This was our first stop along the Wildwood Follow the Crows adventure on Sunday…read more The gift shop had a lot of really cute T-shirts bags, a good selection of binoculars and other fun things. We will definitely come back here when we have more time. A beautiful crow painted by a local artist lots of fun creatures to find on the body of the crow! The person working in the shop was very friendly and pleasant and so was the person working outside!

This store has a little seating area that overlooks the forest. They have bird feeders (sees and…read moresuet) which is pretty heavy visited by our feathered friends (and occasional chipmunks and squirrels). You can spend all day sitting here and enjoying the ambiance. There are also washrooms in the same building so if you want to attend to your earthly needs and/or fill up on water before you go, it's a great stop. Now onto the shop itself. There's a large selection of sundries which I did not expect for a small shop. Books line the walls, while stands display clothing and hats. Cute cards and crafts are perched on the windowsills. They have binoculars for loan if you drop off your car key in exchange while you're out with it. Heck, they also have birdseed for sale! It is so well stocked.

With so many bazaars, night markets and craft fairs, especially during the holidays, the Portland…read moreBazaar really stands out for me based on the quality of merchandise and the way the vendors style and display their wares. This weekend the Portland Bazaar returned for its 9th year and as one would expect, it was crowded! But totally manageable. The space is bright and airy with lots of natural light. The variety of vendors and merchandise is impressive making it easy to find unique and meaningful gifts or something for yourself! There were several jewelry artists with unique and creative styles that I haven't seen elsewhere. I love jewelry and prefer to wear pieces that are individual and not mass produced. That's exactly what was showcased here. There were a few pottery vendors and my favorite, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, had a stunning display of serene, classic mid-century modern pieces. There was the normal coffee mugs and bowls, but what really stood out were the unique gravy pitchers, tiny creamers and soap trays. The colors were soft muted pastels and so soothing to the eye. I wanted everything on the table! Of course there were lots of alcoholic offerings and accompaniments: tea infused spirits by Townshend's Distillery; Portland Spirits was there with their amazing syrups, a much better alternative to soda and mixers (highly recommend the spicy ginger for killer Moscow Mules); pear infused vodka from Wild Roots, to name a few. And then there was Wild CBD, always the most crowded booth in this day of all things CBD. Les Tablettes de Chocolate had inventive bars loaded with fruits, nuts, herbs and spices in my favorite, dark chocolate. Their toffee was incredible. The presentation is beautiful and the taste superb. Baked goods were also available from several small batch bakers. One of the craftsman, Hew, had the most beautiful handcrafted bowls, containers, plates and utensils made from wood. So natural, simple - but hard to make - and incredibly gorgeous. They even had an area set up where kids could make hand painted ornaments, inspiring future crafters! Perusing the wares, marveling at the craftsmanship, selecting the perfect gifts and scoring spicy ginger syrup was a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Definitely make a point to come next year! They always post on Facebook when they have a show. The merchandise is special and high quality.

Fabulous gift shop selling good from local artists…read more I have to admit I underestimated this shop from the outside. I had walked past it countless times walking up and down 23rd, but finally decided to stop in when I was looking for a gift for my partner's mom. I was not disappointed, and this shop has something for everyone, not just middle aged moms. Not only did I find the perfect gift and card, I bought a few things to take home for myself. The quality and craftsmanship of the items here is really impressive. From the paper quilled greeting cards, to the pottery, to the hand carved wooded fountain pens, I was in awe at the level of talent displayed in this store. It's really well decorated (with emphasis on the current season) and there is eye candy everywhere you look. I really wish I had taken more pictures because the two I took just do not do this place justice. My favorite part of the store was the "toppings bar", a cute little nook filled with ribbons and cute gift tags to add the perfect finishing touch to any wrap job. Bottom line: If you are looking for a gift, or just something festive for your holiday decor or table setting, this is a great place to consider.

My favorite gift shop that was created and decorated with love! Amazing owner! So thankful to have…read morethis place in Portland. And you can find a lot of local artists!

I'm literally feel like I came home when I walked into this store. It is so cute, and it's made ti…read morelook like a kitty playground which I absolutely love. It's whimsical and creative. It's going to be a regular mandated stop whenever I visit Oregon. The most I spent on the while trip was in this store and definitely worth it

What a fun store! GrittyKitty is not just for cat lovers, but if you are, it will be impossible to…read moreleave this shop without purchasing something. The vast variety of items they have amassed is impressive, and the way everything is playfully displayed is sensory overload! In a good way. Wandered in on a sunny afternoon with zero expectations and stayed a good 20 minutes making several laps around the store. In the center is a large tree structure adorned with dozens of adorable cat stuffed animals, with leaves made of huge paper globes in rich teals and purples, and hanging flower lanterns. The walls are filled with cat pictures, many original art from local artists. in fact, many of the items in the store are made locally. They even conduct workshops where you can make some of them, like the hanging flower lanterns. There are notebooks, hair clips that look like a cat, figurines, keychains, scarves, tote bags, and various purses, wallets and crossbody bags. For the kitchen there are bottle openers, coctail stirrers, coffee mugs and the cutest cat spoons that hang into the mug. Yep, bought a silver one! The art - various paintings, prints, note cards - is fun & whimsical. I loved the Purrmaid and the octopus with a cat head! So creative. The owner is delightful. She and the other owners created an inspiring space that encourages one to browse and marvel, and lets you do just that without any pressure. I told her how much I loved the shop and made a point to say, it's not just for crazy cat ladies. And then pondered over that terminology when people who have dogs, and won't go anywhere without them, are not called crazy dog ladies. She loved that perspective. Loving cats sometimes gets a bad wrap, but in this shop, crazy cat ladies, cat lovers, or anyone who appreciates creative art and gifts are welcome and can find enjoyment. I left with my new cat spoon and a tortoise shell cat clip for my hair, which I proudly wore that night!

Ah, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, fair OMSI, thou art a relic of my youth and a conjurer…read moreof wonder still. I hail from Seaside, where school trips were as certain as the tide, and like pilgrims of curiosity we journeyed forth to thee and the nearby Oregon Zoo. In those days, thou stoodst proudly nearby, a kingdom of gadgets and dreams, where a young lad could sit in a space shuttle, grip the controls of an airplane, and believe, if only for a fleeting moment, that the sky itself was negotiable. Back then, it felt like magic. Not the cheap kind you find in a roadside card trick, but the good stuff, the kind that sticks with you. I am talking about the sort of place where a kid walks in and walks out thinking he might just grow up to be an astronaut, or at the very least someone who knows how to push buttons with confidence. It was grand. It was loud. It was alive. Now, like all of us who have survived a few decades and a few questionable decisions, OMSI has changed. She has moved, grown into a bigger building down by the river, and picked up a few new tricks along the way. There is a submarine sitting out there like it has stories it is not ready to tell, a two story play structure that lets kids burn off enough energy to power half the city, and exhibits that rotate in and out like a cast of characters in a long running play. Some of the old magic remains, though a few of those hands on wonders I remember have slipped quietly into the past. I have sat beneath the great dome of their Omnimax theater, watching the world unfold across the ceiling like the heavens themselves decided to put on a show. I have wandered into their other theater and found myself unexpectedly invested in wolves, which is not something I can say happens often in daily life. OMSI still knows how to put on a show, and they do it well. Sure, a bit of that old nostalgia has worn thin, like a favorite jacket that has seen too many winters. But make no mistake, OMSI still has game. If you have kids, turn them loose here. Let them climb, explore, and ask questions you cannot answer. Let them wear themselves out while you stand back and think, yeah, this place still gets it done. OMSI, thou may not be exactly as I remember thee, but neither am I. And maybe that is the point. For all the years and all the changes, you remain a place where imagination gets a fair shot. And that, my friends, is worth the price of admission.

We visited for the Jurassic exhibit and my Lego enthusiast son was overjoyed. They did an excellent…read morejob at displaying impressive Lego builds and incorporating learning through hands-on activities. I especially enjoyed the "make and display" your creations. OMSI has brilliant interactive displays but this is by far my favorite of their exhibits. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Lego!

Reasonable prices and a good cause, even if not the widest selection of books. The workers here…read morewere friendly enough, and I enjoyed browsing. May be worth visiting frequently to find an occasional gem.

Friendly volunteers and irresistible book paraphernalia. Portland literature goodies for everyone…read more Careful. It's addictive!

If you find yourself up against a swarm of vampires, the gift shop at the Grotto has your back!…read moreFrom holy water to rosaries, to silver crucifixes and prayer coins, there is a veritable arsenal of the Almighty at your fingertips here! And more than that, there are cards, home décor items, gifts, books, artwork, nativities, a few sanctified snacks here and there, and depending on when you visit, you'll find locally-crafted Christmas ornaments and seasonal specialties. My wife and I always visit this cute little shop at least once a year (usually at the end of our Festival of Lights walkthrough), but rarely do we ever leave without purchasing something that speaks to my wife's post-Catholic sympathies...or to add to my ever growing armory of undead-slaying weapons because, hey...you never know, that zombie apocalypse might be just around the corner!

We bought some items from the gift shop after visiting the Grotto gardens on top. We had no problem…read morewith the selection but after paying for the items, we realized after driving a few hours home to Seattle that they charged me $25 for something we didn't purchase. I then proceeded to call the shop just to be told to leave a message with the manager who would call me the next day. But the next day I didn't receive a phone call and now I'll be calling back again tomorrow. So frustrating. Customers beware when purchasing items there that you don't also get charged for something you don't buy.

This place is off of Hawthorne. Street parking. Endless selections of colognes and parfumes. I went…read morein looking for something that smelled like Le Labo Santal 33. These two were pulled, and the Papyrus Moléculaire by Maison Crivelli is the one! In my opinion it smells better than santal 33! Highly recommend checking this place out if you're a perfume addict like me or simply looking for your first signature scent. Staff is very friendly and informative on their products. 30ML is $100 and the $100ML is $300.

As a consummate perfume lover, it is always exciting to have the opportunity to experience new and…read moreinnovative scents as well to revisit beloved fragrances from the past. The Perfume House not only affords any customer a wide array of beautiful perfume options but in addition offers outstanding expertise and a true passion for the art of perfumery. Margaux greeted me warmly and immediately we clicked, chatting about various fragrances and making valuable suggestions. There was no pressure to buy but a sincere interest in providing congenial assistance and valuable knowledge. There is no need to shop elsewhere in Portland for perfume, The Perfume House has it all!