I'm at PDX taking advantage of yet more free wifi in the City of Roses. I've got about 20-minutes before boarding my red-eye flight back to the East Coast. Because of my late departure, I took it easy today, hanging around the hostel this morning chatting with other guests (from Ireland, Australia and Canada) until checkout. A little after noon I walked north on Hawthorne with another local friend here in town who joined me for lunch at the Bagdad Pub, owned and operated by McMenamins, who also run the famous Bagdad Theater next door. We were in the mood for burgers, but, this being overly organic Portland, they only carried Boca and gardenburgers on the menu! I went with the hot roast beef sandwich and my first Portland brew of the weekend — a half pint of Ruby, a lighter ale with a hint of rasberry. Portland is known for its beer-making and microbrews, and although I didn't get to sample any others, I did happen upon the Holiday Ale Festival when I wandered back downtown after lunch. I went to Pioneer Square hoping to hook up with a Portland Walking Tour, only to learn that they do not operate from December to March (except if specially arranged for a group of eight or more.) So I did my own impromptu walk instead, checking out the ale fest and then heading down towards the Willamette River to explore a little bit of the Portland Saturday Market, which is open on Sundays too, despite its official name. It was beginning to get very cold and grey again so I didn't wander long, and eventually headed back over the river to meet friends for dinner. We returned to the neighborhood where I had my first Portland meal on Friday morning. Down the street from Gravy is the Mississippi Pizza Pub, where I feasted on one final meal before heading to the airport. I didn't get to see lots of attractions or spend time outdoors, but I did discover the cool vibe of this urban gem of the Pacific Northwest that everyone talks about. And I had my share of good eats around town. Next time I'll try more brew pubs and coffee shops, and make sure I get outside in warmer weather to do some hiking too. 

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Stories