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Yo VC, what's there to do in Portland?


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I'm going to be in Portland for 2 weeks starting this Sunday. During the day I'll be doing a work thing, but I'll have a bunch of nights and a whole weekend free. My questions are as follows:

1. What's the transportation situation? I'll be carless and bikeless, don't mind riding the bus as long as it's not like notoriously awful.

2. Good places to eat? I think all my dinners will be on my own, I'm open to pretty much every variety of food.

3. Record store recommendations probably?

4. I'ma need a consensus on Voodoo Donuts. I've heard it has the most amazing donuts in the world, and I've heard it's the most overrated place in the world. I love donuts, but am wary of hype.

5. How much does it bum out the locals when out of towners say "Wow, it's just like Portlandia". I don't plan on saying this, but asking this question in Portland would basically be like saying it, if you get what I'm saying.

Thank you in advance, VC. XOXO Alex

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I'm going to be in Portland for 2 weeks starting this Sunday. During the day I'll be doing a work thing, but I'll have a bunch of nights and a whole weekend free. My questions are as follows:

1. What's the transportation situation? I'll be carless and bikeless, don't mind riding the bus as long as it's not like notoriously awful.

2. Good places to eat? I think all my dinners will be on my own, I'm open to pretty much every variety of food.

3. Record store recommendations probably?

4. I'ma need a consensus on Voodoo Donuts. I've heard it has the most amazing donuts in the world, and I've heard it's the most overrated place in the world. I love donuts, but am wary of hype.

5. How much does it bum out the locals when out of towners say "Wow, it's just like Portlandia". I don't plan on saying this, but asking this question in Portland would basically be like saying it, if you get what I'm saying.

Thank you in advance, VC. XOXO Alex

 

hi. i'm also alex.

 

1. the MAX (light rail) is pretty solid and generally gets you where you need to go. i don't ride the bus much but it seems pretty efficient as well.

 

2. tons of good food. depends on where you're staying. there is a square block of food carts in the middle of southwest (the city is divided into four quadrants: NW, SW, NE, SE) that is worth checking out; great variety and quality. pok pok, bunk sandwiches and stumptown have all been featured on tv shows and shit. i'm a pretty big lardo fan. pretty much anywhere you turn, there's good food, but yeah, let us know where you're staying.

 

3. 2nd ave records (SW), mississippi records (N), millennium records (SE)

 

4. it is legitimately very good. i think it depends on the donuts you get; if you get something simple that you can get anywhere, you're going to be disappointed. branch out and go for the crazy shit. voodoo doll and cock-n-balls are iconic, but they aren't really that crazy. one is raspberry jam filling, the other is custard. if you like peanut butter and chocolate, go for the ol' dirty bastard. neapolitan is rad and tastes like an ice cream sandwich. diablo's hex is the perfect chocolate donut. there's bubble gum and tang and all sorts of weird shit. so yeah. ODB is the way to go.

 

5. i've lived here for three years but am technically an out-of-towner. that said, it is absolutely just like portlandia. pretty sure the feminist book store is in north portland.

 

hope that helps. feel free to ask more questions.

 

also, we have a thread for this already kinda, but dgaf, yo!

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I'm going to be in Portland for 2 weeks starting this Sunday. During the day I'll be doing a work thing, but I'll have a bunch of nights and a whole weekend free. My questions are as follows:

1. What's the transportation situation? I'll be carless and bikeless, don't mind riding the bus as long as it's not like notoriously awful.

2. Good places to eat? I think all my dinners will be on my own, I'm open to pretty much every variety of food.

3. Record store recommendations probably?

4. I'ma need a consensus on Voodoo Donuts. I've heard it has the most amazing donuts in the world, and I've heard it's the most overrated place in the world. I love donuts, but am wary of hype.

5. How much does it bum out the locals when out of towners say "Wow, it's just like Portlandia". I don't plan on saying this, but asking this question in Portland would basically be like saying it, if you get what I'm saying.

Thank you in advance, VC. XOXO Alex

 

 

Mississippi Records in N. Portland is the best record store in town.
 
Sizzle Pie has awesome pizza.
 
Screen Door is the best restaurant in town (in my opinion).
 
Killer Burger has bangin' burgers.
 
Blue Star Doughnuts are better than Voodoo, less gimmicky.
 
You can spend a week in Powell's book store and never see everything there.
 
Lan Su Chinese Garden is incredible and they have a great tea room. (that'll put you near 2nd Ave Records
[second best in the city], Voodoo Donuts, a weird porn theater, Chinatown, the river, a bunch of food carts and pretty near Powell's and Clyde Common [also incredible food])
 
Public transit here is excellent.
 
If the Blazers weren't out of the playoffs I'd tell you to try to get to a game. I've heard Timbers games are a hell of a time.
 
If you're into beer, there are like...a million breweries around too.
 
Voodoo is wayyyyy overhyped unless you're vegan, but it's an experience.
 
We also have Car2Go and Zipcars if you decided you wanted to go out hiking or something.
 
If it's shitty and rainy out, there's an indoor "3d blacklight" mini golf joint.
 
Hit GroundKontrol if you like arcades.
 
We've got some great museums. When I first moved here, one of them had an R. Crumb illustrated bible exhibit that was nuts.
 
I'll try to think of more.
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I'm going to be in Portland for 2 weeks starting this Sunday. During the day I'll be doing a work thing, but I'll have a bunch of nights and a whole weekend free. My questions are as follows:

1. What's the transportation situation? I'll be carless and bikeless, don't mind riding the bus as long as it's not like notoriously awful.

2. Good places to eat? I think all my dinners will be on my own, I'm open to pretty much every variety of food.

3. Record store recommendations probably?

4. I'ma need a consensus on Voodoo Donuts. I've heard it has the most amazing donuts in the world, and I've heard it's the most overrated place in the world. I love donuts, but am wary of hype.

5. How much does it bum out the locals when out of towners say "Wow, it's just like Portlandia". I don't plan on saying this, but asking this question in Portland would basically be like saying it, if you get what I'm saying.

Thank you in advance, VC. XOXO Alex

1. trimet as a whole is one of the best public transportation sysyems in the nation, the city is extremely bike friendly as well.

 

2.tons of great food, vegan and veg options too! yelps always solid. my recomendations: east side deli, veggie grill, rudys pizza

 

3.millenium music, everyday music

 

4.great donuts, great people. go to "voodoo too" its accross the river from the main one but half the wait ( if that) also theyre cash only.

 

5. yes its just like the show lived here for my entire childhood, and half of my adulthood.

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Mississippi Records in N. Portland is the best record store in town.
 
]

And possibly one of the best I've ever been to. Was in Portland last year, and ended up staying right near the Mississippi District. Found that store, and went in and spent a whole lot of money, plus had a great chat with one of the guys there. Then I decided to go back and pick up the Anthology of American Folk Music collections (they put those out, so they had them for $25 each). Problem was I was low on cash - probably about $10 short, and they only take cash. Guy just gives me a business card and tells me to send them money by mail when I can, because I was from out of town. In the end my wife caught up with me with $10 (because I would never want to shortchange a store willing to do that). Just a really nice record store experience.

 

In general my whole visit to Portland was amazing. We traveled with a 1-year-old and it was very child-friendly, as well as bike-friendly, pedestrian-friendly, and human-friendly.

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For sure pass on voodoo..they are good, but so many better options. Tonallis Donuts and Cream on Alberta is my personal favorite. I recommend the apple fritters warmed up with a scoop of ice cream on them.

Also check out Escape From New York for pizza. Reallllly good.

Everyone else's recommendations have been spot on as well!

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These recommendations have been spot on for the most part. I'd defintely skip voodoo as well though.

Personally, 2nd avenue records Is my favorite record store in town.

The food recommendations have been great as well. Sizzle pie Is a pretty happening spot, east location has the better bar but it can be a bit overpriced. Vegan options in this city are pretty abundant too if you're into it.

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These recommendations have been spot on for the most part. I'd defintely skip voodoo as well though.

Personally, 2nd avenue records Is my favorite record store in town.

The food recommendations have been great as well. Sizzle pie Is a pretty happening spot, east location has the better bar but it can be a bit overpriced. Vegan options in this city are pretty abundant too if you're into it.

Hay girlfrann. Fancy seeing you here.

Mississippi Records in N. Portland is the best record store in town.

Sizzle Pie has awesome pizza.

Screen Door is the best restaurant in town (in my opinion).

Killer Burger has bangin' burgers.

Blue Star Doughnuts are better than Voodoo, less gimmicky.

You can spend a week in Powell's book store and never see everything there.

Lan Su Chinese Garden is incredible and they have a great tea room. (that'll put you near 2nd Ave Records

[second best in the city], Voodoo Donuts, a weird porn theater, Chinatown, the river, a bunch of food carts and pretty near Powell's and Clyde Common [also incredible food])

Public transit here is excellent.

If the Blazers weren't out of the playoffs I'd tell you to try to get to a game. I've heard Timbers games are a hell of a time.

If you're into beer, there are like...a million breweries around too.

Voodoo is wayyyyy overhyped unless you're vegan, but it's an experience.

We also have Car2Go and Zipcars if you decided you wanted to go out hiking or something.

If it's shitty and rainy out, there's an indoor "3d blacklight" mini golf joint.

Hit GroundKontrol if you like arcades.

We've got some great museums. When I first moved here, one of them had an R. Crumb illustrated bible exhibit that was nuts.

I'll try to think of more.

Randy hit the nail on the head. Sizzle Pie, 2nd Ave. and Mississippi are all highly suggested. And yeah, Voodoo is only worth it unless you are vegan. Same for Sizzle Pie too, really.
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Hay girlfrann. Fancy seeing you here.

Randy hit the nail on the head. Sizzle Pie, 2nd Ave. and Mississippi are all highly suggested. And yeah, Voodoo is only worth it unless you are vegan. Same for Sizzle Pie too, really.

If people are into the whole "boutique pizza" thing, Pinky's is awesome too. I hate recommending it to people because they've gotten wayyyy to busy lately, but they're fucking awesome and I want them to open a second location.

 

I feel similarly about Tonalli's actually, which is why I didn't mention them before. They got a little bit of publicity one time and then every time I'd go they'd be sold out of what I wanted :(

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Hay girlfrann. Fancy seeing you here.Randy hit the nail on the head. Sizzle Pie, 2nd Ave. and Mississippi are all highly suggested. And yeah, Voodoo is only worth it unless you are vegan. Same for Sizzle Pie too, really.

Ayyyeee gurl. Im currently watching a 21 year old mentally challenged sex offender slop mayo on his sandwich. So fun.

If people are into the whole "boutique pizza" thing, Pinky's is awesome too. I hate recommending it to people because they've gotten wayyyy to busy lately, but they're fucking awesome and I want them to open a second location.

 

I feel similarly about Tonalli's actually, which is why I didn't mention them before. They got a little bit of publicity one time and then every time I'd go they'd be sold out of what I wanted :(

I'll defintely check out both of those places. Pinkys seems like a decent spot.

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I definitely took down a lot of this recommendations since I've only been here for 2 months. I think I might have to go to Killer Burger tonight! And definitely want to go to Blue Star. I like the maple bacon bar from VooDoo, but that's it. Everything else is well, just a donut. No big deal there.

 

Anyone know the best place to get pho?

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I definitely took down a lot of this recommendations since I've only been here for 2 months. I think I might have to go to Killer Burger tonight! And definitely want to go to Blue Star. I like the maple bacon bar from VooDoo, but that's it. Everything else is well, just a donut. No big deal there.

 

Anyone know the best place to get pho?

I know of a good place in vancouver but havent found anything great in portland

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I definitely took down a lot of this recommendations since I've only been here for 2 months. I think I might have to go to Killer Burger tonight! And definitely want to go to Blue Star. I like the maple bacon bar from VooDoo, but that's it. Everything else is well, just a donut. No big deal there.

 

Anyone know the best place to get pho?

There's a joint on Alberta that does a spicy seafood soup. It's not traditional pho, but is phocking awesome. ::rimshot:: I can't remember what it's called, I'll ask wifey.

 

Also, Killer Burger on a Friday night?! You're crazy!

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There's a joint on Alberta that does a spicy seafood soup. It's not traditional pho, but is phocking awesome. ::rimshot:: I can't remember what it's called, I'll ask wifey.

 

Also, Killer Burger on a Friday night?! You're crazy!

 

Does it help that I'm going to the one on Sandy and doing take out so I can get drunk at home, and watch No Reservations (appropriately).

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