There are buildings you pass... and then there are landmarks that greet you like an old friend rising out of the skyline. The Oregon Convention Center is exactly that a shimmering pair of glass towers that seem to ease their way up, catching light by day and glowing like a beacon by night. When those spires shift colors after sunset, it doesn't just decorate the skyline it defines it. You'll spot it from just about everywhere that matters. Whether you're wandering along Tom McCall Waterfront Park, crossing one of Portland's proud bridges, or looking east from downtown, it calls to you. Nestled beside the Moda Center, it's not just part of the city it's a cornerstone of it. A visual anchor in a town that already knows how to show off. Now, for those of us who like to earn our views, this place hits different. I've got a tradition my own Tour de Bridges. Starting down at the Sellwood Bridge, working my way north, step by step, bridge by bridge, until I reach the Steel Bridge. From there, I swing past the arena, glide toward the Convention Center, loop near the Blumenauer Pedestrian Bridge, then drop back down onto the riverwalk to close out a clean 13.1 miles. Somewhere along that stretch, right as the legs start to feel it and the mind starts bargaining, that's when the Convention Center rises up. And let me tell you... it feels like you've made it. That moment, that's the payoff. The hardest part behind you, the city opening up around you, and those towers standing tall like they've been waiting just for you to arrive. The surrounding square is polished, welcoming, and alive with history anchored along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a place that invites you to slow down, look around, and take it all in. Portland is a city best explored one bridge at a time, one stretch at a time, one story at a time. And if you're mapping out your own adventure, whether it's a casual stroll, a deep historical dive, or a full-on food and foot tour, this right here is one of the pinnacles. One of those places that reminds you why you started walking in the first place. Five stars, without hesitation. read more

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My husband was asked to bring his classic muscle car to be featured in an exhibit at the Oregon Auto Show this year. He was excited, but a little apprehensive to leave his now fully restored car (he purchased in high school over 30 years ago) overnight. Also the damage waiver paperwork didn't ease his fears. After speaking with the lead guy putting the exhibit together, he felt more comfortable. We've brought his cars to numerous car shows in the area over the years, but never overnight. Driving the car from the loading dock area behind the convention center into the showroom was simple. Everyone helping to set up the show was nice and helpful with any questions we had. They checked the gas tank levels before entering the building to ensure cars had less than a quarter tank, as a safety feature. They do require you give them a spare key, in case of emergencies. Overall everything went smoothly. We can't pick the car up until late Sunday night. Hopefully all goes well. If not, I'll update my review with more details. At this point I would recommend participating in an exhibit at this venue. It seems very organized and well planned out. read more

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Came here for the flute convention, great restaurant (Dragon Boat grill), great layout and decor and spaces. No complaints except it is huge but signage was super helpful. Staff was outstanding. read more

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I recently attended a conference there with over 6,000 fellow human beings all buzzing around like atoms in a beaker, and not once did I feel like a sardine or a lemming or any other metaphorical creature prone to overcrowding or disorientation. The place is a miracle of spatial reasoning. It is large but not intimidating. Expansive yet logical. You can actually get from one room to another without consulting a compass or sacrificing a goat for guidance. Support rooms, breakout rooms, hallways that feel neither too empty nor too cramped. The bathrooms. Let us take a moment to honor them. There were many and they were clean and they remained that way. I do not know who is in charge of the bathroom maintenance operation at the Oregon Convention Center but I would vote for them in any election they chose to enter. There are not many dining options inside but step outside and Portland will embrace you with open arms and open kitchens and food pods. You are within walking distance of all manner of culinary enthusiasm. And walking is good because it gives you more time to admire the building itself which is handsome in the way a well-written poem is handsome. Inside and out. Environmentally speaking the place is a cathedral of conscience. LEED Platinum certified which means it is kind to the Earth and has likely never insulted a tree in its life. A building with a soul and a recycling plan. And if you are arriving by spaceship or covered wagon or something less practical like a rental car you should know that public transit practically nuzzles up to the place. The TriMet light rail and bus lines surround it like loyal pets waiting to take you wherever you need to go. We had an excellent week there. I laughed. I learned. I never once tripped over a garbage can or cursed the layout. That's worth five stars and maybe even a poem. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The Oregon Convention center is conventionally located just before downtown Portland on the east side. Near a max station (and bus lines) this place hosts lots of expos and other neat things. We've done the holiday market, comic con and most recent the oddities and curiosities expo. It's huge venue and lots of walking. They have some food areas, along with markets and coffee shops. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I am learning how to have a really good time attending things here. I have mobility challenges so I have been managing to arrange the use of one of their motorized cart. Email them ahead to make arrangements, allow for extra time and all will be well. I also find street parking pretty close to the entrance knowing where to look. Crazy recent discovery! I was travelling and my debit card was damaged so I had to wait for a new card and was using cash for a few days which feels so odd. Trying to make a purchase at a vendor and they do not accept cash but the cashier told me of the machine! They have a sort of pod of machines and one coverts cash into a debit card! My purchase was $44.50 so I got a card for $45.00 which they took. I later used the 50 cents at the grocery store before my actual debit card to clear it out. But the convention center always has some pretty cool events - just check out their calendar or there are also the bigger things like Rose City Comic Con and such. read more

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There is a huge dance competition at the convention center today and none of the restaurants or coffee shops are open Very poor Oregon convention center You get a D minus and not an F only because the doors aren't locked to get in read more

Easy entrance. Great venue. Wonderful vendors. Loved the variety of talent and affordable options of merchandise at the Craftsman's Guild convention. Large space, so wear comfortable shoes. read more

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I really enjoyed coming to the Oregon Convention Center. It was conveniently located next to the light rail stop "Convention Center."There are also numerous hotels really close to the convention center. The only bad thing about the neighborhood is that at night, it becomes a little sketchy. Defecation seems to be a thing in the surrounding neighborhood which is unfortunate considering how beautiful the convention center is. Random vagrants are screaming in unison. There are many doors around the convention center so at first, it was a little bit confusing to find the entrance. They probably need a little bit more wayfinding to distinguish the entrance at the lower level. Once you figure it out, it is pretty easy. The convention rooms were good in that I was easily able to hear the lectures without being disturbed by other adjacent rooms. There are some eateries around the convention center but they are limited by their hours so check before visiting. The one thing I didn't like was how the buffet style food was setup for lunch. There were long lines for lunch for the convention attendees which could have been better organized to where lines could have been minimized and not bled into all the common walkways. read more

So many doors... I was very confused about how to actually enter the convention center and on different days (and different weather), different doors were open to us. But consistently the main entrance (I guess) on MLK Blvd at Oregon St was the place to enter. The space is huge. AND I found an actual payphone near the bathrooms at the entrance. There were shops inside the center which were open some days and not others... just like every other conference center I've been in. The rooms were well appointed and the temperature control was mostly good. I liked that it was pretty accessible via light rail. Others have complained about the area but I thought it was OK, May 2024. read more

Nice facility. Lots of plugs to recharge. Refillable water stations. Food served during conference was really good. The fruit salad was the best of all the things I tried. The staff are super helpful. read more

Oregon convention center is a great space for large events! I attended the Portland people's mareket. The market boasted a wide variety of awesome vendors. While this market was going on I noticed a dance competition was also going on. Though two events were going on we were able to find street parking a few blocks away. read more

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I was here for a work event and I quite enjoyed the venue. There is parking available on all sides; both street and garage parking. There are also several restaurants within a short walking distance if you're looking to grab a bite to eat. Transit is also immediate accessible which makes it easy for those that prefer to not worry about parking. The area surrounding the venue appeared to be well maintained and clean and all convention center staff were professional and helpful. They have a cafe or two within the building plus water bottle fill stations all throughout. I personally liked this location. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Conference areas. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is a nice convention center that's easy to navigate, once you learn how the levels and room numbering work. For most of the sessions that I attended in the smaller rooms, the temperature was unreasonably cold. This made it necessary to wear long sleeves and a light coat. Parking is $12 per day, with no in-out privileges. I recommend foregoing a rental car. Better to stay at the Hyatt Regency across the street and use the extensive public transit system throughout Portland. In the mornings, the Market cafe in the Hyatt Regency has a broader range of food items compared to the two Portland Coffee Roasters locations in the convention center. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Local wine and beer selection in the expo hall at the opening mixer during a convention - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I don't come here too often. We checked out the Monet exhibit today . Somewhat pricey. Not a lot of seating for such a spacious space. It's worth going to once but it's a lot of $$. Bathrooms are clean and the building is nice. It just always seems like it is pricey for anything at this venue. It's great I'm sure for conferences and other things. Very convenient transportation wise. read more

Attend a conference at the Oregon Convention Center. The conference was a Tuesday to Thursday event. This event was located right across the street from the Hyatt and close to several other hotels. The best thing about this location is that it is located by the train tracks, the bus stops and the trolley stops!! The bad thing about this location is that there are really not that many places to eat as downtown town is located a 15 minute train ride away. Also this location has a homeless problem. People sleeping on the sidewalk I can deal with and have seen but humans using the bathroom as their bathrooms is a bit too much. Portland needs to do better for their people. Back to the convention center the inside was nice and clean with several bathrooms for the attendees. Security was standing at the entrance every day to make sure the attendees were safe. Could have used a better coffee stand. And on the last day they bought in the forklifts to take down all the booths immediately almost run over people. Again try hard we are all people. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Coffees - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Have been here for numerous events ranging from Industry gatherings, the Oregon Food & Wine Festival, Holiday Craft Fairs, Speakers; and most recently, the Van Gogh Experience. All of my experiences have been pleasant. The Oregon Convention Center is huge so definitely wear comfortable walking shoes. wishing the center there are a few restaurants and two coffee shops. With Covid, and depending on the event, they may not all be open. On the third level is the business center and bar. The parking is underneath and typically costs $12 for the day. Some events may be a few dollars less. There are two elevators that take you from the parking area into the convention center. For those that don't have a car or don't want to drive and pay for parking, the Max drops you off right out front which is super convenient, especially for out of town guests. Once inside, the OCC is clean, locations and events are well marked and workers scattered about to guide people. There are elevators and escalators up to the higher level floors. bathrooms on every level and they are clean. Consistently a good experience. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I've been to dozens of (usually nerdy) events here: everything from KumoriCon, to Rose City Comic Con, the Retro Video Game Expo, a chocolate festival, a hot sauce festival, and most recently, the Van Gogh Experience. Few events manage to actually fill out the vast, open air exhibition halls within this massive, sprawling complex. Some might say its too big for the sort of events that Portland is able to attract; a problem that has been exacerbated by the deterioration of downtown. Still, it is an impressive place. While it is not my favorite convention center (that honor goes to the WSCC in Seattle), I still get a dopamine rush whenever I pass through the exterior doors and into the belly of the beast. My body instinctively knows that when I enter this convention center, good things are soon to come. Years of exhibits, games, parties and dances have created subconscious metabolic triggers. Parking can be spendy, particularly for day-long or weekend-long events. Satellite lots and metered street parking are (sometimes) available, and can mitigate cost, if you're lucky enough to find the latter, depending on the length of your stay. Fortunately, the MAX and several bus lines stop here, so accessibility doesn't have to be an obstacle. Lastly, there are some actually decent, proper restaurants and cafés inside, and in the surrounding neighborhood (Wa Kitchen Kuu being the best of them, a few blocks south!), so you're not held hostage by traditional, crappy convention center food. read more

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This is a "sexy" convention space. Loved how bright it was and the art installations! HOWEVER, I was lost several times trying to find my way around. I think the place could benefit from more way-finding signage. Another thing I liked about this space was that it was right off the light rail and that made it easy to get around to hotels, downtown restaurants, and the airport. I wish more cities were set-up this way! Downtown portland was not too cute though--mentally prepare yourself for garbage, people experiencing homelessness, stray dogs, etc. It definitely was not the "quirky" Portland I had in mind. Fun fact: Apparently, this convention center is also built on a location with a lot of seismic activity, but they assured us that it was built to withstand earthquakes. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The parking garage is a ripoff!! It costs $15 to park whether you need one hour or 18 hours. I was there 1-1/4 hours. I could have parked on the street for LESS THAN HALF and had an easier time getting back to I-5. The final insult is that to exit the garage, you need to insert your receipt into a machine - BUT THE RECEIPT WON'T FIT IN THE MACHINE'S SLOT. No matter how I tried to fold the receipt, the machine wouldn't read it. I finally found the "help" button and was allowed to leave. NEVER AGAIN!! read more

Beautiful, clean, and spacious convention center. There is some lovely art throughout this building, too. Security here makes this venue especially safe. There are also various food and beverage options onsite here, too, in addition to the parking garage. read more

My experience here at OCC this week has been great. The facilities are very clean (carpets, seating areas, bathrooms). I appreciate that there are places to hunker down between sessions--giant stacked steps/seating, tables scattered throughout. Thought the convention center is huge I appreciate that there are tons of bathrooms spread throughout, and water filling stations. The exhibition hall was the perfect size for our group too! My only complaint is that some of the restaurants inside the OCC were never open during our visit, so we had to hustle to get lunch. I'm glad the Trimet stop is right outside, which helps with lunch breaks, as there are definitely not enough restaurants around the facility either. read more

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Good venue space and really well organized conference! They have tons of space but not as much table space for working outside of the conference rooms as many seats do not have tables and outlets available. read more

I had been looking forward to the Van Gogh "Immersive" exhibit for a really long time. Unfortunately it wasn't nearly as interactive as I was hoping. We got to the convention center about 15 minutes early. When we entered the exhibit it snaked thru panels with biographical information and deep quotes from Van Gogh. Honestly this was the high point. The exhibit basically consisted of artwork being projected on to screens in a room and animation added as well as fading in/out with effects. I understand that the idea was to be immersive but it just felt like I was "drowning". It was more like a "multi-media" event. I was bummed that the closest I was able to come to an actual picture was in the gift shop. read more

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After many many visits here for various events like VegFest, holiday craft fairs, glass and quilt shows, and who knows what else, attending the recent Beyond Van Gogh: the Immersive Experience was easy-peasy: plentiful parking, well-marked elevator locations, workers making sure everyone was following pandemic protocols like wearing masks (thank you, OCC!), clean restrooms, etc. Always a pleasure attending an event at OCC. read more

A spacious, modern event space-- I'm surprised I'm actually reviewing a convention center, but it was a really nice, well laid-out space. Spacious, airy, lots of entrances, good design for people flow, lots of work spaces and sitting areas, and some really nice large public art both inside and outside. If you've attended many events, usually convention spaces (other than some major hotels) are pretty bad: usually very bland, cramped, and almost characterless. This one leans into its Oregon themes. The larger rooms are still plain, but the common spaces are very nice & pleasant to be in. Airy atriums and massive skylights help a lot. What I especially liked were the number of places to sit outside of traffic flow, the large number of spaces suitable for working comfortably, distributed bathrooms, and a design that allows people to move through without feeling cramped or having to backtrack. Recycling bins and on-prem restaurants helped also. There's a trimet stop just outside and there's a lot of restaurants within a 15-20 minute walk. read more

Really nice convention center! It had some really cool artwork inside and lots of natural lighting in the hallway areas. There was also plenty of spots to sit in hallway areas to meet in small groups, eat, etc. read more

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Love how roomy the place was in 2016, the first time I ever got to go to Wizard Con. Same for 2017. But in 2018 when we had the 2nd annual Walker Stalker/Villain Con, the whole place was crowded to the point of people touching each other and the lines spilling out onto the street. I'm hoping to be able to go to my first Rose Con this September and that it won't be as bad as the time I had gone in 2018. Also, during WS/V, OCC staff told us that we could see Norman Reedus at 4pm and when we showed up, he was gone and the staff lied to us saying they never told us that...4 people being told that. We ended up telling his best friend Sean Patrick Flanery and he thought that it was awful to be lied to, but we got to spend more time talking to him instead and I'm glad that happened. I get that Norman is a busy person but OCC staff shouldn't be making any promises!! read more

If your attendees can't figure out a faucet without having to add stickers to tell them what to do, and it takes over a minute to get water out of it, you're doing it wrong. What a joke of an idea, these fixtures read more

Oregon Convention Center - The least user friendly faucet I've ever seen - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I've spent many days working at the Oregon Convention Center at various convention events, thought you'd like some tips and details! Drive to the back of the building and you'll find on-site parking. Drive the road as it goes clockwise and you'll find 2 parking entrances, the first one is often closed, head for the 2nd one. You may find other options near by. The place is huge, this is like walking around a large airport, massive. Comfortable shoes are a must. There are 2 coffee shops that are sometimes open. There are about 3 restaurants which may or may not be open, depending on the event. And... sometimes the bar is open. The convention center business center is just over the bar, on the 3rd level. Scout around for seating, cause one common complaint is that there can be a lack of places to sit down when the place is crowded. Check my photos to see the world's largest Foucault pendulum clock, which is very impressive, but does not keep good time. But, there's really no way to tell. It features a huge 36 inch ball that swings around. Created by New York City artists Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel and installed in September 1990 by Lathe Tool Works. Also the 40-foot dragon boat is cool too. Custom built in Taiwan and was donated by the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association. It celebrates the annual Dragon Boat Races held during Portland's Rose Festival. It's hanging for the ceiling in one of the huge hallways. The weather inside can change from hot to cold with a simple walk from room to room, be prepared. Believe me when I say, be sure to pre-register for your convention unless you like lines and waiting. After watching a couple of conventions here I noticed that the very first full day is when most of the cool stuff happens. Early the 2nd day is ok... after that the entertainment factor drops more by the hour. Even the coffee become hard to find. By the last day you'll probably want to drink cause there is a definite feeling that the par-tay... is ova, and you are one of the few who remain. Sucka! :-) And, if you are a visitor from out of town. Be sure to use the Max train and take the brief trip downtown for some real fun and great food. The stuff at the convention center is kinda like expensive institutional food and drink. Stop by the convention center visitor information desk (on the left side of the big desk). I was not able to find any notable food near the Convention Center, I say... Max train downtown mannnnnn! It is fast and EZ. read more

With an admission price of $32 for seniors, and a $12 parking fee, this was an expensive event, especially for what was offered as a Van Gogh experience. Oh my gosh! Oregon Arts Watch reviewer Laurel Reed Pavic asked the question, "is it like stepping into a screensaver? Yes." https://www.orartswatch.org/art-review-beyond-van-gogh-at-the-oregon-convention-center/ There was no physical "art" to view, nor even any individual pieces of art. Just a winding trail of quoted letters from the Van Gogh brothers and then a "hall" of bits and pieces of Van Gogh art projected onto multiple interlocking screens -- a huge screensaver with very odd music as background. What? My advice -- avoid this "art experience." read more

No matter what you're in town for, be prepared to walk as this convention center is LONG. Be sure to ask, if they have someone available, a convention worker which way to go. If you go the wrong way, you could easily be walking for 10 minutes before realizing your mistake. I've been here twice now for Wizard World, and this is the perfect venue with space to house vendors (without the vendors feeling crammed and fighting over getting people to their tables), talent, and anything else the convention can think of. There's several restrooms throughout the convention center, for Wizard World specifically they have some inside the ticketed area and outside so you never feel like it'll be a madhouse. There are a few ATMs on site, and a few places to grab food, coffee, and alcohol. One of the biggest gripes about this venue though is the tendency for wireless and phone connections to drop, be spotty, or unavailable completely. Which is a great way to get people to focus on what they're there for, but terrible if you're trying to coordinate meeting up with anyone. Need to hail an Uber or Lyft? The pickup area is towards the front of the convention center (to the left of the new statue and flags). read more

Always wondered what was in here, with the 2 pretty glass towers. One of the nicest landmarks of the city, especially at night. Parking is available here but not free. There are free spots a few blocks away to the NE. The building itself is rather long and thin. There are giant corridors running along front, with large convention spaces towards the rear. One curious thing is that the world's largest Foucault pendulum (named Principia) is located in the N tower. Sadly it wasn't swinging away the day I went. Definitely worth checking out if one is a science geek. There are some coffee shops and a limited selection of food places inside as well. read more

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I'm a vendor at various events at the Oregon Convention Center and they've become incredibly greedy lately nickel and diming their vendors for fees and creating new rules to force the vendors to pay exorbitant prices for their services such as access to power, banning battery banks so the vendors have to pay well over a hundred dollars for access to a power outlet. It's greedy, predatory, and actively hurts the vendors that are the backbone of their events. read more

I came here for the Revel Portland Marathon race expo. It was very easy to get to from the Portland Airport via the TriMet light rail. The Convention Center station is right outside. Although there were some construction on the outside, it wasn't that intrusive. Everything on the inside was very clean and modern. I think this was a very good venue for the race expo. read more

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Excellent convention center. Access via street car A line stopping right in front of the building. Could not be easier! The convention center is surrounded by good hotels too. This facility is large, clean and well kept. There are lots of classrooms and large meeting rooms in addition to the convention floor. Unlike most convention centers, this one has some good restaurants as well. Recommend. read more

Came here for the Northwest Food-service show 2013. Food Service Shows are about the same. Lots of cool new equipment and lots of eager sales people. Lots of pre packaged food. There were many new and delicious foods as well. I got a free tote and filled it with all the free pens and catalogue's I could get my hands on. I would really like to own my own food truck and this is the place to get your name out. I'll get there some day. Gotta keep the dream alive. I pre registered months ago so this was a free show for me. I think the show next year will be in Seattle WA.. All in all, pretty cool. If your into this sort of thing. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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A lot of different spaces that seem versatile for various things going on. I do wish they did a bit better on directions of how to get from one side to another. It is a bit confusing, especially if you are handicap. read more

Oregon Convention Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I am very impressed with the Oregon Convention Center. I like the way it is laid out. It seems large enough for the conference I am attending while with the rooms laid out the way that they are, it doesn't seem like you are walking too far to get from one room to the next. I also really like how light it is. There are built in sky lights and windows allowing in light which makes it seem like you aren't totally stuck indoors. I also recommend Stir, the restaurant in the convention center. I had the chicken salad croissant which was very good as well as the green papaya salad. The salad had a kick but was excellent! Highly recommend!! read more

I went to the OCC for the first time last month for the Retro Gaming Expo. The expo itself was awesome, and the convention center was a good home for it. It feels like an airport; it's sterile, cold and smells like some sort of chemical. Most of the staff was friendly except for one lady that screamed (I'm not exaggerating, she was spitting mad) that I dare go through the non-marked exit. Even though earlier in the day, I saw that people were entering and exiting through the same queue. I have no idea what her problem was, and nobody else said anything when I went through the so-called "exit." Parking is $15 and the lot is a huge mess. It took me twenty minutes to find a spot, and it's not very well marked and the staff was only mildly helpful (they told me to go through a lane that was a one way, going the wrong way. What the hell?) We got lucky and found a compact spot for our compact car, but it was still an exercise in frustration. They do have the world's largest "Foucault's Pendulum" which is cool I guess. Food is marked up and ridiculously expensive, but there are plenty of options in the neighborhood once you leave. I'll probably be back here, but I'll be a bit better prepared next time (mainly taking transit, and bringing in my own food/drinks.) read more