Don’t want to drink but still want to go out this evening?
Sober night out
Don’t want to drink but still want to go out this evening? There are plenty of things to do in the city that don’t involve tequila shots, PBR or a fake ID. Whether your tastes run toward the sporty, the weird or anything in between, Portland’s got something to spice up your weekend without the Sunday morning hangover.
Go on a ghost hunt
Portland Walking Tours
(503) 774-4522
Fancy a ghost hunt? Portland Walking Tours offers its Beyond Bizarre guided walk from April through November. Walkers get to use actual ghost-hunting equipment, like electromagnetic field meters, and are led by members of the International Ghost Hunter’s Society. Bring your own camera to take pictures and you might catch a shot of a mysterious “orb,” which some believe to be photographic evidence of spirits. The walk begins at Old Town Pizza, where a trip beneath the shop brings you to what is, according to some, one of the most haunted places in America. Guides tell stories about Portland’s past so you get to learn some city history along with basic paranormal investigation technique.
Tour the Shanghai Tunnels
Cascade Geographic Society
(503) 622-4798
The Shanghai Tunnels, also known as the Portland Underground, are a series of passages that run beneath downtown Portland in the Old Town/Chinatown district. Connecting the basements of many businesses, the tunnels were built to transport goods from ships on the river docks to businesses in the city. According to legend, these tunnels were also used for a more sordid sort of transport. The practice of shanghaiing occurred in many cities between the mid 19th to the early 20th century, and Portland was no exception. Men were kidnapped and sold as slaves to sea captains. Many believe Portland’s Shanghai tunnels were used to transport these captives. Tours of Portland’s underground mazes are offered throughout the year on most weekend nights and make a fascinating excursion for anyone who wants to learn more about Portland’s hidden history.
Go mini-golfing
Glowing Greens
(503) 222-5554
You may have noticed the life-size figure of a pirate that guards an inconspicuous glass door between Qdoba and the Hilton parking garage on Southwest Fifth and Taylor. No, this is not another characteristically Portland art installation, this is an advertising ploy used by Glowing Greens Miniature Golf. For $9, you can play an 18-hole game of miniature golf under the watchful eye of black-lit, mechanically animated skeletons. Make sure you call ahead and reserve a spot. This venue is so cheesy, you may want to invest a couple of dollars in the obligatory eye patch and pirate du-rag, just for kicks. The course is pretty easy, but if you bring a big group of friends you could easily spend a few hours completing it.
Bowl all night
Hollywood Bowl
(503) 288-9237
This bowling alley is located conveniently off the MAX stop at Hollywood and 42nd; in the event that you do wander off to the bar, perhaps lured by the $6 Pabst pitchers, you will have safe conveyance. Aside from the yummy attendants, the primary draw of this alley is the pricing. At a competitive $6.50 for unlimited bowling on weeknights, Hollywood Bowl is one of most affordable homework distractions within 15 minutes of PSU. The obligatory cosmic bowl night is on Friday and Saturday, during which time you and your friends can bowl from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. for a mere $14 apiece. League play ends at 9:30 p.m. on weeknights, so get there early and reserve your spot.
Laser tag
Ultrazone Laser Tag
(503) 652-1122
As laser tag arenas go, there is no excuse for anything less than two stories. A second deck enables sniper action, and in general, makes game play more intense and interesting. For this reason, Ultrazone gets my vote for the best laser tag in Portland. First of all, the prices are decent. On weekdays and weekends you will pay $7.50 for one game or $20 for three. Friday night, from 8 to midnight, is $20 unlimited game night. Pizza Schmizza caters food, and the $5 special will sufficiently slake your thirst and fill your gullet. The other fantastic draw of this facility is the good grade discount. Yes, this is instituted to persuade the young’uns to keep their grades up, but sometimes we, um, old’uns need a little coaxing, too. Bring in a report card with an A on it and receive a free game; a B will get you a half-price game.
