My friends and I are planning a trip north to Pasco, Washington this weekend for a one-day conference that only I am attending. Fortunately, we only have to stay in tri-city area on Saturday.
On Sunday, we get to go to Portland. What should we see/do in Portland? We are a group of tabletop gamers, but interests also branch into technology, books, awesome sites, gaming/comic stores, movies. Just the sort of flavor for the SDMB.
If you have ideas of things to do in Pasco or the tri-cities area, we’ll take 'em, too. But we understand that pickings might be slim in that category.
Your timing might not be the best, weather-wise. Cold and rainy. But Portland is a great city.
Books: Powells. It’s the largest new/used bookstore in the world (covers multiple stories and an entire city block). Also worthy of mention: Rocco’s pizza, across the street.
Technical books are in a separate bookstore down the street. It’s about the size of a regular bookstore. Geek heaven.
If you’re into coffee, there are plenty of non-Starbuck, non-Peet options, but go for Coffee People. They were just bought up by Starbucks, so they’ll be gone soon. Black Tiger is the way to go.
If you’re into beer, enjoy. Just about every building in Portland is a microbrew.
Movies: the Baghdad on Hawthorne (cool old theater-pub) or Cinetopia in Vancouver (cool new state-of-the-art theater).
Starbucks bought Coffee People? The world is over. I’m going to go throw myself under a laundry truck.
There was (a few years back) a big comic store in the 20s blocks or so of SE Hawthorne.
OMSI isn’t a bad view, and right now they have a Star Wars exhibit going on that might be interesting. They also have the USS Blueback (WWII sub) that I thought was pretty interesting and IMAX if you’ve never seen anything like that before.
They have a bitchin’ window display of a lifesize Alien and Predator–and Things From Another World comic store is right down the street.
Voodoo Donut right off Burnside on NW Third, 24 hours, weirdest flavors.
Doug Fir on E Burnside is the local meat market/trendie spot, and it’s attached to a motel in case you get lucky.
Nicholas’ Restaurant on SE Grand right by Andy & Bax (Pine? Oak?) get the meat mezza, trust me. Unless you’re vegetarian, in which case do what you want–the bread and pizzas are stellar too. Ridiculously inexpensive restaurant. Incredibly good food.
Powell’s. Just do it…
Hawthorne district is packed full of good food, bars, shops, whatevah–that’s where the Baghdad Theater is. If you like Black Butte porter with your movies, go to the Laurelhurst.
Oh, and nobody gets screwed in Pasco–that’s why they go to Seattle or Portland… So, yeah, Ace of Hearts on SE 39th across from the Safeway–after going to Devil’s Point on Foster, yeah, that’s the ticket. Or steak dinner at the Acropolis–the owner grows his own meat! rim shot
Let’s see. Powell’s is a given. 10th and Burnside.
Portland Brewing Company in NW Portland (on Industrial and Nicolai) (MacTarnahans, Pyramid, Buffalo Bills… lots of amazing beer and the food is great too). Ask to sit by the fireplace.
It’s not cold here right now. 50s day and night.
You could catch an old flick at the Hollywood theater. Non-profit and so cool.
[nitpick] The Blueback is an Albacore class sub, one of the last subs built before the boats all went to Nuke power. It’s keel was laid in 1957 [/nitpick]
Moderator interjection: Threads of this – “I’m going to Wherever, what is there to see and do?” – belong in IMHO. It’s not really a Cafe Society question, even though the OP asked for a focus on gaming, bookstores, etc Hence, this is being moved.
Pasco is about four hours east of Portland travelling via I-84 (Oregon side). If the weather is rainy forget travelling along the Washington side (SR-14) because the road is windy and only two lanes.
Mid trip update:
After leaving Davis, CA, Friday at 10:30am, we finally arrived in Pasco, WA, at 2:30am Saturday. Had to find a new hotel after learning that the place we booked with simply closed at 11. La Quinta is our savior.
Slept 'til 8:30am and went to my conference. Left Pasco at 3:30pm Saturday, but only managed to find our way back to HWY 84 after looping around Pasco in a scary replay of that Twilight episode where you can’t escape podunk nowhere.
Didn’t quite smash into the median while speeding back along HWY 84 in the driving rain, despite the best efforts of a huge hydroplaing puddle.
Now in Portland. Been to Powell’s. Neat, but overwhelming. Got a Piers Anthony and a street map. Currently at the hotel plotting out game and comic stores.
Voodoo Donuts shall be mine in the morning! Thanks all!
So, yeah, Ace of Hearts on SE 39th across from the Safeway–after going to Devil’s Point on Foster, yeah, that’s the ticket. Or steak dinner at the Acropolis–the owner grows his own meat! rim shot