The first weekend of Feburary I am spending in Portland. The Oregon one. I am going there for work, but the weekend should be empty allowing me to do fun stuff. Does anyone have some good ideas of what I could do?
Thanks in advance.
pat
Whaling?
If you feel that you must suffer, then plan your suffering carefully–as you choose your dreams, as you conceive your ancestors.
I hear the cement factory tour is a real hoot.
I don’t know if you’ll have a car up there with you, Pat. If you do, there’s a beautiful road that takes you down to Tillamook on the coast. The drive up the 101 to Astoria offers views of some the wildest coastline in America. From Astoria you can drive up the Columbia River back to Portland. With frequent stops the trip will take about 8 or 10 hours.
If you like books and such you might head over to Powell’s Books-- it’s big, to say the least. They just renovated and now it is much larger than it used to be, believe it or not.
The Art Museum is, ehhh, see what the exhibit is and decide whether it’s worth it.
Catch a movie at the Bagdad in Hawthorne part of town. Large 20’s style theatre with balcony, etc, and pizza and beer.
If you’ve rented a car you might head up the Columbia Gorge to Multnomah Falls-- it’s nice, if you like that nature kind of thing.
Thanks, Ursa. I will have a car, and looking at the map it looked like that might be the trip to make. I wasn’t sure how long it would take, or if it was an interesting drive.
Wilder than the PCH up to Carmel?
Hmm, the movie theatre sounds like a good idea for Friday night. Thanks for the tip.
pat
When my husband and I were dating, we’d drive up to Portland thinking, wow, big city, must be fun stuff to do! We gave that idea up quickly, but then we don’t have a lot of imagination for a good time, I guess. Of ourse, we didn’t have accee web back then. If we did, we might have found something to do on one of these sites:
Citysearch: Portland
Concert Calendar
A couple places that I’ve been to and enjoyed are:
Powell’s Books on Burnside
Uwajimaya Asian food and gifts
At the risk of being a jackass, I have more links for Portland and Oregon attractions, news, etc. on my own Links Page. There’s a whole section called “Info about my home” or something dumb like that.
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
Ditto for the visit to Powell’s – and while you’re there, pick me up a copy (first edition hardcover please) of Dark Carnival (Ray Bradbury). Try not to spend more than $20 or so, okay. Then mail it – no, express it to me please – I’ll pay ya. Yeah, that’s it. I’ll pay ya for it.
Seriously, I was gonna suggest just going on up to Seattle where there are actually things to do, but I didn’t want to offend any Oregonians.
Really seriously, the only time I was ever in Portland was to pick up a wood stove, so if you want a wood stove, I can tell ya where to go.
Really really seriously – have fun – Portland is a lot like Seattle used to be, I hear. Which is a good thing.
Powell’s Bookstore was the first place I ever saw a copy of Left Behind. shudder
While you’re in Portland, Oregon, you can also enjoy the vast, confusing grid of one-way streets that laces the downtown area. I am absolutely sure they put them there to increase traffic ticket revenues, because one out of every 3 or 4 streets will be a trick two-way street, and since in Oregon it’s illegal to make a left turn into the right lane you have to be REALLY careful of what kind of street you’re making a left turn onto. (Sometimes your only indication will be whether the dashed line down the middle of the street is white or yellow.)
The truth, as always, is more complicated than that.
Another vote for Powells and Multnomah Falls. The falls is maybe 30 minutes out of town, if that. Depends on how you drive I guess. There really isn’t much to do in town… especially in the winter. (We’ve already had winter, we’re back in the rainy season again) Some good restaurants though. I’m partial to Bush Garden (Japanese food) The Montage (Cajun - only place in town to get alligator!), The Roxy (Greasy Spoon in the glamour district… kinda gay, but gotta love the decor), and Berbati’s (greek).
I live here, so if you’d like instructions on how to get anywhere, just email me.
http://www.madpoet.com
Computers have let mankind make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns.
You could be born there and move when you are 3 months old, therefore having nothing of substance to add to this topic.
Well, shut my mouth. It’s also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling.
Or Mullinator, you could live in Seattle and never taken a trip to Portland and have nothing at all to add to this thread!
-Frankie
Lack of charisma can be fatal
And it’s right down the street from Powell’s 
Ozone and Django records are all in that general vicinity, too, and so is China town. That’s a neat area to just park and walk around. Just keep an eye out for gangbangers (or so I’ve heard–I dunno, I ain’t been shot or mugged yet).
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
Gangbangers? Not in that part of town. NW is pretty free of that, it’s NE to watch out for. The area from the roxy to Powells has like 5 gay clubs though, so there is always an interesting crowd.
http://www.madpoet.com
Computers have let mankind make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns.
Decide which Goretex ensemble to wear today
Pray for sunshine
Look at the historic district (it dates from the 20th century!)
Find someplace to get coffee
Practice pronouncing it oreGUN
Tie a yo-yo to that stupid statue’s finger
Order a pizza with pineapple and olives
Notice how clean and polite the bums on skid row are
Listen to the natives complain about their 15 minute commutes
Find a job
Go up to Mt Hood and see the hotel from the Shining
See if the Bagwhan is still around
Yep, lived in Tacoma for four years, took multiple trips back and forth to San Fran, but never stopped in Portland on my way through. Pat, I do hear they have some excellent smack though 
“It is now proved beyond doubt that smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics.”
You could stop and smell the roses. Portland is known for them.
I really try to be good but it just isn’t in my nature!
MadPoet, that’s probably why I ain’t seen any then (People keep telling me to be careful, but I think us country folk are just paranoid. All you city folk must be on drugs and carrying heat ;).)
Purplecrackwhore, what I saw of the rose test gardens was lovely, but they aren’t very handicapped friendly :(. At least, all I saw were stone steps marching down the hillside; if there was a ramp, I was too tired to look for it.
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
I swear Ben Stein’s pronunciation of Oregon gets worse and worse. Awhile back on Turn Ben Stein on, it sounded like he was saying AR-eh-GON. If I ever appear on Win Ben Stein’s Money, my profile will say that I’m there to teach him to say it right, dammit!
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
I swear Ben Stein’s pronunciation of Oregon gets worse and worse. Awhile back on Turn Ben Stein on, it sounded like he was saying AR-eh-GON. If I ever appear on Win Ben Stein’s Money, my profile will say that I’m there to teach him to say it right, dammit!
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
Hop over the bridge and got to Hawthorne street. That’s where the Baghdad is, one of the best theatres in the NW. Spend all evening walking around there, as it has some great shops. Then go back over the bridge and find Dr. Tongue’s, an out of the way, but incredibly insane store that sells stuff you can’t even imagine. The Powell’s area is a must. Django records, ozone. Got to Kornblatt’s in the morning for breakfast. You won’t regret it. OMSI might have some neat exhibitions, and there’s always laer light shows. The Wall is heartily recommended.
–
Justin