C&RL News November 2014 554

The city of Portland is known by many nicknames—Stumptown, the Rose City, 
Bridgetown, Rip City. No matter what you 
call it, that name refers to a city renowned 
for its diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. 
The vast majority of these pedestrian-
friendly neighborhoods are easily accessible 
by foot or bike (rent 
a bike at one of the 
many shops in town). 
Portland’s world-class 
public transportation 
(trimet.org) will get 
you to each neigh-
borhood by bus, MAX 
light rail, or streetcar. 
Getting around is easy, 
since most of the city 
is laid out on a grid 
that spreads across the 
city quadrants: North, 
Northwest, Northeast, 
Southwest, and South-
east. (Remember, Port-
land has to keep it 
weird by having a fifth 
quadrant.) The Willamette (rhymes with 
Janet) River separates the city into east and 
west. Burnside Street separates north and 
south. Look for the N, NW, NE, SW, SE in 
the street address to help figure out where 
you are.

One of the highlights of a visit to the 
Rose City is visiting these neighborhoods and 
discovering their unique offerings. Deciding 
what neighborhood to explore can be diffi-
cult, but rest assured no matter where you go 
there will plenty to do and see. While you’re 

out and about, get in some guilt-free shop-
ping—there’s no sales tax in Oregon! Some 
suggestions for neighborhoods and places 
to visit, shop, and play follow. The public 
transportation serving the neighborhood is 
included, but check with Trimet for specif-
ics. Take some extra time to find your own 

favorite park, gallery, 
or boutique. If you 
want a more guided 
experience, walking 
and bicycling routes 
are available from city 
planners. Check out the 
architectural, culinary, 
and “weird Portland” 
group tours. To learn 
more about neighbor-
hoods of Portland and 
find the perfect way 
to spend your time, 
visit www.travelpor-
tland.com/things-to-do 
/ n e i g h b o r h o o d s 
-regions/. 

We’ll be profiling 
neighborhood restaurants, breweries, and 
coffee shops in an upcoming article, stay 
tuned.

The Lloyd/Broadway district in NE 
Portland is one of the closest neighborhoods 

Angie Beiriger and Dan Kelley

Neighborhoods of Portland
Visit. Shop. Play.

ACRL 2015

Angie Beiriger is digital assets librarian and liaison to 
Classics & Religion at Reed College Library, email: beiriger@
reed.edu, and Dan Kelley is faculty outreach librarian at 
Lewis and Clark College, email: dkelley@lclark.edu
© 2014 Angie Beiriger and Dan Kelley

Pioneer Courthouse Square signpost. Photo 
credit: Cavale Doom, https://www.flickr.com/photos 
/cavale/8376789007/.



November 2014 555 C&RL News

to the Con-
v e n t i o n 
Center. It’s 
h o m e  t o 
the Lloyd 
C e n t e r , 
O r e g o n ’ s 
l a r g e s t 
m a l l  a n d 
p o p u l a r 
family des-
t i n a t i o n . 
S h o p  a t 
one of its 
more than 
150 stores 
(Made in 
O r e g o n , 
Macy’s, and H&M), catch a movie at one of 
the 18 screens, or rent some skates at the 
indoor ice rink. If the mall isn’t your thing, 
stroll over to Broadway Street to check out 
one of the city’s best independent bookstores, 
Broadway 
B o o k s . 
C o o k i n g 
enthusiasts 
should vis-
it Kitchen 
Kaboodle, 
a  l o c a l l y 
o w n e d 
shop full 
o f  g a d -
gets, home 
a c c e s s o -
r i e s ,  a n d 
cookware. 
High-end 
c o n s i g n -
ment store 
H e r e  We 
Go Again 
features a great selection of vintage and mod-
ern fashion. (Bus, MAX, Streetcar)

A short distance to the south of the con-
vention center is the up-and-coming Lower 
Burnside Area. Burnside may be one of the 
busiest streets in town, but that hasn’t stopped 

stellar res-
t a u r a n t s 
and funky 
boutiques 
from tak-
ing a hold 
o n  t h e 
neighbor-
hood. East 
B u r n s i d e 
is divided 
into upper 
and lower 
d i s t r i c t s . 
The lower 
district is 
closest to 
the Con-

vention Center. Peruse the offerings at one 
of the vintage shops like Modo Boutique, 
Bombshell Vintage, or Rock n’ Rose. A visit to 
the iconic Hippo Hardware is on many a Port-
land visitor’s bucket list. Catch an indie rock 

s h o w  a t 
the Doug 
Fir Lounge 
(located in 
the Jupiter 
Hotel) or 
j u s t  v i s i t 
t h e  b a r 
u p s t a i r s 
to experi-
e n c e  t h e 
m o d e r n 
log cabin 
ambiance. 
T a k e  a 
walk over 
t h e  m a s -
sive Burn-
side bridge 
into down-

town Portland to catch stellar views of the 
river, bridges, and skyline. (Bus, Streetcar)

One of the hippest neighborhoods in 
Stumptown is Historic Mississippi Avenue 
(N). The street’s recent transformation and 
development has made it a destination for 

Downtown Portland at sunset from the Burnside Bridge. Photo credit: 
C.M. Keiner, https://www.flickr.com/photos/cmkeiner/6178373872/.

Wall of salts at The Meadow. Photo credit: lesleyk,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lesleyk/5851679537/.



C&RL News November 2014 556

shoppers, diners, and people watchers. 
The Meadow features an extensive selec-
tion of salt, chocolate, and flowers. In fact, 
the owner, Mark Bitterman, actually wrote 
the book on salt—the James Beard award 
winning Salted: A Manifesto on the World’s 
Most Essential Mineral, with Recipes. Check 
out Paxton Gate, a true curiosity shop with 
a huge selection of fossils and minerals, 
taxidermy and bones, plant oddities, and 
really funky jewelry. After perusing one of 
the many vinyl, comic book, or paper goods 
stores, round out your visit by catching some 
live local music at Mississippi Studios. (Bus, 
MAX with 
walk)

Want to 
check out 
one of the 
m o s t  d i -
v e r s e  a r t 
scenes in 
town? Take 
some time 
to stroll the 
more than 
20 blocks 
of the Al-
berta Arts 
D i s t r i c t . 
In addition 
to myriad 
established 
art galler-
ies, the street is brimming with boutiques, 
shops, and cafes, many of which line their 
walls with work by local artists. The biggest 
draw to the neighborhood is the almost 
anything-goes Last Thursday festival. Art 
vendors line the streets and galleries host 
new exhibitions in what has become one 
of Portland’s largest street parties. It should 
be in full swing on March 26 during the 
conference. 

The district is a great place to shop for a 
locally designed clothing at boutiques like 
Tumbleweed or designer shoes at PedX. 
Check out the fascinating selection of art 
books, photographs, and ephemera at 

Ampersand Gallery & Fine Arts. Parents of 
young children may want to pop into Grass-
hopper to choose a gift from a well-curated 
selection of toys. A visit to the neighbor-
hood should include a short walk north to 
the Kennedy School, a historic elementary 
school converted into a mixed-use build-
ing featuring hotel rooms, a movie theater, 
several bars and restaurants, a soaking pool, 
and (of course) walls lined with murals and 
artwork. (Bus)

Division, Hawthorne, and Belmont are 
parallel streets in SE Portland, located close 
enough to be easily accessed via a quick bus 

or bike ride 
or even a 
brisk stroll. 
T h e s e 
three older 
streets all 
had busy 
streetcars 
l i n k i n g 
them with 
downtown 
before the 
rise of the 
a u t o m o -
b i l e .  A f -
t e r  s o m e 
r o u g h 
d e c a d e s 
following 
World War 

II, they have all bounced back and now are 
brimming with restaurants, boutiques, bars, 
and Portland’s quirky vibe. They are a short 
distance from one of Stumptown’s jewels, 
Mt. Tabor. With a forest-like setting and pan-
oramic views of the city, the 196-acre park 
situated on an extinct volcanic cinder cones 
in the middle of the city is another must-visit 
for bikers, hikers, and trail enthusiasts. (Bus) 

The furthest south of the three streets, 
Division Street, has developed rapidly 
recently and now boasts some of the best 
restaurants in the city. Visit some of the 
boutiques and witness the transformation of 
a sleepy neighborhood into a culinary des-

Jugglers at Last Thursday on Alberta Street. Photo credit: MookieLuv
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mookieluv/4747558427/.



November 2014 557 C&RL News

tination. Hawthorne Boulevard is P-town’s 
original hippie neighborhood. While some 
of the peace and love vibe may have mel-
lowed a bit, you can still catch glimpses of its 
patchouli, 
t i e - d y e 
past. The 
p o p u l a r 
neighbor-
hood is a 
great place 
for people-
w a t c h i n g 
a n d  o f -
fers great 
shopping. 
Browse the 
shelves of 
P o w e l l ’ s 
Books on 
Hawthorne 
o r  c h e c k 
o u t  t h e 
huge cookbook selection at Powell’s Books 
for Home and Garden. Catch a film at McMe-
namin’s Bag-
dad Theater 
and Pub or 
pick up some 
of the city’s 
best cheese 
and import 
f o o d s  a t 
Pastaworks. 
If soccer is 
your thing, 
c h e c k  o u t 
4 - 4 - 2 ,  a 
great place 
t o  c a t c h  a 
T i m b e r s , 
Thornes, or 
English Pre-
mier League 
match. The 
n e i g h b o r -
hood is also a great place to look for col-
lectibles, antiques, and vintage clothing. The 
business strip on Belmont Street isn’t as big 

as the other two neighborhoods, but it’s great 
place to hang out and pretend you’re a local. 
The Avalon Theatre offers old-school video 
games and pinball for kids of all ages. The 

boutiques 
Noun and 
S u p e r -
Maker fea-
ture vin-
tage and 
m o d e r n 
gifts. Grab 
a cup of 
coffee at 
S t u m p -
town and 
stroll over 
to beauti-
f u l  L a u -
r e l h u r s t 
P a r k  t o 
s e e  h o w 
Portland-

ers play in rain or shine. For a more historic 
and contemplative experience, visit Port-

land’s oldest 
c o n t i n u -
ously used 
c e m e t e r y 
and de facto 
arboretum, 
L o n e  F i r 
Cemetery. 

The west 
side of the 
river hosts 
s o m e  o f 
P o r t l a n d ’ s 
oldest neigh-
b o r h o o d s 
and iconic 
landmarks. 
D o w n -
town, Chi-
n a t o w n , 
Old Town, 

and the Pearl District may look like sepa-
rate neighborhoods on a map, but they 
flow into each other without any clear divi-

Shops on Hawthorne Boulevard. Photo credit: Curtis Perry
https://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisperry/8375296421/.

Portland’s living room, Pioneer Courthouse Square. Photo credit:  
A. Davey https://www.flickr.com/photos/adavey/8699673325/.



C&RL News November 2014 558

sions. Portlanders 
are rightly proud 
of the Downtown 
area (SW), which 
is brimming with 
food carts, cultural 
i n s t i t u t i o n s ,  a n d 
(of course) tons of 
cyclists. The South 
Park Blocks link the 
Portland Art Mu-
seum and Oregon 
Historical Society 
with Portland State 
University and are 
beautiful to walk 
through. The blocks 
f e a t u r e  P o r t l a n d 
largest Farmer’s Mar-
ket, which runs on 
Saturdays from mid-
March through mid-
December. Water-
front Park, close to 
the Willamette River, 
is also a great place to explore. Closer in, the 
beautiful Multnomah County Library main 
b r a n c h 
should be 
o n  e v e r y 
l i b r a r i a ns 
bucket list. 
P i o n e e r 
Courthouse 
Square has 
been called 
“Portland’s 
l i v i n g 
room” and 
is great for 
p e o p l e -
w a t c h i n g 
anytime of 
day. Union 
Way, Port-
l a n d ’ s 
e c l e c t i c 
shopping arcade, features high-end retail 
and a true hipster vibe.

Hugging the Wil-
lamette River on the 
edge of downtown, 
Old Town and Chi-
natown (NW) were 
pretty sketchy until 
a few years ago, 
and can still be a 
bit gritty, but its his-
toric architecture 
and lively night-
life make it very 
worthwhile. A true 
Portland institution, 
Darcelle XV has 
hosted some of the 
area’s most iconic 
“female imperson-
ators” for almost 50 
years. Other dance 
and burlesque clubs 
mix with dim sum 
restaurants and herb 
shops to make up 
one of the most 

eclectic areas of the city. Find out about 
Portland’s seedy past with the free Secrets 

of Portlan-
d a n i a  o r 
a  g u i d e d 
P o r t l a n d 
U n d e r -
g r o u n d 
t o u r.  T h e 
hub of the 
area is the 
i n c r e d -
i b l e  L a n 
Su Chinese 
Garden, an 
a u t h e n t i c 
M i n g  D y -
nasty style 
garden that 
is the epit-
ome of an 
urban ref-

uge. Stroll through the breathtaking gardens 
then relax in the Teahouse in the Tower of 

Female Fu Lion in Front of Chinatown Gate. Photo 
credit: camknows, https://www.flickr.com/photos 

/camknows/4148599230/.

Pearl District Go by Streetcar sign: Photo credit: Steve Boland.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sfcityscape/4997559367/.



November 2014 559 C&RL News

Cosmic Reflections while you enjoy the best 
tea in Portland. Stop into the Pendleton flag-
ship store for a lovely selection of goods 
from the iconic Oregon company. (Bus, 
MAX, Streetcar)

With its high-rise condos, wall-to-wall 
shopping, and endless dining options, the 
Pearl District is one of Bridgetown’s most 
urban residential centers. Any visitor’s first 
stop should be to the legendary Powell’s 
Bookstore. You may need a whole day to 
explore the exceptional selection of books, 
gifts, zines, and maps. A shoppers paradise, 
the Pearl is home to outdoorsy shops like 
REI, Patagonia, and North Face, as well as 
retailers like West Elm and Anthropologie. 
Antique and interior design shops abound. 
Paper aficionados will love Oblation Papers 
& Press, a letterpress print shop, paper 
maker, and retail store. Stroll down the South 
Park Blocks to watch the old-timers playing 
Bocce, tech workers eating lunch, and young 
neighborhood kids on the playgrounds. 
Nestled on a corner next to the blocks is 
the historic DeSoto Building, which hosts 
high-profile art institutions like Blue Sky 
Photography Gallery, Charles A. Hartman 
Fine Art, The Museum of Contemporary 
Craft, and Augen Gallery. 

4. Michelle Armstrong and Julia Stringfel-
low, “Promoting Faculty Scholarship through 
the University Author Recognition Bibliogra-
phy at Boise State University,” New Review of 
Academic Librarianship 18, no. 2 (2012): 171. 
doi:10.1080/13614533.2012.717901.

5. Bai, Sheryl, and Pamela Kelly, “Devel-
opment of a Web-based faculty publications 
database,” Bulletin of the Medical Library 
Association 88, no. 2 (2000): 189.

6 Sara Tabaei et al., “Building a Faculty 
Publications Database: A Case Study,” Public 
Services Quarterly 9, no. 3 (2013: 200. doi:1
0.1080/15228959.2013.816127.

7. Connor, “Using Wiki Technology,” 16.
8. Julia Stringfellow and Michelle Arm-

strong, “The University Authors Recognition 

A bit further out from the city center 
is one of Portland’s original destination 
neighborhoods, the Northwest District/
Nob Hill district. NW 23rd and 21st streets 
feature high-end boutiques like the jewelry 
haven Twist as well national retailers like 
Urban Outfitters, Restoration Hardware, and 
Pottery Barn. Historic homes and elegant 
vintage apartment buildings line the side 
streets. Catch the most recent indie docu-
mentary at Cinema 21. With breathtaking 
views of the surrounding forests, bridges, 
and mountains, the vast historic Pittock 
Mansion is another must-see jewel of the 
city. (Bus, Streetcar) 

Find your own adventure at those de-
scribed here or go off the beaten path by 
exploring other the notable neighborhoods, 
such as St. Johns/North Portland, Upper 
Burnside/Laurelhurst, Alameda/Fremont, 
Montavilla, Williams, Woodstock, Sellwood 
/Moreland, and so many more. Whether you 
prefer the bustling vibe of an urban center 
or a quiet encounter with one of the many 
Bridgetown parks, there’s a neighborhood 
in Portland waiting for you to explore. 
And remember, we’ll be profiling the bars, 
breweries, and restaurants in theses neigh-
borhoods in an upcoming article. 

Reception at Boise State University: A Cel-
ebration of Scholarship,” The Idaho Librarian 
62, no. 1 (2012): 2. http://theidaholibrarian.
wordpress.com/2012/05/09/the-university 
-authors-recognition-reception-at-boise-state 
-university-a-celebration-of-scholarship.

9. Tabaei et al., “Building a Faculty Pub-
lications Database,” 202.

10. Barbara Blummer, “The Availabil-
ity of Faculty Publication Databases from 
Library Web Pages,” Journal of Web Li-
brarianship 1, no. 2 (2007): 35. doi:10.1300/
J502v01n02_03;Vanette Schwartz and Bruce 
Stoffel, “Building an Online Faculty Publica-
tions Database,” College & Undergraduate 
Libraries 14, no. 3 (2007): 5. doi:10.1300 
/J106v14n03_01. 

(“Let’s get this party started” cont. from page 553