Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

In Portland, the signs of spring aren’t limited to robins picking at worms and bulbs bursting through soil. You also see tents popping up in parking lots and closed-off streets, as farmers’ markets set up shop.

The city’s biggest and most popular outdoor grocery is already up and running: Operating every Saturday through Dec. 21, the Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University isn’t just a great place to pick up leeks, kale and broccoli — it also sells some of the best prepared goods in town. From Alma Chocolate to salmon from The Smokery, there’s plenty to take home from the market’s more than 150 stands (even if your home is thousands of miles away). If you’re in the mood for take-out, grab some eats from local vendors like Verde Cocina or Pine State Biscuits and enjoy live music as you stroll.

Come May, more market locations bring fruit, berries, melons and veggies to downtown: The Shemanski Park Market runs Wednesdays, May 1 – Oct. 30, while the Pioneer Courthouse Square Market comes to Portland’s Living Room on Mondays, June 17 – Sept. 30.

And the bounty isn’t limited to Portland proper — there are farmers’ markets all around the metro area. In fact, at the height of the season, there’s a market somewhere every day of the week. And that’s a good thing — because, after all, springtime runs seven days per week.

It’s the most wonderful time for a beer!
It’s the hop-happiest season of all!
There’s a buzz in the air of Pioneer Courthouse Square
when mugs flow with ales…

Photo by Dan Leithauser, via Flickr

That’s enough of that, but prepare to uncork a beer-inspired carol of your own during downtown Portland’s 17th annual Holiday Ale Festival (Nov. 28 – Dec. 2). This celebration of winter suds set beneath the region’s largest decorated Christmas tree features big, bold beers designed to keep revelers warm on cold winter nights — from Terminal Gravity Festivale to Deschutes Jubelale and He’Brew Jewbelation to Great Divide Hibernation. Every beer is made or blended specifically for the festival, so they’re pints you’ll not likely to find anywhere else.

The event also includes delicious, holiday-themed foods, live music and a Sunday brunch with exclusive beers alongside European pastries, cured meats and artisan cheeses. Wear some Santa pants, because you’re going to need a bigger waistline.

Here’s the scene Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Courthouse Square, which is hosting the Holiday Ale Festival through Sunday.

This year’s event, expected to draw 17,500 beer lovers, will include more than 50 bold (and colorfully named) winter ales. Among the varieties I’m eager to sample: BridgePort’s Old Knucklehead (a big stretch, I concede) and Hopworks’ Kentucky Christmas.

See you there.

For a full list of downtown events, pop-up shops and more, visit the Downtown Portland website.

It’s official.  The holiday shopping season has started in downtown Portland. The tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square is lit and Portland’s living room is decked out to greet one and all. 

This year, our office is buzzing about the new PDX Pop-Up Shops.  These are temporary shops, provided at no cost to local artists and designers. This blog post provides a little background. The four pop-up shops are Flurry, Workroom 719, Egg Press and By Oregon.  One of my coworkers came in the other day with some amazing clothes (at amazing prices) from the 719 shop. This is a great opportunity to buy directly from designers right in downtown. And, if you’re a savvy shopper, you already know that all shopping in Oregon is tax-free.

Here are a couple more insider tips: (more…)