Portland, PDX, Bridge City, Stumptown, Rip City, Portlandia!
My eldest daughter’s graduation festivities took place at Western Oregon University, an hour or so from Portland. We decided to drive up for the weekend, stay in Portland and relax, not do too much. However, we did not expect to want more of the city. It buzzes with creativity and welcomes those who dare to go against the grain. I enjoyed walking around downtown, perusing local businesses, enjoying the scenery of the marina, the bridges, the parks and the people.
The city still has shops boarded up due to civil unrest and injustice, which teems from its history and reputation of systemic racism. Murals with BLM depictions and signs are all over the city and in yards sprinkled throughout--easing the tension for any person of color, as we know traveling to places with reputations rooted in overt racism has us on guard and not fully able to enjoy the area.
Is Portland perfect? No, it is not, but what city is?
Of course, I had to check out the food and shopping---we stayed downtown at the Courtyard Marriott City Center, with it's own walk score of 100! We were surrounded by a bevy of reasonable international foods, those darn donuts from Voodoo Donuts-so good, one of the best Zara's on the west coast, Powell's Books--the line was insane, the Portland Saturday Market with one of the best tamales I've eaten from Dona Lola's and tons of really great artisans and food vendors. There was a really cool Punk Meetup at the marina and I really enjoyed Alberta Park and the community engagement event hosted by We Are Black Portland.
We really had a good time, and will definitely be back soon!
