Northwest Portland

Northwest is the Mecca of the fashion elite in Portland. Situated close to downtown, which means walking access to school, shops and the everyday bustle, Portland’s Northwest district is the place where a lot of students, affluent and thrifty alike, live and hang out.

The Northwest quadrant of the Rose City, often seen as Portland’s Greenwich Village, boasts an array of boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops and anything else needed for a socialite or student on the prowl for the hippest nightspot or place to study.

With a combination of the almost-too-clean and ritzy Pearl District, along with the historic “Alphabet District” (although, no one who lives here actually calls it that), the Northwest area of Portland is a conglomerate of aesthetics, suitable for all living situations.

It has an abundance of studio apartments and its fair share of high rises, something you cannot find in Southeast or Northeast. If you look really carefully, you can find affordable housing in one of the many buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Along with Northwest’s numerous attractions, it also is a centrally located district in terms of access to other parts of Portland. You could easily walk or bike to campus, or hop on the streetcar that runs through a considerable plot of Northwest and stops right in front of PSU. It has a couple of MAX stops within its boundaries and various bus lines going throughout town and all the way out to Sauvie Island.

Another great, but often forgotten, feature of Northwest Portland is Forest Park.

According to the Portland Parks and Recreation Department, Forest Park is the largest urban forest reserve in the United States. Right after you grab a coffee and some lunch on trendy Northwest 23rd Avenue, you can go a couple of blocks and hike it up on the Wildwood Trail in Forest Park. Afterwards, feel free to stop by the Oregon Zoo, or just stroll over to the Pittock Mansion for a view of the city.

The point is there really are endless possibilities on how to spend your day in Northwest Portland.

Top 10 places:

Coffeehouse Northwest1951 W. Burnside St. 503-248-2133With Stumptown coffee, friendly staff and oh-so-perfect drinks from people who spend their waking lives living, breathing and drinking coffee, this is the place to go for a cup of Joe.

Coho Productions2257 N.W. Raleigh St. 503-220-2646Sure, it’s not Portland Center Stage’s Armory theatre, but Coho puts on quarterly 24-hour play fests and avant-garde productions for those who are trying to break into the biz.

Escape from New York Pizza622 N.W. 23rd Ave. 503-227-5423The perfect combination: Pizza just like in the Big Apple but without the price, and it’s right at your doorstep.

Hollywood Video2011 W. Burnside St.503-223-3949Boasting the largest selection of movies in the state of Oregon, plus a great Criterion Collection corner, and staying open till 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, there really isn’t a need to go anywhere else.

Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant1201 N.W. 21st Ave. 503-248-9442Sit on pillows and be treated like royalty for a night. Belly dancers too! With that trifecta, it’s official, this is the perfect place to spend a fancy date with that special someone.

Powell’s City of Books1005 W. Burnside St. 503-228-4651If you don’t appreciate Powell’s, than get the hell out of Portland. Lose yourself for days inside the world’s largest independent bookstore, and make sure to check out the rare book room on the fourth floor.

Rose’s Restaurant and Bakery838 N.W. 23rd Ave.503-222-5292From simple to complex cakes, brownies, cookies and pie (!) this diner has something for everyone. And it is easily the best dessert eatery in the district. My personal favorite: the cinnamon roll sundae.

Seaplane827 N.W. 23rd Ave. 503-234-2409Offering beautiful, delicate and unique clothing from designers stationed here and abroad, Seaplane is a breath of fresh air in the trendy-third area, where corporate chains, like urban outfitters, also set up shop.

Stepping Stone Cafe2390 N.W. Quimby St. 503- 222-1132They have cinnamon roll French toast. Nuff said.

The Matador1967 W. Burnside St.503-222-5822Sure, it’s gotten too cool for its own good, but this bar is like a bad habit–you just can’t, and don’t want to, shake it.

The essentials:

Foodstuffs:Food Front Cooperative Grocery2375 N.W. Thurman St.503-222-5658

Fred Meyer 100 N.W. 20th Place503-273-2004

Trader Joe’s2122 N.W. Glisan St.971-544-0788

Whole Foods Market1210 N.W. Couch St.503-525-4343 Zupan’s Burnside2340 W. Burnside St. 503-497-1088

Bus lines and streetcar stops to PSU:

While there are four buses that service Northwest, it is easier for residents to hop on the streetcar, which comes every 15 minutes, for rides to campus.

Streetcar stops: N.W. 13th and LovejoyN.W. 14th and NorthrupN.W. 18th and LovejoyN.W. 18th and NorthrupN.W. 21st and LovejoyN.W. 21st and NorthrupN.W. 22nd and LovejoyN.W. 22nd and NorthrupN.W. 23rd and Marshall

Buses: 15, 20, 17, 77

For more info on public transit lines visit trimet.org or check out the transit guide in this issue of the Vanguard.