. . . posting from my iPhone! Two weeks holiday. The flights were smooth as can be, my hotel room’s nice and the weather is going to be terrific! Hot diggity!
Which Portland?
Yeah, Portland, Maine, or Portland, Oregon? You can’t just leave us hanging like this. It’s two completely different coasts. And time zones.
I was in Portland, Maine this afternoon! One of my favorite stores had moved; I had to use my non-iPhone to search Google and find the new address.
Portland OR, Portland ME, Portland CT, Portland IN, Portland TN, Portland TX, Portland AR, Portland CO, Portland, FL or Portland KS?
The Rose City. 
I was in such a good mood that I had to share it with someone.
I went to a reading by S.M. Stirling at Powell’s last evening, which, unfortunately, was not at the downtown location but in BFE Beaverton. I was fifteen minutes late because I mistook Cedar Hills Shopping Center for Crossing at Cedar Hills and had to wait for the next bus, then couldn’t see the Powell’s Books sign from the road.
Otherwise, I’m doing swell.
I’ve never been to Portland, Oregon, but I do live about 4 hours away (when I’m not here at university) from the Maine one. I met my favorite hockey player in Portland back in April, it was a good time. Enjoy the rest of your stay on the opposite side of the country!
I’m in Portland, too!!
Yup, looking around I see that I am also in Portland–Oregon, that is!
So, what else are you gonna go see while you’re here, Neidhart?
Welcome to Portland! Enjoy the sun 
What all do you have on your agenda?
Well, last night I went to the North 45 pub and had a Belgian ale named Delirium Tremens. Tastes good, but that stuff is strong! My head was spinning and I had to keep one hand on the wall when going to the can. Waiting for the bus was actually fun in that state.
No hangover this morning, and tonight I think I’ll catch Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at McMenamin’s Kennedy School Theater. During the day I browse at Powell’s or the central library, or take random buses around town to see what all the various neighborhoods are like.
Sitting here watching traffic cross the Interstate bridge from my desk.
Admit it - portland’s the best city you’ve ever been in. ADMIT IT!
Hey Neidhart, if you go to Darcelle’s this evening look around for a bunch of twenty something drunk mountain girls–my soon to be daughter in law is having her bachelorette party there… They’re a hoot, and I hear Smashley I and Smashley II are BOTH gonna be in attendance! :eek: I know nothing of your gender or orientation, but there could be an opportunity there… 
Darcelle’s! So many hazy memories…
If you knit, stop by Knit Purl at 11th and SW Alder by Powells and say hi. The Japaese Garden is world class and the Chinese Garden, is small but fun. You can get tea and snacks in the pavillion.
Sorry SmartAleq, but I think I’ll skip Darcelle’s. The reviews on Yelp said it was really smoky, and I can’t have fun while gagging on tobacco fumes. Also it doesn’t look like the kind of place you go to by yourself.
I’ve never knitted, DanBlather.
Aw, honey, I wouldn’t send anyone to Darcelle’s by themselves, hence the suggestion about finding the gang of drunk girls. My daughter will also be there, and if you were to walk up and say “SmartAleq from the Straight Dope sent me” she’d probably laugh her ass off.
But yeah, smoke sucks so never mind! 
I hope you check out the main Powell’s on Burnside. If you do, please use the free map provided-you’ll need it.
Don’t miss the Portland Saturday Market, “the largest outdoor arts and crafts market in continuous operation in the United States.”
Well, I visited the Saturday Market. Some interesting stuff, but nothing I couldn’t live without, and the heat, crowds and noise got bothersome after a while.
Already I’ve beguiled quite a few hours at the downtown Powell’s, even staying till closing twice. I wish I could teleport so I could visit every Saturday! Hella impressive.
Five hours at the Portland Art Museum today; their collection runs heavily to modernistic stuff, including a sculpture in the form of a black box, cunningly entitled “Black Box.” Then down to Apizza Scholls where I managed to wolf down almost an entire 18" pie. While waiting across the street for Scholl’s to open I saw something unusual: a young woman bicycling down Hawthorne Street, topless! You wouldn’t see that in Washington.
(It takes a heck of a lot to shock me, so I just glanced at her and went back to reading Consumerist on my iPhone. )