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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2014)
NNPA 2014 ANNUAL CONVENTION Top Sights in Portland Courtesy of Travel Portland P ortland’s fun and unexpected attrac- tions range from gar- dens and museums to (tax-free) retailers of coffee, doughnuts and books. Here are a few must-sees. POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS From humble storefront beginnings in 1971, Pow- ell’s has grown into a Port- land landmark and one of the world’s great book- stores. Covering an entire city block, Powell’s City of Books contains more than 1.5 million books in 3,500 different sections. Get a cup of joe at the in-store coffee shop, grab a map to the nine color-coded rooms, and lose yourself in the largest used and new bookstore on Earth. Open 9 a.m.-11 p.m., 365 days a year; free. LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN A year-round wonder, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is an authentically built Ming Dynasty style garden. Cov- ered walkways, bridges, pavilions and a richly plant- ed landscape frame a pictur- esque lake in this urban oasis built by artisans from Portland’s sister city of Suzhou. Public and audio tours are available, and the garden’s teahouse serves light snacks and traditional teas. Lan Su hosts many events, including a two- week Chinese New Year celebration and summer concerts. Open daily; admission charged. PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET Enjoy a distinctive experi- ence at Portland Saturday Market, the nation’s largest weekly open-air arts and crafts market. Stroll down row upon row of unique cre- ations made by the people who sell them, and enjoy live music and international snacks. Located in Water- font Park, at the Skidmore Fountain MAX station. Make a $25 purchase and receive a free TriMet ticket or a two-hour parking vali- dation at any Smart Park garage. Open rain or shine, Satur- day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March through December 24; free. STUMPTOWN COFFEE ROASTERS In 1999, Stumptown Cof- fee took Portland caffeine lovers by the storm. What started as a single roastery on Southeast Division Street quickly expanded to the rest of Portland and, more recently, New York City and Seattle. Stump- town emphasizes direct trade and highlights the dif- ferent flavor profiles of cof- fee varietals. While grabbing a latte from Stumptown may take longer than going to Starbucks, the gorgeous latte art, not to mention the singularly Port- land vibe, will more than make up for it. OREGON ZOO At the Oregon Zoo, you can travel around the world in an afternoon, observing more than 2,000 animals from around the world, from agouti (a rainforest rodent) to zebra. This con- servation zoo is renowned for its Asian elephant breed- ing program. The zoo is located in Washington Park, five min- utes from downtown on Highway 26 West, or about 10 minutes via MAX light rail (Blue or Red line, Washington Park stop). Open daily except Dec. 25; admission charged. Dis- counted admission ($4) is offered on the second Tues- day of each month. Save $1.50 off admission with proof of transit ridership. PITTOCK MANSION High in the West Hills of Portland, Pittock Mansion soars 1,000 feet above the city’s skyline. A century-old symbol of Portland’s dra- matic transformation from a small lumber town to a bustling city, it’s an archi- tectural wonder. With pic- ture-perfect views of rivers, forests, bridges and moun- taintops — and 23 storied rooms teeming with treas- ures — no other place in town offers a more breath- taking view or a more revealing glimpse of Port- land’s past. Open daily; admission charged. OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY (OMSI) One of the nation’s lead- ing science museums, OMSI is 219,000 square feet of brain-powered fun. Five enormous halls bring science to life with hun- dreds of interactive exhibits and displays. You can expe- rience an earthquake, take part in live lab demonstra- tions, see a movie in the Empirical Theater, explore the universe in a world-class planetarium and even tour a real submarine. Located on the east bank of the Willamette River. Open daily; admission charged. PORTLAND FARMERS MARKET Widely considered one of the world’s finest farmers’ markets, the Portland Farm- ers Market operates eight weekly markets, spring through fall. In addition to fresh produce, the market is a go-to spot for prepared food items, as well as cheeses, meats, flowers and more. The flagship market is held on Saturdays in the South Park Blocks at Port- land State University, March-December. On Mon- days, the market comes to Pioneer Courthouse Square (June-September), and Wednesday’s market is held in the South Park Blocks of the Cultural District (May- October). travel through history in magnificent permanent col- lection galleries (featuring an extensive collection of Native American art), six stories of modern art and special exhibitions. Each Sunday features activities for families. Open Tuesday-Sunday; admission charged. Chil- dren 17 and under free. Admission is free on the fourth Friday of every month from 5-8 p.m. The museum also offers free admission and special fami- ly programming several times a year (check calen- dar). PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN In the scenic hills above Washington Park, the Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquil beauty which has been proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Encompassing 5.5 acres and five separate garden styles, the garden includes an authentic Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood. Guided tours are included with cost of admis- sion. Open daily; admission charged. Portland Hotspots VOODOO DOUGHNUT Located in Old Town’s popular nightlife district, Voodoo Doughnut is one of the city’s most unusual and delicious culinary destina- tions. The doughnuts, topped with creative ingre- dients such as bacon, Cap- tain Crunch and Oreos, are almost as fun to look at as they are to eat. Locals and visitors line up 24 hours a day for what may be the most innovative doughnuts in the world. Be prepared for adorable mustached faces to look up at you from your food (mirroring the many bearded young men you’ll encounter biking around Portland). Open all day, every day. Two locations. The Portland Convention Center is a worthy destination of its own, with public art installations alongside coffee shops and pubs. Find it on the East side of the Willamette River at 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN Portland’s International Rose Test Garden is the old- est official continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. Each year hundreds of thou- sands of visitors from around the world enjoy the sights and scents of the gar- dens. The garden’s spectac- ular views and more than 8,000 roses make it one of the city’s most notable sig- nature landmarks. Located in Washington Park. The best rose-viewing months are May-September. Open daily; free. PORTLAND ART MUSEUM Find out why the oldest museum in the Northwest, the Portland Art Museum, is internationally renowned for exciting art experiences. Located in the heart of downtown’s cultural dis- trict, the museum campus includes an outdoor sculp- ture court and historical interiors. Tour the world and Clyde’s Prime Rib is Portland’s only African American-owned jazz club, with live music – and celebrated prime rib dinners – every weekend, located at 5474 NE Sandy Blvd. Jimmy Mak’s is downtown’s center for live jazz, blues and R&B music, located at 221 NW 10th Ave. June 18, 2014 The Skanner News NNPA Annual Convention Edition Page 7
