Questions for those who know Portland :)

[LWolf]

I visit every few years; I'd visit more frequently if the economy improved and I could afford to leave home.

Most of my trips, though, have been work related.

My son is coming to visit this summer. I've been trying to get him to consider Oregon for years, but he's a city person, and not interested in my rural and too-red location. He's agreed to check out Portland.

So...I've got 3 days to convince him that Portland is the greatest city on earth. What should we see?

His interests: sporting events, music, brewpubs, other live entertainment, great food

Suggestions?

[dballance]

1. where are you staying?

I moved to PDX from Miami. Log, love, love it here.

[LWolf]

2. Best Western.

In the north. I'd like to be closer, but that's what he chose.

[dballance]

6. So Here's My Two Cents.

If I think of other things I'll add later.

First, the Best Western up North I'm assuming is the Inn at the Meadows. Not where I would choose to necessarily stay but affordable and has decent ratings. Also, if that's where you're staying you're only one exit north of a Tri-Met Park and Ride. Tri-Met is our public transportation system. It's not NYC or DC subways but it's pretty decent for a city our size. I'm sure you're going to have a car but my recommendation is to use the train when you can. http://www.trimet.org If you parked for free at the park and ride it would only cost you $5 each for an all-day fare. Then you don't have to worry about finding parking and PDX is a very walkable city.

You have to go see Pioneer Courthouse Square. Lots of events take place there throughout the year. Also I high'y recommend walking the South Park blocks. Nice area around Portland State. Again, accessible by Tri-Met easily. Also walk Riverfront Park downtown (easy walking from Pioneer Square to Riverfront Park)

As for sports. We do have the Trailblazers for BB, the Timbers for soccer, and the LumberJax for Lacrosse. I think all of those play at the Rose Garden Arena - again easily accessible by Tri-Met. For personal activity it's a great biking/hiking place and so are the surrounding parks and mountains. Kayaking is done year-round here.

Food and brewpubs. You'll find brewpubs all over. I like the Lucky Lab because you can take your dog. McMenamins, Bridgeport, Rogue, Widmer are all good.

I'm a little older now so I don't get out as much but I believe the hopping place on weekends (and other nights) is still the Pearl District. http://explorethepearl.com and http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/24/2320/Portland/Pearl-District-restaurants. I don't see anything on the list I've heard bad stuff about. Oba and Paragon I can vouch for and they have good happy hours. Byways Cafe is great for breakfast but expect to wait a long time. Mother's downtown is also great but it's more of a splurge than someplace to go all the time.

I'm too old to speak to the bars where your son might want to hang out. Been out of that scene for a while. So hopefully someone else will fill in on that.

If you have time you should go to the coast. It's beautiful.

On Edit: You have to go to Voodoo Donuts. They make the most unusual donuts. Again, expect a line most of the time.

[jeffrey_pdx]

9. A few clarifications

A) The Blazers won't be playing in the summer. Their season ends on the 17th.

B) The Timbers play at JeldWen Field near downtown and their season will still be going on during the summer. Tickets run from $25 to $135 depending on where you want to sit. If you want to avoid rowdy soccer fans, sit away from the Timbers' Army section. I have friends in the Timbers' Army, they love the chants and general shenanigans, but its not for everyone. We also have professional women's soccer (the Portland Thorns who also play at JeldWen) and tickets are only $12 to $30.

C) I don't think we have a professional lacrosse team anymore.

Other than that, all good ideas.

[RevStPatrick]

3. Well, the first thing you need to do...

...is take him to my friend's new synthesizer store:

http://controlvoltage.net/

Other than that?
Well, I've never actually been to Portland, so I don't really know!

[dballance]

4. That Wasn't Very Nice /nt

[RevStPatrick]

5. Why not?

His son likes music.
My friend opened a music store.
They should go visit!
That's all I know about Portland...

[Trajan]

14. Hell yeah

While I agree : The ad plug is a little schmaltzy .. But I will definitely check this out ... I loves me some modular synthesis, and I had no idea a brick and mortar synthesizer store existed here ... Awesome!

I have a couple vintage synths I may want to trade or sell ...

In fact : they are having a BBQ and show TONIGHT .. gonna be there ...

[99th_Monkey]

7. Here are some suggestions of "not to miss" Portland hot spots.

The two free weekly hip urbane publications with entertainment
guides to music venues, what band, etc. is playing where, etc.
http://www.wweek.com/portland/
http://www.portlandmercury.com/

Some of my favorite pubs, venues, destinations, etc. are as follows:
The Goodfoot - pub, music venue, resturant, and perpetual visual
art show.The every Friday evening DJ scene is epic.
http://thegoodfoot.com/

The Peculiarium - More pdx homegrown Portland weirdness in one
place than you can shake a stick at:
http://peculiarium.com/

Voodoo Donuts - No Portland visit would be complete without standing
in line at Voodoo donuts for at least 1/2 an hour, to get to select from
a world-class plethora of donut oddities.
http://voodoodoughnut.com/

Ecstatic Dance - If your son is a dancer, here's a link to a network of
regular dance venues that are non-alcholic and frequented by the "ecstatic
dance community"
http://pdxecstaticdance.com/

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House - Rimsky's is one of Portland, Oregon's most reserved
and well-kept secrets. An historic 1902 Victorian house withy many quirks and
eccentricities: photographs hang down on strings from the ceiling; in one room,
a circular table rotates so slowly that if you do not pay attention to it, your cup
of coffee will end up on the other side; all of the tables are covered by a movable
sheet of glass, so that visitors can leave something behind – a note, a sketch,
poetry of love lost. Let me tell you right now that this place is hard to find. Your
best bet is to Mapquest it by its address (707 S.E. 12th ave), because there are no
distinct signs or anything else to even indicate it is a place of business.
http://openplac.es/trips/rimsky-korsakoffee-house-in-portland-or-97214

[jeffrey_pdx]

8. A few ideas

Depending on when exactly in the summer:

The Rose Festival runs in late May thru early June.
http://www.rosefestival.org/

The Blues Festival runs over 4th of July weekend.
http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com/

The Oregon Brewer's Festival runs in late July.
http://www.oregonbrewfest.com/

The Bite of Oregon (food festival) is Aug 9-11.
http://www.biteoforegon.com/

All 4 at Waterfront Park.

And I second the idea of checking out the Willamette Week or Portland Mercury for music, etc. at the smaller clubs. They usually list concerts out a few weeks ahead of time.

[LWolf]

10. Great ideas and resources; thanks! nt

[HuckleB]

11. Take him to a Timbers game, without question.

Also, look into outdoor concerts at McMenamin's Edgefield and The Zoo, as well as local ones in the parks. These are classic Portland happenings in the summer.

Weekend breakfast at The Screen Door. Evening beer and music at The Laurelthirst. Dinner at Gruner. Lunch at Kenny & Zuke's.

The Horse Brass Pub is the epicenter of the origination stories of the Oregon Craft Brewing scene. It's a must stop for anyone who love beer. The best brewery to hit itself is definitely Hair of the Dog.

Take him for a hike along Eagle Creek in the Gorge. Take him up to Timberline Lodge, and have drink with a view of the top of Mt. Hood. Take him the Farmer's Market downtown on Saturday.

[HuckleB]

12. And hit Music Millennium!

[LWolf]

13. Update: What a great 3 days!

The visit was an unqualified success. My "agenda" was accomplished; my son LOVES Portland. Having grown up in the L.A. area, he was most impressed with:

The public transportation system; a total revelation.

The weather.

The people.

The integration of green and city.

The beer, lol.

He's got another 18 months where he is to finish his Master's degree, and then he wants OUT of where he is. The Portland area is now at the top of his list.

[Trajan]

15. Cool beans ...

I moved to Portland in 2005, after living in NYC and Southern California, and I simply love it ... Downtown reminds me of Brooklyn, my family's traditional homestead, and the amazing cultural mix, awesome natural resources and outstanding public transportation really make Portland a uniquely wonderful city to live in ....

Um .... Oregon Brewers Festival today and through the weekend ... need I say more?

[LWolf]

16. My son was beside himself when he realized

he'd planned his visit 2 weeks BEFORE the brew fest, lol. Still, we managed to hit a bunch of pubs for good beer and conversation anyway. One of several highlights: Bourbon Fred.

[quakerboy]

17. Wow. Im sorry I missed this earlier

Hopefully someone else will still want the info at some point.

Powells books. Im pretty convinced that noone could dislike it. Best large bookstore on the continent, easily.

McMennamins is now classic. Theyve got some very interesting locations. I like the food at rogue better. Everyone except me seems to love lucky lab.

Getting up into washington park(the arboretum) or Mt Tabor parks are pretty cool. You get the best effect of all the green livingness of the area, while also finding great spots to look out over the city. If youve got a bicycle, the springwater trail is a nice easy, smooth ride that can get you another view on the city, meshing the neighborhoods, some nature, a touch of industrial, etc. I think if you are motivated to ride the whole thing it gives you a great visual balance that represents Portland very well. Minus some of the hillyness.

We also have the best philly cheese steaks in the country. And the numbers of food cart pods seem to increase exponentially every year. Thats a crapshoot, and whats really good seems to vary constantly, but it provides options.

[LWolf]

18. We spent a day at Washington Park.

Loved it.

My son also put the rogue at the top of his list, along with hair of the dog.

We had a great time, and my primary goal was achieved: he loves Portland.

[quakerboy]

19. Cool. Im glad Im not the only one

Everyone seems to love McMenamins or Lucky Lab. Both are ok, but I'd take rogue over either, any day.

If he has absolutely any inclination for reading, you gotta point him toward Powells the next time he comes out this way.

There's also the Alberta art walk. I forget when that happens, but its usually full of interesting people. Near the grilled cheese grill, which everyone seems to really like. It pretty good, though I suspect the fact that alcohol usually precedes a late night visit to it for most folks results in an over sized reputation.

Someone else mentioned Voodoo doughnuts. It seems to be a Portland classic. Ive never been a huge fan, but it is part of the culture, and seems to be a quality establishment.

[LWolf]

20. We did both.

Donuts and books.

I can't be in Portland without a trip to Powell's, and the donuts were well worth the wait in line.

The best part of the whole thing was hearing him talk about "next time." He thought I was exaggerating when I told him he'd love Portland, because I want him closer. He's right, of course. I do want him closer. But I knew he would really love Portland.

[DiverDave]

21. Have the auto races (Rose Cup) been ran?

PIR is a great track, stayed in the pits a couple of times.
Grab a beer, walk the track looking for braking points...
Fun weekend.

[jeffrey_pdx]

22. My dad used to work for GI Joe's

They were a big sponsor back in the day. I spent a lot of hot, humid, food-stuffed, days at PIR. Great childhood memories.