OT: Anyone Lived in Portland Oregon?

celticGreen+ · Jan 5, 2010

Booked my flight this morning, will be moving to Portland on the 9th next month. I believe I'll have a place to live a block off Hawthorne, near the Bagdad Theater... Should be fun.

Just wondering what stuff I should check out when I get there? I'd like to get a good feel for the city, but enjoy myself while I do it.

barman · Jan 5, 2010

I'm pretty sure that regular RxForum contributor PRESTO is a resident of that PDX

REDEYE · Jan 5, 2010

Great place to live, been here my whole life. Lots to see and do, so enjoy. Ocean landscape is beautiful, Mt Hood for skiing is only 50 miles away, great hiking and fishing. lots of boating, great diversity restauraunts and bars. Awsome golf courses ! lots of bike riders here too. Hawthorne is kinda a new trendy area. Walking around downtown will open up alot of ideas for you. Have fun

festeringZit · Jan 5, 2010

I own land on the Oregon coast, and take a couple trips there
every year. I'll be in Portland probably the last weekend of
this month.

I would move to Oregon except that it really bothers me that
the ocean and all the rivers and lakes are always too cold for swimming.

That is, unless you like braving 50-60 degree water.

festeringZit · Jan 5, 2010

My buddy "sheriffbart" that posts here occasionally lives there,
I'll see if I can get him to post some tips...

celticGreen+ · Jan 6, 2010

thanks for the thoughts - I'm really excited about the move. Aside from a year away at college I have lived in metro-Boston all my life.

altoabb · Jan 6, 2010

Mind if I ask why you're moving?

celticGreen+ · Jan 6, 2010

altoabb said:
Mind if I ask why you're moving?

quite a few reasons, but what got me to think about it was my want to move out from my current apartment that I share /w roommates. I've been moving from apartment to apartment almost yearly, sometimes with roommates and other times by myself. Rents here are too high though - i'd be lucky to find a 1BR in the $1100 range. Many of my close friends have moved away as well, so there's less keeping me here than in the past. There are a bunch of other small reasons, but none on their own would make me seriously consider it. Just seems like it'll be fun to be young and in a new place.

celticGreen+ · Feb 2, 2010

man anyone else moved like this before... Got a plane ticket for a week from today. UPSing about 10 boxes of my possessions out there Monday or Tuesday morning before I leave. Have an apartment out there that I've never seen. Hate this feeling - thinking I'm all prepared, but knowing I'm going to run into something unforeseen.

altoabb · Feb 2, 2010

celticGreen said:
quite a few reasons, but what got me to think about it was my want to move out from my current apartment that I share /w roommates. I've been moving from apartment to apartment almost yearly, sometimes with roommates and other times by myself. Rents here are too high though - i'd be lucky to find a 1BR in the $1100 range. Many of my close friends have moved away as well, so there's less keeping me here than in the past. There are a bunch of other small reasons, but none on their own would make me seriously consider it. Just seems like it'll be fun to be young and in a new place.

Portland is a great city. My girlfriend goes to school in Oregon and I go up there every few weeks. Awesome vibe, super nice people, and lots of awesome stuff to do. Good luck, I'd like to hear how it goes.

Presto · Feb 2, 2010

Welcome to Havana on the Willamette. Yes, as Barman noted, I currently reside in Portland.
Hawthorne is a happening place with all sorts of bars, restaurants, shops and a sorted bunch of patchoulee-wearing flotsam and jetsam drifting about. A few people in that area are regular 9-5ers. You will also come across a large segment of lesbians ( and not of the lipstick variety) in the Hawthorne district.
My favorite cheap eats is a place down on 35th. It's a mexican place called Cha cha cha. Decent cheap food. The only other place I venture to on Hawthorne is the supermarket called Fred Meyer. It is by far the best supermarket, but also very Hawthorn-ish. They have a great deli/food to go area. And if you like beer, you will be hard pressed to find another place with a more extensive selection.

Portland excels at a few things a young guy might like: coffee, beer, weed, and strip clubs. I guess the live music scene is pretty good, but I can't tell you anything about that.

If you have specific questions, ask away or send me a pm.

viking611 · Feb 2, 2010

Is VooDoo Donuts in Portland?

quantumleap · Feb 2, 2010

The Acropolis!!!

Nude dancers and a decent steak for the price. As Presto alluded to, Portland has good strip clubs. They have more per capita than any other city in the country.

Moving to a new place is a great experience. Sure you will have some frustrating and lonely times but after a while you will settle right in. The best part is getting a different perspective on life. You may find that New England is the best place to be after all or you may be thankful that you get exposed to a different type of people and love it!

Just remember one thing, if you don't like it, you don't have to die there.

Presto · Feb 2, 2010

viking611 said:
Is VooDoo Donuts in Portland?

Yes. They are downtown. They get a lot of buzz for some reason.

viking611 · Feb 2, 2010

Presto said:
Yes. They are downtown. They get a lot of buzz for some reason.

they've made it on the food network and travel channel shows. was on man vs. food and Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations as well as get plugs in The Simpsons.

bellyputter · Feb 2, 2010

My family owns some property in Seaside Oregon. I'm having all kinds of problems trying to sell it!

kermit16 · Feb 3, 2010

celticGreen said:
Booked my flight this morning, will be moving to Portland on the 9th next month. I believe I'll have a place to live a block off Hawthorne, near the Bagdad Theater... Should be fun.

Just wondering what stuff I should check out when I get there? I'd like to get a good feel for the city, but enjoy myself while I do it.

I lived there for about 55 years and delivered mail and sold Real Estate there for many years. I know exactly where you are moving to because I delivered mail and owned many rentals in that exact area. My Real Estate office was at 3608 S.E. Belmont. The Bagdad is on the corner of 37 th and Hawthorne. The Hawthorne district has become a very busy kinda preppy area. While you're there drop by Nick's famous Coney Island at 3749 S.E. Hawthorne or close to that address. Tell Nick to bury you one !On 30 th and Hawthorne is Claudia's which is a lively hangout for Sports and the young ladies. Their;s sking at Mt. Hood about 45 miles away or go to the beautiful Oregon Coast which is about 80 miles away. North is the bad side of town but NW is bustling with activity and lots of cool eateries. Great local place to eat is Saylor's Old country kitchen and of course Ringside East and Ringside West with the West side far better but both pretty awesome. Lots of nightclubs. As to the Nude places, you have to get out of the city limits to get to the totally Nude places. Most of my family still reside there. Have fun. It's a beautiful place to live.

celticGreen+ · Feb 3, 2010

hey thanks guys - appreciate all the details. i believe my new apt is on se 35th and hawthorne, so i'll be sure to check all these spots out.

will update when i get there next week.