Around Portland

NCECA 2006, 40th Annual Conference will be held at the Oregon Convention Center

Portland, Oregon has consistently been rated one of the most livable cities in America. It has massive parks, the country's largest independent bookstore , bike lanes, the International Rose Test Garden , and a mild climate .

Portland skyline with Mount Hood; Portland Oregon Visitors Association Portland is known for its green spaces and proximity to natural wonders like the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood . The city is also known as an incubator for progressive urban planning, environmentally conscious public policy, and the sustainable development movement.
Columbia River Gorge; Portland Oregon Visitors Association The largest of three Portland public rose gardens, the International Rose Test Garden was established in 1917, making it the oldest test garden in the United States. The 4.5-acre site features 9,000 rose plantings representing some 590 varieties, including Savoy Hotel, Livin' Easy, New Zealand, Climbing Ophelia, and Sweet Juliet. From its vantage point in Washington Park, this terraced garden offers a spectacular view of downtown Portland, majestic Mount Hood and volatile Mount St. Helens.

Japanese Garden; Portland Oregon Visitors Association Known as the most authentic Japanese Garden outside Japan, this beautiful 5.5-acre oasis encompasses a tea house, a pavilion and five garden styles. Designed to take advantage of "borrowed scenery," the garden showcases the tall Douglas firs of the surrounding Washington Park and provides breathtaking views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and the nearby mountains. Within the garden's core, visitors will discover winding pathways, a koi pond, bridges, lanterns, a dramatic waterfall and raked stone areas. Celebrating 40 years of beauty and harmony, the garden's elements are designed to inspire meditation, reflection and calm.

Rose Garden - Zoo

What can I say, it's a zoo and they are always fun. Portland is known as the City of Roses . If you are gardening or flower buff you will definitely appreciate this picturesque spot. Both the Rose garden and the Zoo have fantastic views of Portland and the surrounding area. They are located right next to each other in the West Hills above Portland .

Powell's City of Books; Powell's City of Books Boasting more than 1.5 million volumes and occupying an entire city block, Powell's is the nation's largest independent bookstore. Visitors, however, needn't worry about getting lost inside this biblio-labyrinth: Friendly staffers offer guided tours and distribute maps detailing the store's floor plan and sections. Results of a recent expansion include the addition of an art gallery and space for author readings, an expanded Rare Book Room, the only three-door elevator west of the Mississippi, and, anchoring the new northwest entrance, the Pillar of Books sculpture. Powell's in-house cafe is the perfect spot for people-watching.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market (also open Sunday) is a great place to go check out Portland 's local artisans. It is located under the Burnside bridge on the west side and is open every weekend rain or shine. You will find over 100 booths with pottery, glass, textiles, paintings.all sold by the artist that made them. If you time it right you will probably see Elvis strolling around in his white jump suit. It is a great place to eat lunch as well.

Pioneer Square

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Pioneer Courthouse Square is affectionately known as the City's "living room." With more than 21,000 people passing by the Square each day, and thousands more visiting the Square directly, it is the single most visited site in Oregon's most visited city.

The Square is one of Portland's leading outdoor venues, hosting over 300 events each year that range from large-scale concerts to cultural festivals. The Square is a true symbol of Portland with its bricks symbolizing the people that make Portland such an extraordinary city.

Culture and art are on display year-round at the Portland Art Museum . Following a $45 million capital and endowment campaign, the 110-year-old Portland Art Museum has set its sights a notch higher: opening new permanent exhibit galleries, installing an outdoor sculpture garden and aggressively competing to become the place in the Pacific Northwest to see many of the country's most important traveling shows.

The Hawthorne District offers a different take on Portland life. Hawthorne lies across the Willamette River from downtown and is home to funky shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. Of Portland's neighborhoods, Hawthorne is "the bohemian." It reflects an urban niche where "alternative" is considered mainstream, and tie-dyes aren't a thing of the past. Here a hint of patchouli drifts from stores; a flower vendor brightens the sidewalk scenery; "art car" sightings are commonplace (cars decorated hood to trunk with treasures ranging from high-heeled shoes to bowling trophies); and the trendy set shop in hip used-clothing boutiques. The highlight of Hawthorne Boulevard is the historic Bagdad Theater and Pub, a wonder of Moorish architecture restored to its original glory by Portland's popular brewers, the McMenamin Brothers. The Bagdad is one of many McMenamins view-and-brew-style venues, where patrons watch recent flicks (admission is usually $3) while savoring microbrews and pizza.

Nightlife is rich on Hawthorne, especially at the gritty Mt. Tabor Theater & Pub and the Sapphire Hotel (no rooms; just a bar). On any given evening, live music spills from the open doors of Irish pubs, bibliophiles linger at Powell's Books (an annex of the main store in the Pearl District), and sidewalk tables host many a brew enthusiast. Brews, that is, as in beer and coffee. The London Times aptly summed up the scene stating, "Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard on a Friday night is a beguiling mixture of gentrification and radicalism."

For a taste of Hawthorne: Check out popular haunts such as 3 Doors Down and Castanga. Oven-fired pizza and fresh salads are favorites at the BridgePort Ale House, the sleek sister to the Pearl District's BridgePort Brewpub. As Hawthorne Boulevard stretches toward the Willamette River, still more gathering places personify the district's style, including the canine-friendly Lucky Labrador Brewpub and the Grateful Dead-inspired décor of the Barley Mill Pub (McMenamins).

Nob Hill/Northwest

Nestled into the base of Portland's west hills, Nob Hill/Northwest is "the sophisticate" of Portland's neighborhoods. Sharing more than a passing similarity to its San Francisco namesake, "Northwest," as locals call it, enjoyed a renaissance in the 1990s. Turn-ofthe- century Victorians line the narrow streets, offering visitors a glimpse into the city's rich architectural past. Storefronts were restored to their original splendor, transforming Northwest 23rd Avenue ("Trendy-third") into a shopper's heaven. Scores of whimsical, independent and sophisticated boutiques offer everything from tiaras to topiaries. Restaurants, pubs and cafes, many of which open to the street in warmer months, offer perfect vantage points for some of the city's best people-watching. Rounding out the atmosphere of Northwest are the many trees lining the streets - an unusual site in most urban landscapes, but par for the course in Portland.

Northwest's City Market and Zupan's are urban neighborhood markets with a Pacific Northwest twist. Local farmers and seafood purveyors supply the markets - as well as Portland's best restaurants - with Oregon hazelnuts, Marionberries, pears, salmon, oysters, cheeses and mushrooms. The majority of these items are grown, caught or made within an hour's drive of Portland.

For a taste of Nob Hill/Northwest: Try the tempting Thai at Typhoon! and delightful desserts at Papa Haydn, both of which are found along Northwest 23rd Avenue. Nearby 21st Avenue ("Restaurant Row") is a mecca for gourmands seeking to sample the local cuisine at some of Portland's finest eateries, including Paley's Place , Lucy's Table and Wildwood .