Had a good selection of stuff, lots of office supplies, hello kitty, and one of my favorites was…read morethe Japanese Lolita sewing book fully in Japanese!

Good selection but very very very crowded on the weekends. I like how they had random sale items…read morescattered throughout the store and lots of different merchandise -- keep those eyes peeled!

This was a cute bookstore. They had some good cards and postcards which I appreciate because I am…read morealways looking for postcards. The book selection was pretty good not comparable to places like Powells though who have a way larger selection. If those spots overwhelm you because of all the choices then this would be a better spot. I got a softcover for 18.99$. They do have a punchcard though where if you get 12 books your 13th is free.

A cute local bookstore right off Broadway St…read more Great place for buying a book for someone special! I recently came here on Independent Bookstore Day + they had some special deals and a wheel to spin for extra prizes. I was looking for a sci-fi book for a birthday gift for my dad - and they were able to recommend one with the space theme I was looking for. I was also able to get 20% off the book that day. They even offered to wrap the book, and did a lovely wrapping job for no charge :-)

Very knowledgeable staff, very friendly and made buying our gifts that much easier. Sold us on a…read morefew extra items and they were big hits! Love the location, store is super cute

I've been buying cards from here for several years. I love letter press and I love buying something…read morelocally made that I can send to friends and family. I enjoy their blank PNW themed cards that I can use for various occasions. I also love their holiday cards with matching envelopes. I've always ordered online and service is efficient, my order is correct every time.

I contacted Letterpress PDX because I wanted to work with a letterpress studio for my wedding…read moreinvitations but could not find any studios in my area. I found this studio on Google and called to see if I could consult for design and printing out of state. Jenn was immediately very accommodating and happy to help when I first spoke with her over the phone. She offered her time and we exchanged emails on quantity, materials, and inspiration for the suite. We iterated a few times making edits on design and text until it was just right before we finalized for production. Jenn was always quick to respond, professional and transparent about the changes we made to the design. The final product exceeded my expectations, the quality is top-notch and I'm so excited to send out my invites! I cannot recommend Jenn and the studio enough and hope to work with them again in the future!

So, when you're trying to figure out which art galleries in Portland are likely worth your time, I…read morestrongly suggest adding Nationale to your list. It will be a short list, but Portland is a small city, really. If you're like me, you're looking for a gallery with aesthetic vision, that won't just show whatever they think will sell. You're looking for art that will surprise you, puzzle you, cause your brain to activate. Art from artists you've probably never heard of but are happy you saw their work. Nationale is that kind of gallery, and May, the owner, is as passionate as any gallerist you'll meet. She chooses her artists carefully but there's a wide variety to the kind of work she shows. It's worth the trip to East Burnside to see what she's showing. (Especially watch for any show by Pace Taylor, who has a sense of line and color that reminds me of RB Kitaj--in a good and original way.) Oh, and she has a rich and interesting selection of books for sale, too.

Fascinating shop with a unique collection of art and books, but the owner was needlessly rude.read more

Books with Pictures was another spontaneous find. I had originally wandered the vinyl shop located…read moredown a flight of stairs, but I chose to linger much longer upstairs instead (7/9/26). I liked how the comic books, graphic novels, manga, 'zines, and other ephemera are displayed. There is something that would appeal to various ages. Nicely organized - I especially liked the Eisner Award nominees and the 'zines sections. The person that was at the main counter was welcoming and offered any assistance, if needed. I ended up having a nice chat about indie comic book shops and Small Press Expo. Pleasant surprise and worthy detour!

The selection is amazing, and the space is packed but doesn't feel overwhelming because it is so…read moreneatly kept. Having a music shop right downstairs makes this a potential heaven for our family. That being said, after several visits and plenty of money spent, I can say it's not a fluke that the people working there are checked out and often straight-up unfriendly. We actively seek this place out to spend our money, but have ended up feeling pretty meh walking out the last few times. We'll likely only give it another try or two because the owner of the record store was super kind, and because we love graphic novels. Maggie Mae's, Literary Arts, Spoke and Word, and Rose CIty Books will get even more of our business if we continue to feel like we've done something wrong by being there.

A lot of photo (and other) galleries fail somewhat with basic space layout and presentation. Not so…read moreBlue Sky. This is a gallery designed to showcase work and is one of the better laid-out spaces I've encountered. Exhibitions run for just a month, not the more typical six week showing by most galleries.

This was the last stop on my travels around the Pearl and the many art galleries in the area. There…read morewas a showing for two artists going on. Fernando Brito and Kent Krugh. Brito's work was basically crime scene photos in South America but shot within really great landscape pictures. Some were a bit gory, but it was an interesting contrast between great farm scenes or sunsets or a winding dirt road and then you have a body or several with bullet wounds or half covered by tarps. It was a little disturbing. The second photographer, Kent Krugh shot pictures of many different types of trees. The pictures were overlaid and made them appear ghostly with stark blacks and whites to contrast everything. I enjoyed this work a bit more than the other. I was told at another gallery that Christopher Rauschenberg, the son of artist Robert Rauschenberg, and photographer in his own right is the founder of Blue Sky. The space is large and I can't wait to come back to see more great photography here.

Located in the old Moody barge building at Zidell Yards, just north of the tram at OHSU on the…read morewaterfront, this building has been transformed into a creative space for artists of various art mediums and creative thinkers. On the first floor, the halls are lined with lots of local art, and I enjoyed taking my time and marveling over the pieces. Several spaces serve as creative think tanks. Upstairs, several artists have their workspaces. Yesterday, I attended an Open Studios exhibit showcasing three local artists. The unique, handcrafted, contemporaries jewelry by Clara Ines Arana was incredibly beautiful. There were so many stunning and exquisite pieces created from metals in silver, gold and black. Each design was a one-of-a kind piece and you could see the love and detail that went into each. I'm obsessed! Earrings ranged in design from big, bold geometric shapes to dainty drops of hoops. Clara's eye for detail and shapes is apparent; her metal skills impeccable. In the collection there were pins and broaches with a contemporary and joyful update. Wearing one of Clara's broaches on a solid colored dress or top would totally transform an outfit. There were several necklaces, some long created from various hoops and ovals; some were short and made of cable wire to form a collar. The collar necklaces showcased a pendent, many a square silver base with accents of gold and / or black metal. Some had a pearl or gemstone to accent the piece. These designs were both eye-catching and stunning. You can also purchase additional pendants to hang on the collar or your own necklace. Did I mention that I am obsessed! The studios cover a variety of art and mediums. Down the hall, Rudy Barton has his workspace. Rudy is a Professor at Portland State University's School of Fine and Performing Arts and received his Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University. Rudy has curated exhibitions both locally and nationally, and authored numerous publications, and still finds time to create and exhibit his art. I particularly liked his whimsical collection of small A-frame houses on stilt like legs, all made from twigs and paper, in a variety of colors. While I have not seen a theatre performance here, I wanted to share their mission, in their own words: "Artists Repertory Theatre's mission is to produce intimate, provocative theatre and provide a home for a diverse community of artists and audiences to take creative risks." Because some of the studio artists live in the same condo building as me, I discovered The Old Moody Building and look forward to staying in contact and enjoying more art exhibits and seeing some theatre performances. My hope is that this community will attract more local artists and become a destination for local artists and the community of art lovers. This building sits back a bit from the road. Easy access from streetcar, Max, or tram. There is also parking out front. Call for appointments to see studios.

I absolutely love this place, everyone is so kind and the art here is magaical!…read more I utlizize this space for sewing/crafts and every since i have been able to expand my vision. I love begin with other visionaries who inspire me to keep creating and keep making art! Kudos to Alan!!