Portland, Stay Sweet.

Maggie and I are in Portland.

She is much better at relaying our conversations so I suggest you read there. She is also better at taking pictures so you should look at those here.

There are a few things I can't believe about Portland.

1) Everyone here is incredibly attractive, especially at our hotel. Everyone's so attractive I keep waiting for someone to ask me to leave.

2) Everyone is so nice. So nice. On our first night here we were struggling a little with our map. We wanted to ask a girl passing by to point us in the right direction. She was on the phone so we didn't bother her. She turned around and came back to ask us if we needed help. People here like to talk. We've talked to hotel clerks and waiters and store owners (hello, Canoe) and usually? I don't really talk to anyone.

I pretty much love it here. So I'm not coming home, home is going to have to come here.

Comments

[swankette]

We'd be happy to have you!

[bigpikchur.blogspot.com]

I swear to you that Portland is one of the best places on earth. I don't even live there, but they ARE so nice that they still let me say that.
Jules
House of Jules

[Heidi]

I went to college in Portland and have been madly in love with the city ever since. It looks like you guys were in Southeast? Make sure you hit some of the beer movie theaters in the Hawthorne/Belmont area.

[Sara]

So glad you are having a great time (ditto swankette)!

[Heidi]

Also you're so right about the niceness! When I was there everyone would say "thank you" to the bus drivers, even if they were exiting from the rear door.

[madge]

I live in the FIRST Portland and the local saying goes:

"If you're not having fun in Portland, you must be in Oregon."

I guess you better visit here if you're having so much fun over there.

[Lisa V]

Eat at Mother's, and have breakfast at the Bijou.

And there is really good dim sum in China Town on Saturdays.

[ScholarLi]

I want to make out with Portland. In fact, I think I may have.

It has a special place in my heart, as I went to my first (and so far only) gay strip bars there. There was no ladies' room, which was very interesting. Men kept buying me drinks to hit on my friend.

Also -- Powell's. Ohmysexy!

[ScholarLi]

I want to make out with Portland. In fact, I think I may have.

It has a special place in my heart, as I went to my first (and so far only) gay strip bars there. There was no ladies' room, which was very interesting. Men kept buying me drinks to hit on my friend.

Also -- Powell's. Ohmysexy!

[ScholarLi]

Sorry. Very sorry.

[TeriLynn]

See?! I'll find Logan a job. Right after I find ME one!

[Sta]

Someone already mentioned Powell's... But seriously if you like bookstores or books even just a little, you MUST stop there. It's the best bookstore EVER.

[Cole]

I have never posted before, but I just LOVE Portland. It is my favorite city and I have never lived there (I just visit as often as possible). If you are looking for a good breakfast go to the Cricket Cafe on SE Belmont and SE 32nd. I go every time I'm in the city and order the oatmeal cinnamon pancakes - yum! Also SE Hawthorne soo many fun shops and any Mcmennamins has good microbrew beers.

[Amanda Mandajuice]

We've been here 7 months now and I'm STILL not used to people being so nice all the time. I keep thinking they want something from me. It's both strange and awesome.

[luvbug]

if you are here (in my town, portland) i must meet you.

B E C A U S E I L O V E Y O U . but not in the stalking sort of way. you are so funny and rock in so many ways.

where are you and where can i randomly bump into you?

[Nancy King]

Go to Cargo in the Pearl District 13th between Hoyt and Irving. You sure to find something to take back to the family.

Drinks at Blue Hour at (or as we know it u r blue ho)

and you want to got see some Shakespeare at the Armory theater, let me know and I can get you tickets.

Welcome!

[Spot Gurl]

Welcome!!! Definately check out the Pearl District and head down to the Northwest area of 23rd Avenue. Although really you can't go wrong anywhere here. I moved here from the Detroit area 18 years ago. Needless to say, I ain't going back.

PS Sorry about the weather though.

[Becky]

Wow, I went to Canoe and clicked on the personal accessories link and immediately noticed the condom dispenser. That was kind of random! But it does safely store this essential personal care item with characteristic German efficiency. HA HA HA!

[Court@RespectRx.com]

M-go to St. cupcake. Yum!
http://saintcupcake.com/

[Foo]

I lived in Portland for most of my 20's and now live in Ithaca, NY. I miss Portland so much! At least once a week my husband and I will lament about how much we miss Some Great Thing about Portland, like Bread and Ink cafe in SE, the Baghdad theater, the Max to the airport, DEQ standards on cars, and on and on and on.

And you're so right! People there are attractive and nice! I don't find much of either of those things in Upstate.

You really should go back in the summer when the weather is about as perfect as weather can be.

[notjustbarbra]

Oh no! Don't say it! Our whole family is in Portland and has been trying to get me to move there for years. I really like it there, but I like it here even more.
However, what I will say for it is that Foo is right: the summer is amazing. My kids and I do go live there in the summer!

[spondmom]

Welcome!
If you feel like something sweet in the evening there are some great dessert places here. Try Pied Cow, 3244 SE Belmont St. or Rimskys, 707 SE 12th Ave. Pied cow is in a converted Victorian house and has a cool outdoor area and hookahs. Though it's raining this week - again, welcome to portland. Rimskys doesn't open until 7 and Pied cow until 4.

[BOSSY]

Mmm, sounds lovely. Bossy supposes there has to be some compensation for frizzy rain head.

[Rhi in Pink]

Yay! Welcome. Sorry the weather is so blustery, but hope you have a great time in my hometown.

[spondmom]

Yeah. the food here is amazing. We just moved to Portland about 4 months ago. The marionberry pie is definitely worth the frizzy rain head. Oh, and there's a great southern food place called Bernie's Southern Bistro, 2904 NE Alberta Ave. I had a fantastic blackened catfish and I dream about the fried chicken...mmmm...fried.

[Jenn]

I have a beef with the airport at Portland. What is with the letting people park their cars and WAIT for passengers at the curb?

I'm used to San Diego where you can stop for 3 seconds before they arrest you. It definitely makes it easier to pick people up at curbside.

Oh yeah, Portland is kinda pretty and clean!

[KristiV]

I love reading your blog and now here you are in Portland, where I live! Enjoy, it's a great city. Like another poster said, I wish I could bump into you somewhere (in a totally non-stalkerish way)-and perhaps c0nsume drinks.

[Cadbury]

I love the Ace!
Did you go to the store in the Pearl that sells stuff from all over the world?

[KYouell]

We just moved to the Portland area a month ago and *I* am thankful for all these tips!

We have ventured to St. Cupcake (mine are bigger and better, but I'm glad we've done it) and to Urban Grind, but not the one in Pearl. We have a 2yo and a 9mo so went to the one on the Eastside where they have an amazing amount of play areas for kids. And great food & coffee too!

[castle9]

"1) Everyone here is incredibly attractive, especially at our hotel. Everyone's so attractive I keep waiting for someone to ask me to leave."

If it's not too creepy, I must note you're also incredibly attractive!

[Hetty]

If you like books at all, you MUST make it to Powell's. It is an amazing experience just to go there: it's like a huge city library where they let you KEEP the books! (Well, of course, with a bit of money involved.)

Portland's a fun city! You're making me nostalgic.

[thisKat]

You know you're talking about PDX when everyone starts telling you where to eat and apologizes for the rain. You know, we only apologize for the weather to people we like. ;) Others we just glare at them and mutter something about moving back to California.

And I'm going to say it here for everyone: I am a native Portlander and, just this year, I started using an umbrella. And you can, too. It really is okay.

(Oh, and hi Nancy King! Been a long time!)

Presumptuous of me to say "Wish I'd known you were here..." but really, next time you're in town I'd love to take you out. And if you are at all serious about moving here I would be happy to help Logan with finding work. I'm well connected in the ad/graphic design world.

Did you make it to Powell's?