say something serious and positive about PDX?
For its price of livin', Portland's probably one of the best American cities to live in. Despite it being a west coast city, the weather can get downright FUCKING MISERABLE at times.. like during the ice storms in winter, and days like, oh, today.. where it's (check's Yahoo weather page) 96F/35C with 60% humidity... (ok ok so maybe not miserable compared to the east coast)
Portland's a fair sized city but it does feel even smaller for some reason. It's a nice arty drinkin' town. Musically -- well, if you can ignore the Dandies or Jackie O Motherfucker or the Epoxies easily enough, you'll find a nice variety of stuff to see, befriend, etc. (Minmae and Celesteville as one of several examples)
Like the rest of the northwest, it's kinda hippie/kinda swarthy occasionally.
Gareth, if you're looking at the Northwest.. and for something cheaper than Seattle (not that Seattle is super expensive, but compared the rest of the immediate region, it's pretty pricey), you should also check out Vancouver...(Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that is -- not to be confused with Vancouver, Washington, which is confusingly enough right next to Portland, OR... )
― donut bitch, Monday, 22 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Kris, Monday, 22 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― geeta, Monday, 22 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
The truth of the matter is, if we didn't give them away, the creeps would pile up in the streets in unsightly heaps, along with all myriads of god-strangled kittens. As it is, heavy machinery sweeps the streets every night, pushing the creeps under freeway overpasses, but they won't stay put like the dead kittens do.
― Aimless, Monday, 22 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
OR-e-guin
Not Ore-GAWN
― lyra in seattle, Monday, 22 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Portland likes to refer to itself as a world class city. I think that is becuase they want to charge 1st class prices. If you compare Portland to any major city in the U.S. it will fall short in diversity, and culture (although a lot of white kids like to drive around volvos with "honour diversity" bumper stickers).
Portland is a place to hide from the rest of the world. It is not an engaging city. It is however a good base to engage in a lot of different outdoor activities.
If you do not like gray wet weather most of the year you will not like Portland for long.
I have lived in Portland for 9 years and am considering moving back to Chicago or to some other big city.
― Robert Haserot, Wednesday, 25 December 2002 00:07 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Robert Haserot, Wednesday, 25 December 2002 00:08 (twenty-one years ago) link
― ron (ron), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 02:09 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 04:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
They're cheap if you're used to NYC/SF/Seattle, expensive if you're used to West Virginia or don't have a job. Which, of course, is a big problem, as the unemployment rate is, they keep saying, the highest in the nation. I'm not sure if that takes into account the people who make a bunch of money on the East Coast, move to Portland for 6 months, and then move back when the money runs out.
Portland likes to refer to itself as a world class city.
It does help to keep in mind that there's the Portland that most people think of -- the unwashed close-in southeast Portland that, in fall of 2000, had a Nader sign on every lawn -- and there's also the other Portland, where the mayor and her cronies get really excited about making downtown friendly to huge corporations and tearing down old building to make depressing overpriced and artsy "lofts". So. Nobody refers to Portland as a "world class city" except, well, those creepy people who think that it's good to be a "world class city".
Anyway, search: Stumptown coffee, Q Is For Choir record shop, the fact that everyone has a band and no one can make any money off their band, lots of beautiful bridges, the weather, a tiny city where you can walk or bike everywhere, lots of vegetarian food, no sales tax, etc.
Destroy: Politicians resting on a reputation built by people in the 70s, small-town dating pool (everyone knows everyone), everyone is lily white, the weather, events at the waterfront park that ruin your Sunday afternoon, people who come to Portland and expect it to be New York City or northern northern California, huge budget deficits, the Mercury, etc.
― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 05:44 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Saturday, 27 August 2005 00:32 (nineteen years ago) link
― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Saturday, 27 August 2005 00:44 (nineteen years ago) link
better hurry thouhg, I'm only here for another week.
― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Saturday, 27 August 2005 01:04 (nineteen years ago) link
I'm so proud of him.
― kingfish 'doublescoop' moose tracks (kingfish 2.0), Saturday, 27 August 2005 01:13 (nineteen years ago) link
― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Saturday, 27 August 2005 01:20 (nineteen years ago) link
― kingfish 'doublescoop' moose tracks (kingfish 2.0), Saturday, 27 August 2005 01:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― Aimless (Aimless), Saturday, 27 August 2005 02:53 (nineteen years ago) link
― kingfish 'doublescoop' moose tracks (kingfish 2.0), Saturday, 27 August 2005 03:02 (nineteen years ago) link
I'm in Seattle now! Portland was good.
― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Tuesday, 30 August 2005 15:17 (nineteen years ago) link
http://www.dirtyducktavern.com/
And this guide looks a little old, anything good? (I'm not quite a bear, but they're better company than some.)
http://www.oregonbears.org/PortlandGayLife/portlandgaylife-barsrestaurantsclubs.htm
Jeezus, bars closing at 1 on weeknights!?! When will civilization arrive??
― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 15:58 (eighteen years ago) link
Also, Starky's is a place you may want to check out. Nice, friendly neighborhood bar.
http://www.starkys.com/
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 16:35 (eighteen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 16:39 (eighteen years ago) link
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 16:45 (eighteen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 16:49 (eighteen years ago) link
― kingfish ubermensch dishwasher sundae (kingfish 2.0), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 16:55 (eighteen years ago) link
I don't feel like I'm worthy enough to go to Starky's yet.
Town Lounge is nice and small, which generally makes the room feel "full". Very tiny stage, although the one show I went to see featured a band with 8 people in it, at least one of whom was put off to the side somewhere.
I think I have heard OK things about the Dirty Duck but I mostly only know the gay bar scene here through anecdotes. (The only place I've been to on that OregonBear list is Hobo's, which is sort of a piano bar/restaurant.) Joq's is right near my place, and it seems modest and nontwinkish enough from the outside, though I've never been in. This website suggests that they have food, which I can't imagine is recommended.
― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 19:51 (eighteen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 20:03 (eighteen years ago) link
― darin (darin), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 21:56 (eighteen years ago) link
I've been thinking about trying to get Martin M. to go with me to brunch at Starky's someday. I have perhaps built it up too much in my head, though.
― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 22:04 (eighteen years ago) link
Friday April 7thAt the Towne Lounge in Portlandw/Boy Eats Drum Machine--and--Saturday April 8thAt the Voyeur in Olympiaw/LKN (http://www.myspace.com/LKN)Quitty and Dan from The Light Year (http://www.myspace.com/thelightyear)And Swan Island
love to see anyone that can make it
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 15:07 (eighteen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 15:11 (eighteen years ago) link
― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 18:37 (eighteen years ago) link
Oh, I'm not quite ready for that yet (even just listening).
I'm thinking of staying a little closer to the West Burnside bar strip and Powells, at least for 3 nights, rather than the White Eagle. I'll know how to budget when I do my taxes in a couple days. :o
― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 18:48 (eighteen years ago) link
― jergins (jergins), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 19:34 (eighteen years ago) link
Although, you know, Powells, yes. They should rent rooms above Powells.
― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 19:44 (eighteen years ago) link
(Some library around Portland has apartments above it - this would almost be better than living above Uwajimaya in Seattle.)
― Jaq (Jaq), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 19:46 (eighteen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:03 (eighteen years ago) link
― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:06 (eighteen years ago) link
Anyway, I used to work at the Towne Lounge some as I'm friends with the owner and all the employees, etc. It is a nice, small place -- the sound can really fill the place up but I think most bands try to keep it a little quiet because of that. Als I was a DJ there regularly when the place first started and it's really blown up, which is nice to see. I live just down the street so I'll try to drop by your show on Friday, Shakey.
― Clay (cws), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 23:31 (eighteen years ago) link
July 5 - Beavers baseballJuly 6 - Lilys @ Doug Fir
― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 19:45 (eighteen years ago) link
I don't know what our writer friend, Matt, thought of all this (I have a sneaking hunch it was all very circa-1995 Brooklyn to him AWRIGHT!). But I did finally figure it was time to go. It was during the "talent" portion of the pageant, when one of the naked dudes, cupping his man meat gently in his hands, inserted paint tubes in his butt and began to use his naked ass as a paintbrush.
Apparently they had a falling-out with the hosting bar (Porky's) in North Portland, and starting on the 29th it'll be held at the Acme (in Hawthorne, right?). I expect to be there on the 6th whether I go to the Lilys show before or not.
http://www.bootypdx.com/index.html
I found about this through the BUTT magazine spread (literally) on Portland in the current issue.
― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 16 June 2006 14:52 (eighteen years ago) link
― kingfish du lac (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 16 June 2006 14:55 (eighteen years ago) link
― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 16 June 2006 15:01 (eighteen years ago) link
home = southern california
― the late great, Monday, 16 January 2023 22:18 (one year ago) link
i am definitely here to see my friends vs see the town. it’s a cool town, makes me think of our own midtown / alternative lifestyle / gentrifier neighborhoods expanded to the size of a small city. or maybe oakland without the rest of the bay + extra pnw flavor. i ultimately get the same sort of claustrophobia here from lots of tall trees + lack of blue sky that i get in oakland, so glad my friends are cool
― the late great, Monday, 16 January 2023 22:23 (one year ago) link
i try not to rank cities like restaurants on yelp if i can though, i’ll always be feeling like i live in the wrong place
― the late great, Monday, 16 January 2023 22:24 (one year ago) link
Correct place to live is probably Jersey City or maybe Pittsburgh
― G. D’Arcy Cheesewright (silby), Monday, 16 January 2023 22:25 (one year ago) link
my sister just left pittsburgh, it seemed very “oakland early 90s” in that lots of cool people were moving there who had been priced out of nyc (and idk where else, maybe chicago?). the only downside i could see to it was eastern ohio, west virginia and western pa
― the late great, Monday, 16 January 2023 22:28 (one year ago) link
they lived walking distance uphill from the warhol museum, though walking up and down those hills seemed like certain death
― the late great, Monday, 16 January 2023 22:29 (one year ago) link
I’ve walked up and down some of the steepest blocks in Seattle and I haven’t died so far
― G. D’Arcy Cheesewright (silby), Monday, 16 January 2023 22:30 (one year ago) link
well clearly, if you’re here to post about it! you areprobably made of sterner stuff than me
― the late great, Monday, 16 January 2023 22:33 (one year ago) link
anyone have anything they could say about salem, eugene or corvalis? general character / worthwhile or blah?
― ꙮ (map), Tuesday, 17 January 2023 02:30 (one year ago) link
eugene and corvallis are college towns, eugene a large liberal arts school (increasingly sports-oriented over the last 20-25 years) and corvallis more science/agri-oriented, and the towns reflect that. I did undergrad in eugene so my memories are blurry and pretty much rooted in the 2000-2003 music scenes etc. corvallis i don't know much about, never had much reason to stop there when passing by or through. dated a woman from salem a few years back and it kinda has, like, old rust-belt city qualities? seems like a lot of sprawl, too, from stayton to independence. the main street/downtown area seemed to be going through a revitalization back then (2017ish?), and it's just as dreary as anywhere in the willamette valley (good thing imo)
― Clay, Tuesday, 17 January 2023 02:42 (one year ago) link
thanks. i've noticed a fair amount of jobs in my line of work posted in salem, it being the capital and all (i do state gov records management), but know nothing about it. ultimately looking for somewhere relatively cheap, relatively liberal and with good trail running very close by. i think i've narrowed things down to oregon and colorado though haven't completely ruled out california.
― ꙮ (map), Tuesday, 17 January 2023 02:51 (one year ago) link
yeah salem could be ideal for you! its in the valley so you're always gonna at worst be like an hour car ride from some trail run you've never seen and never imagined before and at best you'll have a 5-10 minute jog to a regular one you can do every other day or whatever you schedule is (barring weather, always). oregon gets pretty weird, politically, outside of the central cities and upper coast, it's the west after all, but i can assure you salem is relatively liberal and significantly cheaper than portland.
― Clay, Tuesday, 17 January 2023 02:56 (one year ago) link
cool, thanks for the encouragement.
it's the west after all
― ꙮ (map), Tuesday, 17 January 2023 17:31 (one year ago) link
I'd also add most OR state gov jobs are pretty cool about telecommuting so that might open up some options for you when looking for a place to live.
― bookmarkflaglink (Darin), Tuesday, 17 January 2023 18:16 (one year ago) link
nice. that's the one good thing about my current job. just gotta save a few grand for moving costs. and get a job of course. would like to be out of slc by the end of next year if i can help it.
― ꙮ (map), Tuesday, 17 January 2023 18:28 (one year ago) link
sometimes it snows in Portland
― Florin Cuchares, Thursday, 23 February 2023 02:31 (one year ago) link
applying for a state of oregon 4rchives job in salem. probably a long shot and a move on credit in the next 3 months would be tough but i've gotta start practicing applications. salem ticks a lot of our boxes: more water, little snow, somewhat progressive (compared to ut4h), not as desirable (i.e. more affordable) but close to a major city, trail runs within 10 minutes. also it's a good job, entry level reference and digital access, hybrid remote, decent wage.
we visited l.a. last weekend, first time i'd really checked it out since library school 15 years ago. i loved it then but it's too crowded and expensive for us now, my friends with good library jobs there are in increasingly precarious situations, and idk i just don't feel like i can compete in a big city any more, i'm not career-hungry, i work to live, hate crowded gyms, i sleep 9 hours a night & i need more chill than that.
― ꙮ (map), Saturday, 11 March 2023 00:38 (one year ago) link
Salem is a good call imo, prob the most underappreciated city in Oregon currently
― obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Saturday, 11 March 2023 01:13 (one year ago) link
Salem has its qualities, certainly. My partner’s family loves there.
― Glower, Disruption & Pies (kingfish), Saturday, 11 March 2023 01:38 (one year ago) link
My sis is a special collections librarian at Oregon St. in Corvallis, & she really loves it there. Her partner is from Salem area.
― BlackIronPrison, Saturday, 11 March 2023 01:53 (one year ago) link
I worked the archives and special collections at Washington State for years, and there was a lot of connections and movement between other Pac12 / PNW area institutions. I know a lot of people who were at or moved on to university gigs at Idaho, UW, OSU, Oregon, and state jobs in Salem and Olympia. Salem is the one I know the least but the person I know there kind of stumbled into it but really likes it.
― joygoat, Saturday, 11 March 2023 15:25 (one year ago) link
My wife has worked for the state of Oregon for over a decade (although she works remotely/in an office in Portland). The benefits (esp. retirement and health insurance) are pretty great.
― bookmarkflaglink (Darin), Saturday, 11 March 2023 16:24 (one year ago) link
Meeting some friends here next Thursday to Monday. Any bars/breweries to see live music that don't require tix ahead of time?
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 22 June 2023 17:00 (one year ago) link
Laurelthirst!https://laurelthirst.com/
you are just barely missing Michael Hurley, sorry to say
― out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Thursday, 22 June 2023 17:09 (one year ago) link
Oh, damn!
Thanks for the recommendation. This looks great.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 22 June 2023 17:45 (one year ago) link
http://www.rontoms.net/sunday-sessions
The Rontoms Sunday sessions are a thing to see, free show, nice venue, not a dive bar, meant to be a sort of showcase for the Portland scene such as it is and they do a pretty good job, have shared a bill with Yuvees who are playing next and they are solid
Many other bars/venues with live music friendly to walk-ins as well, depending on what vibe you're after, happy to make a more specific recommendation regarding style/neighborhood but
https://nearhear.app/
keeps tabs on most of them, with little preview clips of the bands playing
― Florin Cuchares, Thursday, 22 June 2023 17:56 (one year ago) link
That’s super helpful.
Especially interested in breweries with music in the afternoon or early evening.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 22 June 2023 17:59 (one year ago) link
Seconding Laurelthirst. Also Turn! Turn! Turn! has bands of all kinds every night.
Interesting question about breweries--not sure why none that come to mind double as music venues. But Migration Brewing's taproom is literally a block from Laurelthirst (and Laurelthirst itself has a great tap list).
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Thursday, 22 June 2023 18:28 (one year ago) link
yeah drawing a blank on breweries with live music somehow, I guess almost any bar has lots of fancy beer on tap but still, can't even think of one besides Lola's Room? and it seems like they only do music video dance parties lately
― Florin Cuchares, Thursday, 22 June 2023 18:59 (one year ago) link
the turn turn turn has a very well curated vinyl/cassette shop in the back in addition to the live music, definitely worth a visit
― Florin Cuchares, Thursday, 22 June 2023 19:04 (one year ago) link
Turn, Turn, Turn sounds very cool. We're meeting friends in Portland, so I may have to pick and choose my battles, but hope I can make it.
― il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 22 June 2023 21:41 (one year ago) link
Visiting Portland for eight days (from New Zealand) mid-September - my partner lived there for a good chunk of time pre-Covid so will be visiting friends, but taking note of bookstore/music venue/food/etc recommendations upthread. Are any of the well-known big gardens/parks more or less suitable for a toddler?
― etc, Sunday, 27 August 2023 22:51 (one year ago) link
absolutely, my daughter's fav when she was toddler age (a few years ago) was this:
https://www.portland.gov/parks/westmoreland-park
lots of weird stuff to clamber around on and a very large sandy area with water features? great times, cool neighborhood
she also enjoyed the hike up to "witches castle"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_House_(Portland,_Oregon)
beautiful trail up a creek ripe for investigation, although this was mostly interesting for her I think because I tried to play it down (not really a castle, no witches) and then when we finally arrived there was a straight up coven of witches up there, all in long flowy dresses standing in a circle around candles and fancy bowls of who knows what
I cannot guarantee there will be actual witches if you visit
― Florin Cuchares, Sunday, 27 August 2023 23:21 (one year ago) link
lol peak Portland
― out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Sunday, 27 August 2023 23:21 (one year ago) link
my fave store to dig for cheap used records in is Crossroads, over on the east side
― out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Sunday, 27 August 2023 23:22 (one year ago) link
I cannot guarantee there will be actual witches if you visit― Florin Cuchares
― Florin Cuchares
can't rule it out, though... you never know what will happen in a public park. me and my primary went to a group hangout at a public park in pdx late this morning, lovely shady park, even though it was a hot day it was early enough that it hadn't gotten too hot yet, and the shade helped. it was fun. i, uh, don't know how you'd explain it to your toddler, etc, and no, i'm not going to go into more detail than that on a public board, but it was fun.
pdx folx, sorry i've been such a stranger lately... kind of been through some shit, i'm doing better now and am starting to sort of emerge from my shell... anybody who wants to hang out HMU in DM :)
― Kate (rushomancy), Monday, 28 August 2023 00:42 (one year ago) link
Westmoreland Park looks great - cheers! Partner's v.familiar with the Stone House, apparently.
― etc, Tuesday, 12 September 2023 08:00 (one year ago) link
super cool! yeah, the stone house is pretty famous around here... i haven't been myself.
the city's changed a lot since the recently-passed daytime camping ban. still trying to wrap my head around it.
― Kate (rushomancy), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 13:49 (one year ago) link