Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

When you think of Portland’s theater scene, after the big guys, you think initimate — a funky venue and excellent peformance.  That is exactly what I found at Portland Playhouse, presenting “Dying City” by Christopher Shinn. 

The company’s stated mission is to be provocative, so I knew we were in for an evening of  thinking, not of chuckling.  The array of seats on either side of the stage, I  counted sofas, movie seats, chairs and pews. Then the play started.  Whoosh — right into excellent theater.  I don’t know how Wade McCollum  managed to  transform into two diametrically opposed twins. Cristi Miles made her character so real I thought I knew her. 

The audience members’ ages covered various decades, which was cool. The Weaver brothers (Brian, the director, and Michael, the founder) are so charming you are happy to be there. 

See this play for an authentic Portland theater experience.  Tickets are around $20.  You have until December 12.  www.portlandplayhouse.org

A salad with greens from the backyard garden at Besaw's on Northwest 23rd Avenue.

Jessica Kleiderman was so inspired by the wealth of good food in Portland’s neighborhoods that she started a tour company to share that wealth, and called it Forktown.

Any foodie who’s been here knows that the abundance of craft artisans (chocolatiers, bakers, cheesemakers, distillers, brewers …) in Portland is unparalleled. And some of the most interesting ones seem to be hidden within neighborhoods, these locals’ favorites.

Twice a week, Jessica invites you to her “Forktown,” leading tours to the Northwest and North Portland areas where you can taste for yourself why Portlanders find their city so delicious. (more…)

This week marks a big change for a Portland icon that has graced the city’s waterfront for  years. The beloved Made in Oregon sign is recognized as a symbol of Portland, the gateway to a great state. It has inspired artists, authors, hoteliers and politicians; the image has been incorporated into everything from  fine photography, posters and woodblock prints (see below) to hotel décor and the Mayor’s website. Its subtle message that Portland is an indie city endears it to those bohemian and mainstream alike; Time and Travel+Leisure have used the Made in Oregon image to represent the city.

The sign has a long history in Stumptown.  (more…)

Portlanders are passionate about their city.  We love our culinary scene, our great arts, our easy access to the great outdoors and even our Blazers (well, most of us).  A few years ago, graphic designer Melissa Delzio created a home for love letters to Portland with a website, Our Portland Story.  Over time, she complied the best of the best and asked artists and designers around the city to put images behind the stories.  The result?  Our Portland Story, Vol. 1.

The hardback book is a rich with color and the visual interpretations of the author’s tales add new meanings to the words.  If you’re a fan of Portland, this book would make a great holiday treat!

Ziv reading at Cafe Mango.

They say Portland is a haven for the creative class — you can experience that firsthand at a poetry reading next Friday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Cafe Mango (1215 S.W. 16th Ave.).

The reading was organized by a 20-year old emerging poet, Ziv, (who also happens to be my son). The coolest thing is that Ziv invited acclaimed Portland poet Matthew Dickman to read, too, and Matthew said yes!

What’s so cool about Portland is that this established poet is reading with young students. In the same spirit, Cafe Mango has offered its space, free of charge, at a time when they’re usually closed. 

No wonder this city is a haven for the creative class. Come, open your mind, and be glad you’re in Portland.

Here it is, November already! And that sets me to thinking about holiday gatherings, about homemade cranberry sauce and Hood River’s own Tofurky … and about finding a few special gifts for a few special people.

Thankfully, it’s also time for our pop-up shops to sprout downtown. Alongside Portland Saturday Market, these collectives of local artists, artisans and fashion designers help holiday shoppers find carefully crafted gifts for everyone on our list. Here’s a look at this year’s crop, which opened on Tuesday:

• A favorite indie emporium, Crafty Wonderland, showcases the work of more than 80 local artists in jewelry, clothing, art and housewares. Have some fun with their wacky holiday photo booth! (802 S.W. 10th) (more…)

There is nothing quite like a TODAY Show story to get a town buzzing on a Monday morning.

This morning’s show featured a story on America’s favorite cities based on the annual Travel+Leisure readers’ poll. Portland is featured as topping the outdoor and microbrew categories. The full T+L poll results also rank Portland number one for farmers’ markets, environmental friendliness, summer and public transportation/pedestrian friendliness.

In addition to the shout-out to our fair city, it’s fun to see how much Al Roker loves Portland, as he chimes in throughout the story to include nods to Portland’s food and to our fabulous public transportation system.

It makes me want to discover Portland for the first time all over again.

Halberstam's book teems with richly drawn personalities, including former Trail Blazers Maurice Lucas, who passed away Sunday, and Bill Walton.

Spirit of 77, the buzzed-about watering hole that celebrates the Portland Trail Blazers’ 1977 NBA title, is more than just a sports bar; it’s a cool place that’s been embraced by foodies and designers alike.

Likewise, The Breaks of the Game – acclaimed author David Halberstam’s recounting of the Blazers’ post-championship hangover — is more than just a sports book.

In it, Halberstam serves up a rich portrait of a team, a city and American culture, touching on issues of race, class, money and power. I highly recommend it.

In other words: Get thee to Powell’s. And once you’ve worked up a thirst, check out Spirit of 77, located across the street from the Oregon Convention Center.

By now, it’s no secret — Portland-based designer Gretchen Jones edged out fan-favorite Mondo Guerra to win the eighth season of Project Runway last week.

In case you’re keeping track, that adds up to three of the last four winners hailing from the Portland metro region. (Portland-based Leanne Marshall won season five and Seth Aaron Henderson, of Vancouver, Wash., took the crown in season seven.) And that’s just the tip of Portland’s fashion iceberg! Designer-owned boutiques like Garnish, IDOM and Haunt, and annual events like Portland Fashion Week and Junk to Funk prove that point.

Jones’ winning collection may have stirred up controversy, but what struck me was how very made-in-Portland it was. Of course, Jones designed everything, but the knit pieces (yes, including those bloomers) were crafted by local knit designer (and Haunt partner, and my pal) Laura Irwin, and the stunning hats were made by Dayna Pinkham. I haven’t been able to track down which “local jeweler” forged Jones’ jewelry designs, but I love that she kept it local. That makes hers a win for the whole city.

The bar on opening night (that wall is made from the floor of an old basketball court)

What kind of sports bar can make regulars out of people who don’t really like sports? One created by the creative minds behind the Ace Hotel, that’s what kind.

As mentioned last week, Spirit of 77* recently opened in close-in Northeast Portland. It has a really fun, happening vibe, and very cool design touches. (more…)