PORTLAND
Posted by faunablues on Sep 12, 2011 · Member since Aug 2003 · 9655 posts
SO.
I am leaving for Portland on Sunday, and I'll be there for about two weeks.
'course, I'm there for a reason (a rotation, lab animal, sucks I know), BUT while we're there (goin there with a friend) we want to see/do/eat things.
So:
1. Must-go-to vegan places that a not-too-picky-but-cheap omni would enjoy? I hear there are donuts. That is most acceptable.
2. Touristy things that are good n cheap? Including anything outdoorsy and cheap.
3. Friend intends to have the gayest time possible, in two ways. Any ideas?
(and if any of these things are near OSU - bonus points)
4. Best way to get around? Good public transport?
VOODOO DOUGHNUTS
Ms. FB,
Do you have a rental car that you'll be using or....?
1. Vita Cafe, Red and Black Cafe, Sizzle Pie -- for meals. VooDoo Donuts -- for deserts/snacks.
2. Washington Park and Multnomah Falls. I hear the zoo is nice..just walking downtown is nice too. Umm..
3. I've not ventured to any of the clubs here so I can't say but I hear 'Darcelle XV Showplace' is a great time for a drag queen show.
4. When I take public transportation, the MAX is the best. It's a great tram system.
If you'll be near OSU (Oregon State, I assume?), you will have to drive into Portland. OSU is way outside Portland.
-Josh
No, no car. It'll be all walking or public transport.
My bad - not OSU, but OHSU. Well, I hope so. They did say "Portland" and not "Corvallis," so we'll see, hehehe.
Ah yes! OHSU. OHSU is right near downtown. You'll easily be able to jump on a bus.
Hmm..
edit: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/visiting/transportation.cfm
PS. I'd offer to meet you but I'm not sure how uneasy that might make you. Hahaha
I'd be cool with it, but my partner in crime would be endlessly creeped out, unfortunately.
;D Understood.
I'm trying to think of other things. I'm still learning the city so my 'things to do/see' list is not detailed.
Here's the public transportation site: http://trimet.org/
The VegFest is this weekend.
I will second Washington Park. The arboretum in that area is good too. Not sure if the Forrestry Center is free or not. The Rose Gardens are free. These are all in the same area.
Anyone local who has a library card could meet up with you with a cultural pass to get into a lot of things for a day for free. I have used them for the Portland Art Museum, the Japanese Gardens and the Chinese Gardens. I know there is a lot more but not sure what off hand.
Saturday (and Sunday) Market at the Skidmore Fountain Max stop. Lots of craft vendors. One stop west of there is Chinatown. There is an on line map for a walking tour.
If you are into book stores, check out Powell's main store in downtown. DH can spend a day in there and brousing is free.
semiveg -
Yes!! How could I forget about the Saturday Market?!? I've yet to check-out downtown Powell's but I hear it's awesome. I bought a book from the Cedar Hills Powell's.
Good choices, semiveg! :)
-Josh
I usually have any books I am interested in sent to Cedar Hills, much closer to home and I avoid downtown.
That was the list of things I do a few times a year that "make" me actually go into Portland. The other would be shopping at Pioneer Place and visiting Pioneer Court House Square.
If it was not for transportation, I would also suggest hiking on Mt. Hood and seeing Timberline Lodge. Not sure about the menu there but the view is worth the drive and there is something to be said for throwing snowballs year round.
Another place, free except max/bus fair is Tualatin Hills Nature Park
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tualatin-hills-nature-park-and-interpretive-center-beaverton
I have seen deer on a few occasions. The main loop is mostly paved and you will need to share with bikers, strollers, etc. However, there are also mulched trails off the main one for walking/jogging only and I have rarely seen anyone else on those.
I have spent a decent amount of time at Noble Woods Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Woods_Park
and it is accessable by max and bus. There is one main paved trail with several dirt paths. There is a wetlands area off one of the dirt paths where I have seen a blue heron. There are deer and coyote in the area. Down side, it is a major dog walking park.
Trimet was just ranked #1 in the US for best public transit service (even with all the budget-related route closures!).
The vegan stripmall on SE 12 and SE Stark hosts the infamous Food Fight! and Sweetpea Bakery (cheap, omni friendly all vegan brunch there on Sundays)
You should also take a walk up Mt Tabor, our city's resident "sleeping volcano", and have a camera ready for the views.
For gaybars:
CC Slaughters pours the strong drinks and is mainly male clientele, with softcore gay male porn playing on the various tv's (think 70's workout videos, shirtless, oiled, lifting weights, etc)
Embers has multiple rooms, with the back room playing various styles of music on different night for dancing, mixed gender clientele and has both drag king and queen shows and competitions
funmaps gay portland
And then of course, there's Powell's City of Books!!!!! I'm dismayed the other two skipped this.
There's also a knitting cafe'/yarn store on SE Hawthorne, around SE 14th Ave.
If you like ice skating, the Lloyd Center Mall hosts the skating rink Tanya Harding (remember her?) practiced and instructed at.
I know you've already come and gone, but just in case anyone else is embarking on a journey to Portland:
There is a vegan food cart called The Uni-Cart right near Tom McCall Waterfront Park. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/unicart-portland) While I wouldn't call it healthy by any stretch of the imagination, it's a completely vegan food cart, and I think it's nice to support his efforts. I ate the BBQ'd griffin, and enjoyed it. Other options are lochness monster, brontosaurus, and dragons.
Open from 11am - 3pm, and 11pm - 3am, last I checked, but probably subject to change.
Hello,
I'm a Milwaukee WI(3 year vegan) resident looking to head to Oregon to visit my partner's family. Portland has always been a dream land for me. Vegans, bike culture, music etc. I aspire to move there one day. I'm concerned about the cost of living and employment. Ive heard about so many awesome venues, farmers markets, art, festivals and restaurants that I cant wait to experience! I cant imagine it being so easy to be vegan. I'm excited to learn about new products in a lighter mode.
How is the transition into Portland? Is it sustainable and cost effective? What do you see yourself investing time and money into weekly?
I spend a good chunk of time in WI at farmers markets, prepping veggies, making smoothies, composting etc. What areas are more affordable to reside with basics- laundramat, park, etc?
I suspect the basic cost of living in Portland is higher than where you are at. The farther out in the burbs you get, the cheeper housing costs are but the less vegan friendly. I just had a hospital say in Hillsboro and griped at the dietitian over the lack of choices on the menu. She really was not all that helpful and did not understand that I feel sick when I eat meat. Almost every burb has it's own farmers' market, some have several each week. A few are year round but it is mostly crafts in the winter. In general, public transportation is easy to use if you are anywhere near a train or bus line. I have never had an issue finding laundramats. Parking varies by neighborhood. Some houses are so crammed like sardines that there is very little place to park on the streets. Other neighborhoods have plenty of parking. If by "park" you meant "place to take the dog for a walk", they are all over the area and many are really nice for walking. Some have play structures for kids, some don't.
Right now, jobs are tight. I have no clue what you do to give a better answer. I would not recogmend moving here until you have something lined up. If you visit, you could check things out better for yourself. My DS25 lives with 2 room mates and manages with a job delivering pizza just under 30 hrs a week. Now when he actually acts as store manager instead of delivery person, he has a tougher time because of the lack of tips. The store he works at refused an application to my DD's friend because he came in "looking like an angry teen". So, things are available but hard to find.
I suspect the basic cost of living in Portland is higher than where you are at. The farther out in the burbs you get, the cheeper housing costs are but the less vegan friendly. I just had a hospital say in Hillsboro and griped at the dietitian over the lack of choices on the menu. She really was not all that helpful and did not understand that I feel sick when I eat meat. Almost every burb has it's own farmers' market, some have several each week. A few are year round but it is mostly crafts in the winter. In general, public transportation is easy to use if you are anywhere near a train or bus line. I have never had an issue finding laundramats. Parking varies by neighborhood. Some houses are so crammed like sardines that there is very little place to park on the streets. Other neighborhoods have plenty of parking. If by "park" you meant "place to take the dog for a walk", they are all over the area and many are really nice for walking. Some have play structures for kids, some don't.
Right now, jobs are tight. I have no clue what you do to give a better answer. I would not recogmend moving here until you have something lined up. If you visit, you could check things out better for yourself. My DS25 lives with 2 room mates and manages with a job delivering pizza just under 30 hrs a week. Now when he actually acts as store manager instead of delivery person, he has a tougher time because of the lack of tips. The store he works at refused an application to my DD's friend because he came in "looking like an angry teen". So, things are available but hard to find.