Downtown Portland/Pearl District  History Breathtaking mountains create beautiful surroundings, and with the Columbia River Gorge a short drive from the city, outdoor activities are just at your fingertips.  The Oregon Coast is a mere 80 miles away so Portland is in a unique location which allows it to offer pretty much anything a person would desire in a hometown.  A coin flip determined the name of the town to be Portland (the other contender was Boston), and the small township grew faster than the founders could have anticipated.  The new port would figure to be a key to the new west, and today is considered to be one of the most livable cities in the country.  Description The main center of town activities since the city’s founding, downtown is a cultural center as well as a hub of commerce.  From NBA basketball with the Portland Trailblazers, to a thriving Chinatown, to a gorgeous waterfront park that hosts festivals the year round, downtown Portland though small geographically is definitely a "big city."  Pioneer Courthouse Square acts as the town’s epicenter, especially on sunny days when workers taking their lunch breaks flood the square.  With restaurants from upscale wine bars, to small burrito stands, you can sample any genre of food you can imagine.  The place to be seen at the moment is definitely the Pearl District.  Newer condo and lofts are found here, and with the newest restaurants and shops this part of town draws tons of visitors.  Shopping downtown is plentiful, with boutique shops and the big players like Nordstrom all vying for customer’s attention.  Though Portland has its share of homeless and street youth, the downtown scene is safe and you’ll find people are generally very helpful and the city has even put together street teams to help answer any questions you might have.  Keep an eye out for volunteers in green jackets that are ready and willing to help in any way they can.  Our Favorite Spots Pioneer Courthouse Square on a sunny day is a great place for lunch or just taking a break from all the shopping.  With the occasional performance group showing up, or even a free concert, there’s always something happening in the square.  In the Pearl District try Fratelli for authentic Italian food, and Bridgeport Brewing for great locally brewed beer.  Also, the Chinese Gardens downtown are a beautiful respite in the city.  Taking up a city block you can take a leisurely stroll through the many pagodas as well as enjoy some great tea in their tearoom. Residents Overwhelmingly populated by renters, between the ages of early-twenties to mid-40’s, usually single person homes and apartments, lots of turnover and is densely populated.  You find every type of person in downtown, from the business professional, to the college student (Portland State University is located downtown Rental Housing Apartments, apartments, and more apartments.  It doesn’t get more in-city than this.  There’s an increasing amount of rental options, from the very affordable to the high-end lofts and condos. If you favor high-rises this is the neighborhood for you.  Convenient in-city living with all that urban life has to offer.  Many older brick buildings mixed in with newer high-rises give the downtown renter many options and styles to choose from.  If you’re in the market for a condo or a loft, definitely check out the Pearl District. Fun Stuff A musical event not to be missed every summer is the Portland Waterfront Blues festival.  Attracting national acts and blues circuit legends, this festival is a must see, plus the admission is only $5 and two cans of food benefiting the Oregon Food Bank.   Saturday Market, a huge arts/crafts/food market underneath the Burnside Bridge, is a great place to wander and shop every Saturday starting in March and running through Christmas.  Oh, and while the name doesn’t indicate it, its open Sundays as well.  Great food, live music and unique gifts make this market a local favorite!