Portland, OR

[CigarSquid]

Heading to Portland in May. It will be over memorial weekend.

What are some things to see and do up there? I think I want a hotel near downtown. Nothing crazy to stay in. Only plan on sleeping there.

What some of your thoughts, those who live there and those who have explored Portland? :sh

[LostAbbott]

I grew up there and my family still lives there. I know that the mark is the best place in town to have a stick and kell's is probably your best bet right downtown. What are you interested in doing?
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[CigarSquid]

I am just wanting to explorer Portland, see the night life. Bars, Decent dining. No club really.. Relax and hang out is what I am looking for.

[jluck]

You could stay at the shilo INN. It conveniently has the "mark" cigar lounge. the go in to down town for the night life. Keep me posted.

[CigarSquid]

I did see that Jared. I also would like to visit Broadway Cigar.

[jluck]

I did see that Jared. I also would like to visit Broadway Cigar.

I think it's just down the road. Rich's cigar is great too.

[CigarSquid]

From the map, it seems that way. And downtown? Is right across the water there?

[jluck]

"Down town" Is a bit of a drive from the shilo but not too far. I'm not real familiar with Portland though.Hopefully CigarNut or some other PDX locals will chime in.

[CigarSquid]

I was looking at a different Shilo Inn in Portland. It is closer to downtown than the one with a cigar lounge in it.

[LostAbbott]

Well I hope you like beer. I would start you at either lompoc on 23rd or the lucky lab on the east side. If you want a fancier dinner type place yet still a pub hit up dechutes, henerys, or Bridgeport.

For a fancy fun dinner that wont break the bank Toro bravo in the rose quarter is fantastic.
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[CigarSquid]

I do love beer. I will have to make a list and figure things out.. Go over them with the wife and see what we want to do.

[Poronico]

I live about 3 hours from there, Markem and I have herfed it up a few times. I might be up for the drive to meet a brother!

[Poronico]

http://www.salvadormollys.com/ is an amazing place to eat in Portland. If you love spicy food they are right up your alley or they have other worldly dishes which are just fantastic!

[smitty81]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/images/2010/2010-bfe-special-guests_ai.jpg

SUH!!!!

[CigarNut]

SUH!!!!

Smitty81, this isn't a banter thread -- the OP asked a serious question and your post is wasting space...

The Shilo w/The Mark cigar lounge is 5-10 minutes from downtown depending upon traffic. It is a decent hotel. You can find better for more money, but I would recommend the Shilo.

There are three cigar shops (Timber Valley, Paul's, Rich's) within 5 miles of the Shilo. Broadway cigar is a little farther away. I prefer these over Broadway but that is mostly due to convenience.

If the weather is nice it might be nice to visit McMenamins (Brewers) Cornelius Pass Roadhouse -- they have the "White Shed" cigar shack. Lots of good local beer as well as scotch. You can sit outside around the fire pit and have a nice afternoon / evening.

Lots of stuff to do as well -- the coast, the mountains, the Columbia Gorge, and more.

[markem]

This is a good site for ideas: http://www.travelportland.com/

Since you will be coming in on a holiday weekend, I like your plan to basically stay put. There are many very good things to see and do very close to Portland, but freeways tend to suck on holidays and speed enforcement tends to be very tight. There are lots of things to see and do that are convenient to the light rail and trolley lines; see http://trimet.org/ for details.

The Washington Park Zoo is very nice, although likely to be quite busy. The Rose Gardens are spectacular that time of year as are the Rhododendron Gardens over by Reed College (also worth walking around). I always send people to the Pittock Mansion if for no other reason that you can see all the major peaks from Ranier in the north to Mt Jefferson in the south. Quite spectacular (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittock_Mansion).

Of course, Powells City of Books is one of the largest bookstores in the world and a must. A stroll along the waterfront and maybe a trip on a sternwheeler is always a blast. Don't forget that OMSI (omsi.org) has a decommissioned nuclear sub (the Blueback, I think).

But Portland is known for beers and food. Don't go to any of the microbrew chains like McMennemins or such, but get thee to a real bar like Kelly's Olympian (http://www.kellysolympian.com/). There are some really cool eateries for any meal you may want at any time of day (just watch some episodes of Portlandia). For real good ideas, take a look at the Willamette Week website (http://www.wweek.com/portland/index.php), especially the food and entertainment section. They cover Portland better than anyone. When the weather is good, I would recommend heading to any of the major food cart locations and just go for it. Note: food carts can't yet serve alcohol, but it's up for discussion with the city council, so maybe by May.

The Mark at the Shilo Inn on Canyon is the place for smoking cigars. The cigar bar at El Goucho is now closed and the Horse Brass quit allowing smoking 2 years ago. This is a decent web site, http://cigarplaces.com/city/portland-cigars.aspx, but I'd always call a cigar bar listed there just to be sure before wasting time heading over there.

Finally, watch this before you go so there are no surprises http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVmq9dq6Nsg

[markem]

I live about 3 hours from there, Markem and I have herfed it up a few times. I might be up for the drive to meet a brother!

Some member of the stumptown crew is likely to be hosting a herf party that weekend, so ...

[smitty81]

Smitty81, this isn't a banter thread -- the OP asked a serious question and your post is wasting space...

My bad, My bad.

[pnoon]

My bad, My bad.

:tpd:

[sevans105]

The dream of the 90's is alive in Portland...portland...portland....

Sorry, not trying to pull a Smitty...just a catchy song. I grew up just outside of Portland...I second the rose garden idea as well as the Japanese gardens nearby. Great place to go with the wife if the weather is decent.

[CigarSquid]

Smitty81, this isn't a banter thread -- the OP asked a serious question and your post is wasting space...

The Shilo w/The Mark cigar lounge is 5-10 minutes from downtown depending upon traffic. It is a decent hotel. You can find better for more money, but I would recommend the Shilo.

There are three cigar shops (Timber Valley, Paul's, Rich's) within 5 miles of the Shilo. Broadway cigar is a little farther away. I prefer these over Broadway but that is mostly due to convenience.

If the weather is nice it might be nice to visit McMenamins (Brewers) Cornelius Pass Roadhouse -- they have the "White Shed" cigar shack. Lots of good local beer as well as scotch. You can sit outside around the fire pit and have a nice afternoon / evening.

Lots of stuff to do as well -- the coast, the mountains, the Columbia Gorge, and more.

I was thinking of staying more downtown. Shilo looked ok. Still have plenty of time to figure that out. Broadway cigar is the only place I knew of at this time. I will find more and see. Thanks for the info.

This is a good site for ideas: http://www.travelportland.com/

Since you will be coming in on a holiday weekend, I like your plan to basically stay put. There are many very good things to see and do very close to Portland, but freeways tend to suck on holidays and speed enforcement tends to be very tight. There are lots of things to see and do that are convenient to the light rail and trolley lines; see http://trimet.org/ for details.

The Washington Park Zoo is very nice, although likely to be quite busy. The Rose Gardens are spectacular that time of year as are the Rhododendron Gardens over by Reed College (also worth walking around). I always send people to the Pittock Mansion if for no other reason that you can see all the major peaks from Ranier in the north to Mt Jefferson in the south. Quite spectacular (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittock_Mansion).

Of course, Powells City of Books is one of the largest bookstores in the world and a must. A stroll along the waterfront and maybe a trip on a sternwheeler is always a blast. Don't forget that OMSI (omsi.org) has a decommissioned nuclear sub (the Blueback, I think).

But Portland is known for beers and food. Don't go to any of the microbrew chains like McMennemins or such, but get thee to a real bar like Kelly's Olympian (http://www.kellysolympian.com/). There are some really cool eateries for any meal you may want at any time of day (just watch some episodes of Portlandia). For real good ideas, take a look at the Willamette Week website (http://www.wweek.com/portland/index.php), especially the food and entertainment section. They cover Portland better than anyone. When the weather is good, I would recommend heading to any of the major food cart locations and just go for it. Note: food carts can't yet serve alcohol, but it's up for discussion with the city council, so maybe by May.

The Mark at the Shilo Inn on Canyon is the place for smoking cigars. The cigar bar at El Goucho is now closed and the Horse Brass quit allowing smoking 2 years ago. This is a decent web site, http://cigarplaces.com/city/portland-cigars.aspx, but I'd always call a cigar bar listed there just to be sure before wasting time heading over there.

Finally, watch this before you go so there are no surprises http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVmq9dq6Nsg

Thanks for all the links. Checking them out now. I have seen the cigar places website, also forget to bookmark it. Not this time.


Thanks all for the info. Hopefully I can meet up with some of the BOTL's up there!

[Stephen]

If you love the outdoors, do yourself a favor and visit Multnomah Falls (and several other smaller but no less beautiful waterfalls) along the Columbia River Gorge Highway. Vista House is a nice little stop along the way there.

[CigarSquid]

So much to do.. Afraid I will not have the time in the weekend.

[BlindedByScience]

If I were me and were going to Portland for the first time, on a limited time, I'd for sure want to stay at McMenamin's "Kennedy School"...:

http://www.mcmenamins.com/427-kennedy-school-home

...why?


The place is the coolest hotel you'll ever stay in. Well, OK, maybe quirkiest...:D...but, in a good way.
Prices are very reasonable for the room.
They have a cigar room, on site.
They have a micro brewery, on site. Their beer is quite tasty..!!
They have a couple of different places to eat, on site.
They are right on the bus line, so getting downtown or transfering to Max, etc. is a snap.
It's about 20 mins. away from my house across the river in Vancouver, WA so I could come by for a smoke...:tu


Food for thought - B.B.S.

[BlindedByScience]

.....Don't go to any of the microbrew chains like McMennemins or such.....

....I chuckled when I realized you'd burned the place I recommended....:D

I hear where your are coming from; Portland is without a doubt "BeerVana" and the McMenamins brothers are not at the top of the pile. In fact, if guy was a total beer snob and wanted to see the really cool esoteric breweries in town, there are tours that would be a great way for a new visitor to see the places that are off the beaten path. Some of them are damn hard to find, actually...

Having said that, I can honestly say that every single time I've taken out of town guests to Kennedy School...they've loved it. Grab a bite of dinner, have a pint or two, then head to the cigar lounge for a great smoke and a whiskey. Pretty tough to beat, and most "noobies" love it. More than once, folks have said "....damn, wish I'd have stayed here.!.."

...YMMV, etc.

One man's opinon - B.B.S.

[markem]

....I chuckled when I realized you'd burned the place I recommended....:D


Heck no, didn't mean to imply that! The Kennedy School is very nice and it does have a small room for cigar smoking. Let's face it, terminator stout was the standard by which other brewers were measured for years. I guess I should have said to not fall into the trap of only going to the local chains, but search out bars where they serve a wide variety from different brewers.

That's more what I intended, but while the spirit was willing, the tequila last night was strong.

[CigarNut]

I like me some Terminator Stout or Hammerhead... sometimes together :D

[LostAbbott]

When I was a kid in the 80's I would always go with my dad to Cornelius Pass Roadhouse and get a few large mason jars of Hammerhead and Terminator stout. I would always get a sip of both to make sure they were good of course.

These guys were the original microbrewery in Portland. Sure there was Henery's but they were mass market. It is a shame that they either have been surpassed(their beer is not very good anymore) or gone down hill.

[Bad Finger]

When I was a kid in the 80's I would always go with my dad to Cornelius Pass Roadhouse and get a few large mason jars of Hammerhead and Terminator stout. I would always get a sip of both to make sure they were good of course.

These guys were the original microbrewery in Portland. Sure there was Henery's but they were mass market. It is a shame that they either have been surpassed(their beer is not very good anymore) or gone down hill.

Ah.....Imbrie Hall. I live about 3 miles from it. Nice summertime cigar and scotch tastings there now!

[CigarSquid]

Trip is booked. I will be in Portland from May 26-28. I am staying at the Hilton in the downtown area.

If some Portland guys want to jump on a place to meet.. I am there.

If not, I will stop at a few shops alone.. Looking forward to Portland and seeing/meeting some of you guys!

[markem]

Trip is booked. I will be in Portland from May 26-28. I am staying at the Hilton in the downtown area.

If some Portland guys want to jump on a place to meet.. I am there.

If not, I will stop at a few shops alone.. Looking forward to Portland and seeing/meeting some of you guys!

We will have just gotten back from our trip to Palm Springs, so I'm a very soft maybe. Call the Mark Cigar Bar at the Shilo Inn at 9900 SW Canyon Road to see if they will be open for breakfast on Sunday. Good crowd, excellent venue, and some people from here.

[CigarSquid]

It's almost time.. Excited to explorer Portland.. Any one free Sat-Mon.. Will have to try to get together..

[CigarSquid]

Busy busy..