Such a great, hip neighborhood! Genuinely enjoyed walking around 23rd street with my friend on a…read morebeautiful summer day. Tons of cool shops, restaurants, and cafes. Would definitely return to explore further.

I'm from Southern California, visiting Vancouver but insisting on seeing what's become of Portland…read more I convinced my crew to take me to the Pearl District, remembering how vibrant it used to be, just five years ago. Now, the zombies crouch and the small businesses are gone. We moved on to the Alphabet district and found the charming pubs, restaurants, shops and businesses I had come to see. The best store is Paxton Gate--treasures and oddities. A wonderful restaurant is Fireside. So relieved that there's a sign of life after all the troubles. It's worth defending, Portlandia.

What started as a bunch of galleries that got together and agreed to stay open late one night a…read moreweek has really grown since. It only comes once a month, in the downtown area (mostly in the Pearl). First Thursday is a great way to spend an evening. Galleries that are part of this use First Thursday hold the grand opening of new shows on First Thursday. Most offer drinks and snacks of some sort and lots of people show up making for a festive time. Besides galleries many shapes in the area now stay open late and many other businesses have artists bring in their works and stay open as well. Then bars and restraints and businesses hold events (some with cover) to ad to the mix and keep people busy longer. Finally there are areas where local artists not represented by a gallery take to the street sell their works themselves. There are now a couple areas 24 Hour Fitness in the Pearl. The other is by the new We-Work on the North Park Blocks. I always enjoy seeing all the art. Often hitting my favorite galleries in the DeSoto building but always hitting the outdoor shows when I go.

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

Wow! This was one of the most Portland events I've been to in a long time! The folks at Weird…read morePortland United have been producing the Weird Portland Gala for several years now, but Weird Fest has a fun, laid back vibe perfect for the entire family. In fact, Oaks Park is the perfect venue for this event in terms of parking, proximity to additional entertainment, food, etc. Weird Fest is an opportunity to dress up in your wackiest costumes, and mix and mingle with other artists, creatives and free spirits who love to Keep Portland Weird. Attendees will find lots of vendors selling everything from refrigerator magnets and magic wands, to elaborate costumes. The event offered lots of entertainment, including live bands, performances by The Unipiper, as well as appearances by Portland characters like Una the Mermaid, Broccoli Man, Elvis, and many more. We played a few rounds of Bingo, listened to some great music, and had a great time. I can't wait for this event next year!

We headed out to Alberta Street last night having no idea what we were getting ourselves into…read more When I think of a "Last/First (insert day of the week)" I think of local artists getting a chance to display their art showcase at various locally owned stores, usually galleries or art related stores. The "Art Walk" was more like a combination of Saturday Market, street fair, with a smattering of legitimate artists. We were actually there with a purpose: find art by a local artist for our living room. I was pleased to see a wide variety of art styles and enjoyed examining what was on display in the stores. I was less impressed with the displays on the street, although many made me chuckle while others were just puzzling. In the end, it wasn't what we thought it was going to be, but it was still a fun time. Lots of unique people with unique talents and I think it is fabulous that they have a place to display them (even if I don't want to take any of it home and hang it on my living room wall). :)

My friends who live in the SW section of Portland invited me up recently to Portland and said, "You…read morehave to come check out Alberta Street with us, it's the last thursday of the month" And I'm like, 'What's Alberta Street?" The last thursday of each month, this section of Alberta Street attracts all kinds of people who walk, ride bikes, skate, sometimes arrive on stilts to check out all the art and restaurants in the area. When I was there it seems like the whole neighborhood opens up and everyone is having a good time. This is a slice of Portland worth checking out. Certainly not something you find very often in LA. The trains don't go to Alberta street is my understanding, but you can take a cab part of the way, or if you have access to a bicycle, there are a ton of bike lanes in Portland. I wouldn't advise driving there as there are a ton of people in the streets at this regular event. Saw a few people drive by in cars that were having heckuva time given the number of people in the streets. However you get there, it's worth checking out. It happens from i believe 6 - 9PM on the last thursday of each month.

I recently hired them for a celebration of life. They were very professional and punctual on time;…read moreI would definitely recommend them for anybody looking for live music. Thank you so much. It was definitely worth the money. I will be a returning customer.

Great value for the show they bring to your event. They really liven up the atmosphere.read more

Attending the Diwali cruise party in Portland was an absolutely beautiful and amazing experience…read more As a yoga teacher, I'm deeply interested in how facilitators hold space and affect the energy of a group. The DJ behind Bollywood Dreams Entertainment is a master at this. He leads with such authentic joy, and you can feel that he is fulfilling his purpose. When a host is so genuinely in their own joyful expression, it gives everyone else in the room permission to truly let loose and be in their own experience. His energy created a ripple effect, allowing everyone to sink into the music and let their own joy out. The atmosphere was incredibly fun and celebratory. You could feel how his positive energy calmed and uplifted the collective nervous system in the space, creating a safe and vibrant environment to dance. It was more than just a party; it was a profound experience of shared joy. I am so grateful for the work he is doing to bring the community together in this way. We will definitely be coming to more Bollywood Dreams events. Jai Ho!

I can't believe it's been almost a year and I still haven't left a review for the MOST INCREDIBLE…read moreDJ--DJ Prashant! He handled three of my events--Sangeet, Wedding, and Reception--and I can't express enough how phenomenal he is at what he does. He truly brought the energy and made each event unforgettable. So many of my friends still talk about the wedding because he made sure everyone had an amazing time! He's better than some of the top DJs I've seen in India and is hands down the BEST in the country. We love you for the magic you create!

We visited a beautifully curated exhibition celebrating Oregon author, poet, and artist Ursula K…read more Le Guin, and it was an absolute delight. The exhibit thoughtfully showcased pieces from her early years, detailed maps of her sci-fi worlds, her actual typewriter, video footage from a Q&A session, and artwork inspired by her writing. One of the most memorable features was a giant "tree" display filled with her books where visitors could actually sit down and read -- such a creative and inviting touch. Admission was free, with donations accepted, which makes this an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone even remotely interested in literature, art, or science fiction. The space itself is stunning and clearly designed with art exhibitions in mind. The location is also convenient -- just down the road is Denver Ave with several restaurants if you want to grab a bite before or after your visit. Parking is limited, but there is some street parking available nearby. They also have a small gift shop, gender-neutral restrooms, and very friendly staff who made the experience even more welcoming. Overall, a thoughtfully designed and inspiring exhibit in a lovely space. Highly recommended.

To wrap up the final week of my critical art theories class at Portland State, I visited the…read moreBiennial to connect the ideas explored this past Spring. As I enter, the first thing I see are three questions in red: What was the price our ancestors paid to call this nation home? What did they sacrifice for the American dream? What was promised to them for their blood, sweat, and tears? As I abstracted my time with DeepTime Collective's wall of many clocks, I walked along various artworks that caught my eye. Gabby Severson, Jaleesa Johnston, and Ebony Frison were a few of my favorite artists from this show. The artworks are powerful and imposing. They catch you and keep you in. The artists speak from places of nostalgia, memory and lived experience. However, I couldn't help to think that the works respond to questions that have already been in conversation for a while. 250 years, who doesn't know what the price is? And so, as Bayo Akomolafe has asked about the Black Lives Matter movement, to whom would this matter to? This certainly is nothing new for marginalized folks who live with those questions everyday, whose ancestral histories on this stolen land is defined by sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears. From struggle to preservation to perseverance, the artworks are analyzed by folks who beg for answers to questions they created.

What is the most Portland thing that I've ever done in Portland? Easy, it's the Every Wednesday…read moreSquare Dance. What's that? It's a square dance. And it happens every Wednesday. Yes, their name is very informative. When my friend brought me to the EWSD it was a surprise, and I had no idea what we would be doing until I saw the sign. Smart move on his part, as it was too late for me to back out. Atop Oregon Public House, we head up the stairs and enter The Village Ballroom, a rustic and cute spot that is the perfect venue for a hoedown! Knowing that I would need some liquid courage, I went straight to the bar. OPH drafts were $5 each, and they had affordable wine and beer options. Radlers were only $3, people! That's just crazy! Lasting from 7-9pm, we got there at the very beginning and the crowd was sparse, and had a lot of young children. It was adorable, and I enjoyed the added benefit of being almost guaranteed to not be the worst dancer on the floor. The caller for the night (Marta King) walked the crowd through the very basics, and soon the band (Missouri Turnaround) started up. For the next two hours, we square danced our hearts out! As the evening progressed the ballroom filled up. The kids disappeared and were replaced by seemingly everybody who had ever been an extra on Portlandia. Square Dancing is hip, ya'll. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of types of people, but I was shocked at how young and cool the crowd was. This isn't your grandpa's square dance, but your grandpa would totally be welcome to join. As the evening progressed, so did the dances and soon I was lost. But that was also perfectly OK! What I really loved was that everybody was so genuine in their enjoyment. Even though we were TERRIBLE and basically just bumping into each other the whole time, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. This is some good times people, even if I myself didn't believe it at first. There's a $7 recommended donation to cover the costs, though it's sliding if you can't afford that. If you can afford more, you should consider giving it. This is a really unique opportunity in Portland, and I'm glad to have discovered it.