Portland: Do it Like a Local

You don't have to stray far from the beaten path to discover the secrets of Portland. The city's quirky side is tucked round the corner from obvious attractions and in colorful neighborhoods just minutes from downtown. To discover the real Portland the one that entices so many to move here permanently start with these tasters.

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Ace Hotel
With unique rooms and distinctively Oregonian art and accessories in-room, you'll know you're in Portland when staying at this budget boutique gem just a few blocks from Pioneer Square. Locals congregate in the hip Clyde Common restaurant and linger over Stumptown coffee in the on-site coffeehouse.
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Bagdad Theater & Pub
This much-loved second-run theater in the Hawthorne neighborhood is recommended for its tiny admission prices and for the cheap beer and pizza that you can stock up on in the lobby for the show. Add to that the incredibly ornate Moorish decor of this old style movie palace and you've got the perfect place to impress the kids, the frien... More >
This much-loved second-run theater in the Hawthorne neighborhood is recommended for its tiny admission prices and for the cheap beer and pizza that you can stock up on in the lobby for the show. Add to that the incredibly ornate Moorish decor of this old style movie palace and you've got the perfect place to impress the kids, the friends, the husband or just yourself.
You can catch a second-run movie in the old school hall, stop for a drink at the Detention Bar or linger over a burger and pint of house porter at the restaurant.
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Kennedy School Hotel
Owned and run by the same offbeat masterminds as the Bagdad Theatre, this former elementary school on the north side of the city is now a hotel, restaurant, bar and so much more. You can catch a second-run movie in the old school hall, stop for a drink at the Detention Bar or linger over a burger and pint of house porter at the restaur... More >
Owned and run by the same offbeat masterminds as the Bagdad Theatre, this former elementary school on the north side of the city is now a hotel, restaurant, bar and so much more. You can catch a second-run movie in the old school hall, stop for a drink at the Detention Bar or linger over a burger and pint of house porter at the restaurant.
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Esparza's Tex Mex Cafe
With an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in town, Esparza's serves up solidly good Tex-Mex fare amidst a chaotic, colorful array of Mexican dolls, stuffed armadillos and other unrelated kitsch.
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Typhoon!
Hometown chef Bo KLine started her Northwest Thai food empire from her perch on Northwest 23rd and expanded to downtown, the suburbs, Bend and Seattle. Adding creative flair to the food of kings and peasants, Kline's recipes deliver some of the most irresistible Thai flavors you'll savor outside Thailand. Visit the NW 23rd location and... More >
Hometown chef Bo KLine started her Northwest Thai food empire from her perch on Northwest 23rd and expanded to downtown, the suburbs, Bend and Seattle. Adding creative flair to the food of kings and peasants, Kline's recipes deliver some of the most irresistible Thai flavors you'll savor outside Thailand. Visit the NW 23rd location and feast on lemongrass chowder before exploring the stores, independent coffeehouses and artisan outlets along the Nw 23rd strip.
Adding creative flair to the food of kings and peasants, Kline's recipes deliver some of the most irresistible Thai flavors you'll savor outside Thailand.
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Powell's Books
Locals know not to shop anywhere other than the legendary Powell's a bookstore that covers an entire city block on the edge of the hip Pearl District. New and used blocks sit alongside each other and a World Cup cafe on the ground floor offers a perfect perch for perusing your purchases. More
Locals know not to shop anywhere other than the legendary Powell's a bookstore that covers an entire city block on the edge of the hip Pearl District. New and used blocks sit alongside each other and a World Cup cafe on the ground floor offers a perfect perch for perusing your purchases.
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About the Author

Aefa Mulholland
Aefa Mulholland
Travel writer Aefa Mulholland has worked with the B.B.C., Irish national broadcaster R.T.E. and a plethora of print and online publications, including the Irish Times, Miami Herald and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She has been published or broadcast on four continents. She is currently writing “The Scottish Ambassador”—a book on learning how to become Scottish in Scottish America.
Websitehttp://thescottishambassador.wordpress.com/
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