Post details: Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Steve and I just got back from a whole week in Portland.
The light rail system is to die for. Between the light rail, streetcars and buses, you can get anywhere in Portland. A year pass is $408, less than a UofM blue pass. We walked to a MAX stop at 6:30 this morning and took a train to the airport. It was wonderful.
Mixed-use buildings are everywhere. Portland has hundreds of bars, party stores and restaurants within residential neighborhoods. People sell food out of trailers parked at the edge of downtown parking lots. Commerce is thriving, to the point that high-end shopping occupies most retail storefronts downtown.
Skateboarding is really popular. There are signs marking the best skateboarding route through town. Lots of skateboard shops.
The strip joints for men and women are very different. Steve and the guys went to a place where the female strippers are up on stage and can't be touched, even to get tips. I went to a cabaret/female impersonator show followed by male strippers who collected dollar bills from the bras of young brides with their teeth.
Everything in Portland is really clean. I went to a bar downtown (Embers I think). It was supposed to be a popular gay bar. A girl in the bathroom remarked that it must be the dirtiest bar in Portland. There wasn't a cigarette on the floor or spilled drink anywhere. The decor was neon and glass block, but everyone was wearing light colored t-shirts and sandals. No dog collars, no outfits made of electrical tape. Not at all like Detroit.
We drove MLK Blvd, "the worst part of town" and it was like Ypsi, but cleaner with better maintained empty storefronts. No diesel exhaust on the buildings. The park between the Performing Arts Center and the new Art Museum has been completely taken over by drug addicts and cart people. They were the only people that looked like they would fit in in Ypsi.
Portland is nice, but it's too much like Ann Arbor (with better restaurants).
Thai food?
Seafood eatery w/ fish statue.
Record store, clothing store and residential buildings across from Powell's bookstore on Burnside and Powell.
