Portland, OR Fun

I'm going to be in Portland, OR Saturday through Thursday for a convention. Anything noteworthy I should take in?

If you're willing to drive ~2.5 hours to Packwood, there's a Regional ProSolo. A half hour south to Woodburn will net you the All Mopar and AMC day at the drag strip. PIR has 1/4 mile racing Saturday night. Wednesday nights at PIR are the Beaches Cruise-In and 1/8 mile bracket racing.

Portland also has an epic collection of microbreweries. They even mounted a map in some of the trolleys!

Also, I live nearby. I'll actually be in Portland on Saturday (maybe even take in a drag race with the P71) and on Sunday I'm picking up the latest project car...

I will actually be heading back to Portland this weekend myself, though I already have a booked schedule. I might be making a run up to Tacoma as well during the weekend.

So whats the car you are picking up on Sunday P71?

Not telling!

ah come on....

If you want a great view and some decent food, head downtown to Portland City Grill for happy hour, make sure to get there early and get a seat at the window.

There's a NASCAR West race at PIR this weekend. A big BMW PRO3 contingent are running in a supporting race.

Both are accessible via the MAX light rail trains from the convention center.

If the grill is completely fubar'd then hit up Henry's Tavern over on West Burnside. Its built in the old Henry's brewery buildings and they have one of the largest selections of beer.

Of course there is a large local micro-brew Beer Fest going on at Waterfront park all weekend as well.

If you're into great hot wings and excellent atmosphere, check out Fire on the Mountain on East Burnside.

If you have a car and fancy some exploration, head east on I-84 to Troutdale for McMenamin's Edgefield, it is worth the experience to go at least one night. Wine and Whiskey tasting, micro-brews, excellent history and a good place to just wander around with a beer in your hand.

There's OMSI, the science museum across the river from Waterfront park, which has an WWII diesel sub to explore, a huge curved IMAX screen and lots of great science exhibits.

The Portland Zoo, World Forestry Center, and Japanese Garden are all at the same stop off the MAX Blue Line.

Evergreen Air and Space Museums are in McMinnville, OR which isn't too bad a drive from Portland, but you'd need a day to see them both. The Spruce Goose, the P-38 and the SR-71 were all favorites of mine.

The McMinnville area is also the center of some very good Pinot Noir wines. If you're into that sort of thing you can contact my uncle who has a winery there. Carlton Cellars

He used to race a TR4 in SCCA back in the day and is a trip to hang out with.

There's also Mt. St. Helens and the Visitor Center up by me (breathtaking views, I proposed there). Forgot about the brew fest and the NASCRAP races, those will be good! Mmmmmm... beer!

Oh and Evergreen is the second best air museum I've ever been to (and that's saying something, #1 is the Smithsonian). Audra's Grandfather's jet is one of the ones outside (Gen Pat O'Grady). The P-38 and Bf-109 are both awe-inspiring. Excellent museum, well worth the drive!

Yeah, Mt Saint Helens is an awesome drive, especially in a Miata. The story of the eruption just adds to the views and the drive. Great place to propose to! Good job mang!

I loved how they did the timeline wall on the Space Museum where they contrasted the US and USSR's efforts, rather than focus on just the US. Since I was at the space museum the week after it opened, I was able to get up close and personal with an SR-71 and its empty engine nacel. Running my hand along the fuselage made me feel like a kid again. One of the pictures I took is the wallpaper on my iPhone.

Portland's Saturday Market is pretty fun and should be going all weekend along with the Beer Fest, meaning tons of great people watching, great food and home-made craft items.

Pittock Mansion, Council Crest and Mt. Tabor are all within the city limits and offer great views and neat views into old Portland.

Of course the Oregon Coast is always great, head west on highway 26 for 1.5hours and you'll be at the coast and hwy 101.

If you want to get together with some GRM'ers, I might be hitting the beer fest this Saturday evening. You have a PM.

turboswede wrote: Pittock Mansion, Council Crest and Mt. Tabor are all within the city limits and offer great views and neat views into old Portland.

Seconded for free and accessible fun, I would recommend going in the evening.

Wow! You guys are great.

Saturday and Sunday I'll be spending time with my boss (who lives in Portland, but leaves town that Monday). After that I'll only have my feet and public transportation, but it's looking like I can make myself quite the full schedule.

I'll be staying right across from the convention center.

Gimp, hit up tri-met.org for transit maps (actually, I think Google maps will overlay the transit routes) and you'll get an idea of what's available by foot or by bus/train.

Voodoo Doughnuts! http://voodoodoughnut.com/

There's three locations, make real freaky doughnuts.

Bailey's Taproom. Google it, they have 20 kinds of microbrew on tap.

The Alibi. On North Interstate a couple blocks down from Harbor Freight. It's a 1950's Tiki bar that's never been remodeled. food is pretty god too and happy hour is cheap as hell.

Shawn

There's a really good seafood place downtown as well. Has a Shanghai tunnel in the basement, just can't remember the name of it.

Now that smoking is banned, I wonder if the Alibi is okay to visit again? I couldn't stand it for more than about an hour and I grew up in a house where both parents smoked.

Trans_Maro wrote: Voodoo Doughnuts! http://voodoodoughnut.com/ There's three locations, make real freaky doughnuts.

Yes that is a maple bar with bacon on it.

aaaaand it is damned good too!

Yup, had the maple bacon bar myself. Pretty good.

I want to try the Memphis Mafia next time. Peanut butter, chocolate frosting and banana slices on a chocolate doughnut.

I forgot, go to Pine State Biscuits for breakfast, their biscuits and gravy are AWESOME!

Shawn

P.S. The deep fried Mac & Cheese at The Alibi is pretty good.

VooDoo is a mandatory stop after racing! Open 24 hours for delicious donuty goodness. Mmmmm..... donuts!

Beer. Lots and lots of really good craft beer.

Salanis wrote: Beer. Lots and lots of really good craft beer.

That's the main plan.