McMenamins Kennedy School
Going inside an elementary school has never been so much fun. McMenamins Kennedy School is a astoundingly odd hotel inside a renovated 1915 elementary school in Concordia. In addition to the 57 guest rooms — some housed in former classrooms, and others with an author's there — the building is also home to a restaurant, a movie theater housed in a former auditorium, a soaking pool, multiple bars — including one located in the old boiler room — and a fully-functional brewery. And happily for all you Brownsville Station aficionados, cigar smoking is allowed — but in the Detention Bar, not the boy's room.
Jackpot Records
Founded in 1997, Jackpot Records has been supplying the PDX area with fresh music for over 15 years. While both locations, one downtown and one on Hawthorne, offer a great selection, the former stands out in particular for its comfortable, roomy interior — something that's not exactly common with record shops. No matter which you visit, you'll find tons of vinyl, as well as CDs, books, and other fine media, and should you need more reasons to feel good than just buying from a local, independent shop, also know that it hosts free in-store performances, signings, meet-and-greets, and an annual film festival focused on music-related fare.
Bakeshop
Skip the baked goods at the local coffee house and dig in to the goodness being served up at Bakeshop. Founded by James Beard award-winning author Kim Boyce, this intimate bakery offers always-fresh scones, cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, bars, and other edible delights from a menu that changes with the season to incorporate seasonal flavors and the freshest produce. No matter the time of year, you can always count on her Figgy Buckwheat Scones, Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies, and Coffee Cake Crumble — so worry not if you're not a fan of the current seasonal lineup. You'll find something that's far more than just worth eating.
Billy Galaxy
If you're over the age of 30 and looking for toys in the Pacific Northwest, do yourself a favor, skip the local Toys r' Us, and head to Billy Galaxy. This tiny little downtown shop houses an insanely large selection of vintage and collectible toys, spanning several decades. Of particular note are the vintage Star Wars, He-Man, G.I. Joe, TMNT, Transformers, and Thundercats offerings, as well as the Atari 2600 games, and absolutely insane collection of Pez dispensers. Some of the items are a little expensive, but it's hard to put a price tag on nostalgia, especially when it has the ability to instantly turn your work space into the coolest around.
Chop Butchery & Charcuterie
There's no shortage of great places to grab a bit to eat in Portland, but if you're looking to do some cooking of your own, it's a good idea to start your shopping at Chop Butchery & Charcuterie. Located in the City Market on the northwest side of town, this artisan shop handcrafts all their products in house from meats sourced from local, humanely-run farmers and purveyors. They offer sausages, meats, charcuterie, pates, and even salami, which is made in their own USDA meat curing facility. Oh, and be sure to keep an eye out for their daily sandwich specials, which include a porchetta sandwich — hog stuffed with sausage and baked for six hours, served on a ciabatta roll with peppers, onions, tomato, lettuce, mayo, and mustard — that's only available on Fridays and Saturdays.
The People's Pig
Given the name, you might think that The People's Pig focuses solely on hog-related foodstuffs. While it does offer up a solid share of pork — the porchetta and arugula sandwhich is a local legend — this stately truck offers far more than just pork, with a ever-changing menu that includes brisket, steak, and even chicken sandwiches. No matter what meat you choose, you can rest assured that it's both hormone- and antibiotic-free, and if you're lucky, you might be able to enjoy one of the Pig's other treats, like chili, blood orange marmalade, or fresh strawberry shortcake.
Machus
Many folks in the City of Roses were saddened by the closure of Local35 — but like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the store's founder has risen with a new store named after... himself. Machus is the result, a well-curated collection of modern clothing from some of the best designers around the globe. From APS and Apolis to Ursa Major and Warriors of Radness, you're sure to leave looking better than when you arrived... assuming you wear your new duds out.
Kir
Don't expect to be overwhelmed by the wine list at Kir. We're not really sure the intimate, impeccably decorated venue could even provide space for such a thing. But that's no bother, as the selection — which changes daily and focuses on European and ecclectic vintages — is almost always excellent. Should you find yourself wanting to try several glasses — or are just looking for something to pair your glass with — the equally economic menu of small plates is an ideal place to look, offering treats like roasted pistachios, summer squash and leek soup, and cider-braised pork belly.
Hotel Modera
Make an escape from Portlandia without ever leaving the area at the Hotel Modera. This upscale accomodatin offers 174 guestrooms and suites, all offering fine linens, pillow-topped mattresses, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi. The rooms are only half the equation, though, as the rest of the property is home to over 500 piece of local art, black walnut flooring, an expansive courtyard with glass firepits and a 63'x15' "living wall", and contemporary architecture. Getting hungry? Not to worry — Nel Centro, the adjacent restaurant from local chef David Machado, will be happy to sserve up its Riviera-inspired cuisine on site, or even in your room.
Beast
Foodies looking for a fantastic meal need look no further than Beast. Helmed by chef Naomi Pomeroy, this renowned establishment offers a six-course, prix-fixe dinner Wednesday-Sunday, with the menu changing every week. On Sundays, you can stop in early for a four-course prix-fixe brunch, and both are available with wine pairings that match the meals in the number of courses. A small selection of Belgian-inspired beers is available for the vino-adverse, but don't go in expecting to substitute a lot of ingredients — when you're working from a fixed menu, that's just the nature of the beast. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Doug Fir Lounge
We mentioned it briefly when we covered the adjacent Jupiter Hotel, but the Doug Fir Lounge is noteworthy enough that it warrants it's own spotlight. Boasting an incredible '50s-style modern interior with one-of-a-kind glassworks, original woodwork, and metal, its downstairs lounge is considered one of the best music venues in the Pacific Northwest. Under the same roof, you'll also find a combination restaurant and bar that's a perfect place to grab a cocktail and or bite, whether you're there to see a show or not.
Lounge Lizard
Finding good retro furniture normally involves lengthy days of store hopping at local vintage and antique shops. But should you happen to live near PDX, Lounge Lizard Vintage Furniture might just be a one-stop affair. Located inside a white storage hangar, this unique shop offers a huge selection of stuff from the '50s, '60s, and '70s, including couches, chairs, desks, tables, and a wide variety of other knick knacks to help finish the job. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, it's worth a visit just to look around — but be warned, they don't ship anything, so if you flew into town, plan on renting a moving truck or just forgetting about that perfect love seat you found.
