If you have a chance, try to find works from Modern Masters including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas as well as contemporary pop artist Roy Lichtenstein.ĭuring my stay in the city, the museum presented The Shape of Speed: Streamlined Automobiles and Motorcycles, 1930–1942, a special exhibition which featured rare streamlined automobiles and motorcycles. I loved the galleries featuring Asian and Native American art. The museum boasts a collection of over 42,000 objects reflecting the history of art from ancient times to today. Founded in 1892, the museum is one of the oldest art museums in the country and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. The Pearl District was formerly a neglected corridor of abandoned warehouses and railways, but in recent years, it has been revitalized and quite trendy.Ībout a mile walk from the hotel is the Portland Art Museum. The fairly new property is also located within steps of wonderful restaurants, boutiques and art galleries, so I would highly recommend it especially if you have never been to Portland. Hood, a fully-equipped fitness center, and indoor pool. The rooms were nicely furnished but the standouts of the hotel are definitely the rooftop patio with panoramic views of the city and Mt. I decided to stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located in the Pearl District neighborhood, mostly for its location, but also for the complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi.
I'd research each before you visit so you can determine which venue you'll enjoy the most. The main establishments in the area include: Scandal's, Crush, Local Lounge, Silverado, Eagle, CC Slaughter's and Stag. Portland has no shortage of gay bars and clubs, but as I was told by a local member of the community, it is surprising there aren't even more options given the high LGBT population in the region. If you have time, visit the Teahouse to enjoy a cup of Chinese oolong paired with an assortment of steamed dumplings or noodles. The garden's name can be loosely interpreted as Garden of Awakening Orchids. Once inside the garden's walls, you'll feel as if you've traveled through time.
Lan Su was built by Chinese artisans from Suzhou and is one the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China. The garden came about as a result of a collaboration between the cities of Portland and Suzhou, China. Not too far away is Lan Su Chinese Garden, one of Portland's greatest treasures and a very interesting site to visit. They also offer an extensive program of films, lectures, and concerts throughout the year, which cover a wide range of topics relating to Jewish art, culture, and heritage. The museum features rotating exhibitions that showcase Jewish contributions to world culture, issues of Jewish identity, and the forces of prejudice. The museum explores the legacy of the Jewish experience in Oregon and teaches the universal lessons of the Holocaust. I wasn't aware of the city's extensive Jewish community. Being of Jewish decent, I found it fascinating that this particular attraction would be located in Portland. My first stop in Portland was The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education. I think it's safe to say that Portland may have the highest concentration of rainbow flags per capita than any city I have visited thus far. What was obvious from the start were the abundance of rainbow flags scattered throughout the city. The entire downtown area is pretty much walkable, with many of the city's main attractions located within a few miles of each other. But, why try to be Seattle? Just be Portland. I did however speak to some locals and they told me the city has been going through a bit of an identity crisis as of late as they try to compete with Seattle's economic boom, mostly driven by Amazon and other tech firms. When I first arrived, I got the feeling that I was in a smaller version of Seattle, but as I spent time in Portland, I quickly discovered that it had a life of its own. After years of seeing Norm and other friends post breathtaking photos on social media, I thought it was time to give Portland a try. He loved the free-spirited nature of the community as well as the abundance of outdoor activities available outside the city.
For years, my former boss at South Florida Gay News would rave about Portland, Oregon.