Alex + Athena
We got a good thing goin'
Saturday | October 16th, 2021
Portland, Oregon
Please consider bringing your vaccination card, as some businesses may request proof of vaccination before entrance.
Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status, indoors all throughout Portland. This includes public transit and Uber/Lyft rides.
Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status, indoors all throughout Portland. This includes public transit and Uber/Lyft rides.
Fire on the Mountain
Chicken Wing Paradise
1708 E Burnside St.
With two other locations!
With two other locations!
Athena's favorite: Spicy Peanut Sauce. It's spicy, it's peanuty, it's saucy — stuff your face with it and experience bliss. Alex says its his favorite, too, but it's hard to go wrong here. Beyond the wings, they offer amazing tots and tasty beer.
Oh, sure... there's other food, but why would you not get wings? They even have vegan wings! Just get the wings!
Oh, sure... there's other food, but why would you not get wings? They even have vegan wings! Just get the wings!
Portland Food Cart Pods
Little pods of deliciousness.
Located all throughout!
Take a look at this map for locations.
Take a look at this map for locations.
Sprinkled throughout Portland are little food hubs with an array of scrumptious food options provided by food truck vendors. These areas provide open outdoor seating and an easy way to get everybody fed.
Cartopia on SE 12th & Hawthorne is a particularly good one to get to!
Cartopia on SE 12th & Hawthorne is a particularly good one to get to!
Waffle Window
What a waffly world.
3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
They'll even deliver to you.
They'll even deliver to you.
There's the novelty of being able to strut up to a window and ask for a Liege-style sugar waffle. It fulfills a type of Portland aesthetic, for sure, but it's just the sprinkles on top of the already weird vibe you can experience on Hawthorne Blvd.
The waffles are also scrumptious and can be savory or sweet. Choose your own adventure!
The waffles are also scrumptious and can be savory or sweet. Choose your own adventure!
Portland Japanese Garden
Restore your spirit!
611 SW Kingston Ave.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Always a beautiful scenescape, the Portland Japanese Garden is a tranquil place to rendezvous with carefully articulated nature. This 12 acre urban oasis is acknowledged to be the most authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.
It's suggested that 1-2 hours would give you time to meander through the different gardens, but it's so peaceful, you may want to consider pausing for a little longer.
It's suggested that 1-2 hours would give you time to meander through the different gardens, but it's so peaceful, you may want to consider pausing for a little longer.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
A hidden garden in the city.
239 NW Everett St.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Located in the downtown area, the garden immediately immerses you into a different realm with traditional Chinese architecture and garden design. A wonderful little block to step into and have a moment with nature while the city hums beyond the walls.
Please note that with the rise in hate crimes against Asians, the Lan Su Chinese Garden gates may be closed, but guests are buzzed in upon payment of admission.
Please note that with the rise in hate crimes against Asians, the Lan Su Chinese Garden gates may be closed, but guests are buzzed in upon payment of admission.
Oregon Zoo
Lions, tigers, and bears — oh my!
4001 SW Canyon Road
Plan your trip!
Plan your trip!
Hop onto the MAX and then hop out at Washington Park to spend some time within Oregon's menagerie! This expansive park has an abundance of wildlife dedicated to education, conservation, and compassionate animal welfare.
It's pretty massive, so this would be a great way to spend a good portion of the day (with or without kids). Go see the red panda!
It's pretty massive, so this would be a great way to spend a good portion of the day (with or without kids). Go see the red panda!
OMSI
Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
1945 SE Water Ave.
Learn about the exhibits here.
Learn about the exhibits here.
Explore the exhibits, planetarium, and/or engage with science! Alex & Athena met at an OMSI After Dark event where Alex taught Athena how to connect an electrical circuit to turn on a light bulb. (Aww.) OMSI is a great activity center for kids to interact with science and adults to remember the simple joys of natural wonder.
Opening on the 15th is a pop-up exhibit celebrating 15 years of LAIKA's stop-motion animation artistry! On display are the beautiful puppets and sets — truly enticing eye candy!
Opening on the 15th is a pop-up exhibit celebrating 15 years of LAIKA's stop-motion animation artistry! On display are the beautiful puppets and sets — truly enticing eye candy!
Powell's City of Books
Booktopiatropolis
1005 W. Burnside St.
Nine rooms of nonstop book action.
Nine rooms of nonstop book action.
It's hard not to spend hours meandering through the five floors of endless aisles looking for a book you didn't know you needed to adopt. Wander aimlessly, hone in on a particular genre, or pick a random color and see what room it takes you to. Have fun!
You should also consider visiting:
Broadway Books
Books With Pictures
Monograph Bookwerks
You should also consider visiting:
Broadway Books
Books With Pictures
Monograph Bookwerks
Purrington's Cat Lounge
Hang out with some kitties.
3529 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
'Cause why not?
'Cause why not?
Why go to Portland to make a reservation and hang out with some cats? We don't know! Maybe it's soothing to you. Maybe you have an hour or two on Saturday that you don't know what to do with and think to yourself, "Yeah... Yeah I can go dangle a feather toy in front of a cute cat while drinking coffee."
Maybe you're treating our list of recommended activities as some sort of challenge and now you need to accomplish it by visiting cafe kitties. Whatever the reason, more power to mew.
Maybe you're treating our list of recommended activities as some sort of challenge and now you need to accomplish it by visiting cafe kitties. Whatever the reason, more power to mew.
Hoyt Arboretum
A living museum.
4000 SW Fairview Blvd.
Map and information here.
Map and information here.
Hoyt Arboretum offers 12 miles of hiking trails within its 189 acres of 2,300 species of trees and shrubs that are naturally found on six continents!
With autumn setting in, there will be plenty of color to greet you. One particular tree, the Franklin Tree, is extinct in the wild but potentially blooming at the Hoyt Arboretum. Look for its long, glossy, drooping purple-y red leaves and bright white flowers. It's located on the Wildwood Trail near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
With autumn setting in, there will be plenty of color to greet you. One particular tree, the Franklin Tree, is extinct in the wild but potentially blooming at the Hoyt Arboretum. Look for its long, glossy, drooping purple-y red leaves and bright white flowers. It's located on the Wildwood Trail near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
The 4T
Trail, Tram, Trolley, Train
This route is adaptable.
Map and information here.
Map and information here.
A one-of-a-kind, multi-modal way to enjoy Portland! Do the entire loop, do a section, start at one point or another point... totally up to you!
The suggested loop: Start with an uphill hike among the trees from the Oregon Zoo to Council Crest Park (the highest point in the city). Stroll down to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and board the Portland Aerial Tram to glide down to the riverfront. Hop onto the trolley to ride to downtown (perhaps to grab a bite to eat!) and then board the MAX back up to Washington Park to complete the loop.
The suggested loop: Start with an uphill hike among the trees from the Oregon Zoo to Council Crest Park (the highest point in the city). Stroll down to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and board the Portland Aerial Tram to glide down to the riverfront. Hop onto the trolley to ride to downtown (perhaps to grab a bite to eat!) and then board the MAX back up to Washington Park to complete the loop.
Forest Park
Get lost.
Multiple places to begin.
Map and trailheads here.
Map and trailheads here.
With 5,200 acres, Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. The Wildwood Trail is a meandering 30 miles. Leif Erikson Drive is approximately 11 miles. The Lower Macleay Park (pedestrian access only) is the most popular place to enter the trail system and the Witch's Castle is about a mile from the entrance.
The great thing about this park is that you don't have to really go far to suddenly be in it. Enjoy the conservation efforts of Forest Park and have a happy however-long-you-want stroll.
The great thing about this park is that you don't have to really go far to suddenly be in it. Enjoy the conservation efforts of Forest Park and have a happy however-long-you-want stroll.
Mississippi District
About six blocks of hippin' and happenin' goodness! The reception space, Skyrise, is located at the south end of this neighborhood. Some recommended businesses to appreciate:
Eat:
Blue Star Donuts
¿Por Qué No?
Mee-Sen Thai Eatery
Little Big Burger
Drink:
Ecliptic Brewing
StormBreaker Brewing
Other:
Sock Dreams
Pistils (Plant) Nursery
Paxton Gate
Eat:
Blue Star Donuts
¿Por Qué No?
Mee-Sen Thai Eatery
Little Big Burger
Drink:
Ecliptic Brewing
StormBreaker Brewing
Other:
Sock Dreams
Pistils (Plant) Nursery
Paxton Gate
Alberta Arts District
Chock full of community and locally-owned businesses to check out. Here are some to consider:
Food n' Drink:
Pine State Biscuits
Radio Room
Bollywood Theater
Alberta St. Pub
Galleries:
Alberta Street Gallery
Antler
Other:
Black Heritage Markers
Murals galore!
Food n' Drink:
Pine State Biscuits
Radio Room
Bollywood Theater
Alberta St. Pub
Galleries:
Alberta Street Gallery
Antler
Other:
Black Heritage Markers
Murals galore!
More of Portland
Want to visit other nooks of Portland? Reference the link above and it'll help guide you from neighborhood to neighborhood depending on what you're interested in!
It's worth noting the homelessness crisis in Portland. While there are many who lack a roof over their heads, you need not fear the less fortunate. Make effort not to pass judgment as we are all human and all experience struggle in varying ways.
Help de-stigmatize the shame and embarrassment associated with mental disability and being houseless. The areas that you will likely frequent will have fewer instances of encampments, but if you encounter somebody whose home is currently on the street remember: Kindness and empathy bind us to each other.
It's worth noting the homelessness crisis in Portland. While there are many who lack a roof over their heads, you need not fear the less fortunate. Make effort not to pass judgment as we are all human and all experience struggle in varying ways.
Help de-stigmatize the shame and embarrassment associated with mental disability and being houseless. The areas that you will likely frequent will have fewer instances of encampments, but if you encounter somebody whose home is currently on the street remember: Kindness and empathy bind us to each other.