Neighborhoods
Go Organic for a yard that’s as easy as it is green.
Tips for keeping your Portland yard green without herbicides or chemical fertilizers.
Read MorePortland Tool Libraries
Borrow tools for home repairs and yard care at these tool libraries. Please visit sites for details on borrowing and memberships. Northeast Portland Tool Library Redeemer Lutheran Church (basement) 5431 NE 20th Avenue Portland, OR 97211 Wednesday 5:30pm-7:30pm Saturday 9am-2pm North Portland Tool Library Old Kenton Firehouse (basement) 2209 N Schofield St Portland, OR 97217 Tuesdays 5:00pm-7:30pm Saturday 9am-2pm 503-823-0209 nopotool_library@gmail.com Southeast Portland Tool Library 2800 SE Harrison St (Corner of SE 28th Place) Portland, OR 97214 in St David’s Episcopal Church Saturdays 9am – 2pm & Tuesdays 5:30 – 7pm Green Lents (Lents, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Pleasant Valley, Foster-Powell, Mt. Scott-Arleta, Brentwood-Darlington and Montavilla neighborhoods) 9211 SE Ramona Street, Portland 97266 (971) 266-1768 librarian@greenlents.org Wednesdays 6:00 – 8:00 pm Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Sundays 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., June through...
Read MoreKitschy Kenton
Portland’s blue collar roots are still evident in the Kenton neighborhood, but unlike a lot of neighborhoods that have been modernized with a slick hipster dress up, in Kenton you’ll find the kitsch tucks in neatly like a vintage handkerchief in faded blue jeans. There is perhaps no better example of the Kenton vibe than Give & Take Resale a shop that displays all manner vintage treasures in an unpretentious thrift store atmosphere. Inside you’ll find an eclectic mix of housewares, clothes, records and brick-a-brac offered at extremely affordable prices. It’s worth a glance anytime you’re in the neighborhood. For coffee and a tasty bite, you’ve got a couple of options. Posie’s Bakery and Cafe offers a peaceful place to sit back and enjoy the local color with a cup of joe and a delicious pastry. For a great weekend brunch, local chain Cup & Saucer has a Kenton site, and like its Hawthorne counterpart, serves the best buttery vanilla scones money can buy alongside hearty a menu of hearty breakfast options. Kenton is also home to several small businesses offering specialized goods and services. Looking for affordable and original art prints or screen-printed items? Check out Little Red Press. Need bike repairs? Kenton Cycle Repair has you covered. For home repairs and remodels, Salvage Works offers an impressive selection of vintage building materials. If you’re looking for the perfect weathered lumber salvaged from an old barn or vintage fruit crates to organize your clutter, Salvage Works has you covered. Another option for home upgrades is Bamboo Craftsman Company where you can select from myriad hand-crafted bamboo items, everything from cabinetry and flooring to creative porch swings and even toys all made from environmentally friendly bamboo. Of course you might need tools for your home repair or remodel job. Lucky for you local event space Kenton Firehouse has a tool library in its basement. If you like a hoity toity salon experience you’ll probably need to look elsewhere, but if you like a cheap, no-nonsense haircut Kenton’s got you covered. 7 Bucks A Wack is a bit of a Portland institution, and proprietress Darlene is something of a local celebrity. She counts former mayor, Sam Adams, as one of her biggest fans. For the man (or lady) who eschews appointments or long waits, a 7 Bucks A Wack cut is the embodiment of thrift and practicality. If you’re looking for good eats, there’s plenty of options in Kenton. Po’Shines offers delicious soul food all day long. Start your day with a hearty breakfast of chicken and waffles, grab some traditional fried catfish for lunch, or go for a chicken and andouille sausage gumbo dinner. Just down the road, Kenton Station serves up satisfying pub fare you can enjoy with your brew or mixed drink in a laid back atmosphere of vintage motorcycles on display. For the more hearty and adventurous souls out there, ask about the ghost hunting expeditions that happen in the bar’s basement where bare knuckle boxing fights are purported to have taken place there around the turn of the 20th Century. No Kenton tour would be complete without a stop at the famous Paul Bunyon statue, an historic landmark that has been around since the 1959 Centennial celebration of Oregon’s statehood. The statue was relocated once and has recently been added to the national historic register, and thus serves as the perfect symbol of an old Portland neighborhood that’s still growing and...
Read MoreHawthorne is old school cool.
Hawthorne is the granddaddy of cool Portland neighborhoods. Back when the Pearl district was just a gleam in some developer’s eye, Hawthorne was already attracting artists, trendsetters, and fashionistas to parade the streets and sell their wares. On the day I visited, a man was sketching portraits on the fly for a few bucks, and despite it cold, dreary weather a young couple had stopped to take him up on the offer. For all its bustle, Hawthorne offers more of everything that gives Portland its charm. Dining No matter what your dietary predilection, the Cup and Saucer Cafe as your brunch covered. The lines are sometimes long, but a hot, sweet, and slightly vanilla flavored scone will keep body and soul together while you wait. Vegan hotcakes with a side of tofu scramble? Check. Sustainable ethos and affordability? Checkity-check! Three Doors Down Cafe is another old school Hawthorne institution. With a relaxed vibe, but an impressive menu this is your go-to place for a special evening. Trendier restaurants have come and gone, but 3 Doors Down Cafe keeps its customers coming back for food that’s consistently delicious and service that is reliably thoughtful. Shopping Need a retro 80s hair metal t-shirt or bedazzled Christmas sweater for a theme party? Or perhaps you just like your fashion on the funkier side. The Red Light Clothing Exchange has proven to be something of a one-stop shop for used clothing, with an eye for quality and affordability. With a huge inventory in a wide-range of eras and styles, it is hard to walk out empty-handed. If it is true that there’s a link between your memory and your sense of smell, then you could say that Escential Oils and Lotions is a room full of delicious future memories. Get their custom scented soaps and lotions in travel size for an upcoming trip and relive those vacation memories any time in the shower. Or just mix up your perfect signature blend from the many perfume and essential oils. For the footwear connoisseur, Hawthorne offers Imelda’s and Louie’s Shoes, two shops that will give you plenty of “foot candy” to lust for. From shiny, leather boots to perfectly elegant pumps, there’s so much to see at Imelda’s. Louie’s, next door, offers the same quality of designer footwear to keep the men looking sharp too. Presents of Mind offers unique gifts for just about every type of person. A fun mix of clothing and accessories plus stationary, books and novelties, this shop carries a great selection of items made by local designers, so there are plenty of ways to show your Portland pride. Entertainment The Bagdad Theater and Pub represents the genius of the McMenamins chain: combining a historic building with food and brew. In this case, the building is a gorgeous Golden Era theater decorated in stunning Mediterranean designs and colorful mosaics, but if that’s not enough for you there’s always the $3 movies and beer. During the summer, the outdoor seating offers perhaps the best people watching in the whole...
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