Tell me a bit about neighborhoods/districts...

[tackledspoon]

I'm scoping out places to live next year and Portland is currently the big frontrunner. However, it'll be 6-8 months before I leave and I want to be as familiar with the place as possible before I get there. I know that there's already a "moving to Portland thread," but my questions are a bit more specific.
Being a complete nerd, I want to know all about the different neighborhoods and districts of Portland. I've been following ForAteOh's photo tours, which are fantastic, but I'd like to hear more! Of course generic info about cultural attractions, demographics, housing stock, distance from downtown are greatly appreciated, but I'm far more interested in people's personal impressions of different neighborhoods. Tell me something!
Thanks in advance!

[MarkDaMan]

^IMHO, best to tell people what you want and let them sell you on their fav. neighborhood. I could tell you why I'd live in 20 distinct villages here, however I'd rather find out what you like, and tell you my experience in a place that resembles that.

[tackledspoon]

I really appreciate that, but I didn't want to make this a thread just for my own service. I was hoping that it would grow into an index of Portland neighborhoods so that anybody in my position could come here, read up and find what they need.
I will say a few words about myself and what I'm looking for, though:
By the time I'm ready to move, I'll be twenty-one and just out of college. I'm pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Sociology at NYU. I'm what most people here in New York would call a hipster; I ride a bicycle almost everywhere, wear skinny pants, love local and independent music and have not one, but two majors that most people would consider practically useless!
That said, there are some negative connotations attached to that word that don't apply to me. For one, I'm not a bit apathetic. I love people and I'm very community-oriented. I currently volunteer at both a food co-op and a co-operatively run bicycle repair workshop and community center.
My ideal neighborhood is medium density (read: less dense than my current Chinatown digs, more dense than my old pseudo-suburban digs) and has a lot of great local businesses and young, progressive people. It would also be nice if it was nearby to some good venues and a food co-op, though that may be asking a bit too much.

Well, thanks!

[Okstate]

^ 21 and graduated from college. That's quite impressive. I'm 23 and feel like i rolled through really quickly straight out of high school. I think most on here will agree that any neighborhood in Portland is "community involved" Of course living in NY, you'll probably think any neighborhood is a bargain. Would you be moving by yourself. Are you wanting to be near lightrail, near downtown? Obviously you're used to diversity having lived in chinatown. You'll probably not find that kind of mix in Portland but are you wanting to be imerged in a more ethnic environment? I'm just asking the questions & i'll let the real Portlanders give you some advice. I've visited and researched it all but do not hold the authority to give any precise answers.

[bvpcvm]

Originally Posted by tackledspoon

I really appreciate that, but I didn't want to make this a thread just for my own service. I was hoping that it would grow into an index of Portland neighborhoods so that anybody in my position could come here, read up and find what they need.
I will say a few words about myself and what I'm looking for, though:
By the time I'm ready to move, I'll be twenty-one and just out of college. I'm pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Sociology at NYU. I'm what most people here in New York would call a hipster; I ride a bicycle almost everywhere, wear skinny pants, love local and independent music and have not one, but two majors that most people would consider practically useless!
That said, there are some negative connotations attached to that word that don't apply to me. For one, I'm not a bit apathetic. I love people and I'm very community-oriented. I currently volunteer at both a food co-op and a co-operatively run bicycle repair workshop and community center.
My ideal neighborhood is medium density (read: less dense than my current Chinatown digs, more dense than my old pseudo-suburban digs) and has a lot of great local businesses and young, progressive people. It would also be nice if it was nearby to some good venues and a food co-op, though that may be asking a bit too much.

Well, thanks!

haha, with all those attributes, are you sure you don't live here already?

ignore all the stuff about the pearl and SOWA, because you'll want to live on the east side - mississippi, alberta, belmont or hawthorne. any time you hear anyone talk about how "edgy" or "hip" the pearl and SOWA are 1) you know it's someone over 40 talking and 2) run the other direction. instead, start reading the portland mercury, bookmark the holocene calendar, and triangulate a location equidistant from trader joe's (or the food co-op in SE) and everyday records, and you'll be just fine.

i can tell you about NW, since that's where i live and you will inevitably hear about it. the south end (up to maybe irving or so) tends to have students and so it's bearable. unfortunately, the rest of the neighborhood trends toward rich retirees and yuppies (more and more as you go north). there are a few old hippies who have been around forever. on the other hand, there are lots of decent places to eat (ranging from a few local places to some corporate-masquerading-as-cool very expensive spots). the neighborhood has tons of boutiques, but there has been an effort to keep large national chains to a minimum (off the top of my head there's gap, williams-sonoma, urban outfitters and of course starbucks - but that's over the course of a mile along 23rd). there is a food co-op on thurman.

it's somewhat possible i'm overstating the case. NW isn't awful; it's way better than being stuck in gresham or something, but you'll probably feel more at home on the east side. actually, the one big advantage of NW over the east side, in my book, is that it's on the same side of the river as downtown and so you don't have to cross any bridges or industrial zones to get to powell's or the central library. and it's next to the pearl, so you can go check the progress of various construction projects.

[bvpcvm]

The H Word

[Okstate]

dp

[tackledspoon]

Originally Posted by Okstate

^ 21 and graduated from college. That's quite impressive. I'm 23 and feel like i rolled through really quickly straight out of high school. I think most on here will agree that any neighborhood in Portland is "community involved" Of course living in NY, you'll probably think any neighborhood is a bargain. Would you be moving by yourself. Are you wanting to be near lightrail, near downtown? Obviously you're used to diversity having lived in chinatown. You'll probably not find that kind of mix in Portland but are you wanting to be imerged in a more ethnic environment? I'm just asking the questions & i'll let the real Portlanders give you some advice. I've visited and researched it all but do not hold the authority to give any precise answers.

I'd definitely like to be near a light rail station. Being near downtown isn't horribly important, so long as I have reasonably good access to public transit.
Living in an ethnic environment actually isn't that important to me. I enjoy living in an ethnic enclave, but at the same time, I definitely get pegged with an "outsider" stigma more often than I'd like. I'd hate to live in some disneyland where everybody is between the ages of 18 and 30, white and middle-class, but I'm not hell bent on a living in a place that has ton of racial/ethnic diversity.
Again, thanks a lot to anybody who's answered my questions. BVPCM, that article was pretty excellent, by the way.

Edit: Ah, and I forgot to mention that I'll either be moving alone or with one good friend.

[twofiftyfive]

Originally Posted by tackledspoon

...everybody is between the ages of 18 and 30, white and middle-class...

You do realize that this is exactly the stereotype of Portland's current demographics, right?

[tworivers]

bvpcvm has it about right. I do enjoy NW, though, for its quintessential urban neighborhood environment --dense, lots of apartment buildings, leafy, lots of walkers.

But given your overall perspective, I'd focus on inner SE or N/NE. I live in Northeast about a mile from the yellow MAX line and within easy biking and walking distance of Alberta and Mississippi, two commercial districts with the usual mix of coffeeshops, boutiques, bars, restaurants, and bike shops (though I think Alberta has faired better in the gentrification game, i.e. a broader range of services that reflect the various neighborhood cultures).

There is a food co-op with an excellent produce section, lots of local stuff right through winter, at Alberta and 15th. And, if you're an omnivore, New Seasons has a good selection of meats and fish nearby at 33rd and Killingsworth. The closest music venue to me is the Wonder Ballroom on Russell St. Next door is one of the city's best new restaurants, Toro Bravo. Restaurants abound, in fact. Better coffee than anywhere I've been in NYC, save maybe Cafe Grumpy (I usually end up at the Fresh Pot on Mississippi, Random Order on Alberta, Ristretto at 42nd and Fremont, or one of the Stumptowns downtown). Politics definitely tend to be progressive and leftward. I could ramble on and on.

Lastly, I too ride a bicycle everywhere. I don't own a car and have no plans to ever own one. If you live relatively close in, no part of inner PDX is more than a half hour bike ride away.

[zilfondel]

yea...

[PacificNW]

Plus, MAX (light rail cars) are bike friendly.... Some have indoor hooks, etc. to hang/anchor your bike while you ride the rails.

[tackledspoon]

Originally Posted by twofiftyfive

You do realize that this is exactly the stereotype of Portland's current demographics, right?

Thankfully, stereotypes are often incorrect. I realize that the city is predominantly young and white, but with 500,000 people, I'd assume that there are more than a few people that don't fit into one or the other of those categories.

Thanks so much for all of the information. This will make getting an apartment over there much easier when the time comes.

[Castillonis]

Caveat empor: Non linear thinking and spelling errors ahead. Need to study

Maybe someone could create a google maps overlay of the neighborhoods.

North Portland
==============
Mississippi (awesome, but changes a few blocks off)
Good cafes and laid back. Rebuilding center
Alberta
Good cafes and restaurants

SE Portland
===========
(These streets run EW and are in close proximity to each other.
They are in the order {B, H, D, C})
Belmont
-------
Home of the infamous stumptown coffee
packed w/ restaurants, bars, cafes
Hawthorne
----------
packed w/ restaurants, cafes, shops and bars
Inexpensive Bhagdad movie theatre
A smaller Powell's bookstore location
Division (may be more affordable)
-------
New Seasons grocery is on 20th.
Many cafes and some restaurants
Clinton (may be more affordable)
------
Peoples food coop is close by
Cafes, restaurants
An inexpensive alternative movie theatre
Woodstock
-----------
close to Reed liberal arts college w/ a rigorous curriculum
(interesting non apathetic students)

Close in E Portland
===================
Kerns neighborhood
biased, I lived here before and miss it. Getting better all of the time
Whole foods<-Wild Oats<-Natures grocery store
Inexpensive Laurelhurst theatre w/ pizza, beer, etc
Restaurants, cafes

NW (can be expensive. Some pockets in between Pearl & NW less expensive)
21st ave cinema which carries all of the independent films
Inexpensive Mission theatre w/ beer and good food
neighborhood closest to Powell's bookstore main location (mandatory visits)

Bicycle Coops
I remember people discussing a bicycle coop on belmont, but I am not able to find it on the web.

(Must be a PSU student, staff, or alumni)
Portland State University
The Bicycle Cooperative
http://www.bikeshop.pdx.edu/

(Not sure if this coop is active)
NORTH PORTLAND BIKE WORKS
a neighborhood learning center
3951 N Mississippi Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97227
503-287-1098
npdxbikeworks@hotmail.com
http://www.waveposition.net/assets/bikeworks/index.html

A group of bicycle shops that is a worker coop
http://www.citybikes.coop/

Community Cable Access
http://www.pcmtv.org/

[Sekkle]

Originally Posted by Castillonis

I remember people discussing a bicycle coop on belmont, but I am not able to find it on the web.

this is on ~45th & Belmont...


Good list, by the way.

[bvpcvm]

oh yeah, one other very important thing: for all the dry statistics you could ever possibly want, www.portlandmaps.com <-- mandatory!!!!!

[Castillonis]

Portland maps has google earth data overlays for crime, etc