[nobody]

Hi all - hope this thread is okay in here, let me know it's not.

So I just got a fancy new job that requires me to travel 90% of the time, so I need to move somewhere near a major-ish airport. Right now I live in Boise which has a decent airport but it's just not going to cut it. So in the next 6 - 12 months I plan to move.

Portland is on the top of my list, which is cool because I've never even been there. But everything I've heard makes it sound awesome. I've lived in Seattle, Boston, Upstate New York, and a handful of other places, but I'm ready for something new.

I'm really curious to see if it'd be affordable to live somewhere urban, as close to downtown as possible in Portland. I don't / won't make a ton of money and I have a lot of bills. I'd like to ditch my car if at all possible. I don't know if the mass transit there could support this or not. I don't need a ton of room. I'm thinking a big studio or a one bedroom. Not opposed to a roommate if that's what has to happen.

Anyway I'm just generally looking for some insight on living in Portland as a young professional without a ton of money. What's rent look like around town, are there grocery stores downtown, general shopping (ie Target, not Saks 5th Avenue) and things like that.

Anything you want to share I'd love to hear. Thanks for reading my novel.

[zilfondel]

Welcome to the forum! Indeed, perfect place to post your comment.

Portland would probably make a really good fit for you then, particularly the close-in neighborhoods on the east side of the river - there are some that are only a 10-15 minute light-rail/bus ride from downtown, and have a lot of urban activity (neat bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc) within walking distance.

Since our MAX line goes right into the airport terminal, you could ditch the car, pick up a used bike for a hundred bucks or so, and pretty much be set. The trick, unfortunately, is getting into a shared housing situation to keep the rent down - it can get pretty competitive, even for the $300/month shared bedrooms in older homes, which is what you'd probably want. Potential roommates would probably LOVE to have someone who is always traveling (not to mention has a job).

Just check craigslist daily when you're in town for new housing posts, and keep on the ball - sometimes takes a few weeks/month before you can find something. You'd probably want something near the 39th ave light rail station, either N or S of it - pretty decent neighborhoods.


Google Maps - 39th ave MAX station (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=portland,+or&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=45.533154,-122.620597&spn=0.009845,0.019162&z=16)

MAX route to the airport (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Hollywood%2FNE+42nd+Ave+TC+MAX+Station+%4045.532832,-122.620287&geocode=&dirflg=&daddr=portland+airport&f=d&hl=en&sll=45.533289,-122.620597&sspn=0.009845,0.019162&ie=UTF8&z=13&om=1)


The other possibility, if you have a bit more money, is to live closer in downtown, Goose Hollow, or Northwest Portland. The MAX is easily accessible from the area either by walking or riding the streetcar. Studio/1-bedrooms run closer to $700/month, from my experience.

[nobody]

Thanks for the reply!

$700 is definitely within my range, especially if I don't have the car anymore. I've got a nice bike and could probably find a scooter or something to get slightly farther if necessary. Very promising sounding.

Thanks again.

[zilfondel]

Portland's an easy town to go carless in, as long as you are close-in to downtown and work close by (convenient to bus/bike/train).

[alexjon]

I went carless in Beaverton, no biggie. But then again, I lived half a mile from the Milky Way

[Front_Range_Guy]

Portland is on my short list, though any move is probably a good 2 years away.

Sell me on the place. :haha:

Actually, I may scrape some money together and try to visit in the spring.

A few things I am curious about...

How long is the trip between Portland and Seattle? Is there any sort of mass transit between the two cities available? Can I get real food or a cup of coffee at 2 a.m. or does everything close down? What about the weather. I find the northwest appealing because of it's rainy reputation, but I know more about Seattle weather than Portland weather. I like snow, but I understand it doesn't snow in Portland much.

Whatever you want to tell me about Portland, let me know... it's number 2 on my list behind Denver... and I have some qualms with Denver, so it would'nt take much for Portland to move up to number 1.

Thanks!

[Okstate]

My top two for graduate school was Denver and PDX a while back with Denver being #1. Prior to visiting PDX i thought Denver was the cream of the crop city (which it is) & that life in general (particularly city/urban life) could not get any better for an American seeking a large but comfortable metropolis. However, when you really really start nit picking between the two, PDX comes out on top for me personally.
First of all lets talk overall culture or atmosphere of environs: I currently live in Oklahoma finishing my last semester before graduating with my undergrad. There is something about the way people are in PDX that is worlds different than Colorado/Oklahoma. Let me explain... I am trying to get away from the mentality that bigger is better (housing, cars, space, you name it). Although PDX is not completely void of this mentality, they are much more open to alternate lifestyles, much more so than Denver in my opinion.
Neighborhoods: Need i say more? do some looking at Alberta, Mississippi, Belmont, Hawthorne, Goose Hollow, Multnomah Village, Pearl etc...Denver has very nice grand old homes near downtown, however there is not a sense of community quite like Portlands neighborhoods. Subjective? Yea.
Weather: Believe it or not this is one of the strong points of PDX that really allures me. Reason? Coincidentally, most of the people with the mentality of bigger is better blah blah that i mentioned above are the same people that despise all the "crazy downpours" the NW receives. Results? No matter how cool PDX may sound to some yuppies, there's a natural filter that restrains a large influx of people coming into the city (most notably the ones you don't want coming to your city in the 1st place) In all seriousness though, PDX is still alive during the dampness. Most cities across the country shut down & act like anthrax is in the air when the outside is anything but perfect. You will definately need to know NOT to bring an umbrella when you visit though. I've lost count how many times i've read that. Bring a two hundred dollar Columbia rain jacket instead.
Downtowns: PDX is alive with various businesses all over downtown whereas Denver is concentrated heavily in certain areas while lacking in others. Results? Denver has a strip of stores that is very impressive but misleading b/c it's taking the thunder from its surroundings. However, PDX & Denver are both bustling downtowns.

Other pros/cons (can be interpreted either way)
Corporate- Denver
Major sports- Denver
Skiing- Denver
Chains- Denver
Hippies- ???
Hummers- Denver :)
Museums- Denver
Ethnic- Denver
Walkability (downtowns)- PDX
Biking- PDX
Urban planning- PDX
Raising a family- PDX (according to HGTV, was picked #1 in the country) downtown PDX's schools are actually better than the schools further out. Definately NOT normal
Ocean- obvious
Music- obvious
Mass Transit- PDX (by far even w/Denvers' massive growth)
Congestion- PDX
Food- PDX
Terrain (within city)- PDX
$ of living- PDX is 5.9% more expensive than Denver according to Sperlings

* Metro populations according to emporis: Denver >2.9 million PDX >2 million
*Amtrak to Seattle takes approx. 3 hrs. 30 minutes. (pretty cheap too 50-70 bucks roundtrip)
*By the way i have family in Denver & have visited dozens of times just to give a slight bit of credibility

[Front_Range_Guy]

The more rain the better as far as I'm concerned...

Stupid question maybe, but is it "mult-no-muh" or "mult-na-mah"...

[Okstate]

mult-no-muh
Will-amit (kind of like the cuss word damnit)
Couch= Cooch
I'm sure there are others

[tworivers]

Well said, OKstate! Are you indeed moving here?

When I think of the differences between Denver and PDX, I think of the usual one: money. There seems to be a lot more money floating around, and it is used to define Denver as Major American City, whether it is the grand skyline, major sports teams, impressive museums, etc. I've had some good times there, especially when playing shows 4 or 5 years ago. There were definitely some exciting things happening, but they felt to me more marginal in the context of the whole city's vibe. The sprawl is insane -- Portland's is bad enough.

Portland, it would seem, is now (tortoise-like, slow and steady) pretty deep into redefining what Major American City means. We'll see where and how that leads us into the future.

I might be too comfortable here, but the things that keep me in love with PDX include:
1. being able to bike all over the city year round, thus staying relatively sane through the sometimes-claustrophobic winters
2. the incredibly fertile and increasingly ambitious food scene
3. the rest of the creative arts scene, esp. music
4. solidly progressive city government, and the remarkably corporate-free local culture (even Nike is out in the boonies, duking it out with Beaverton)
5. the vast swath of intact historic neighborhoods (we only lost a few big chunks to interstate highway/urban renewal madness)
6. the expanding MAX and streetcar systems
7. great architectural diversity, including an increasingly good collection of human-scale/mixed-use/modern/eco-conscious buildings, and a nice collection of remaining cast iron and terra cotta buildings
8. second most microbreweries in the world, some top-notch wineries, and some of the best coffee roasters anywhere, too
10. the people
11. the air
12. the primeval-feeling geography, which somehow always keeps me reminded of how temporary all this human hustle and bustle is

It would be nice if we had a major university, a world-renowned Cascadia MOMA, a football team, high speed rail... freeway removal... (fingers crossed)

[joeplayer1989]

redheaded stepchild post

[joeplayer1989]

Well said, OKstate! Are you indeed moving here?

When I think of the differences between Denver and PDX, I think of the usual one: money. There seems to be a lot more money floating around, and it is used to define Denver as Major American City, whether it is the grand skyline, major sports teams, impressive museums, etc. I've had some good times there, especially when playing shows 4 or 5 years ago. There were definitely some exciting things happening, but they felt to me more marginal in the context of the whole city's vibe. The sprawl is insane -- Portland's is bad enough.

Portland, it would seem, is now (tortoise-like, slow and steady) pretty deep into redefining what Major American City means. It would be nice to have a major university, a world-renowned Cascadia MOMA, a football team, high speed rail... freeway removal...

I might be too comfortable here, but the things that keep me in love with PDX include:
1. being able to bike all over the city year round, thus staying relatively sane through the sometimes-claustrophobic winters
2. the incredibly fertile and increasingly ambitious food scene
3. the rest of the creative arts scene, esp. music
4. solidly progressive city government, and the remarkably corporate-free local culture (even Nike is out in the boonies, duking it out with Beaverton)
5. the vast swath of intact historic neighborhoods (we only lost a few big chunks to interstate highway/urban renewal madness)
6. the expanding MAX and streetcar systems
7. great architectural diversity, including an increasingly good collection of human-scale/mixed-use/modern/eco-conscious buildings, and a nice collection of remaining cast iron and terra cotta buildings
8. second most microbreweries in the world, some top-notch wineries, and some of the best coffee roasters anywhere, too
10. the people
11. the air
12. the primeval-feeling geography, which somehow always keeps me reminded of how temporary all this human hustle and bustle is
i love your post more we need some teams, If we got MLB. BUT I have to say we got the best nba team in the country i think we really really really got a dynasty capable team brewing in the rose garden. Hopefully mr. allen will wake up and jump start the dead mlb talk and get a florida team out here... maybe when we get a new mayor? I hate potter fuck lol

[joeplayer1989]

The more rain the better as far as I'm concerned...

Stupid question maybe, but is it "mult-no-muh" or "mult-na-mah"...

my girlfriend asked me that

[BrandonTO416]

On the rain issue, I'd like to give an outsider's analysis. I've been here half a year and still have a lot to learn. ;) Portland doesn't get heavy rains, it gets days and days of shower rains.

The biggest difference I've noticed is the stark seasonality of the weather. In Portland its far more dry than the eastern US during summer months. I was surprised when I got to Portland in August and experienced several months of almost pure sun, and looked at the climate data to see that its typical of Portland weather to be very sunny and dry during the summer months.

Then when November rolled around it was bizzaire seeing that the sun only peaks out a few times a week for the duration of the coming winter season onto spring.

It gets far more cloudy and rainy/snowy in the east during winter, but its certainly more cloudy and rainy here than any other place I've been in during the winter months.

Waking up to a misty rain and wet roads virtually every day certainly classifies this region as a rainy wet winter. ;)

At the same time, its not as radical a change as some might imagine.

Lets look at the average climate data from where I was compared to here in Portland.

Portland, OR:
http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=089627&refer=

Nashville, TN:
http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=072327&refer=

If you look at the cloudiness and precip data, you'll see something. Even in the so-called sunbelt (which really should be a name reserved for the rocky mountain/southwest climates), you see a severe drop in clear days even back east.

In Nashville, the average number of rainy days in January is 11, in Portland its 18. That's an average of one more week of rainy weather per month.

I remember months back home where we wouldn't see sun for two weeks....

So while Portland IS more rainy than normal (in winter anyway), its honestly not that radically different from what I'm already accustomed to.

Besides, Portland has a temperate winter and temperate summer compared with what I'm used to. Back home half the winter (except for abnormal ones) you wake up to weather in the teens and while it warms up at noon, it sure does freeze much harder.

In Nashville you'd have two weeks where temps wouldn't reach above the 20F mark during the high temps in the days, Portland simply doesn't have the freeze periods we had back there when i was growing up. I don't see a winter where two weeks of 20F high temps are possible, the same for summer where half the summer is 95F and sticky muggy.

If you look at that Nashville chart, you'll see the coldest temps recorded are far more cold than its ever gotten here. -17F is the record in Nashville, and if you ever experienced several winters back there, you'll soon learn those average temps don't tell the entire story. Portland has never been below -3F apparently..... Back home you'll have winters every now and then that have many weeks of temps that never get above 20F even in the daytime, even as far south as Nashville. But the difference in Nashville is that it'll warm back up to 50F after the cold snap and melt everything out even in February. So its still far warmer than Chicago.

Its much, much more temperate here.

In my travels I've learned that no matter where you go there seems to be a weather trade-off. I'd rather have the rain than to live in a dry, arid, smoggy LA climate. But that's a personal choice. Coming from the southeast, my preference would be to live in Toronto's climate than Nashville's climate. The summers are far less oppressive, and the fresh arctic fronts that pass down from time to time make for some gorgeous, clear skies in the winter. The weather is so humid in the southeast you wake up to fog virtually every morning and it heats up into a sticky atmosphere during summer that makes breathing not so fun.

Some people can't stand winter weather and can't tolerate even 30-40F coolness, so for them living in Toronto would be a hell. So I guess its all self interpretation. ;)

Just remember, North America is the second coldest habitable continent. Behind Siberia and central Russia/Asia, Canada's north is the coldest part of a habital continent. The United States isn't far behind, and that's why the US has some notorious weather, like having the most tornadoes anywhere on earth. Much of our continent goes from super warm to super cold in a very big clash between the seasons.

Australia, Africa, South America, and Europe are far more temperate than North America or Central Asia. But, central Asia doesn't deal with the flow of a Gulf of Mexico to fuel a tornado season beyond insanity.

Guess you gotta give what life deals ya, huh? LOL

[Okstate]

Well said, OKstate! Are you indeed moving here?

I have two applications pending with PSU & U of Oregon for a MURP. I find out in late March if i'm accepted to either program. Thanks to google earth streetview, i know every street in PDX like the back of my hand... quite depressing considering i've been in the state of Oregon for 3 days of my life. I guess one may conclude i'm slightly anxious to grage-e-ate.

[tworivers]

^^^ Great. Best of luck.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I hate hot weather and thrive on cloudy, wet weather. Long stretches of sunny weather depress me. I can't really explain why, but life seems more real, and I feel more energetic and more alive when it's cloudy and damp. Regardless, I don't care where you live... something about the weather will annoy you. When I think of the Northwest, I think of moderate temperatures and rain... though I am aware that the summers are dry and that it can reach 100-degrees from time to time.

Wherever I end up, I'd like to position myself to get around on foot and via mass transit. Money is a concern... but I'm not picky about where I live necessarily as long as it's safe. I don't need a big living space. I don't want a big living space. Ideally I would like to live and work downtown. I have a very high impression of Portland based on people who have moved here from there, but I don't really have a sense of what it's downtown is like. Can you grocery shop in Downtown Portland? Work wise, I expect to still be doing the tv news thing... I'm assuming channel 6 is located in the KOIN tower? Are the other stations downtown?

Mostly I just want to get away from the evangelicals and conservative extremists. :haha:

The main reason Denver has a slight edge in my mind is that my family is in Colorado Springs.

[MarkDaMan]

Wherever I end up, I'd like to position myself to get around on foot and via mass transit.

you could live in the burbs here without a car...it's almost ridiculous to own a car and live downtown.

Money is a concern... but I'm not picky about where I live necessarily as long as it's safe. I don't need a big living space. I don't want a big living space. Ideally I would like to live and work downtown.

I moved back to Portland after living in Phoenix with my father for 8 years. I was 20, didn't have a job lined up, and the city had a unemployment rate of almost 9%. I found a job the first week I was here. I lived frugal at first, on less than $400 a week, and that was only 6 years ago. The opportunities in Portland were amazing. Where corporations look only at the degree, I've found Portland employers look more to personality. I can't tell you in how many interviews I was asked what I like to do on the weekends, do I hike, where do I hang? Questions I've never been asked in another city. In turn, I was given a chance to grow and have become very successful with my wonderful employer over the past five years.

You can find close in housing, not with a roommate, for an affordable price. There is a lot of 'affordable' housing, even in the Pearl. Even so, the inner city neighborhoods have so many studios and smallish one-bedroom apartments, that finding something close-in, and cheap isn't at all difficult.

Can you grocery shop in Downtown Portland?

There is a Safeway downtown, another Safeway being built in the Pearl. Fred Meyer is within walking distance of all NW housing and is convenient to downtown dwellers, so is Zupans, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods.

Work wise, I expect to still be doing the tv news thing... I'm assuming channel 6 is located in the KOIN tower? Are the other stations downtown?

Yes, KOIN 6 is in the KOIN tower. KGW 8, the biggest station is basically downtown, and KATU 2 is up Sandy (one bus ride 15 minutes from downtown).


Mostly I just want to get away from the evangelicals and conservative extremists.

Portland is a political city, very liberal, but the suburbs sport a few evangelical churches that like to come into the city to protest things, including a planned parenthood to be built in North Portland, at least 15 miles from their nearest church. OVERWHELMINGLY, you don't see the religious right's influence in Portland. Oregon has much rural land and so there is a conservative side to the state. It is more libertarian conservative than religious conservative, and there is NOTHING here like Colorado Springs religious zealotry.

Portland marches to her own beat, independent, liberal, beautiful, and charming. We are elegant but not snobbish. We value individual rights but we share a common good. You know your neighbors here and the term 'Fences Make Good Neighbors' just isn't part of our culture. You have to come check it out, and than decide if you want to go home if you don't already feel at home.

[Front_Range_Guy]

Great responses. Thanks.

I think it's interesting tworivers brings up money. Another thing I think of when I think of the northwest, is how expensive it is... or at least that's my impression. That's probably my single biggest concern, actually. I would assume wages keep up with cost of living... perhaps Portland isn't as pricey as Seattle or San Francisco? It's all relative I guess.

[pdxdash]

don't do it - don't move to portland. I can't begin to tell you what a horrible place it is! Very provincal, boring, and expensive. Plus the weather sucks. highly over rated.

[MarkDaMan]

^you really wasted your first post on the board with that response? I hope you are kidding or I don't see you lasting long here...

Portland is a hella lot cheaper than Seattle and even moreso than San Francisco. You can easily find a studio for $500, or less. Close-in, more about $650, but that should have utilities included. Compared to many cities I've been in, there are thousands of units in terrific inner city neighborhoods with their own towne centers 'main streets' that are absolutely wonderful, and within 10 or 15 minutes by bus to downtown.

Check Hollywood, Belmont, Hawthorne, Multnomah Village, Lloyd (I can't think of the name of the neighborhood) North, North West, Goose Hollow/Kings Hill, I could go on....

Oregon's minimum wage (even for waiters) is $7.95 an hour, so that helps with 'higher' costs too.

[Okstate]

If you are being sincere pdxdash, which i'm really not sure, i'd love to hear your opinion & your thoughts on a less "boring" city that is the same size as PDX.

[joeplayer1989]

don't do it - don't move to portland. I can't begin to tell you what a horrible place it is! Very provincal, boring, and expensive. Plus the weather sucks. highly over rated.

:koko:

[zilfondel]

sounds like Bond

[Okstate]

^ that's what i was thinking

[joeplayer1989]

who? that guy from seattle?

[BrandonTO416]

I don't find Portland expensive, its less expensive here than the vast majority of cities either this large or larger.

[Front_Range_Guy]

In retrospect, I feel like I hijacked this thread. At the time it just seemed more appropriate than starting another, identical thread.

Anyway... thanks to those who have sent responses in my direction. Portland sounds great, though further study and a trip or two are in order before I make any decisions.

Thanks again...

- Chris

[digme]

My wife and I have been looking for a change of scenery, and Portland has come up on our list of possibilities. We currently live in Madison, WI, and have been since we both graduated from school. Shes a hospice nurse, and I do computer support at UW-Madison.

Pluses:
1) Liberal/Progressive city
2) transportation (can't wait to ditch the car for most things)
3) Urban Density
4) real skiing nearby (Mt Hood)
5) Brother in Law lives in Leavenworth, WA. While a long drive or train ride away, a lot less expensive to visit
6) Milder climate
7) Beer (mmmm)
8) Coffee (mmmm)

Minuses:
1) Long/Expensive flight to get back to Wisconsin to visit family.
2) Rainy (although maybe not so bad as previous poster said)
3) Don't know anyone that lives in the area

A couple of questions:

1) Anyone have jobs doing IT support or as a nurse? Hows the job market in these areas?

2) Hows the music scene? My "second job" for the past few years has been playing in a local Madison band. Anyone have a page where I can check out some local Portland music? Are there good places to see/play music?

3) How much is a 2 bedroom apartment going to run? Something with easy access to the MAX. I tried to look at some of the portland rental websites, and they are bad. Where do you go to look for apartments?

4) I'm advocating a vacation to Portland with my wife before we actually take any more steps toward moving there. What should we do/see? Where should we eat? Is there anything you would recommend we do given that we are "shopping" the city, and not just vacationing?

[pdxf]

don't do it - don't move to portland. I can't begin to tell you what a horrible place it is! Very provincal, boring, and expensive. Plus the weather sucks. highly over rated.

If you don't like hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, rock climbing, drinking beer and experiencing the highest frequency of microbreweries in the US (world?), exploring a wide variety of restaurants and places to eat from high class restaurants to fantastic food carts, music, interesting shows such as Live Wire, coffee, numerous places to catch plays, concerts and lectures, driving a knife through the heart of a doughnut, wine tasting in one of the best wine regions in the US, going for a quick drive to the Cascades, the Gorge, to the coast, the high desert, or through the Willamette Valley, interesting clubs, playing on a dodgeball team, experiencing roller derby, eating pizza and drinking while catching a movie at McMenamins, riding MAX without pants, going to a Blazers game, standing proud with the Timbers Army at a soccer game, etc....etc... then yeah, Portland would be a pretty boring place.

[Okstate]

^ you forgot pillow fighting in Pioneer square :)

[BrandonTO416]

2) Rainy (although maybe not so bad as previous poster said)


LOL

Not sure I "said" it as much as I "lectured" it. Ya know, I only tend to do that when I've been drinking before posting on the forum... Yikes.

[seaskyfan]

Has anyone mentioned the doughnuts with bacon on them?

[joeplayer1989]

My wife and I have been looking for a change of scenery, and Portland has come up on our list of possibilities. We currently live in Madison, WI, and have been since we both graduated from school. Shes a hospice nurse, and I do computer support at UW-Madison.

Pluses:
1) Liberal/Progressive city
2) transportation (can't wait to ditch the car for most things)
3) Urban Density
4) real skiing nearby (Mt Hood)
5) Brother in Law lives in Leavenworth, WA. While a long drive or train ride away, a lot less expensive to visit
6) Milder climate
7) Beer (mmmm)
8) Coffee (mmmm)

Minuses:
1) Long/Expensive flight to get back to Wisconsin to visit family.
2) Rainy (although maybe not so bad as previous poster said)
3) Don't know anyone that lives in the area

A couple of questions:

1) Anyone have jobs doing IT support or as a nurse? Hows the job market in these areas?

2) Hows the music scene? My "second job" for the past few years has been playing in a local Madison band. Anyone have a page where I can check out some local Portland music? Are there good places to see/play music?

3) How much is a 2 bedroom apartment going to run? Something with easy access to the MAX. I tried to look at some of the portland rental websites, and they are bad. Where do you go to look for apartments?

4) I'm advocating a vacation to Portland with my wife before we actually take any more steps toward moving there. What should we do/see? Where should we eat? Is there anything you would recommend we do given that we are "shopping" the city, and not just vacationing?

3) Don't know anyone that lives in the area YOU CAN CROSS THAT OFF NOW U ARE AMONG FRIENDS :banana:

[pdxdash]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone...to be honest I didn't think people read the post so closely or took them so seriously. But I am sorry. And I was being facetious...I love Portland, born and raised here, but I don't want too many people moving here. Tom McCall had it right.

[Front_Range_Guy]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone...to be honest I didn't think people read the post so closely or took them so seriously. But I am sorry. And I was being facetious...I love Portland, born and raised here, but I don't want too many people moving here. Tom McCall had it right.

:lmao:

[Okstate]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone...to be honest I didn't think people read the post so closely or took them so seriously. But I am sorry. And I was being facetious...I love Portland, born and raised here, but I don't want too many people moving here. Tom McCall had it right.

I believe Gov. McCall was worried about the *type* of people moving to PDX rather than the overall #, despite his famous quote. I would place a pretty high bet that anyone wanting to explore PDX on a pro urban development forum would be very supportive if not influential in progressing the future of Portland. As for taking offense to your statement, we had no prior information about who you were or what your issues with the city were. People do exist in the world with the mentality that you initiated. As for me personally, i really was curious what your beef with the city was as a soon to be resident of PDX.

[BrandonTO416]

I live on a MAX station in Beaverton and its not bad, just come here and shop around. Apartment web sites are overrated.

[digme]

Today is one of those days I wish I lived in Portland.

Although its 35 and cloudy there, its -10 here. I think I can deal with the clouds if I never have to deal with sub-zero temperatures again.

[pdxf]

I can't imagine -10, 35 is bad enough. The one thing I don't like about Portland is that when it's this cold, it's generally clear out which means no snow!

[Okstate]

On sunny winter days, do you all notice hords of people trying to soak up the clear skies? I just wonder if people really look forward to a nice clear day.

[zilfondel]

Hell yes! Everyone gets out and walks around a lot.

During crappy days everyone just sits in the bars, smokes and drinks. I probably go to the bars 3-4 times a week during winter... if I'm not skiing.

[horatioalfonzo]

Portland definantly has a big drinking culture and I think that is mostly due to the weather. Happy Hour is huge in this town, which makes for a delicious and cheap dinner!

[ForAteOh]

I love beer! :cheers: :drunk:

[digme]

Hey ForAteOh:

I just went through your picture threads of a few different Portland neighborhoods. What a great resource! It was great to get a feel for some of the different areas of town. I encourage you to post some more!

Are there any other picture guides of Portland out there?

[ForAteOh]

^ Thanks! I will be posting more as I take them. I've started a new neighborhood, but I've been busy lately, so I haven't had much time to get it done. I also have this thread (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=140289) from this past summer which I didn't include in my signature. There are several other Portland photo threads I've seen. Maybe others have links to them. You can also check in the photo section of the SSP Local Portland page.

[Okstate]

^ i've typed in a search for Portland photo threads & they never come back with any... not sure what i'm doing wrong.

[ForAteOh]

^ I don't know about the search, but see this link (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=3301789#post3301789)

[digme]

1) Anyone have jobs doing IT support or as a nurse? Hows the job market in these areas?

2) Hows the music scene? My "second job" for the past few years has been playing in a local Madison band. Anyone have a page where I can check out some local Portland music? Are there good places to see/play music?

3) How much is a 2 bedroom apartment going to run? Something with easy access to the MAX. I tried to look at some of the portland rental websites, and they are bad. Where do you go to look for apartments?

4) I'm advocating a vacation to Portland with my wife before we actually take any more steps toward moving there. What should we do/see? Where should we eat? Is there anything you would recommend we do given that we are "shopping" the city, and not just vacationing?


Just to quote myself from earlier. Anyone have insight on my questions?

[Okstate]

2) www.barflymag.com would help you identify some venues

3) a 2 br apt. will range from $800-1250. On the westside light rail near the Sunset Transit Center, there are several complexes within easy walking distance to the station (at least 5) Guardian mgmt has a few good listings online. Honestly, you need to scroll through google earth StreetView & find an area that is suitable for you before you begin shopping for a home. You need to determine wheather you are east/west PDX material then decide N/S. There is a huge difference between every side. Craigslist is a great resource also.

4) I've given this advise before on here, but go to Portland City Grill. Average/above average food but the view is unique in Portland. Reserve during sunset... watch the city darken then glitter.

[PHX31]

I'm only posting on this thread because I stream Portland's 947 radio station at work all day (have been for the past year or so). I really like this station and since I listen all day at work, I kind of feel like I live in Portland rather than Phoenix. I've been to Portland once for one night, even rode the light rail out of necessity...

It is interesting to hear people explain the city, rather than just look at pictures.

[Eagle rock]

2) www.PDXshowfinder.com
This is an awesome website that has listings of upcoming shows in Portland. Portland has one of the most vibrant music scene in the country with tons of awesome shows to choose from every night.

[zilfondel]

1) there are some tech support jobs around town. I've worked at a few small-mid sized places doing that, plus some public institutions have in-house. Pay isn't all that great, obviously. Nurses get paid a lot higher.

2) are you kidding?! There are way too many bands here in Portland. Go to a bar, coffee shop, and just ask people. Half of them are probably already in a band. If not, you could try craigslist. There's a 'gig' section. Pick up a Mercury and Willamette Week to see the ads for venues and band members.

3) Craigslist

4) Walk around a lot...? I think other people could answer this better than me. :)

[PacificNW]

Check this column out:


http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=10588

Also:


http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Home

[digme]

Another quick question:

Whats the best time to visit? Looking at average rainfall/temps on wikipedia, I'm guessing late May or early June look to be nice. Thoughts?

I found this site that lists some Portland festivals:
http://www.portlandguide.com/entertainment/festivals.php

Are there any that would be worth aiming our vacation for? What are your favorite Portland festivals?

[tworivers]

Weather-wise, shoot for July-Sept. June is famous for its "June Gloom".
Usually summer breaks around the 4th of July. Lasts into late September, sometimes even October.

[rsbear]

I have two favorite times of year to visit; May and September.

During May you're taking your chances but the payoff can be spectacular. The city is "spring green" which is almost overwhelming coming from So Cal. And the flowers of spring are out and (I think) the cherry trees are still in bloom. While you're still likely to get some rain, many days are sunny with big white puffy clouds against a dark blue sky. Best days are when those same puffy clouds pass by, drop a quick shower, then part to let the sun shine through - beautiful.

If you prefer to minimize the chance of showers I recommend September. It's cooler than August and usually dry. You'll miss the green and flowers of late spring, though. Non-watered grass has usually turned brown or gold by September.

[downtownpdx]

What are your favorite Portland festivals?

If you are a beer fan, the Oregon Brewers Festival on the waterfront is pretty fun. Late summer I think?

[ForAteOh]

^ I timed my move here to attend that last year. It was in late July. :cheers:

[Okstate]

Anything in early August or late late July? That is when i'm moving & will probably have family members come check out the city. They are very pessimistic about the city & don't know anything about it. I'd like to show them how cool the place is then say...welp... have fun in the great plains.

[MarkDaMan]

From the Rose Fest in June to the end of summer, there is a festival almost every week. Brewers Fest, Bite of Portland, the most incredible Blues Fest you've ever been too (5 days over the fourth of July)...etc...etc...

[downtownpdx]

^^^ Your family is pessimistic about "the city" meaning Portland, or just cities in general? The Brewers Fest, as ForAteOh reminded me, is late July. I personally like hanging out around Jamison Square if it's hot summer weather, or take 'em on a stroll by the Salmon Springs Fountain along the waterfront. I think their pessimism will melt away pretty fast :)

[Okstate]

^^^ pessimistic about "the city" however, ANYTHING bad about Portland is brought to my attention immediately.

[MarkDaMan]

there's bad press about Portland in Oklahoma? I didn't even think people there would know we exist.

[zilfondel]

August is great weather. Pretty hot, gets up to the 90s sometimes. Ok, for several days. Sometimes hits a bit over 100.

If they're here in August, drag them to the coast and Hood River (hour each way) for some cooling-off fun.

But there are tons of things to do all throughout summer. Someone else should post them... theres like a festival every weekend.

[EastPDX]

... or other types of music festivals there are many to choose from. One of the older ones that fell on hard times and is now permanently located in downtown Gresham is the Mt Hood Festival of Jazz. Years ago 30,000 would go to the local community college to see great jazz and jazz fusion bands over three days. Now the festival is in downtown next to Old Town with many restaurants and maybe 5,000 for the two days. This year will be the first year the land currently used (grass) is being developed into the Center For The Arts. All the condo owners moved to downtown with this Center being a big draw. The plaza is suppose to be ready in late July. The public notice for input ends on 01-31-08. I will post on this somewhere else.

If you like beer, check http://www.mcmenamins.com/ and see what calendar events are scheduled. Always good music out at Edgefield.

For out of town festivals and great entertainment: Southern Oregon (5 hour drive, minimum three day weekend trip) is the ticket: with Shakespeare in Ashland and the Britt Festival in Jacksonville (great history in Jacksonville too, stagecoach, native american, and gold rush stuff). And you have Redwoods, Southern Oregon beaches, best golf courses/links in North America, and Crater Lake.

Cheers and Enjoy,
Ep

PS - If you family doesn't have an open mind please ask them to come but then to leave quickly. We are very tolerant here but some of us are very protective of our native land.

[Okstate]

^^^ Mark- no bad press from the Okies. Just a perception of deviant hippies with a misguided political atheist leaning. Bottom line, noone in my family/friends has seen a city worth bragging about. They may have been to one but that doesn't mean they've seen it for all the glory that it is. Take a look at Stillwater Oklahomas' nearest cities & you'll get the idea... & no KC/Dallas do not cut it in my opinion. My mom is the biggest critic & she lives in KC. Having said all this i'm going to make them experience Portland how it should be experienced. I feel like a religious wacko trying to convert someone.

[zilfondel]

^ You are. And we are.

Welcome to the club! Maybe its best not to take them to any hippy drum circles. Hawthorne's yuppified enough that it shouldn't be a problem, though.

[Okstate]

^ With my luck they'll show up on the "don't wear you PANTS on the train day" Then we'll walk past the vegan cheerleaders protesting animal rights at a restaurant then at night the naked bike ride will zip right past us! Oh & we'll get panhandled 10 times in a 10 minute walk. If we're lucky maybe a hippy mommy will be breastfeeding across from us at breakfast :)

[MarkDaMan]

^sounds like a pretty typical day to me :)

[FrijolMalo]

I'm planning to move up to Portland from Nashville when I graduate this spring. Yay!

[Okstate]

^ You'll probably beat me to it lucky

[Bellinghamster]

Hi All! My girlfriend and I are looking into moving to Portland. We are from Bellingham and love it, but there isn't much in the way of decent paying jobs up here. We were thinking Portland has the same vibe as B'ham but would offer us both better career opportunities.

I was wondering if any of you all had suggestions about the best areas to live and about finding a decent job. I am going to be a teacher and she is currently in business but looking at getting into gov't/non-profit positions.

From looking at the posts I see the Pearl and SoWa are sweet but very trendy/expensive. Mainly, where should we be looking if we would like to be close to MAX, in bike friendly areas, and not in suburbia.

[PacificNW]

Northwest Portland (west of 405), Goosehollow, North Portland, Buckman, Hawthorne are a few you should look into.

[Okstate]

No one hardly ever mentions this... but Portland IS considered the most livable (manageable) downtown in its mid-sized city class. Why not take a close look at properties within the downtown core. Trust me, if you look hard enough you'll find something to fit your price. PM me if you are having trouble... i've done enough research to write a paper. Also, if you live outside the fareless zone you'll be paying an annual fee for Max (only of course if you plan on venturing downtown very frequently.. which appears to be desirable for you) Now having said all this, if you're anxious to buy then forget all i just said!

[MarkDaMan]

I'd suggest off Barbur Blvd in Portland. CLOSE-IN SE Portland. DT Milwaukee (huge potential for property value to increase after the MAX goes in). North Portland. Maybe NW Portland if you can find a deal...to name a few.

However, with the tanked market, you should be able to find a steal REALLY close in (Pearl, SoWa).

More realistically, Peterkort(?) and Orenco will have better deals.

BTW: Welcome to PDX :hi:

[Bellinghamster]

Thanks for the advice! I am looking forward to the move down south.

[rsbear]

:previous: I just have to say you have about the best user name ever. I laugh (in the good way) every time I see it!

Bellinghamster :haha: :haha: :haha:

[®uger]

When I was an adventurest lad I visited Portland for the first time from Idaho Falls and fell in love with a city:banger: Not only is Portland ideally located and it's people progressively minded it happens to lie in the state with the most beautiful beaches on the West coast, Manzanita, Cannon, Seaside, Newport and the list goes on. Right now you could go to one of these places and rent for a week some snowbirds house for cheap and get a feel of Oregon. The only problem with Oregon in my HO is the property taxes:slob:

[Bellinghamster]

:previous: rsbear, you know living in Bellingham is much like life on a hamster wheel - you move but you don't go anywhere. :uhh:

[BG918]

Okstate: I'm also an Okie looking at moving to the Northwest. Love the Great Plains but I'm a (soon to-be) architect and the designs coming out of the Pacific NW are the best in the country IMO. I'd love to work up in the NW for awhile and then try to implement what they're doing up there in Oklahoma, like in urban OKC/Norman or Tulsa. I'm working on a master's degree in construction administration here at OU this fall after finishing my B. Arch. this May. I've interned in Denver and love it there too but really want to explore Portland and Seattle, maybe Vancouver as well. The rain/cloudy weather doesn't bother me, I just hope I can actually afford to live up there. I guess as long as they keep building I'll have a job!

[Okstate]

^ The way i see it BG... if they have people that work at Micky Dee's making a living, then surely we'll get by as well. Plus we have Okie charm. Our square footage will be downsized (i live in a new construction single family home 1200 sq ft bought for 93k!... and no it's not in a ghetto) But i will gladly give all that up for a change in environment. Good luck in your NW search, i've had a blast researching and discovering Portland. I feel like it's a hidden gem... and even when i do tell people how wonderful it is... they either don't grasp it, don't understand, or don't care. Their loss.

[MarkDaMan]

Plus we have Okie charm

:koko:

[Okstate]

well gal durnnet BG, would oughta get on up ther an show em a thing or two :twoguns:

[natepdx]

Not sure what okie charm is, but I do like a nice southern drawl, provided you don't sound like Prez Bush. I think you'll do just fine in Portland. This is a rather welcoming town after all and not full of ourselves like certain east coast and upper midwest cities.

[joeplayer1989]

Not sure what okie charm is, but I do like a nice southern drawl

lol when I read that I thought you said you like your self some some southern sprawl haha

[natepdx]

Bite thy tongue!!!:yuck:

[MarkDaMan]

provided you don't sound like Prez Bush

you trying to earn brownie points on this board?

Anyway, welcome :hi: even if it has been since August since you officially signed up.

[zilfondel]

Well I don't think I've ever met anyone from Oklahoma. I've heard about people visiting there, and Dwell even covered a project from there (I think...), but never met anyone from that state.

So welcome... all and y'all. Whatever. It's all good.
Just drink our coffee and beer!

[Okstate]

^ dwell covered a story on the new (semi new) row house (literally... like row row row your boat) located on the Oklahoma (Arkansas River). Anyway if you see someone walking around with an osu... err Oklahoma state shirt come this summer, it's probably me.

[Okstate]

Really off topic, but could someone pm me if they work for PDC or Metro... or any other redevelopment agency? I am trying to find out possible job opportunities and i figured that this site would be my closest bet to finding someone in that line of work.

[MarkDaMan]

^I don't, but these two sites might also help.

http://www.pdc.us/about_pdc/jobs/default.asp

http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=24202

[Okstate]

^ Thanks Mark. I did know of those websites prior, i am just wanting to actually communicate with someone in an urban renewal line of work. Since i'll be fresh out of college in 2 months I have lots of questions and would like to get a small network going prior to moving a couple thousand miles away! Plus, I may end up landing a job that wouldn't be advertised on their website... i've done it before. Networking vs. interviewing is priceless.