Downtown, Portland

Favorite thing: The Visitors' Center is below the Starbuck's... behind the fountain... in Pioneer Square. You will find all kinds of brochures, maps, bus and train schedules, and more. There is help available if you have questions.

Favorite thing: Powell's Books downtown is by far my favorite thing about Portland. It's the largest independently owned bookstore in the country (it takes up an entire block!)

It's so great to go into this huge bookstore to find a book (or several books) and sit down in the cafe and read with a cup of joe on a rainy Portland day. You can find any book imaginable new or used (and usually cheap)! You can find some really cool novelties as well.

Fondest memory: My favorite memories of Portland are in the cafe at Powell's reading a book, drinking a coffee on a rainy day. It's the only place where I like to be in the rain, and as anyone knows it rains a lot here.

Favorite thing: The Pearl is one of those downtown industrial neighborhoods first "discovered" by artists and other creative folk, and later "colonized" by the aspirational middle classes for whom "urban" is not a dirty word. Unlike some other such "artist colonies" in American cities, the Pearl had not been completely yuppified, nor is it tragically hip - yet, anyway. Upscale condos alternate with hole-in-the-wall bars and functioning warehouses - for now. (Enjoy it while it lasts.)

Favorite thing: Michael Graves helped to define the Post-Modern moment in Architecture with this award-winning and rather eccentric design. It houses offices and bureaus for the city of Portland. (Post-modernism in building combines the vocabulary of classical architecture with the materials and forms of modernism. Post-modernists are reputed to be "ironic".) The Portland Building is certainly quirky, like the city it's in.

Favorite thing: As I've already mentioned, there are many excellent buildings to see in Portland. These tower blocks caught my eye, and were photographed (with some difficulty) in the Jefferson/Columbia Streets area.

Favorite thing: Don't you just love this beautiful stained glass window? Located in the South Park Blocks in downtown Portland on the corner of S.W. Park and Madison, First Congregational Church is a Portland Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is known for its Venetian Gothic architecture and the red-roofed bell tower that can be seen from many parts of the city.

And, as for the glass, from my information it appears to be Povey Glass, designed and created by the famed Povey Brothers Art Glass Works, which operated in Portland from 1888 to 1929.

If you require further information just call this number: 228-7219, Tuesday through Friday.

Favorite thing: Beavers downtown? Well, this is the 'Beaver State', and Portland is the 'Rose City'. If you look real closely you will be able to see some of our other 'wildlife' downtown.

Fondest memory: Spring is glorious . I miss it when I'm away.

Favorite thing: Located around City Hall are all these really quirky statues of animals. This particular series were of seals.