I miss Portland, Oregon.

[WeRQ4U]

I just got back from my sister in law's wedding in Portland. I lived there for 3 years while going to law school and I loved it. I moved away to take a judicial clerkship in my home state. I really miss it because there is so much culture and the people are so "interesting". Where I live now, the diversity is, let's say, "lacking", and there is a drought of culture. It's a small town and there just isn't a whole lot to do.

JUst going back there, going to Saburo's for sushi, taking in a burlesque show in Tom Mccall park at the Tour de Tire Fat Tire festival, going to the market, and just walking around PDX neighborhoods made me really miss it.

All you cats living in PDX have it good.

P.S. What's the deal with these high rise condos I heard about on the waterfront? That would just look like shit. I hope that's just a rumor. If not, too bad for those people living over on McAdam that won't be able to see anything after they're done.

[MissB]

1. Oh, they're putting in the condos

And they've pretty well sold the units before building them, too. They put a clause in there (iirc) to keep people from speculating on the condos.

There is also a tram tower going in just south of there to OHSU. Now *that* pissed a lot of people off.

Portland is a wonderful place. Move back sometime!

[pdx_prog]

2. The condos are going up fast....

I am a transplant from the south. Portland is a cool place.....the beer is amazing out here......traffic is sucking though.....seems to get worse by the day...

[WeRQ4U]

3. That's probably a negative byproduct of urban sprawl laws

I hated it too, but I liked the fact that the city doesn't just sprawl out over miles and miles like many other cities do.

As for the beer, I had a terminal gravity IPA while I was back. I just had to. It's the best beer out there I think.

[GregW]

4. Even better, come on down to Eugene!

All the progressiveness with none of the traffic ... and if you feel like slumming you can always visit Springfield.

I was astounded to see another car (I guess that makes two of us now) with a DU bumper sticker at the credit union drive through on 29th & Willamette.

[WeRQ4U]

6. My brother in law lives in Eugene, I've spent lots of time there.

It's quite the town man. It seems as though every time I'm there, we have a great time. LOVE the feel of that town. I actually like their market better than Portland's too.

We went to the Eugene Celebration the two years prior to this one. Those are always fun times. That is certainly an interesting place to live.

[callous taoboy]

64. Ever get out to the country fair?

What a FREAK show. One of the first things I encountered in Eugene after moving into town from Texas were people wearing potato sacks covered in mud dancing to the drumming circle at the market.

[callous taoboy]

63. Hey, I used to live in Springfield!

But I got over to Eugene every chance I could. Remember when Springfield was the first town in the nation to have some form of anti-gay legislation? Weird how Eugene is just over the bridge from there. Man I miss the Oregon coast! We used to go over there and get all fucked up on KB and shrooms and then go stare at Devil's churn until we couldn't take it any more.

[Omphaloskepsis]

68. U lane O ???

I used to live in the apartments behind the 31 flavours and the piano shop on 25th and Willamette. Eugene rocks... But I live out on River Road now so It is a long bike ride to get to to the bar now..

http://www.sueandpaul.com/gmapPedometer/?centerX=-123.13030242919922¢erY=44.08758502824516&zl=5&fl=m-e-s-145-1&polyline=%7BnzkG%60zhnVQl%60AyS%60@%7BRYQf%5CgS%3FKxCgYPgWb%5B%7DUrKVnIgRfCkd@xNyc@pNojAj%5EczAvf@DxxA_CzGDpG

[northzax]

5. Portland is a small, insular, bitter little place

for those of us who grew up there. While I appreciate everything it has to offer, it's worth noting that only one person in my high school class, out 12 years now, lives in Portland. I love to visit, but living there would drive me absolutely batshit. I am jealous, actually, of the people lucky enough to 'discover' stumptown on their own, at a time they can appreciate it.

Strangely enough, I have good friends who discovered Portland, either through Reed or L+C (I assume you did NW school of Law?) who cannot see the town through my eyes, they see only the great things, while I see it through the prism of historical bias. They are amazed that I could live in Portland and chose not to. It's really a wonderful place to be from, but not a place I could ever live.

[Zomby Woof]

8. I hear ya

I am neither a native nor former resident of the place, but having visited there frequently (lived in WA state many years), I can say that the only reason I would ever go there again is Powell's Bookstore. Otherwise, it's a dreary, soggy little place. Very provincial, very dull.

[WeRQ4U]

10. Dull? Really?

Wow, there are many ways I would describe Portland, but "dull" is never a word that would come to mind. Now "soggy"... that is a word I would use for sure. But only in the Winter. It's anything but soggy now. Everything is actually quite burned up right now.

[Zomby Woof]

11. DULL

Portland dies after 11PM. *crickets chirping*

[WeRQ4U]

13. Ahhhh, you're referring to night life.

Well, I wouldn't notice. I die after about 10. LOL

[Zomby Woof]

17. No, it's dull in the daytime too

24 hours of gray dullness. If it weren't for Powell's, I would have nothing nice to say about the place.

[WeRQ4U]

19. In the winter time, you are absolutely correct.

But if you're trying to say that PDX is Dull and soggy during all 12 months of the year, I can't agree.

They have some of the best summer weather around.

[Zomby Woof]

20. Seattle had better summers

Less hot than Portland. But it isn't really fair to compare Seattle to Portland, because there is no contest.

And sogginess can refer to the temperament of the people more than the climate.

[WeRQ4U]

22. I've never been to Seattle, so I can't compare.

Sounds nice though.

[democracyindanger]

29. Seattle blows.

Complaining about "soggy" PTown while loving Seattle--which actually gets a lot more rain every year--doesn't make much sense.

Seattle sucks. A wannabe/neverwillbe LA.

[Zomby Woof]

52. I live in LA

And compared to LA, Seattle does blow. But Portland compared to Seattle blows even worse.

Seattle isn't as wet as the reputation, but it is as sullen as Portland.

Seattle has more culture and better natural beauty.

[Arugula Latte]

55. I'm sorry, but I've been to LA lots of times and that is a city that blows

I just despise it there. I don't know how you can stand that place.

I grew up in California but I'm lovin' living in Portland.

[Zomby Woof]

67. LA is sunshine and diversity

Culture galore, white people are just another minority, and it is the center of the music universe. People aren't passive-aggressive here like in Portland or Seattle. Here, people will just shoot you if they get angry. LA isn't for the timid.

[ksilvas]

26. The greatest month and half of summer ever!

[JanMichael]

32. Right there with you

and furthermore.....(get ready...put on your flame retardent suit) all the self proclaimed white liberals got on my nerves.

I cried when I said "goodbye" to Powell's...otherwise, Oregon can lump it. I have never met such passive agressive weirdos in my life. Or...(told you it was coming) seen so many white people.

As for Eugene; I have no interest in a town that's population is 97% white. Non whatsoever. And no, I am not interested in reading about anyone's bestest ever black friend that lives there and loves it.

Stephanie

[Zomby Woof]

54. YES

Smug, passive-aggressive, phony white liberals. Birks and bikes, arrogance, and dullness. I forgot how much I hated Oregon.

Their drivers are the worst. ANYWHERE I see an Oregon plate, no matter what state I am in, I get as far away from those fuckers as possible.

Oregon is the reason Meriwether Lewis was suicidal.

[JanMichael]

59. OMG

I had forgotten that I used to tell people that!

"Got to Oregon and got suicidal!"

Ha!

One other funny note: Portland was the ONLY town I could find in "Blue Highways" where William Least Heat Moon couldn't get the hell out of fast enough.

;)

God Bless Powells though.

[WeRQ4U]

9. Yep, went to LC for school.

They just call is Lewis and Clark Law School now though, I don't know why.

Don't get me wrong, there were obviously things that really irked me about the city. The aweful public school system and the piss poor city driving conditions are just a start.

But if you lived in the place where I grew up and now work, you would think PDX was Camelot. I am counting down the days until I get to move to somewhere a little bigger and more connected.

[youspeakmylanguage]

14. I know what you mean...

We visit Seattle for vacation every year (for the past two years), and this year we rented a car and drove to Portland.

I sort-of liked it, but my fiance didn't. It is a beautiful city with a lot of culture, but there is a strange vibe we sensed. The people seemed moody, and even the bums were withdrawn and sullen. It isn't anything I can specifically put my finger on, just a certain oddness and a discontent peering out from under the seams.

It didn't surprise me to find out Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) is a Portland native.

We loved Powell's, though. What a great place!

[northzax]

15. everyone says there's culture in Portland

and yet no one ever points out what that culture is, exactly? there is no real art scene, the music scene is simply marginal, the bars suck, there's little decent food. So that gives us coffee shops, tea houses and microbreweries. gee, whiz.

[WeRQ4U]

18. It's a matter of perspective I guess.

I found Portland to have fairly good amounts of all the things you just listed. I enjoyed first thursday walks through the Portland local art galleries. I took in PLENTY of good music shows at small and large venues alike and I always found good places to eat.

I'm not saying that it's got everything, but it's certainly got a lot more than what we've got where I'm at now.

You must hail from a very prestigious and culture-laden oasis to reduce Portland to simply coffee shops and microbreweries. That or you've never actually spent any quality time there. And I mean absolutely no offense by that. You just have a different conclusion than many I've talked to.

[northzax]

21. I only spent 18 years there

growing up, and every summer in college, and two weeks every year visiting my mom.

so I guess that's not much...

[WeRQ4U]

23. You've stumped me then.

Sorry about the generalization. I didn't notice that you were the same poster as before. oops. I haven't got an answer for you, other than that the standard you set for "culture" is somewhat more exclusive than my own.

You've spent a considerable amount of time there, so I can't argue with you about whether you know PDX or not. You obviously do. But here's a suggestion: Spend 22 years in North Dakota, and then get back to me. The spoiled don't realize what they've got. Sure there are always going to be places where there is more, but when you come from a place where there is significantly less, you appreciate it more.

[swag]

31. Hm. Let's see. Um, culture.

Who lives here?

well, just off the top of my head,

Gus Van Sant
Todd Haynes
The Decembrists
The Shins
The Dandy Warhols
Mel Brown
Ursula K. LeGuin
Chuck Pahlaniuk
Pink Martini

What can you do here?

Go see the massive John Singer Sargent exhibit at the Portland Art Museum
Go see Chamber Music Northwest performances, with musicians who split their time between CMNW duties and Lincoln Center in New York (the summer festival was featured for two weeks recently on PBS's "Performance Now")
Go see John Scofield or Charlie Haden play at Agnes Flanagan Chapel
Go see the Oregon Symphony
Go hear live music at the square during your lunch hour
Go hear live classical for free every Friday at the old church
Hear live jazz any night of the week and any number of venues
Go to the First Thursday art openings at the art galleries in the Pearl, downtown, and old town
Go see repertory and/or downright strange films at the Clinton Street Theater
Go see John Waters' Polyester on the roof of the Mallory Hotel
Go to the Portland Hip Hop festival and see some great rappers and deejays
Go to the PDX Pop Now! festival (just finished) and see what's bubbling up and over in the underground music scene
Go to the beautiful central library and enjoy a flute recital
Try to figure out which band you're going to go see from an embarrassingly rich roster of touring and local bands playing every night of the week
Go to one of the Portland Arts & Lectures events (my favorite was seeing Gore Vidal a couple of years ago)
Go to the week-long Flamenco festival featuring performers, from the grittier working-class Flamenco houses to the more polished troupes, from far-flung Andalusia
Go to a poetry slam, a quieter poetry reading, one of many open-mic nights, one of two yearly huge traditional American pickin' festivals
Go to the Portland International Film Festival
Go to the Portland Independent Film and Video Festival
Go to the Reel Music Festival (music on film)
Go to the North-by-Northwest Music Festival

I mean, that's just a start. I think if a person can be culturally bored here, they maybe don't know what to look for or where to look.

[northzax]

35. that's all you got?

a small art museum, a second rate symphony and a few street fesitvals? that's nothing more than the options in any other city of a million plus. In fact, I wager that, given the lack of an urban research university, it's a bit less.

[WeRQ4U]

37. You obviously don't work for the PDX chamber of commerce

Why the angst? I'm curious. It seems really strange to me that you have gone out of your way to blast a city you spent so much time in, for no logical reason. Would you like me to talk about some other huge city instead? Your contempt is really odd.

[northzax]

39. I just don't see it

to me, Portland doesn't have more, or less, culture than anywhere else, and yet people always call it a place of culture. it doesn't make any sense. Portland is a great place to be upper-middle class and white in. Oregon as a whole is that way. You know, no one ever says Omaha has culture, but it has a better art museum, a better symphony, and every band that plays in the Pearl District also played Omaha on the same tour.

thinks it's cause Portland is the whitest city in America? how many black people are there, exactly, on the city council or the school board? how many represent Portland in Eugene, or Washington? How many live in the Southwest Hills? how many send their children to Jesuit, St. Mary's OES, Catlin, Sunset or Beaverton? how much of the 'culture' in Portland is geared towards upper middle class white people? almost all of it. it's an exclusionary city, in an exclusionary state, blessed with immense geographical beauty.

[JanMichael]

49. Re: your post about racial diversity in Oregon

Go up and read mine: I was there for three years, and was horrified by how "white" the place was--first time I had ever experienced a lack of racial diversity in a state that was supposedly "Liberal."

btw--I am a Southener, and I agree with every single word you wrote, and then some.

Stephanie
3 years of living in Oregon behind this post.

[swag]

53. "Horrified," were you?

Didn't get to the east side of the Willamette river much during your time here, huh?

On an aggregate population level, Portland may deserve its nickname of "h*nkytown," with only about 8% of our population being Africian American, but our integration level is as good as Detroit's (which has a 82% African American population), with around 10% of each city's population living on integrated "black/white" blocks, and we almost match my old city Washington DC's integration level of 11% (DC has 60% African American population).

http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/ETI/integration/integration.htm

At the aggregate population level, you're not even considering the Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and other populations in the city and its burbs.

Come up to my neighborhood next time you're in town. I'll serve you a beer and introduce you to my friends and neighbors.

[JanMichael]

60. sooooo the 8% live on the east side of the Willamette, eh

I was wondering where they were.

What about the rest of that honky state? No offense dude, I am sure you are nice as can be...but, I have never seen that many white people. Idaho was scary white, but I expected it. I only went there to see the Hemingway stuff anyway, and sure wouldn't move there.

Walking in downtown Portland is weird. Sorry, but it is. If you like it, I think that's awesome---I really do...but, I would rather stay down here in the South and live right beside my racially mixed neighbors...admit we have problems....and work on them. Portlanders, but more especially Eugeners, are in massive denial.

Stephanie

[swag]

62. So your criterion for "liberalism" of a locality is the percentage of

African Americans? Very progressive.

I'd love to hear the details of your transcontinental bussing program.

[swag]

38. Have it your way.

Enjoy your "Leave it to Beaver" reruns.

[Arugula Latte]

57. It's interesting yo got that impression about the people.

When we moved here 10 years ago, we were actually pleasantly surprised by the politeness and friendliness. I love raising kids here. We have lots of nice, funny, liberal parent friends.

You know where I lived (briefly) where I didn't like the people? Denver.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

7. You're in one of the Dakotas now, right?

One of my law school classmates is from Portland, Oregon. She ended up in Pittsburgh because of her husband's medical residency.

[WeRQ4U]

12. Yeah. I live in the Badlands of North Dakota

It's a fairly pretty area, but there jsut isn't anything here. I have two year judicial clerkship that I couldn't pass up, so I moved back. But as soon as it's done, I'm outta here.

[flamingyouth]

16. Portland is a neat city.

I love Powell's - possibly the greatest bookstore on earth. I have spent days in there on occasion.

[ksilvas]

24. I lived there for four long years, but

don't get me wrong puddletown was good to me I lived past the west hills in hillsdale,
then 2blocks from Montgomry Park, north off of Alberta, and finally east around Foster past the freeway. I saw alot of the city.
The beer was great but lets face it you could go broke buying pints in p'town and PBR is still shit no matter how cool the locals find it and Rainier pounders are still
Rainier, besides almost every city now has a decent local Microbrewry that can make
an overhopped IPA.
The locals are down right hostile, but subtle and lowkey about it like passive aggressive,
like the weather. I mean it was a segregated town until like the 70's.
Mushroom hunting in fall for chantrelles, hedgehogs and such was very cool,
probably what I miss the most.
The mcminnimems pub theaters rocked!
The traffic sucked but that always sucks, traffic in 9 months of freakin rain sucked.
Thats right 9 months of rain, no not a misty gentle drizzle, rain. some times hard rain
some times soft rain but rain. 9 months of solid grey skies with no sun except mabey 3days in Jan. when it stopped raining and got butt ass cold. Then more rain till June, end of June.
Yea, there was a bit of culture but most people ignored it. Went to a great Africa festival,
Papa Wemba, Cheik Lo, lot of big names, 12$ to get in 7$ beer, small crowd and 70% were
african nationals up front singing along. It was cool but hardly the city celebrating diversity.
Portlands progressive attitude is worn like a tie dye bought at the market over a blue collar
olympia drinking dock worker who couldn't give two shits about diversity, saving forests,
pygmy owls, or wild salmon.
Speaking of salmon, for being so close to the ocean Portland can't seem to cook seafood,
If its not Halibut or Salmon or variations of the two together, forget it.
Now I'm from the southern gulf coast and when you go into a seafood market there is a pretty over whelming choice of seafood, I guess I got spoiled, but then again
I thought the Pacific Ocean was so much bigger than the Gulf.
I could always find a job and the scenery was amazing. Camping was a bit of an adventure,
I froze my ass off in July near Mt. Jefferson. but hey it's high.
Sorry to rant but I guess Portland left a big impression on me.

[WeRQ4U]

28. Would you like some cheese with that whine? lol

Oh you poor poor souls. Living in that horrible place.

1. If you think that the rain in Portland is "rain", come to the midwest and sit through a couple weeks of thunderstorms... straight. Believe me, it's drizzle.

2. If you think that January is "butt ass cold", again, come to the midwest and sit through a nice January blizzard season where the wind chill dips to minus 50. Believe me, it's not cold.

3. If you think that you can find microbrews everywhere, come to where I live. It's hard to find a good, hoppy, IPA anywhere. If you want good beer, how does 10 bucks a six pack sound?

4. If you think that Portland lacks cultural and racial diversity, come to North Dakota for a week. Norwegian and Czech does not count. Believe me, there is diversity there.

5. If you think that you have it tough because you can only get salmon and halibut prepared in umpteen ways, but can't get more exotic stuff, then come to the midwest for a while. Here, we eat fishsticks. If you want any other type of fish you either a) catch it yourself or b) pay out the ass for frozen stuff. Believe me, your seafood is AOK.

6. FINALLY - If you think Portland is some red state coverup, then you REALLY need to come over here for a while. Come to where I live. You'll understand what you actually have in Portland. North Dakota has about 6 liberals living there. Believe me, Portland is progressive.

END of RANT. I just had to add that.

[ksilvas]

43. Yea, Yea I hear Ya,

My wife is from Iowa City and most of her friends there were from Chicago,
every time I would say it was cold they would look at me and snicker.
And believe me, being from Pensacola (burn down abortion clinics) Florida, I know a little about the Red States.
I fully concede, Portland is probably Shang Gri La, compared to North Dakota.

[swag]

25. I am enjoying all the disparagement.

I love it here. I live up in the Alberta Arts District, and the restaurants, bars, clubs, galleries, cafes and neighborhood are vibrant as fuck. I adore hanging around Mississippi Ave.

We've got great live jazz, great live classical music, excellent rock clubs, great dance clubs, great beer, great wine, great coffee, sexy fucking people.

We're an hour away from the Columbia Gorge and some of the most glorious hiking trails in existence, and the ocean is not much farther the other way.

I could go on about the bike-friendly culture, the great public transportation system, etc., but it's time to go finish some work I was doing.

I do love reading the opinions of the haters, though. Either we have profoundly different tastes in living, or you really haven't been here.

[Tom Kitten]

27. me too

Some people seem to love wallowing in their own ignorance.

[Rambis]

30. Have them do a billboard

All you Portland haters should do a billboard for the Cali/OR border. Discourage all people you know from moving there. Personally, I would love to be sitting at the Barley Mill right now having a Rubinator (3/4 Terminator 1/4 Ruby Ale).
"I hope you are all enjoying the Rose festival this year, catch the fireworks last night" Cousin J. Hardin Leaky Roof tavern 1988

[WeRQ4U]

33. Rubinator is a good beer.

Always had them with the "communication breakdown burger" at the Ram's Head in NW.

[swag]

34. Ahhh, rubinator.

Give a shout before you come back. I'll enjoy one of those with you.

[Rambis]

40. I can do that

I would love to hit the Space Room for some Jumbo margs and downers:evilgrin: I have no idea when I am going to get back there though. One friend moved to that big crowded city in Washington state, one to spain, one to Cali and the ones that are still there have a bunch of kids. :toast:

[swag]

41. Was drinking Bloody Marys at the Space Room once with some

friends including this big ol' guy who was so proud of the Cuban cigars he was smoking. That older Lucille Ball type waitress popped his bubble when she came to deliver another round of drinks by growling, "What are ya smokin' there? Dog turds?"

Yeah, give a yell.

[MissB]

42. Oh God. I love the Space Room.

I used to live just across the street from there (on Hawthorne).

[Rambis]

44. Lucille is still there!

That is classic Space room banter my friend. The first time I walked in she was picking up some ludes off the floor of a guy who walked through the door and fell flat faced down in the dirt. She said..."hey Charlie you dropped somethin" and handed him the pills while serving him a fishbowl of something red. LOL!

[WeRQ4U]

45. The space room. Damn that place was great.

Wasn't there long island teas or something there that could knock a guy on his ass?

[Rambis]

46. Yes

The Spanish coffee I had there one night almost put me into a coma! It was a good thing it was the first of the evening or it would have.

[WeRQ4U]

48. We went there quite a bit.

One time in particular, we went after our finals. I had something in a giant bowl. It tasted good but after it was gone, I was absolutely blasted.

[MalibuChloe]

47. Portland, Oregon and slow gin fizz

if that aint love then tell me what is...

uh-huuuuh!

(from the song "Portland, Oregon" from Loretta Lynn's new CD with Jack White. Get it at yout local record shop today!)

:-)

[dback]

36. We're moving to Hillsboro/Portland from San Jose in 3 weeks

The poster who was talking about "small, bitter city" should spend some time in San Francisco. Talk about a place that's declining more every day, yet becomes more abrasively smug and loudly narcissistic with every turn of the calendar. I actually like the city, but I can never love it because it's too busy loving itself. San Jose is a nice town (actually reminds me of Eugene with its cute,
walkable cute downtown), but there's not a lot of "culture" here like in SF, though the local theaters and clubs try hard.

I figure, everyone on the West Coast who can't afford SF or Seattle and don't want to live in Southern California is heading to Portland. It feels like the Pacific Northwest I loved growing up 30 years ago, but without that caffinated edge Seattle's developed. And we bought a house, and will be 20 minutes from downtown on MAX.

[Arugula Latte]

56. Welcome back to the Northwest!!!!

And to Portland in particular! (BTW, I grew up in the Bay Area ... I miss some things about it there, but we love it here in Portland.)

:hi:

[JanMichael]

61. In Hillsboro, you can buy one of those super caffinated coffee yuppie

things with the adult sippy top at the gas station.

[enigami]

50. I am going there next week

I'll say hello for ya

[WeRQ4U]

51. Please do.

If you see the strange guy who dresses up like Elvis and plays the guitar (poorly) at the Saturday Market, give him some change for me will ya? I'll get you back sometime.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

58. I spent ten years in Portland and loved it until it stopped working

on a personal level. (For one thing, a surprising number of friends moved away or died.)

I'm back in my hometown of Minneapolis, which is better in many ways, but I still miss the following things;

1. First and foremost, the transit system, which freed me from the expense and hassle of owning a car.

2. Chamber Music Northwest and those picnics under the pines at Catlin Gable

3. The Portland International Film Festival, which unlike the Twin Cities Festival, is held in theaters that are mostly within walking distance of one another

4. Seeing mountains from my kitchen window

5. Being able to walk and bike all year without freezing to death

6. Availability of Asian culture

[northzax]

71. 'el' actually

sorry, we have to defend the spelling of the old school...that whole area has blown up so much you wouldn't recognise it, Honey Hollow is the only refuge left on Barnes Road, alas

[callous taoboy]

65. The Blue Moon Tavern rocks! n/t

[swag]

66. Many happy pints hoisted there.

[WeRQ4U]

76. I actually spent a lot of time across the street. at the Silver Dollar too

They have really good pizza and decent beer prices. There is also a decent juke box.

We watched a LOT of Vikings games on that big TV in there. Played a lot of pool too.

[aaronbees]

69. Portland was the right place at the right time...

for me. I loved living there in the mid 90s to late 90s for six years and visiting frequently when in WA (seattle and spokane, both good but neither compared). Reasons to love Portland are myriad for me: long walks from downtown up Hawthorne, the bridges (especially the Steel Bridge), a weekly circus like Saturday market, bars and clubs that rock (late), amazing restaurants for breakfast, busses getting you anywhere in the city, Pioneer Square (a big living room for the city), the Vern and Beauhlahland and Shanghai Tunnel, groceries with some some diverse and healthy food, Coffee People, Mt. Tabor (and the other hills in town), the art museum and Cinema 21, the overwhelming number of young folks, cozy neighborhoods like the Alberta area, vicinity to mountains and the ocean. Bah, I could go on and on. I think stumptown is limited in ways, particularly in the lack of diversity (you have to search it out and it's worth it) and the aforementioned passive-aggressive nature (which I think is due to the combo of rainy days, size and comfort of the city). I needed to leave when I bolted town and headed to grad school, but I've since held that town in my heart as the place that's always home ... And while they drove me batty at times, Portland folks were the most open, thoughtful and creative I've met.

So, I miss it too, and the haters can wallow in what they missed ... :P

[enigmatic]

70. I love Portland

I've spent alot of time there and almost moved there a couple of times before ending up in other cities; I wish I had. Great music scene, and my favorite band (Richmond Fontaine) is based there. And Powell's Books, too..

I'll defend it to anybody.

[Tom Kitten]

72. I live in Portland

and I like what you say...And I like your taste in music...I'm amazed by some of the negativity vented towards my hometown, it is indeed far from perfect what what place really isn't?

I have never found this city to be boastful, in fact I think it has an inferority complex.

[swag]

73. Funny. I reread some of the more caustic posts today and it dawned that

adjectives like "bitter" and "insular" were classic Freudian "projections," (and I'm no Freudian). Insignificant grouses against a city. A exercised desire to stake a proprietary claim ("Oh, my subject has come up!") coupled with an equally strong desire to shit all over the subject, all on grounds harshly asserted but completely undefended.

[enigmatic]

74. I can't take that stuff seriously

I grew up in Clevo, so I've heard it all in regards to that kind of stuff.

Let them wallow in ther own bile; don't let it bother you. And see Richmond Fontaine in town when they come back from their Euro Tour!

[Tom Kitten]

75. your attitude is best

after all why bother with bullshit? I hate internecine warfare by its very existence.

I always have a sense of humor but I have to say I was disturbed by some posts in this thread and it makes me feel twice about who my supposedly trusted fellow posters are...

But if people are gonna crap on my town I will try to defend it.

Of course, being an Oregonin, as passive-agressively as possible! :)

[WeRQ4U]

77. I like the way you think.

I loved the city. I didn't grow up there and although I tried to get a good feel of everything I could, I obviously didn't see everything. I had to try and defend against some of the more negative posts in response to what I thought was a very positive thread on my part.

Sure that city has it's downfalls, but so has every other city I've lived in. It will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart.