There's definately some sketch-tastings people and things in this area of Portland. The further…read moreyou travel east, the worse it gets. 52nd: My friend lived on 51st, and while his house wasn't to be confused with a time-share in Palm Springs, I didn't have a bad vibe parking my truck there, and I didn't get any bad vibes of Felony Flats beings it was a block away. 72nd: I forget the cross strett here (Flavel?), but I'm thinking an off-brand grocery store. Right across is a laundromat that looks supplanted from Bronx or Brooklyn, and a video store with a promo poster for that Samuel L. Jackson/Eugene Levy movie from a few years ago. I wouldn't be inclinded to visit any 3 of those establishments, I'm sure if we Yelped them, they'd be a 2/5 stars. 82nd: Tweakers galore. Afraid to be outside the comfort of my car when it's late and/or dark out.

I'm gonna give this area a whopping 2 stars as well. It's trying to gentrify, but it's just not…read moremaking it. It's still ghetto. Way ghetto. Fortunately, I spend most of my time hanging out on the Avenue of the Roses, which has a whopping 1- extra star's worth of ghetto-tainment.

This is one of the better neighborhoods to explore, well at least in Portland. Lots of small shops…read moreand restaurants. And of course the Bagdad theater. One of the things I like is that, at least so far, there arn't many big chain stores. It has a reputation as home to Portland's hippie population. It does but there are a lot of great businesses here.

Man, is this about a halo effect or what? Look at all these 5s, meaning "as good as it gets." Is…read morethe major street, Hawthorne Boulevard, and its side streets, running through a trendy, counterculture, and hip close-in neighborhood really "as good as it gets?" I will admit that, coming from Los Angeles, the very name Hawthorne makes for a knee jerk reaction toward the negative. In SoCal, there is also a Hawthorne Boulevard. However, it is very different. That Hawthorne begins near the airport and works its way down through Hawthorne, Lawndale, an actually banal dogleg of Redondo Beach, Torrance, and then up into Palos Verdes. Only the southernmost reaches of that wide boulevard, when in South Torrance and Palos Verdes, are nice. North of there, it is strip mall hell and blight. Even an indoor mall named Hawthorne Plaza in the city of Hawthorne didn't thrive and was abandoned. Visit YouTube. Now, I'm not that narrow minded about the Hawthorne label since there are Hawthornes everywhere, being that it's a name like Springfield and Bloomington. There's a Hawthorne in New Jersey, for example, which is a ho hum town west of and across the Hudson River from Manhattan. However, Portland's Hawthorne neighborhood causes some people's eyes to widen, almost if they're sweeping the pros and cons under the rug, because they're in love! Basically, it's a little hub of culture and, in this case, culture means indie restaurants, diners, coffeehouses, brewpubs, doughnut stores, book stores, thrift stores, and the like. To me, culture would imply museums, theater, art galleries, and, yes, some, but not as many, of the things listed above. The main landmarks are the Bagdad Theater, a branch of Powell's bookstore, Blue Star Doughnuts, eateries like Bread and Ink, and similar venues. But there are really two Hawthorne neighborhoods ... one west of 39th, and one east of 39th. The aforementioned businesses are west of 39th. The only corporate venue is the Fred Meyer store there, on the very corner of 39th. (Good luck finding a parking spot there.) East of 39th, it's quieter and less hyped while still containing indie eateries, bars, and coffeehouses. Not only that, that part of Hawthorne sort of melds with the Mount Tabor area, which is topographically interesting. Hawthorne is in demand and thus priced accordingly. Most of the housing stock is older and newer housing is either infill homes or boxy and trendy San Francisco type new condos like the ones you will find going up on the Eastbank and in the Alphabet District. Another thing about Hawthorne is that it might be cool, but it's not very diverse. If diversity means guys with beards and stocking caps and women who look like Carole King as she did on the cover of "Tapestry," then it's diverse alright. But almost everyone you will see partaking in its offerings is white, young, educated, and progressive, though they can run the gamut from being put together to being frumpy. And there sure are a lot of Subarus ... a lot of them! And it's hard to find a parking spot for that Subaru or whatever type of sled you may have. And you can even still "feel the Bern." In my mind, diversity would mean that enough different types of people and points of view are represented. That's not the case here. I need to cool my jets. However, an in-flight magazine that once featured an article on the City of Roses corroborated the hip and cool enclaves in Portland, showcasing three of them: Hawthorne, Multnomah Village, and NAAD (North Alberta Arts District), so I'm not off base here. To sum it up, I am giving Hawthorne 2 stars: 1 for existing and housing some of Portland's residents and 1 for how conveniently located it is to downtown and not being too distant from the freeways. Stars are missing because of (1) the prices, (2) not enough (of what I think is) culture along with a somewhat ample supply of "groupthink," and (3) the aloof and even surly service and attitude that you may encounter in many of the places you might step into because they seem to believe they have a captive audience. Of these hip and cool villages, I'd go with 3 stars for Multnomah Village on the West Side for being near the ethnic diversity surrounding PCC, lacking a rigid gridded street pattern, and having more topography and trees, 2 stars for the Hawthorne neighborhood, and 1 star for the NAAD, as in "not my cup of tea" ... at all. O.k., I'm done being an ass.

The eight story Morgan Building, built in 1912 is designated as a Historical Building. This…read morebuilding is gorgeous people. Crafted from red brick, marble floors and with fancy pants brass facade just adds to the glory of the building. The real charm for me is Morgan's Alley. It reminds me of those magical little avenues in old Europe with darling shops. Morgan's alley has gone through several incarnations over the years. Today's refined shops are quite a departure from the 1960's when this is where you would come to find a head shop. Some of the current tenants include Derek's Shoe Repair which has been there for what seems like forever. The European Master Tailor, Adorn a unique jewelry shop, R-Crew Beauty Salon, Teuscher Cafe and Chocolates of Switzerland, and what kind of alley would this be without booze. Oregon Wine on Broadway is one of the first places you will see as you enter which is a great spot to people watch. The iconic Hunan Chinese Restaurant (RIP) was there for 35 years. Take stroll through this delightful little piece of Portland history and see for yourself how enchanting it is. 2015 - Review # 33

A hidden little gem…read more.. err...long, high GEM Definitely a local secret. The Skybridge connects OHSU University South Hospital and the VA Hospital. One of the best spots in PDX to get a brilliant view of the surrounding area and Mt. Hood as well. I definitely spilled the beans on this one...damn tourists! ;-) Hitch a ride on the Portland Aerial Tram for $5 to the top while enjoying the scenery and peaking into peoples backyards...lol, then take a walk across the bridge and enjoy all the beady of PDX! As of this review, there is no cost to walk across the VA Skybridge nor to enter OHSU or the VA Hospital. Just remember, not a whole lot to see on a cloudy day... You won't regret it!

The Skybridge between OHSU University South Hospital and the VA Hospital is a godsend for patient…read morecare. There are tunnels in the basement once used for patient transportation dating back to 1919, but one wrong turn and who knows where you could end up. I once ended up in the old psych ward after a wrong turn. The old whirlpool baths (with the arm restraints and canvas covers) would have worked quite nicely in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. I beat cleats to get back out of there - nightmarish enough to make the hairs on my arms stand up. Yikes. The "new" VA Hospital was built in 1988 followed by the Skybridge in 1993. The Skybridge is really very nicely done, but I don't have words to describe it, so I've attached a picture from the VA website to give you an idea. There are house phones at frequent intervals throughout the Skybridge (super handy if you walk over from the VA to the main campus and have to sign in to the OHSU Payroll Time system and not be counted as late to work). There are also benches throughout in case the walk is too long (660 feet). I really hope you wouldn't have to use them,, but if so there are first aid stations available up and down the length of the Skybridge. What's fun, if you will, is how much employees and visitors use it for recreation. Patients are wheeled across in wheelchairs or just cruise along getting exercise after surgery or prolonged bedrest. They want you up and out of bed as soon as possible to regain strength and to prevent DVTs, and of course it's far nicer to walk in a light-filled space with a dynamite view of Portland. I walked with my stepmom back and forth across the Skybridge while she was in the hospital for three months after her liver transplant. If you walk across when it's cloudy or foggy, it looks like the Emerald City from Wizard of Oz (and spectacular when it snows). Employees come and use it in bad weather to "mall walk" for exercise. I once thought it would be a great idea to sit on one of the benches and eat lunch and take in the view. I do not recommend this. The Skybridge is essentially a suspension bridge that sways back and forth during wind and any other movement and is probably one of the most secure places anywhere here in Earthquake Country. I myself did not fare well because the bridge is in almost constant movement; my stomach did not appreciate the constant movement whilst eating lunch, so I had to get the hell out of dodge before lunch and I parted ways. I never ate there again. OHSU and VAMC are so lucky to have a link like this for patient transportation and even recreation. It's faster to be sure and so much more cheerful and attractive. It makes all the difference in the world for everybody. Now all I have left to do is ride the aerial tram between the Old Campus and the newer South Waterfront and my OHSU experience will be pretty complete!

Great spot to get a photo and have a donut as across the street from Vodoo Donuts. There is also…read moreone of the world famous painted Portland Crows.

I tried to avoid coming to "Keep Portland Weird" because I'd heard it is overrated since it's just…read morea wall in a parking lot, but honestly, I just couldn't resist not checking it out. FOMO, here :) It's basically just that phrase (haha) on its own without any fancy graphics, but I wanted to share my reviews and be part of the Yelp community. So, I added a little twist by including a collage of interesting trash bins. I guess this is one way to keep Portland clean, too. I have never seen so many trash cans throughout the city. Hahahah :)) Classic tourist trap move, but honestly, you cannot be in Portland without acknowledging this area.

Fantastic Fun! Free walking around seeing Art Galleries u would normally have to pay…read morefor.Complimentry beverages.Peds only

If you are into fun times then First Thursday is not something you want to miss whether you are a…read moreseasoned Oregonian, a pretentious Portlander or just here for a visit. The numerous art galleries in the Pearl District open their doors so anyone can venture in and view the art for free. Many of the cool shops and salons also stay open late to welcome visitors. There's usually a complimentary glass of wine and some hors d'œuvres involved with all these visits as well. One of my favorite artists Buzz Siler recently moved his studio to NW 20th and Vaughn...a little off the beaten path but worth visiting because he's awesome. Prem Group Property Management always participates by having a party in its basement. For a $5.00 donation that goes to a local charity you get to enjoy free wine, beer, food and a DJ. Party-on Prem! And if you don't know about the parties at the stately and gorgeous US Customs Building hosted by WeWork, you've really been missing out. You have to RSVP for free entry but access to this amazing building is a privilege and did I mention open bar and a variety of food? Just don't forget to tip the folks serving you. 13th Avenue between NW Hoyt and NW Kearney are closed to vehicle traffic so you can wander from various artists booths that are set up on each side of the street. I've seen some incredibly talented artists and amazingly affordable art along this route. First Thursday is a tradition in its 31st year and just keeps getting better. 2015 - Review # 50

The Willamette River is a heck of a river. I ride next to it almost every single day. It's…read morebeautiful and has lots of sexy bridges. Roughly 187 miles long, it is home to a plethora of wildlife including but not limited to: 31 native species of fish, beavers, river otters , snakes (EEK) and more birds than you can shake a stick at! Also notably the longest river in the United States to flow in a northward direction. Oh how lucky we are to have this beautiful body of water in our daily lives. Three cheers to you Willamette River, hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray! Hip hip Hooray!

Portland is "Bridge City" and the Willamette river is the rive all those bridges cross. It is a…read morefocal point if the City. The river is beautiful .... and the continual trips up and down the river by the Sternwheeler, Portland Spirit and all the dragon boaters is so Portland. During Christmas time the lighted/decorated Christmas ships is something I always look forward to. Love it! There have been some concerns in the past few years that it is becoming more contaminated and I know there are talks of how to clean it up and stop the continuation of the contamination. There are a few parks that are located on the shores of this prominent river and Willamette Park is one of them that also has a boat ramp. The sailing school is close by as well. Roll on Willamette!

As of this review I am a member of the Sacred Land Alliance collective that resides on Tryon Life…read moreCommunity farm . I have lived here since 2018. I am an Indigenous woman from a reservation in Northern Arizona. I am writing this review for POC and specifically Indigenous people who are considering joining the Cedar Moon Collective. I have voiced to CM how they have harmed previous POC and Indigenous people who were members of their collective and past members of SLA. My collective (SLA) and specifically myself have asked them to enact restorative justice and give up the power that Cedar Moon as a collective yields over this land project. As of writing this review nothing is being done to actually practice Land Back and equity between the dominant collective and Sacred Land Alliance. There is opportunity for CM to operate in good relation with the current Indigenous people on the land and the Indigenous community of Portland rather than tokenize and recruit Indigenous people who are experiencing housing insecurity in order to be able to triangulate us against each other. The use of brown people to maintain power over this land project and to deflect the accountability that is currently being asked is a colonial tactic of conquer and divide. If CM is asking you to be a part of their collective without making introductions to the current indigenous family who resides here; that should be a red flag and it's intentional. I am willing to have a conversation about my lived experience and the harms I have witnessed the dominant collective perpetrate against POC with anymore who is willing to to hear me out. Come see me.

Did you know that in 2004 seven acres of gorgeous land abutting the Tryon Creek State Park was…read moresaved from overdevelopment? Did you know that if you live on or near Portland, OR or believe in ecosystem remediation and integration you fit into the Tryon Creek Farm definition of "Community?" This is YOUR farm peeps! AND you are more than invited to come visit, work and share in the pleasure of dirt under your nails most every weekend. One Sunday a month they have a tea and tour (call for details.) If it has been WAY too long since you scratched the horns of a Nubian goat, consider yourself informed. They gots Nubian goats out there. You can't hear the traffic, there are some innovative structures to oggle (esp that cob oven) and you can view a permaculture garden from the soil up. This intentional community of adults and children is doing their best to bring this land back to Eden. They are having some issues along the way, the wetland is beat up and is causing some probs in their waste water and sewer strategies, but that makes it real. It takes time to clean up what has been fallow for years. Oregon is (in)famous for its hippies. Come out and hang out with some delicious ones. And I am not just referring to the garden edibles.