Guidebook for the Neighborhood
Food Scene
Italian, with emphasis on vegetables. One of the restaurants that put Portland (and Division Street) on the culinary map. Walking distance from JB Home. Go early and/or make reservations
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Ava Gene's
3377 SE Division StItalian, with emphasis on vegetables. One of the restaurants that put Portland (and Division Street) on the culinary map. Walking distance from JB Home. Go early and/or make reservations
Primarily a bakery, with fine pastries, bread and sandwiches at lunch. Great coffee. A bit chic/modern, but quality products. A few blocks away.
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Little T American Baker
2600 SE Division StPrimarily a bakery, with fine pastries, bread and sandwiches at lunch. Great coffee. A bit chic/modern, but quality products. A few blocks away.
Mexican/Latin menu; a bit upscale but high quality; the mole's and margarita's are muy sabroso. Across the street from Bar Avignon
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Nuestra Cocina
2135 SE Division StMexican/Latin menu; a bit upscale but high quality; the mole's and margarita's are muy sabroso. Across the street from Bar Avignon
Tiny restaurant, with classic Scandinavian breakfasts. Highly recommended for breakfast, and a few minutes walk from the house.
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Broder Café
2508 SE Clinton StTiny restaurant, with classic Scandinavian breakfasts. Highly recommended for breakfast, and a few minutes walk from the house.
Iconic Portland ice cream destination. Long lines in the summer, though. Up the street from the house.
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Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta StIconic Portland ice cream destination. Long lines in the summer, though. Up the street from the house.
Best pizza in the neighborhood; about 7 blocks from the house. Very small dining area
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Scottie's Pizza Parlor
2128 SE Division StBest pizza in the neighborhood; about 7 blocks from the house. Very small dining area
Just round the corner; Indian street food, not movies. Open for lunch, too.
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Bollywood Theater
2039 NE Alberta StJust round the corner; Indian street food, not movies. Open for lunch, too.
Drinks & Nightlife
Well, it's a beer bar, so no spirits or food. (You can order food from several restaurants a block away.) Always interesting beers on tap, mostly regional, and a multitude of bottled and canned beers. Serious beer drinkers only. A short bike ride away
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The BeerMongers
2415 SE Division StWell, it's a beer bar, so no spirits or food. (You can order food from several restaurants a block away.) Always interesting beers on tap, mostly regional, and a multitude of bottled and canned beers. Serious beer drinkers only. A short bike ride away
One of the best, innovative breweries in Portland. No food but there's a food truck on premise and a taco truck across the street. Bit far for a walk from the house, but a short bike ride.
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Gigantic Brewing
5224 SE 26th AveOne of the best, innovative breweries in Portland. No food but there's a food truck on premise and a taco truck across the street. Bit far for a walk from the house, but a short bike ride.
Organic beers and bike friendly. Very Portland but it's on Powell Boulevard, not exactly a walking street, but you can take a ramble through the neighborhood to it. Better than average pub food and always a good selection of well made beers. There's a fairly large family section.
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Hopworks Urban Brewery
2944 SE Powell BlvdOrganic beers and bike friendly. Very Portland but it's on Powell Boulevard, not exactly a walking street, but you can take a ramble through the neighborhood to it. Better than average pub food and always a good selection of well made beers. There's a fairly large family section.
One of Portland's few remaining dive bars, specializing in broasted chicken (whatever that is), and populated by real Portlanders (whoever they are). Cheap beer and fairly raucus. If you're in search of the Portland dive bar hipster, (a good name for a band?) try Dot's half a block away. Or the Clinton Street Pub (local hipsters who don't know they're hipsters.)
Welcome to Dive Bar Central, mere blocks from the JB Home.
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Reel M Inn
2430 SE Division StOne of Portland's few remaining dive bars, specializing in broasted chicken (whatever that is), and populated by real Portlanders (whoever they are). Cheap beer and fairly raucus. If you're in search of the Portland dive bar hipster, (a good name for a band?) try Dot's half a block away. Or the Clinton Street Pub (local hipsters who don't know they're hipsters.)
Welcome to Dive Bar Central, mere blocks from the JB Home.
Oregon has an Albanian (no offense to modern day Albania) approach to buying bottles of hard liquor...you have to buy it in state controlled liquor stores. However, the stores are owned and run by independent operators. It means the prices are the same in every liquor store, but the quality of service and selection varies considerably. One of my local favorites is the Westmoreland store, a neighborhood away. Closer is 11th Ave liquor on Hawthorne Blvd (they have a fine cigar selection, too). Further afield but still on the blessed East Side is Hollywood Liquor, which appears as though it should actually be in Hollywood. Buy a bottle and have a dram back at the JB Home.
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Westmoreland Liquor Store
7207 SE Milwaukie AveOregon has an Albanian (no offense to modern day Albania) approach to buying bottles of hard liquor...you have to buy it in state controlled liquor stores. However, the stores are owned and run by independent operators. It means the prices are the same in every liquor store, but the quality of service and selection varies considerably. One of my local favorites is the Westmoreland store, a neighborhood away. Closer is 11th Ave liquor on Hawthorne Blvd (they have a fine cigar selection, too). Further afield but still on the blessed East Side is Hollywood Liquor, which appears as though it should actually be in Hollywood. Buy a bottle and have a dram back at the JB Home.
All the places I've recommended in this section are within walking or biking distance of the John Barleycorn Home. When guests arrive, they get a guide to all the cool places in the neighborhood and across the city. The Teardrop is my favorite cocktail bar, one of the first and still mixing lovely stuff. (The Rookery, the Bit House, the Bible Club aren't far behind) Just wanted to plug the complimentary JB Guides.
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Teardrop Lounge
1015 NW Everett StAll the places I've recommended in this section are within walking or biking distance of the John Barleycorn Home. When guests arrive, they get a guide to all the cool places in the neighborhood and across the city. The Teardrop is my favorite cocktail bar, one of the first and still mixing lovely stuff. (The Rookery, the Bit House, the Bible Club aren't far behind) Just wanted to plug the complimentary JB Guides.
Sightseeing
Should be under Parks and Nature, but there's a lot of sightseeing to do in and around Forest Park...the tranquil Japanese Gardens, Pittock Mansion, the arboretum and the zoo. And a plethora of trails and hikes.
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Forest Park
Should be under Parks and Nature, but there's a lot of sightseeing to do in and around Forest Park...the tranquil Japanese Gardens, Pittock Mansion, the arboretum and the zoo. And a plethora of trails and hikes.
One of the first neighborhood streets in Portland to become Portlandia-esque. Packed with eclectic shops, independent restaurants, pretty cool bars. An interesting street to walk and explore, and based on a genuine art & craft culture.
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Northeast Alberta Street
Northeast Alberta StreetOne of the first neighborhood streets in Portland to become Portlandia-esque. Packed with eclectic shops, independent restaurants, pretty cool bars. An interesting street to walk and explore, and based on a genuine art & craft culture.
Not that far from Alberta Street, and more of a compact walking experience, the heavily gentrified Mississippi Ave is less artsy than Alberta but still packed with good intentions and interesting Portland experiences, drink, food and culture related.
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North Mississippi Avenue
North Mississippi AvenueNot that far from Alberta Street, and more of a compact walking experience, the heavily gentrified Mississippi Ave is less artsy than Alberta but still packed with good intentions and interesting Portland experiences, drink, food and culture related.
Hawthorne Boulevard is a short walk from the John Barleycorn Home, and unlike Division Street, Alberta and Mississippi, really hasn't changed that much in 25 years. More of a hippy vibe still going on and a fun street to eat and shop independent.
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Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardHawthorne Boulevard is a short walk from the John Barleycorn Home, and unlike Division Street, Alberta and Mississippi, really hasn't changed that much in 25 years. More of a hippy vibe still going on and a fun street to eat and shop independent.
Two reasons: the Portland Farmers Market takes place in 3 downtown locations on different days (the most extensive one is on the Park Blocks, on Saturdays, a few blocks away). A good place to experience the farm to table culture and mingle with erudite Portlanders. And Pioneer Courthouse Square is known as the city's living room. It was going to be a parking lot, but erudite city leaders (where are they now?) made it a town square instead. There's traveler information about Portland and Oregon here, and you can buy nifty public transport passes.
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Pioneer Courthouse Square
701 SW 6th AveTwo reasons: the Portland Farmers Market takes place in 3 downtown locations on different days (the most extensive one is on the Park Blocks, on Saturdays, a few blocks away). A good place to experience the farm to table culture and mingle with erudite Portlanders. And Pioneer Courthouse Square is known as the city's living room. It was going to be a parking lot, but erudite city leaders (where are they now?) made it a town square instead. There's traveler information about Portland and Oregon here, and you can buy nifty public transport passes.
Parks & Nature
A nice park close by for easy walks through native habitat, streams and ponds. Beautiful when the rhodies and cherry trees are in bloom
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Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
5801 SE 28th AveA nice park close by for easy walks through native habitat, streams and ponds. Beautiful when the rhodies and cherry trees are in bloom
A bit far out, but there's lovely moderate hikes and walks through a landscape of native trees and plants
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Leach Botanical Garden
6704 SE 122nd AveA bit far out, but there's lovely moderate hikes and walks through a landscape of native trees and plants
A nice way to explore wetland habitat and nature close in
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Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
10830 Southeast Oaks Park WayA nice way to explore wetland habitat and nature close in
Shopping
An old Portland and Division street icon, still making leather motorcycle gear...bikers, police and a handful of celebrities (some with motorcycles, even) shop here. Waiting list for a custom made jacket might be a year, though.
Langlitz Leathers
2443 SE Division StAn old Portland and Division street icon, still making leather motorcycle gear...bikers, police and a handful of celebrities (some with motorcycles, even) shop here. Waiting list for a custom made jacket might be a year, though.
A throwback to the communitarian, hippy days of Portland yore. It's a well-run co-op with everything organic and bulk and healthy. And there's a nice wee Farmers market every Wednesday afternoon
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People's Food Co-op
3029 SE 21st AveA throwback to the communitarian, hippy days of Portland yore. It's a well-run co-op with everything organic and bulk and healthy. And there's a nice wee Farmers market every Wednesday afternoon
She Bop
3213 SE Division StClassy self gratification for women. And for sharing, too
An iconic Oregon brand, loved and worn by Oregonians young and old. Pendleton blankets (great wedding gifts!) and everything you could imagine, from coffee mugs to beach towels.
Pendelton Woolen Mill Store
8500 SE McLoughlin BlvdAn iconic Oregon brand, loved and worn by Oregonians young and old. Pendleton blankets (great wedding gifts!) and everything you could imagine, from coffee mugs to beach towels.
Essentials
A bit bourgie (that's bourgeous) but the quality is high with emphasis on local food and drink products. Cheese and fruit selection is good. Bring your own grocery bag or you'll be cast out of the community forever. I get my bread at Little T, my wine at Division Wine or Trader Joe's, my beer at Clinton Market or Beermonger's, my cigars at 11th Ave Liquor, my meat at Sheridan's and my whisky at Westmoreland Liquor. All the major food groups covered and all are in the southeast. There's a Plaid Pantry (locally owned) for quickie stuff just a few blocks away on Division.
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New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division StA bit bourgie (that's bourgeous) but the quality is high with emphasis on local food and drink products. Cheese and fruit selection is good. Bring your own grocery bag or you'll be cast out of the community forever. I get my bread at Little T, my wine at Division Wine or Trader Joe's, my beer at Clinton Market or Beermonger's, my cigars at 11th Ave Liquor, my meat at Sheridan's and my whisky at Westmoreland Liquor. All the major food groups covered and all are in the southeast. There's a Plaid Pantry (locally owned) for quickie stuff just a few blocks away on Division.
Entertainment & Activities
Providence Park
1844 SW Morrison StPortland Timbers and Portland Thorns, that's why
Lents Park
4808 SE 92nd Ave Portland Pickles baseball, that's why
Very Clinton Street Corner. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been showing every Saturday at midnight since last century. Movies you've never heard of, too.
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Clinton Street Theater
2522 SE Clinton StVery Clinton Street Corner. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been showing every Saturday at midnight since last century. Movies you've never heard of, too.
Not too far away; 5 minutes by Lyft or Uber. Live music; not the big acts (that would be at the Schnitzer downtown), but solid artists who have paid their dues
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Aladdin Theater
3017 SE Milwaukie AveNot too far away; 5 minutes by Lyft or Uber. Live music; not the big acts (that would be at the Schnitzer downtown), but solid artists who have paid their dues
The local high school, Cleveland, is just a few blocks away. (Both my kids went there). The track is a fun place to watch the sports teams during their seasons: soccer, lacrosse, track. The football team, not so much. Good place for a jog, too
Cleveland High School Track & Sports Field
3459 SE 31st AveThe local high school, Cleveland, is just a few blocks away. (Both my kids went there). The track is a fun place to watch the sports teams during their seasons: soccer, lacrosse, track. The football team, not so much. Good place for a jog, too