Every time I go to the Portland Saturday Market (also on Sundays), I always catch myself in front of the “honey” man, and grabbing a few samples of fresh honey or the “soap” lady with a few small slivers of sample soap. I usually hate shopping for gifts at retail stores, so the PSM is usually my best bet to gather many gifts in one day. It could be that I am lazy or that I prefer locally made.  Both? With over 400 members it is the largest continuously operated outdoor market in the United States. Artisans and craftsmen mix with street preferment’s while the smell of cuisine from 50 different countries drifts through air.

A gyro and salad, or a slice of locally made pizza are my favorites. I grab a seat infront of the live music performance stage and eat while wondering…”why am I not in a live band anymore?” or…”I can play that bass line!”.  Food and music are a huge part of my life. Supporting locally made items are also important in my life.

The idea for the Market came from Sheri Teasdale and Andrea Scharf, two artists who wanted to create a space where artists could display their work and customers could find high quality locally produced items. The Market moved to its current location in 1976 and started opening on Sundays the following year. It generates approximately $8 million yearly in gross sales and attracts around 750,000 visitors.

PSM runs from March 1 through December 24, Saturdays from 10 am to 5pm and Sundays from 11am to 4:30pm. There is no cost to enter but parking can be an issue, however all forms of public transportation run directly past the market. The Portland Saturday Market is located at 108 W Burnside St, in Old Town. For more information check out portlandsaturdaymarket.com.

The Portland Saturday Market is at 108 W Burnside St, in Old Town located in Downtown Portland under the Burnside Bridge. Hope to see you there!

Welcome to the Kennedy School, located in the Northeast Portland Concordia neighborhood. McMenamins has renovated the once-abandoned scholastic gem and turned it into one Portland’s favorite hot spots among locals and out of state visitors.

The Kennedy School in NE Portland

Originally opened in 1915 as an elementary school, now Inside you will find everything from the old school auditorium turned into a movie theater with couches and tables to eat your home made pizza, to the detention hall turned into a whiskey and cigar room. The cafeteria now houses a fine eating establishment with a great menu and several home made beers on tap and a gift shop to pick up some great memories. A huge 20 person hot tub soaking pool and and an extra large conference room now hosts great live local and out of state performers of all types. The classrooms are turned into guest rooms with original chalkboards and cloakrooms, private baths, telephones and modems. Amazing artwork lines the walls, much of it dates back from the early years of The Kennedy Schools existence.

I love the scene and the good energy the school has. This is truly a must see experience to enjoy if you have yet to visit. The Kennedy is located at: 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave. Portland, OR 97211

Hawthorne Blvd famous Bagdad theater with full restaurant and micro brew pub

Some of the best micro-brews are found in Portland Oregon, and more specifically in the Hawthorne neighborhood. Walking up and down Hawthorne Blvd. you will come across a wide range of pubs offering some of the most tasty and tantalizing beer on tap. Dark and rich stouts, full bodied brown ale’s, amazing IPA beers, Hefeweizen, Lager’s and of course Portland’s favorite light beer, PBR.

If you are a local in Portland, grab your friends and pick a great evening for a Portland pub crawl. Walk up and down the strip going from pub to pub, and after a full evening then take the trimet or taxi home. Some great spots right on Hawthorne to hit up are The Lucky Lab where you can bring your dog and have a beer, The Barley Mill pub with its great 60′s psychedelic feel, McMenamins Bagdad theater- grab a beer some pizza and watch a movie, Imbibe Restaurant and Lounge- lovely live music performances, BOG Bar of the Gods, Angelo’s, Roots Organic brewery for that healthy sip of beer, and my favorite The Sapphire Hotel, where the ambiance and class makes me feel comfy and welcomed.

If you are visitng Portland for the first time be sure to walk along Hawthorne not only for their great beers on tap, but also for the wide range of shops of clothing, antiques, great restaraunts of all types, gift shops and so much more of what makes the Hawthorne district one of the hottest spots in Portland Oregon.
View homes for sale in the Hawthorne neighborhood.