Okay so this year I'm not gonna be able to make a thick program like last year. Just don't have the time. Working on a small thing but wanted to have an editable thread here of things for people to do while in town. Looking for dive bars, nice bars, cheap eats, good eats, breakfast spots, late night spots. Record stores, vintage stores, hiking spots, must see/ do stuff in town. So get at me people with any and all recommendations. Gonna make a master list with links where applicable.

Near Swan Dive:

Wu-Ron’s is a great, unheralded ramen place

Portland Beef and Cheese company, hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches and stuff only open for lunch M-F, but damn good

Hat Yai for coriander fried chicken and rich curries, not sure I’d want to eat here before a long night of drinking but it’s tasty!

Wayfinder brewing if you want the typical Portland craft brewery experience- yuppie vibes but I think their beer and food is pretty good

General advice

Portland’s greatest asset is our wealth of record stores, bookstores, and neighborhood movie theaters. Specific recommendations have already been covered in other threads and last year’s program, but try to hit up several if you’ve got the time.

Food carts are rarely good. There are a few standouts, but typically overpriced and mediocre food.

If there’s a clear day you gotta check out the views. The OHSU aerial tram is like $8 now but it’s a good quick way to get some nice scenery. Washington Park and Pittock Mansion are nice too but will be crowded.

The streetcar that runs by the Swan Dive is slow and infrequent, don't rely on this for getting anywhere, in most cases you're better off walking.

    Señor Scratchy Food carts are rarely good.

    Hard disagree on this one. I find them to be usually pretty OK, and I'm not any kind of restaurant enthusiast.

    People should know about the food pods, which are collections of food carts. They're generally nice places to chill and have a bite/sip outdoors. Hawthorn Asylum is about a 10-minute walk from Swan Dive. Lots of options, nothing mind-blowing, but they're food carts.

    Later today I'm probably gonna go get a vegan sushiritto from a food pod for like 11 bucks. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

        Nathan Loud they can be convenient and good for groups who want a variety of options but I dunno. Paying restaurant prices (plus tip) to eat out of plastic containers at a dirty picnic table is not really a must-do activity for visitors, in my opinion. I rarely leave a food cart pod satisfied and wanting to return.

          ALL HAIL THE FOOD POD SUSHIRITTO.

          (LOCK THREAD.)

          $11 for a veggie "sushi" rito? Nah, that's highway robbery, but it's Portland.

          My advice for OUT OF TOWNERS is that my wallet tax is the LOWEST IN THE COUNTY. See me first and you'll be good for your whole stay.

          • Josh replied to this.
            20 days later

            I've thought long and hard about this and finally have some answers. Trying to keep this mostly in the neighborhood around the fest but I have some other ideas too. This is all personal preference obviously:

            DOs
            food
            -my father's place
            -robotaco
            -sandy hut
            -cubo

            drinks
            -my fathers place
            -clinton street pub
            -roadside attraction
            -star bar
            -stammtisch
            -the vern

            Other stuff
            -Creature's Closet
            -Mississippi Records
            -Lone Fir Cemetery
            -Music Millennium

            DON'Ts
            -breweries. they are nothing to write home about
            -voodoo donuts. yea I know its the original but its not worth it and pretty lame
            -gladstone pub

              4 days later

              filthqueen666 second my fathers place. a fortune teller gave me an unsolicited but very accurate reading out front while I was smoking on picnic tables. they sell 40s. ate steak and eggs for thanksgiving there once.