Guidebook for Portland
Drinks & Nightlife
Friday and Saturday nights, they have free comedy from 10-11:30 or so. It's corny and only occasionally 'good', b/c the crowd often sucks, but it's free, and it's free.
McMenamins Ringlers Annex
303 SW 12th AveFriday and Saturday nights, they have free comedy from 10-11:30 or so. It's corny and only occasionally 'good', b/c the crowd often sucks, but it's free, and it's free.
30s+ crowd
Cheesy live music
Too-close, big tvs
There may be more than 2 people in this bar, which is exceptional in Portland
Some of the people here are attractive, also possibly exceptional
21 locals recommend
Henry's 12th Street Tavern
10 NW 12th Ave30s+ crowd
Cheesy live music
Too-close, big tvs
There may be more than 2 people in this bar, which is exceptional in Portland
Some of the people here are attractive, also possibly exceptional
Decent sports bar. Empty outside of big games. Decent food. Decent beer. Good-ish service. Nice-ish bartenders. Big joint. Gentrifying area.
13 locals recommend
Ladd Taphouse
2239 SE 11th AveDecent sports bar. Empty outside of big games. Decent food. Decent beer. Good-ish service. Nice-ish bartenders. Big joint. Gentrifying area.
Rontoms
600 E Burnside StFree Sunday Night indie rock shows. You might see me here.
This is a good bar. You should go here. And drink a PBR. You will like it. There is an outdoor patio, obv. They have food. And music you never heard before, which is the most important part, of course
35 locals recommend
Paymaster Lounge
1020 NW 17th AveThis is a good bar. You should go here. And drink a PBR. You will like it. There is an outdoor patio, obv. They have food. And music you never heard before, which is the most important part, of course
Go here when you want to feel terrible about yourself. Make sure to pay $5 (i.e. too much) to listen to some probably-bad music in the attached concert room.
6 locals recommend
Kelly's Olympian
426 SW Washington StGo here when you want to feel terrible about yourself. Make sure to pay $5 (i.e. too much) to listen to some probably-bad music in the attached concert room.
Go see a show here. It's probably good music, and a cool place.
436 locals recommend
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi AveGo see a show here. It's probably good music, and a cool place.
Punk rock/metal bar that has live shows nightly-ish. I will go here soon.
19 locals recommend
The Know
3728 Northeast Sandy BoulevardPunk rock/metal bar that has live shows nightly-ish. I will go here soon.
Hotel bar and concert space. Never been. Seems overpriced for starter and cover bands. Who pays $12-$14 for that? Someone, apparently. Has lots of day events, including "Pickin Sundays" in Jul/Aug.
249 locals recommend
Doug Fir Lounge
301 E Burnside StHotel bar and concert space. Never been. Seems overpriced for starter and cover bands. Who pays $12-$14 for that? Someone, apparently. Has lots of day events, including "Pickin Sundays" in Jul/Aug.
Shopping
It's just a must see if you like books. If you love books it's a ++good must see.
976 locals recommend
Powell's City of Books
1005 W Burnside StIt's just a must see if you like books. If you love books it's a ++good must see.
Arts & Culture
3925 N Mississippi Ave
3925 North Mississippi AvenueLand Gallery -- cool-ish, tiny art space. Better than nothing.
Compound Pdx
986 SW 10th AveAnother cool gallery i have not been to yet!
aka The Portland Homelessness Project -- this is where the homeless of Portland are put on display as an art exhibit. A small portion of your AirBnb fees will go to homelessness here in PDX. Really.
212 locals recommend
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
98 SW Naito Pkwyaka The Portland Homelessness Project -- this is where the homeless of Portland are put on display as an art exhibit. A small portion of your AirBnb fees will go to homelessness here in PDX. Really.
This is a sports stadium where rabid fans almost certain spew violent and racist rhetoric against people wearing different-colored uniforms than those of the Home Team, the Portland Timbers (soccer).
191 locals recommend
Providence Park
1844 SW Morrison StThis is a sports stadium where rabid fans almost certain spew violent and racist rhetoric against people wearing different-colored uniforms than those of the Home Team, the Portland Timbers (soccer).
Sightseeing
Worth the trip. Great views. Try to go on a clear day. Your daily transit pass does not include a ride on this, but a week+ pass will work. It's $5 round-ish trip.
134 locals recommend
South Waterfront Lower Tram Terminal station
3303 S Bond AveWorth the trip. Great views. Try to go on a clear day. Your daily transit pass does not include a ride on this, but a week+ pass will work. It's $5 round-ish trip.
Center of downtown. There's a visitors center there -- and a funky little funny tacky 'show' at 12 noon every day. Worth the wait!
60 locals recommend
SW 6th & Yamhill Northbound station
Center of downtown. There's a visitors center there -- and a funky little funny tacky 'show' at 12 noon every day. Worth the wait!
I finally checked this out. It's nice. $10 or so for entry. The $10 entry reminds me of...America. The noisy traffic reminds me of...America. Nice view of Portland, tho.
1015 locals recommend
Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston AveI finally checked this out. It's nice. $10 or so for entry. The $10 entry reminds me of...America. The noisy traffic reminds me of...America. Nice view of Portland, tho.
This is a rose garden. If you love roses, you might like this place. It has potential, but this is still America.
627 locals recommend
International Rose Test Garden
400 SW Kingston AveThis is a rose garden. If you love roses, you might like this place. It has potential, but this is still America.
Food Scene
This is a lounge-y bar. It is cool. It has music. I don't understand the vibe, but everyone there is cooler than me. I wish they had more live DJs. The dead ones are not very good.
33 locals recommend
Muu-Muu's
612 NW 21st AveThis is a lounge-y bar. It is cool. It has music. I don't understand the vibe, but everyone there is cooler than me. I wish they had more live DJs. The dead ones are not very good.
Go here if you want to know what 'failed space' looks like. I do recommend the quesadilla, tho. It's big.
Broadway
200 NW BroadwayGo here if you want to know what 'failed space' looks like. I do recommend the quesadilla, tho. It's big.
Entertainment & Activities
I hear service is good. Friday nights (?) - don't think you have to be Jewish. Beautiful building (I haven't seen the inside, myself.)
Congregation Beth Israel
1972 NW Flanders StI hear service is good. Friday nights (?) - don't think you have to be Jewish. Beautiful building (I haven't seen the inside, myself.)
Everything Else
Cool homeless and hipster park. Get your cancer on. Read. Sleep. People-watch.
16 locals recommend
Couch Park
551 NW 19th AveCool homeless and hipster park. Get your cancer on. Read. Sleep. People-watch.
Cool park during the day. Airy and modern. Big chess set. Lighted canopy area at night. Hidden-in-plain-sight movie theatre right there. Good grub/drinks/beer at Elephant Cafe joint. People-watching.
20 locals recommend
Director Park
815 SW Park AveCool park during the day. Airy and modern. Big chess set. Lighted canopy area at night. Hidden-in-plain-sight movie theatre right there. Good grub/drinks/beer at Elephant Cafe joint. People-watching.
Go here to see the worst 'bar' in America. And I don't mean worst as in 'so bad it is cool' -- I mean so bad it will make you accelerate your plans to leave the country.
University Place Hotel & Conference Center
310 SW Lincoln StGo here to see the worst 'bar' in America. And I don't mean worst as in 'so bad it is cool' -- I mean so bad it will make you accelerate your plans to leave the country.
Portland
It's a place!