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!

Our family are huge fans of the TV show Grimm! During our recent trip to Portland, we made sure to…read morevisit a few of the show's iconic spots-- Nick and Juliet's house and Monroe's house. Monroe's place has been repainted since filming, so it looks a bit different now, but it was still so fun to see it in person and snap a photo of our little one in front of it. My husband even recognized the wooded park area where Nick ran through to get to Monroe's house. Such a cool experience for Grimm fans.

This is a nice little bungalow up near the entrance to OHSU off Terwilliger, Built in 1930 it is in…read morethe Homestead neighborhood. it is on a nice street, The bungalow is kind of nondescript. It is painted grey with little landscaping. Its claim to fame is that it is the home of Monroe and in the latest seasons Rosalee. Unlike Nick's house there hasn't been a lot of violence and I don't remember any killings here. That is probably because it is the residence of a Blutbad and who wants to mess with that? It also seems to be where Monroe runs his clock repair business. The house does see a lot of visitors, Nick (the Grimm) and others often drop by for Wesen advice and or help. Nick even stayed for a while while he and Juliet were having problems.

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!

DELISH!! Our friends…read morehave been recommending Monty's to us for a while due to their large portions and friendly environment. They definitely did not disappoint! my vodka pasta was amazing, and i have enough for another meal or two afterward. Staff was friendly and had great recommendations. Building was so cute, and there were many smiling people to fill the space.

Very tasty Italian American classics that come in sizable portions. Vodka penne and linguini…read moreAlfredo felt like perfected childhood dishes that really hit the spot. The calamari was also nicely fried and the tiramisu was huge with deep espresso flavors. The mozzarella sticks were just okay we thought the breading/seasoning could be improved. Otherwise, service, drinks and vibes were all perfect for a weekend comfort meal. Will need to try the classic meatball and spaghetti red sauce next time.

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!

There's no seating, but their pizza is in this reviewer's not-so-humble opinion among the very best…read morein a town that's known for excellent pizza. The sauce is subtle but *yummy*, the pure mozzarella is always nice, and the range of toppings is brilliant. PLUS they have local Mama Lil's peppers for a sweet/spicy addition. The cheesy garlic bread is a standout by itself. Definitely spend the $8 and if it's too much food, microwave it for breakfast! [I've been to each location other than Beaverton, and this review applies equally to them all -- consistency is a good thing when you 'za is so good!]

I ordered their chicken delizia pizza along with buffalo wings and I was super impressed!…read moreEverything was delicious and the staff was super friendly. Would definitely order from here again!

At the West end of the Tillikum Bridge is a art sculpture that looks like a large red balloon…read morebouquet. It makes me smile. This sculpture was the inspiration of artist Christian Moeller and it was named Aril. The idea that served as inspiration for this sculpture was the highly geometrical and abstract visual representations of molecular structures. Like a tree, the sculpture will consist of a trunk and branches made of cylindrical tubes holding one hundred colored spheres. Aril is tall at 40' tall. :-)

Aril is the sculpture near the western entrance to Tilikum Crossing, the new bridge across the…read moreWillamette River. Designed by LA-based artist Christian Moeller, the piece is 40 feet high and made of galvanized steel, powder-coated steel, and fiberglass. If you're there at the right time, the red orbs sparkle beautifully in the sun. I've heard people say this reminds them of an apple tree. I find it more evocative of a molecule, which would be fitting given its neighbor, the Collaborative Life Sciences Building.

We stopped by a Cena for dinner recently after having drinks nearby. They were able to seat us…read morewithin ten minutes or so, but if you're not able to wait, I'd suggest making reservations! The agnolotti was excellent, with large chunks of Maine lobstah. Because I don't love red sauce, I'm not usually a fan of Italian restaurants...but I would absolutely eat this again!

It took me awhile, but I finally tried this Sellwood gem. The great vibe immediately captivated…read moreour attention. Tuaca Mule cocktail - balanced, just the right sweetness. Arancini - get 'em. Octopus - table enjoyed, great sauce for the soft warm bread. Caesar Salad - excellent, wow those homemade breadcrumbs! Strangely, they were out of anchovies. Bistecca - very good flavor, but wish it was more tender. Accouterments were a a proper compliment. A fair portion. Pesce - unlike the steak, it lacked in size. And not a fan of the Cannellini beans to round out the dish. Pasta on special (chicken) - pillowee soft, but a touch bland. Bundino - loved it! Service - efficient and polite, but they were moving so fast it kinda detracted from the experience. Meaning, they would drop a dish then almost sprint back to the kitchen or next table. High tempo, very uncalm. Props for working hard. Dining service is not a Portland thing, so not a negative. Parking can be a minor challenge.

What a sight to see! In a park where you feel like you are standing on top of Portland, This joyful…read moresculpture embodies its name. Truly. In this beautiful setting is an amazing addition. Located at Council Crest Park on SW Fairmont Boulevard, Pioneer Woman is a bronze sculpture and drinking fountain. It depicts a woman with her hair flying behind her, holding a baby in her outstretched arms. Its condition was deemed "treatment needed" by the Smithsonian Institution's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program in November 1993. I am unsure if anything has been done to improve the condition. I hope that they get the fountains working again.

Gino's is an authentic Italian neighborhood spot in the Sellwood area. We came on a busy dinner…read morenight and waited about 30-45 minutes for a table, but once we were seated, the service was quick and attentive! My partner at the time ordered the classic spaghetti and meatballs, and that was definitely the star. The meatballs were huge and tender! I had the rigatoni Alfredo, which was good, but I'd order the spaghetti next time. We also started with the clams, and they were delicious - plenty of sauce for the dipping bread. The restaurant had lots of seating with a cozy, dimly lit atmosphere that feels like an old-school Italian restaurant. Not a lot of places in the Sellwood area that serves Italian food, so stop here if you're in the neighborhood.

Food 3.5 stars Service 1 star…read more This is like your neighborhood Italian joint. I really enjoyed the Caesar salad and meat balls in marinara. For the entree we got the spaghetti ai funghi and cioppino. The spaghetti was kind of inedible to me due to the amount of salt in it although the flavor was good. I really couldn't eat more than a few bites of it. The cioppino was good. The seafood in it tasted fresh and cooked to perfection. Ordered the grandma jeans for my kiddo and that was good as well. Now, let's talk about the service we. We sat at the bar side and it was pretty loud and there were a ton of people just walking by and standing around. Our server seemed way too busy and we couldn't get her attention a few times when we needed her. She never came to check on us once and only ordered 1 cioppino instead of the 2 we ordered. They delivered one plate of it along with everything else so we asked if there was another one coming and she said yes (the server didn't deliver the food, there were other girls that did that). A couple minutes later, the server came back and apologized saying she thought we only ordered one. When it was time to pay, I asked her to split the bill in half but she didn't do that either. She did like a weird 30/70 split. I even walked to the card machine with her and told her right there and she said "yes I can do that" Either the restaurant is severely understaffed, server was not competent or might a mixture of both but my experience was not good. Portion size was huge though so definitely worth the price.