Portland’s a Weird One, Seriously
okay, so i’m still vibrating. like, actually vibrating. i landed in portland last night and it’s… intense. 3893532 and 1152234834 - don’t ask, i just saw those numbers on a bus stop sign and it felt important. it’s like portland is trying to tell me something, but it’s speaking in cryptic bus stop codes.
seriously, the weather is… there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it’s perpetually damp, like a slightly judgmental sponge. 20.65 degrees, feels like 19.87, temp min 20.65, temp max 20.65, pressure 1014, humidity 42, sea level 1014, grnd level 1009. it’s not bad, it’s just… persistent. like a really committed hug.
I checked Yelp and TripAdvisor, and honestly, the reviews are mostly just variations on ‘quirky’ and ‘rainy.’ someone told me that the food carts are the real portland, not the fancy restaurants downtown. i’m taking that to heart. i grabbed some ramen from a place called Nong’s Khao Man Gai - it was… fine. definitely fine. i’m aiming for ‘amazing’ but i’m settling for ‘not actively disappointing.’
I spent the afternoon wandering around Mississippi Avenue. it’s crammed with vintage shops, tattoo parlors, and coffee places that look like they were designed by a particularly enthusiastic badger. i found this amazing patchworked denim jacket - it cost me $75, which is basically highway robbery, but it’s mine. i’m pretty sure i saw a guy selling hand-painted skateboards, too. portland is a skatepark’s fever dream.
Speaking of dreams, i overheard some gossip at a bar called The Bye and Bye. apparently, the owner’s cat is a celebrity. a cat celebrity. named Mr. Bigglesworth. it’s got its own Instagram account. i’m not kidding.
“Don’t trust anyone who says they ‘just moved here,’” a guy with a handlebar mustache told me, nursing a hazy IPA. “They’re probably just trying to sell you artisanal pickles.”
I’m staying in a tiny Airbnb in the Alberta Arts District. it’s basically a glorified closet, but it’s got a window overlooking a brick wall. it’s… cozy? i’m not sure. i’m running on caffeine and the vague hope that i’ll stumble upon something genuinely interesting.
I need to check out Powell’s City of Books. it’s legendary, apparently. like, the size of a small cathedral dedicated to paper and ink. i’m hoping to find a first edition Kerouac or something equally pretentious.
If you get bored, Seattle is just a short drive away. or Boise. or Salem. honestly, there’s a lot of weirdness happening within a reasonable radius.
I’m also trying to track down some local street art. i saw a mural of a giant, melancholic sloth on my way here - it was surprisingly moving. i’m hoping to find more.
Here’s a quick gear list, because i’m apparently obsessed with lists:
Rain jacket (obviously)
Comfortable boots (for all the walking)
Camera (duh)
Notebook and pen (for capturing all the weirdness)
Portable charger (because i’m always out of battery)
A healthy dose of skepticism
I heard that the food truck scene is insane. i’m planning on hitting up a few different ones tomorrow. i’m particularly interested in trying some vegan tacos. i’m not vegan, but i’m open to persuasion.
“Just go to Doug Fir Lounge,” a woman with bright pink hair advised me, “and listen to live music. It’s the best way to understand portland.”
I’m going to try and find a decent coffee shop tomorrow. i need to fuel this chaotic exploration. i’m on the hunt for a place that serves something other than oat milk lattes. i’m serious.
I’m starting to think portland is a really, really strange place. but in a good way? maybe. i’m still processing.
I’m going to keep you updated. probably with more rambling and questionable decisions.
https://www.portlandtribune.com/
https://www.visitportland.com/
https://www.yelp.com/
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