Portland, Oregon, known as the City of Roses, is a clean, friendly, progressive and diverse metropolitan city. It has held on to its individuality even as it has grown into a regional hub for culture, commerce and cuisine. Portland has a thriving cultural arts scene and an eclectic mix of people. The city's careful urban planning, temperate climate and equidistance to the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains has earned the city a high ranking on the lists of ""best places to live"".
It is a great base for exploring the best of what the Northwest has to offer. Within an hour's drive you can see majestic waterfalls as well as windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge, sampling world-class wine in the lush wine country of the Willamette Valley, or snow-skiing on beautiful snow-capped Mt. Hood. Although Portland is known for rainfall much of the year, this ""emerald green city"" has long, beautifully sunny days from June through September when locals and visitors alike make the most of outdoor activities. Within the city limits alone there are over 100 public parks and up to 70 miles of hiking/walking trails. Portland ranks as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. Bicycle lanes are on most major streets, and many designated bike trails crisscross the metropolitan area.
The wealth of fresh produce harvested in the Willamette Valley and the proximity of fresh seafood has drawn many world-class chefs to the Portland area. While seafood is often featured on many menus, Portland boasts more than 40 different types of cuisine. The city is also known as the nation's microbrew capital as well as for producing some of the world's most exquisite wines.
Portland is home to an array of diverse and unique neighborhoods. The metropolitan area actually has 94 formally recognized neighborhoods but for this site they will be designated as Downtown, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast.
Downtown Portland
The undisputed heart of downtown Portland is Pioneer Courthouse Square. It is often host to musical and cultural events. Nearby, statues of Teddy Roosevelt and Abe Lincoln watch over the South Park Blocks, a twelve-block, tree-lined greenbelt. Parents loll on the grass and watch their children run through the Salmon Street Fountain during the sunny days of summer. Within walking distance are theaters, museums, and shopping at the many department stores and local shops.
Nob Hill
Nob Hill is one of Portland's most dynamic communities. More than 250 thriving brew pubs, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques are featured in many of the restored Victorian and Georgian mansions that grace the tree-lined streets.
Northeast Portland
Many of the older homes have been restored to their former glory in the primarily residential sections of Northeast Portland. This area is also home to The Portland International Airport which is located along the Columbia River.
Northwest Portland
Portland's best-know art district is the Pearl District. Once an old industrial zone, this chic and much loved area vibrates with creative energy in the midst of upscale loft-style apartments, lovely cafes, art galleries and cobblestone streets.
Southeast Portland
A combination of high-density housing and retail activity create one the city's more interesting shopping areas along Hawthorne Boulevard and Belmont Street. The pedestrian-friendly streets are lined with gift and vintage clothing shops as well as an eclectic mix of cafes and coffee shops.
Southwest Portland
The John's Landing area is currently converting from heavy industry to residential with excellent restaurants and upscale condos and shops along the waterfront. Nearby is the Lair's Hill neighborhood, the first protected historical district in Portland.
Portland International Airport provide services to over 120 cities worldwide, including destinations throughout the Pacific Rim. Located at 7000 NE Airport Way.
Serving the Greater Portland, metropolitan region. Portland has one of the best public transportation systems in the country. The city is served by an award-winning system of buses and light-rail trains. It is easy and inexpensive to use. The MAX Blue Line light rail train travels 33 miles serving the western suburbs of Hillsboro and Beaverton, downtown Portland to east Portland and the suburb of Gresham. The MAX Red Line runs between downtown Portland and the airport. Tickets are available from machines at each station and may also be used for the TriMet buses.
The U.S. House has lent support to efforts to restore a Willamette Valley stream degraded over the years by lightly regulated logging, trashy campers and rowdy partiers.
Portland Police Officer Christopher Humphreys, one of the police involved in the 2006 in-custody death of James Chasse, is on administrative leave following another use of force investigation, this case involving a 12-year-old girl.
On Wednesday evening at about 12:15 a.m., Portland Police conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck that was being driven Northbound on Interstate 5 near the Terwilliger Boulevard offramp.
The owners of Cindy's Bookstore, torn down in 2008 after repeated inspections, have sued City Commissioner Randy Leonard, the city, PGE and others for nearly $1 million, arguing Leonard selectively enforced ordinances against businesses he doesn't like.
Portland, Oregon is known for being an environmentally responsive city. Portland is known as the "City of Roses" because its climate is perfect for growing roses.
Via the Oregonian : Oregon opened another chapter in U.S. marijuana history when at 4:20 p.m. Friday, about three dozen people christened the nation's first cafe for licensed residents to sit down, sip coffee and smoke marijuana.
If you've got a mailbox in the city of roses, by now you should have received the official Portland mailer featuring this lady's face: Look familiar? Apparently, this senior citizen is the face of bitchy Portland.
Got a story tip? ryanfrank@news.oregonian.com; 503-221-8519. 1. A do-over on Portland's Burnside Bridgehead: The Portland Development Commission is trying to start over on one of their most troubled redevelopment projects launched in the go-go days of 2005.
Detectives are investigating a Sunday-night Northeast Portland shooting that sent a man to the hospital with injuries not believed to be life threatening.
A 27-year-old man is accused of holding his girlfriend captive, strangling her unconscious and then sexually assaulting her after he became angered that she had smoked his marijuana, according to court records.
Three bodies were discovered Wednesday in a Bethany-area home in what deputies are calling a suspected murder-suicide. Washington County Sheriff's Office detectives were called at about 11:30 a.m. to a house at Oak Creek Drive and Laidlaw Road in northwest Portland.
