Guest Post: Wonders of Portland

It’s a rare thing that I go this long without a thorough Portland treasure hunt so-to-speak, where I catch up with the rosy city. I’ve been dreaming of the shadows Portland’s bridges cast on the river and of Sauvie Island summer romps. Sometimes thoughts have wings, and I was introduced to Mary Locke, who’s new Skint Guide points the way to the best cheap thrills in PDX. I had to hear her take on the best of Portland, and here’s what she had to say:

Portland is more than just a city where the young flock to retire. It’s a veritable playground for the hip, nostalgic and weird; as the saying goes, “Keep Portland Weird.” Below are some items found off the beaten path in the Rose City.

Outdoors: Keenig Creek Campground
Keenig is an oft-overlooked campground located less than an hour outside of Portland. It’s rustic setting: no electricity, no facilities but an outhouse, and only twelve tent sites, ensures you and your ten friends won’t be throwing your sleeping bags down next to families with young children any time soon. In other words, the lack of a noise ordinance means you can drink your “Diet Cokes” well into the night. Follow the lush, narrow, and steep trail that leads to the rocky bluffs overlooking Keenig Creek off the Wilson River. The water’s cold and deep, so dive in. Don’t forget your swimsuit, floatie, and a lot of water.

Vinyl Shops
Portland, Oregon is a mecca for vinyl junkies. Independent record stores are scattered throughout the city catering to every listener from the experimental and punk ears at Exiled Records (4628 SE Hawthorne Blvd., www.exiledrecords.com) to the blues and folk ears at Vinyl Resting Place (8332 N. Lombard). But the real record store gem of the Rose City is Mississippi Records (4009 N. Mississippi, no website). The store is owned by Eric Isaacson, who co-runs a label of the same name with Warren Hill. The shop is small, but the selection is cream of the crop. Isaacson’s “cash only” policy must lower his overhead, in turn passing his savings to the customer, as his records are consistently several dollars cheaper than other record shops in the area. Carve out a few hours in your itinerary to thumb through his records, and spend some time in the listening station at the window.

Park: The Bluffs
End of N Skidmore Terrace
On summer nights many young folks flock to the Bluffs in North Portland, overlooking the industrial park and downtown. As the sunsets, young kids in cut-off jeans and fedoras picnick next to parked Schwinns. It’s a striking image of summer when the clouds break and the sun shines down on Portland.

Free Boxes
A focus on sustainability and recycling is having a massive impact on Portland culture, so much so, “free boxes” are prevalent throughout the city. If a cardboard box full of random items (clothing, appliances, books) appears by the curb, this is Portland speak for “I don’t want these things anymore, and I don’t want to drop them off at Goodwill, so you take them.” Beside the garbage can, the recycling bin, the glass recycling bin, the yard waste bin (and soon the city compost bin), will lie the cardboard box full of random items/treasure. Sometimes these boxes are labeled “free” sometimes not, but you’ll know a free box when you see it. This is a peculiar wonder, very particular to Portland. Thanks to free boxes I have an extensive VHS collection, a copy of War and Peace and a navy blue pea coat. These can pop up in any neighborhood, so be on the lookout.

Mary Locke wrote about Portland in her book Skint Portland available online at Skintpress.net and Powells.com