Portland, Oregon – Go. Be Surprised.

Portland – These full-size bronze reproductions of Shang Dynasty elephants live in the North Park Blocks area of the city. The sculpture is entitled Da Tung, which means Universal Peace.

Portland, Oregon musings from our contributor Larry Kessler -

Can we still be surprised when we travel?

Are we so “Google-savvy” that we’re no longer capable of experiencing something new in person? Is our Virtual World more real than reality? Can we look up from our iPhones long enough to be filled with awe-inspiring actual experiences?

A few days ago, I flew from San Diego to Portland, Oregon. Now, I’ve seen enough Food Channel and Travel Channel features to know I should expect the unexpected. Hey, I’m a man about town. I was raised in New York City, so it’s hard to surprise me. But I gotta say, Portland is some kinda different animal.

Hotel Monaco Portland is a Kimpton hotel.

Portland – A lot can happen in one day

I stayed at Hotel Monaco Portland (a Kimpton Hotel) in downtown Portland. This Kimpton Company must be infusing magic fairy dust in the ventilation system because they sure do things differently. I stay in a lot of hotels, some more elegant, some less. At this property, I just loved the ambience and all the amenities. They work the details, like in-room yoga mats and soothing colors and textures that match the funky Portland vibe.

Like other high end hotels they remember your name, pre-pour your favorite drink, and make you feel most welcome. But the staff here stunned me with their level of genuine affection for their guests. I know cause I watched them helping children play with toys in the lobby, having early evening sing-alongs at the living room piano, and gently guiding a wheel-chair bound gentleman to dinner as if he was a member of their family. Quelle surprise? Definitely.

Portland’s colors and textures play off and seamlessly blend with each other.

Exploring Portland

First stop, The Pearl District, a collection of retooled factory buildings blended with hip, funky dwellings, restaurants and eclectic shops. Basically, it’s where the cool kids play.

I love the colors and textures in this town, how they play off and seamlessly blend with each other. The inner city urban dweller in Portland just seems more relaxed than in other metros. Lots of smiling faces. Maybe it’s because everyone seems to exercise here. I overheard runners extoling the virtues of the latest hi-tech shoe and cyclists waxing poetic about carbon fiber frames.

Portland’s Barista, where coffee is king.

It’s quickly apparent that Portlanders love their coffee. Like really LOVE their coffee, but they’re serious about their brew in a light-hearted way. It’s a very endearing quality. For this trip I chose Barista on 23rd Street. Great cappuccino. No charge for the smiles.

Meet Robert and David

Many homeless dwell in downtown Portland. One sweet guy, Robert, carried his rain-soaked sign and asked me why I gave him money. I have fed a lot of homeless people, but have never been asked that question. I told him our roles could easily be reversed and would hope he’d do the same for me. A surprise hug ensued.

This Portland street musician expected the unexpected – a job – and got it.

Next, I met David, freshly arrived from Utah. I asked him what he wanted to do with his talent. He’d had no luck getting a paying music gig, so he worked the streets. He was told he needed a booking agent to gain entree in the club performance scene. So me being me (after all we had established a strong bond of trust after maybe 10 minutes) suggested he go to his desired club and say he had a “20 second question for the manager.” Get guitar ready and just start strummin’ and singin’. I did some shopping and checked back on David two hours later. He got the gig.

I press on. Time to buy a new lid. The Hat Shop. John was so helpful. Sizing, steaming, shaping… Loved the whole experience. What I didn’t expect was his in-store keyboard performance on a 200-year-old piano organ like contraption. Just awesome!

Portland, located near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, is home to about 600,000 people.

The locals love to walk and read

Downtown Portland is a wondrous web of way out street art, Victorian era inspired homes, and steel bridges draping the Willamette River. The Riverwalk beckons strollers, runners, and tourists alike. It’s a very walkable city.

Imagine life before Kindles and iPads. The locals read here. Real books. Old school bookstores abound, but the standard is set by Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, the world’s largest collection of new and old books. I could get lost for days in this Palace of Dreams.

Mothers Cafe & Bistro is a Portland classic.

The best Portland breakfast

You wanna have a killer breakfast in this town? Here comes an OMG moment. Go to Mothers Bistro and Bar on Stark Street. It’s a wonderful blend of historical Portland (in a converted 100 year old bank) and modern food-as-art cooking. Oh, the salmon scramble is to die for.

Like I said, a lot can happen in one day: Making new friends in one of our country’s great cities…check. Getting surprised…oh a big check there.

Expect the unexpected

But here’s the thing: I acknowledge that I set my intentions to be surprised. In fact, I’m always expecting the unexpected. I believe that the information we gather on our laptops and iPhones should free us to make real, human contact on our travels, to be filled with awe-inspiring experiences and create actual memories.

If that’s old school, then I wanna make sure I take that class.

Surprisingly yours,

Larry

Tags: accommodation, Barista, breakfast, cafes, coffee, expectations, homeless, Hotel Monaco, hotels, Imperial Restaurant, indi bookstore, Kimpton hotel, lodging, Mothers Bistro, North Park Blocks, OR, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, places to stay, Portland, Powell's, repurposed bank, repurposed building, restaurants, street musicians, surprises, travel, traveling, US, USA, West Coast

Category: Oregon