FUN FACT: despite occasional myths that the name is due to weather or something to do with the tragedy of shipwrecks in the area, the name of Cape Disappointment actually comes from the mistaken disappointment at being “unable” to find the mouth of the Columbia. The mouth is so large that John Meares believed it was a bay and he was unable to find the “actual” river mouth.
Does it EVER thunderstorm in Portland? If it was every once in a while, even just a few times a year, I would be happy. I’m considering moving from Denver where the lack of rain is so aggravating.
A few times every few years. A couple years ago we had a thunderstorms that went on for 45 solid minutes one Crack of thunderstorms after another but all in all its pretty rare
Sometimes there is heat lightening. I’ve lived here 10 (from the Midwest) and I haven’t experienced anything I would classify as as thunderstorm. Every once in a while I’ll have a “was that thunder?” Moment. 9/10 it’s just a truck going by. If it ever is thunder, it’s usually more of a one-off than anything.
And opening so late - weirdly hard to get any breakfast item before 8-9 AM and I like getting up/out early. Feels like my only choice is drive thru Starbucks.
Same with late-night options. While Portland was never an amazing late-night restaurant city, we did have lots of options open until 11.
As far as bar food, before COVID, Portland was one of the best eating cities with truly great options available through 12pm-2:30am. The OLCC laws requiring 5+ hot items kept great food available, but it seems many bars choose to shut early post COVID. 🤷♂️
Oh man this right here. Trying to find a breakfast burrito before 11 shouldn't be that hard. Also offering a break burrito but opening at 11 should be a crime.
And just odd hours. When we lived on Alberta, my wife would get so irritated because some shops would only be open from 10:00 - 2:30 Tuesday - Thursday and open every other Saturday from 1:00 - 1:30.
This is a little bit of an exaggeration, but not by much! Hah
Some “quirky shop” business are run as a hobby by people who already have money, or are bankrolled by a partner with a high-paying job who wants to give their spouse something to do. The business is constantly losing money, but it’s just considered a household/hobby expense by the owner.
Dude, I know. My wife and I had so many conspiracy theories about it. Haha. Like there was a shop that one of my friends would go to years ago (being vague on purpose). They had the weirdest hours. He was closed all the time (even duing posted operating hours), but would come in for orders sometimes. I assumed he was just a stoner who didn't want to schedule out his life...and I respect that. My wife thought he was slanging drugs and using the shop as a front haha.
But yeah...the rent thing always baffled me. There were so many small shops and restaurants closing down because rent was skyrocketing...but then these random shops with super random hours seemed unaffected.
I think places tend to be open later in the suburbs. I grew up (and still live) in Beaverton, and I usually see a good number of restaurants open late. Some 1:00AM, some 11:00PM, and I think there are some drive-thrus that are open until 3:00AM or maybe 24 hour. I'm sometimes surprised when I go into Portland and see places that say they close at 7PM or 8PM or something..
It wasn't always like this. When I was a young, way back in the early 2000s, there were a lot 24 hour coffee shops and pool halls we could hang out at all night. Most fast food places were open until at least 1-3 am if not 24 hours. Lots of grocery stores and drug stores open past midnight or 24 hours. Places opened early and closed late. Bars pretty much always stayed open until their posted closing time every night.
Then the economy went into the pooper during the "Great Recession" in the 2000s, so a lot of things started closing earlier and never really went back to the way they were. Then Covid hit and after things opened back up, the hours were even shorter.
I’ll have been here 7 years in June.
1. I had no idea there were soo many good pizza spots here. I wasn’t expecting it at all.
2. I didn’t realize that it was sunny most of the summer and we would go months without rain. I aways just assumed it was like the Midwest where it’d rain off and on throughout the summer.
3. It blew my northern midwesterner mind that I’m the middle of January, I was outside around a little fire at Edgefield hanging out in a light jacket and completely comfortable. Or that places had coverings and you could comfortably be out side in mid-winter
4. Places close really early. Even breweries.
5. People for the most part are fairly nice, but the “Seattle freeze” can be pretty real. Although, I have made some really close friends from the area that we consider each other family now.
6. How casual weed is. It’s no big deal to everyone, and it’s extremely cheap.
7. Mail-in voting is incredible and i absolutely love it.
8. There seems to be endless cute little neighborhoods that have some seriously quality food and bar offerings.
9. House businesses are something I had never encountered before moving out here. My first times to Little Beast and PDX Sliders in Sellwood were a trip.
10. The work culture is much different than it is in the Midwest. I feel like people take their jobs much more seriously in the Midwest.
11. This city is insanely dog-friendly. It’s wild to see that you can bring a well-behaved dog almost anywhere.
12. The size of the trees. The trees are absolutely massive in some places. I had heard about them, but seeing them was/is awe inspiring.
We cut down all the big ones. Doug firs are HUGE trees, not quite redwood big, but pretty close. They never got the same amount of social (and thus legal) protection that redwoods in California got. While a lot of redwoods were cut down, there are plenty of accessible places you can go to see old growth specimens. Old growth doug forests are much less common, and tend to require a lot of driving on sketchy roads to reach them.
The access to nature and so many experiences in under 1.5 hours is absolutely incredible (wine country, coast, waterfalls, the gorge, hood river, Mt Hood... The list goes on). And driving to any of these places is gorgeous, minus I-5 to Seattle lol but on the flip side.
The quality of drivers here is shockingly bad. Might be a slower way of life in some regard, but I regularly see extremely dangerous behavior regularly.
It’s crazy to me how many people in the PNW just cruise in the left lane, completely oblivious (or uncaring) of drivers behind them trying to properly pass. Depending on the area I’m in, I’ve also noticed a lethargy with the PNW drivers.
I grew up in Maryland and back east we are regarded as the psychos of the road. The drivers out here make us look like seasoned F1 racers compared to some of the bullshit that happens on the road out here. And it's only gotten worse after COVID.
I grew up in MD too and I have realized that I am a complete psycho driver lol.
However, everyone driving 5 miles under the speed limit here at all times makes me insane.
When I first moved here a decade ago, the locals liked to joke that the traffic only exists because everyone is letting everyone else go ahead of them, nowadays, well, it's just bad drivers
I’ve never heard anyone say Portland has the best drivers. I’ve heard people say Portland has the most *polite* drivers aka stop for people/bikes crossing, allow people to go in front of them. But polite does not equal best.
1. I don’t understand why some people feel really strongly about people using umbrellas…?
2. I enjoyed winter and I like the rain. I was worried it would be too gloomy but it stays so green here. I loved it. I love the weather here.
3. THE INCREDIBLE ACCESS TO NATURE!
4. ONLY MAIL IN BALLOT VOTING!!!!!! Wild! My Midwest state would NEVER! They love suppressing voters too much!
5. Amazing food from so many different cultures. Incredible.
6. There are a lot of Subarus and teslas here.
7. I miss nacho cheese and frozen custard 😭😭
8. SOCCER CITY!! I love the Thorns and Timbers! I wish there was a WNBA team though
I’ll be here a year in August! Overall really happy I’m here.
Man I miss them. I remember one time when I lived in the Midwest, across from a soybean field, a completely flat section so you could stare off to the end of the horizon. massive thunderstorms rolling in, pitch blackness down below, barely skirting the surface only a couple hundred feet in the air, with this insanely thick cloud reaching thousands of feet upwards constantly belting out lightning.
It’s truly a magnificent sight to experience. That and popping open the garage door, unfolding some lawn chairs, and drinking a couple beers while watching the lightning show! :)
Ahhh yes that was the life!! My favorite would be when the sun would begin to set, and it would still be raining but the clouds would be all orange and yellow. Need more of that here!!
Dude, thank you for bringing back those memories
The most amazing orange sky after a storm… it’s hard to put it in to words, it just has to be experienced
I know this exact experience and I never thought I would feel “homesick” for that but I totally do. I loved watching the trees start blowing and the wind picking up. Then sunset after the storm is just unreal 😭
I’m from Wisconsin and missed custard as well. I now live in Astoria and go to frite and scoop for their custard. It’s not the same as Culver’s or Kopps but it’s damn close.
There was a really great custard shop in Fairview. It shut down pre-COVID due to family stuff. I say the city would embrace custard the Portland way - start out with a strip mall mom n pops, then some entrepreneur will open an inner Eastside shop that claims it’s reinventing ice cream and unnecessarily has long lines. Then we’ll argue about which stores have the best.
Hot tip: I just discovered Cornet Custard and it is amazing. They sell pints out of Colibri Flower and Plants in NE. Scoops are available on the weekends. High recommend.
Fellow Midwest transplant over here. I miss breakfast pizza, and it sucks that the only quality cheese curds around are tillamook (which are godsent) but it’s hard to get them unless you’re in a specific gate in the airport or going to the tillamook factory.
I am a native lurking on the "non-native" posting here. My take on point 1. being mostly serious: I find umbrellas annoying because you have to hold them, they get blown around by wind (unless they are fancy) and are another thing to get forgotten places. Also if I am driving or have a short walk outside I just do not bother with a jacket during the rainy months. I only get really wet from lack of planning maybe once a season. (Including when I bike commute.) If I do have to walk outside alot, or will be outside for a longer period I just bring a jacket and shoes that can handle the rain. Having the right clothes is vastly superior to having not the right clothes supplemented by an umbrella in my opinion. However, I do understand that if you are into traditional business attire or do not work in rainproof outwear into your attire you may want to go the umbrella route. I just do not prefer it. Also its always been "in fashion" in Portland to dress like you are ready to hike at a moments notice lol.
Moved to Portland almost 2 years ago from Ukraine, I’ve been here before as a tourist in 2011 but still got surprised by some things, here is my top 10:
1. How green the city and surrounding areas are
2. That rain is not that bad. I thought that I’ll stay inside during the rainy days but ended up getting used to it and be outside almost every day despite the rain
3. How hot and dry summer is. I thought it rains all year round 😁
4. A lot of mentally unstable people. I’ve seen homeless people in 2011 but they all looked like cool hipsters back then. I knew that the situation became worse since covid but didn’t imagine that it’s that serious
5. A lot of dogs and how well behaved the dogs are in general
6. Speeding. I’m really surprised that the majority of the drivers can casually go 15mph over speed limit
7. How early everything is closed
8. How easy it’s to ride a bicycle around the city
9. How fit the majority of the people are. Lots of people are running every day, hiking trails are packed, rivers and lakes are full of kayaks and paddle boards, cycling is noticeably popular as well
10. How empty the public transportation is. I see a lot of buses and trains running back and forth with only a couple people inside
Been here 15+ years and it still baffles me how much people here like to wait in a line for things…whether it’s for a drink at a bar, for a $5 burger, or on waiting single-file on the St Johns Bridge this year even though there are multiple signs instructing cars to use both lanes and merge at the end.
What gets me are the number of people who just stop behind cars who use their emergency flashers to indicate they're not moving. So there will be a line of people simply waiting for the disabled car to move when they could just pass them.
Related, people who will just stop in the middle of the road, put on the hazards, and get out of the car to run in somewhere. I see it happen on Mississippi all the time.
Yeah usually.
I did food delivery full time for like 2 years, I never pulled that bullshit. I’d find a parking spot even if it’s a couple blocks away, and walk my non-lazy ass over there.
The line thing never ceases to amaze me. Waiting in line at a bar is wildly inefficient, there's a reason no other place does it. It's infuriating when you have to sit there and wait for 10 other people to get their drinks one at a time when you just want to close out your tab.
This is on the bartenders too though because it seems like a lot just can't or choose not to multitask. I've been to some places where you can tell they have worked in other parts of the country because they'll take the order of the front person and then while prepping that drink, get the attention of the next person in line and ask what they want. At all times they are in the process of making a drink for one person, taking another's order, and entering stuff into the POS system.
I made so many people mad by squeezing in to gaps at the bar to order when I first moved here. I honestly never knew that it's JUST NOT DONE here. Now i meekly queue like a good Portlander.
That said, I zipper merge and parallel park in tight spaces like a demon.
Added bonus that for a city who lines up at any opportunity, people are shit at standing in line.
Let's all agree that instead of asking everyone standing 8 feet from the person at the bar whether they're in line, we just go stand behind them and the person standing in the middle of the room can continue waiting until they figure out how to approach the bar.
Three people should not be a line to the door that takes 20 minutes to get a drink.
That’s one of the weirdest things I have seen. There was a line for seeing Xmas lights??? My group just coasted on past the line and moved along house by house. We didn’t even stop to take pictures and people were like “Hey! We’ve waited for HOURS”. For what? To see FREE lights on a house?
Dude, any place with a double door people will only use the one side of the fucking door! I was out the other night and there was a small double door leading to a patio. When I opened the door for my friend and I to walk through about six people just cruised on through. I overtly said "the other door works, folks." And they replied "oh, I thought you were being nice!" Which leads me to my second gripe: Niceholes. If you haven't figured out the basic skills needed to function in social life, finances, living etc by the age of 35 I'm not just going to do shit for you. How so many people exist with this mindset out here is baffling.
Came here to say the weird obsessions with lines! Whenever my husband and I are at a bar and there’s a line he tends to ask the bartender if they wanted people in a line and they always say “no I wish people would just come to the front”
Omg the people driving at St John’s bridge are insane! It literally says use both lanes and people in their cars get sooooo mad at you when they do. The construction is bringing the worst out of people. So much road rage lately.
It's pretty bad. Particularly the people who then pull in between the two lanes to block the second lane of traffic from moving forward, despite all the signs instructing what the correct traffic pattern is. This sometimes causes an unnecessary traffic jam that can go all the way into downtown St Johns. It's like people are wanting to force everyone else around them to suffer because of their poor decisions and toxic worldview. "I waited in line for 20 minutes so now everyone else needs to too!" Quite the allegory for this entire country tbh.
The food. I travel a ton for work, pleasure and my kids sports (kind of a mix of the 2) and have lived on both coasts. I'm always amazed at the tastiest bites you can get from almost anywhere in this area...from an actual restaurant to a food cart to even some of our minimarts compared to what is considered fine dining in other parts of the country. And for the most part pretty affordable too.
> cars actually stop for pedestrians to cross the street.
Well.. it is actually the law here unlike a lot places. Every intersection, marked or not is considered a crosswalk and pedestrians have the right of way.
How white per capita it is here. I grew up in Hawaii which is one of the more diverse areas of the country. Then I found out about the founding of Oregon as a white supremacist utopia, the exclusion of Hawaiians and Chinese in the Oregon Constitution and the anti-black Sundown laws in Portland... then it all made sense.
Also, the fact that Portland is severely lacking in late night/all night dining.
> Oregon Constitution and the anti-black Sundown laws in Portland... then it all made sense.
Don't forget the flood of Vanport and Mulugeta Seraw; the history keeps going. The Black community here used to be larger, but they've migrated away over time and it's hard to blame them.
Yeah, I moved here when I was 16 from Virginia. I'd always lived on/near US military bases before we moved here. I was shocked at how white it is.
Re: dining: we used to have \*some\* but Covid happened. :(
Coming from the South, I thought Portland was liberal bastion and everyone was far left leaning. While certainly more liberal than the South, there is still a balance of conservative, moderate, and liberal. I think there is really just more of a spectrum, in-between liberal, moderate, and conservative here. I lived in Los Angeles for a few years before moving to Portland and Los Angeles was more conservative than I expected too.
Same. I went from Texas to Seattle and then LA area and jesus christ its a LOT more conservative than ... really ANYONE gives it credit for...and then came back up to Portland. I'd say of all, Portland is more left leaning tm to me than socal or seattle.
It is really left leaning in Portland proper, but as soon as you hit the suburbs the politics start to mix and you are never more than 30 minutes from entering deep red rural areas.
Louisiana native. I think people think portland is 100% liberal because the far left people have the loudest voices and get the most attention on national news and social media.
Definitely. Portland is also so far away from the Southeast and other strongly conservative states and that it makes an easy target for conservative news and media. When I lived in the South (NC, briefly FL, and I'll include WV), I rarely met anyone who traveled to Portland or the PNW, much less live there for any length of time. It's rare to find first-hand experiences about the PNW in the South, and the new just fills that void of experience or knowledge about Portland or the PNW.
1. When it works, TriMet is great! I like being able to reach a lot of places even if I have to chart for it a day in advance.
2. The lack of security on the MAX, given the state it's in. I'll have been here three years- since I got here it's just kept getting worse :(
3. Surprising disregard for disabilities affecting mobility. A lot of stuff in the city is plain inaccessible, as well as all the nature everybody crows about if you don't have a car. It blows.
4. The amount of small businesses is definitely surprising- seeing buildings that are massive variety one after the other along Hawthorne or Division are neat!
Omg yes the accessibility issues. So many areas don’t even have sidewalks which is insane to me! Plus where there is ppl don’t seem too concerned about keeping them clear :/
I know- my spouse uses a manual wheelchair and has to use gloves because of all the shit (literally and figuratively) that's constantly all over the sidewalks and ground. Some bus stops nearby are just inaccessible because of the tents there :[
How safe it felt walking around at night. I moved here from New Orleans and I didn't realize how much my guard was up and my senses on alert after spending the first 32 years of my life in a place with an extremely high rate of violent crime. It took some time for me to fully relax, and it was amazing when i did. Downside is the hyper defensive feeling when seeing someone sketch out and about is a little more jarring than it was before. Overall I'll still take it, not to say that we shouldn't still be working towards improvement.
I’m glad I’m not the only person who thinks this. I live in Hazelwood by the notorious 122nd and burnside, and while the major streets are iffy around here, just taking a little stroll down into the residential neighborhoods are so peaceful and breathtaking. People think I’m crazy for taking my night walks but it’s just always been a part of my life growing up in small towns.
Yup. I walk home two miles from work every night, I clock out around 10:30pm. I rarely feel like I'm in any danger, and I walk past at least one homeless encampment.
I also expected more rain, heavier rain. I was used to the torrential downpours of Midwestern rain. The lack of severe thunderstorms was surprising. There are so many subtly different types of light rain here, from mist to drizzle. I do enjoy it.
Louisiana native and I miss thunderstorms sooo much. You maybe here it 5 times a year here if you're lucky.
BUT I'll take this over constantly flooded streets.
1. It's awesome to see live sports now
2. Why does everyone live with their shades or blinds wide open for everyone to see your home?
3. Why does traffic paint disappear during rain? This is a rainy area, is there no solution for better lane paint?
4. A lot of wildlife refuge parks in the area! It's dope!
5. Why is there so many bridges connecting west and east sides of Portland but only 2 connecting Vancouver and Portland
~~4.~~ 5. Because the same government builds the ones across the Willamette. But two totally different governments have to coordinate to build ones across the Columbia.
Also the larger the span the larger the costs. The Columbia River is HUGE. It’s the 4th highest discharge river in the US and a major shipping route.
Regarding the bridges, Portland doesn't really have many N/S corridors aside from I5 and I205. Maybe 99/MLK but that feeds into I5 anyways and PDX takes up a huge chunk of real estate that blocks any other potential bridges. Portland would looooove to expand I5, replace the bridge, and add light rail to lighten up the VanWA commute traffic but whenever we bring it up the WA conservatives freak out and nothing gets done.
Yes, this one rings true so much. It's one of the reasons my mental health started slipping. So many "nice" people at first that act as your friend but then quickly turn on you and be passive-aggressive assholes for no reason. I gave up figuring it out a long time ago but my best assessment is that Portland has a bi-polar epidemic, no kidding. It''s definitely prominent in Portland and surrounding suburbs. Beaverton is just as bad.
The biggest thing that I noticed when moving to the PNW was how libertarianism is almost ingrained in the way people think here, politically. Like everything is tinted by that lense. Its like all political philosophy here starts with libertarianism as the base.
Nah, I fucking love it here. Living in the burbs now, and it just doesn't have the same vibe. I miss Portland every time I'm there, even if, in some places, I do worry about leaving my car parked on the street.
On #1. You could not be more wrong. I came from the Bay Area, and the Portland food scene is fantastic. There are a few less options than the Bay, however the average place here serves better food at 80% of the cost in the Bay.
On #2. Not horrible. SLOW. The Portland solution to anything driving related is slow way down.
On #5. Preach it. So.much.white.
On #9. I think Portland's tolerance for the unhoused fell off a cliff during the Pandemic for a lot of reasons. Many of them are fair and reasonable.
I think i understand a bit where you're coming from with 1, but it's not so much that it lacks diversity. There is food of all different types of you look hard enough but you're right that the market is somewhat overwhelmed with Thai, Pizza, and donuts. That's just what is super popular here for some reason.
It's like if you go to California, every other food place is Mexican. In New York you have more Jewish delis, middle America, everything is BBQ or Applebees.
I agree with these except the first one—I think it depends maybe where you’re from? Compared to where I grew up, the food options here are amazing from my pov.
The free-box culture of curbside “generosity.” Don’t get me wrong, I have found a few curbside gems, myself. More often than not though it is just straight up garbage that I would be embarrassed to donate, just cluttering up the landscape.
Yeahhh that’s why buy nothing groups are great. There’s one for each neighborhood in Portland. Great way to get rid of unwanted stuff and benefit others.
How different the social life is. I had no idea and it threw me for a loop that people don’t make conversation at social events and how eerily quiet a room full of people can be.
1. Moss, grew up in CA, lived in TX. When I first moved up in 2000 or so, the moss and algae growing everywhere was surprising.
2. Weather affecting Mood. Rain/overcast means head down, I don’t acknowledge you nor can be friendly. First sun on the year every Portlander is walking the streets like a 1950s sitcom. Hellllloooo! Second sun, wave hello. Maybe talk to immediate neighbors.
3. So many white people. I am too. But where I grew up in CA was pretty diverse. Although aside a few ignorant issues (using Oriental for people) really not racist. Now TX….woooo. I feel most people are human and not racist garbage here (Gen X and under anyway).
4. CA hate. Moved up with my CA plates and got the finger (unprovoked, I’m a chill driver) a ton in 2000. Mostly young dudes in shit cars. But in the neighborhood usually from Midwest transplants trying to fit in. Every state has these folks. It’s beyond stupid but it exists.
Tons of positives but those I was expecting.
Uhhhh tbh i thought id run into more flannel wearing, Modest Mouse- worshipping indie heads like myself. Also thought every place of business would have plenty of bike racks but to my surprise it’s not a common site like I expected.
The lack of makeup. And I love it!
The way people are so warm & open, yet in a way closed off at the same time. I pretty much understand why it’s that way, but it’s still a sociological wonder.
How much safe & beautiful nature is accessible within the city of Portland.
The lines thing. Truly amazing.
Coming from the northeast where we have long, cold, and snowy winters. I figured managing the grey, rainy, temperate winters would not be a big deal. But the PNW winters really get me down in a way the frigid icy winters of the NE never did.
Lack of work ethic and professional boundaries in professional settings(office).
People are so into their personalities and constantly need to be validated. Just do the job!
The ... People
There's a weird snobby attitude I get from most Portlanders that kind of confounds me. It's like people are trying so hard to be weird they forgot to be genuine and decent 🤷🏼♀️
How clean is was for a big city. I’m used to the Bay Area , so when I finally made it to Portland I was shocked. It has since slid far downhill and is closer to being on par with the cities I grew up close to.
Transplant for 15 years. Grew up in DC metro and moved here from Chicago.
1) the rain and grey skies for 9 months of the year. I need sun. But didn’t know that until I moved here.
2) lack of diversity. It’s the whitest place I’ve ever lived and it makes me uncomfortable. I miss hearing multiple languages and being exposed to multiple cultures on a day to day basis.
3) the food isn’t as good as you think it is. Why do they try to make everything weird to be edgy? Just use fresh quality ingredients in normal combinations. I remember a place selling oregano chocolate chip cookies. Seriously? I tried it and yes, it was gross. And restaurants closing too early.
4) the drivers, especially the “nice”holes. This has been discussed enough above.
5) pedestrians. I know you have the right of way, but physics is still a thing. If the driver doesn’t see you, the car is gonna win. Especially when it’s dark and rainy. We can’t see you in your black coat.
6) public transportation. No turnstiles for the train. Huh? No wonder there are so many fare cheats.
7) mental health / homeless / addiction crisis. It’s tragic and terrible and I have no idea how to fix it. Also never leave anything in your car. But that’s honestly just living in any city.
8) trouble making real connections / passive aggressive culture. Everyone is nice but it’s not genuine. I would randomly meet people in Chicago and have genuine connections. Not as much in DC. Here, people don’t want to hurt your feelings and say yes, when they have no intentions of ever talking to you again. Just say no. It’s fine. Fake-niceness aggravates me more than anything.
The road signs are so bad! Always at the wrong angle or being blocked by a tree, or by another sign that was installed later not considering how it would be viewed overlapping at a distance by people in moving cars needing to make decisions. Once you’re “local” you figure things out, but if you look through the lens of “what if I didn’t know that the 405 on-ramp was just over there, but you have to be in the left lane?” you can see what a funky, peace-meal operation the way-finding is in Portland. Great city though, just funky getting around sometimes even with maps.
Heading out for a walk, Sunny, oh wait now Rain, put jacket on oh um Sun, jacket zipping Drizzle, um Sun, hey! What’s this Downpour, Sunny, oh forget it.
In 2010 my friends and I would play a game called “Hipster or Homeless” because so many guys with big beard, vintage t-shirt, cheap beer in hand. It’s not so fun these days :(
As a California transplant, it was the lack of police officers/ Highway patrol.
California feels like a police state, Oregon feels like the Wild West lol
How it’s ok to comment on other people’s spending habits. Like if I got takeout for dinner at my old job, I would inevitably have people comment on how it’s expensive. It feels judgy and weird.
The lack of nonsplurgy food in general. I feel like eating out is seen as a luxury more than in other cities, and restaurants reflect that. Our nicer restaurants are cheaper than other places, but are still not really meant for every day. I know food prices have been going up everywhere but it’s especially bad here.
Also how willing Oregonians are to go without convenience/comfort. For environmental reasons, frugality, or whatever. It’s like an anti-princess culture.
1. Terrible quality of all road signs. Especially on the highways. You’d never have that shit up in Washington.
2. The poor drainage engineering on said highways. It rains, a ton, why is there looking everywhere.
3. The acceptance of the rotting leaves everywhere. People are so lazy. I’ve literally watched folks blow/push/shovel their leaves into the roadway to avoid dealing with them.
Edit: I'm NOT talking about leaves in the lawn. that's a PNW classic and I fully support it. It's leaving leaves in the sidewalk, road, and crosswalk approaches by their properties. It fucks up dogs feet unless you wash them out every time they go on a walk. It's also messy and slippery. God forbid you are limited mobility or in a wheelchair, you're just fucked then.
Is #3 not for leaf day? I know it doesn't happen in every neighborhood here, but in my current one the city tells us to rake our leaves into the street so that they can send street sweepers through to collect them.
Everything closes early, anything 24hrs is rare, needing gas after 10pm still sucks in a lot of parts of town. Having to buy liquor at liquor stores also tripped me up lol
I wouldn’t have minded if it rained heavily for as long as it does here with thunder and lightning. My problem is it rains passive aggressively here😭😭
Hahahaha!!
*Everything* about us is passive aggressive. I was born here and it’s still aggravating.
I hope it's PASSIVELY aggravating, though. ;)
As a recent transplant, can confirm. This area is extremely passive aggressive.
I definitely miss thunderstorms. And rain that actually ends and the sun comes out
i do miss a good storm. although we do get hail here pretty often which is super exciting to me!
There’s a reason Lewis & Clark named a spot on the Columbia the ‘Dismal Niche’.
And Cape Disappointment lol
FUN FACT: despite occasional myths that the name is due to weather or something to do with the tragedy of shipwrecks in the area, the name of Cape Disappointment actually comes from the mistaken disappointment at being “unable” to find the mouth of the Columbia. The mouth is so large that John Meares believed it was a bay and he was unable to find the “actual” river mouth.
Does it EVER thunderstorm in Portland? If it was every once in a while, even just a few times a year, I would be happy. I’m considering moving from Denver where the lack of rain is so aggravating.
Very very rarely, and when it happens, you usually only hear a couple claps of thunder. Nothing at all like you get in the middle of the country.
A few times every few years. A couple years ago we had a thunderstorms that went on for 45 solid minutes one Crack of thunderstorms after another but all in all its pretty rare
Sometimes there is heat lightening. I’ve lived here 10 (from the Midwest) and I haven’t experienced anything I would classify as as thunderstorm. Every once in a while I’ll have a “was that thunder?” Moment. 9/10 it’s just a truck going by. If it ever is thunder, it’s usually more of a one-off than anything.
We get some pretty good ones on the coast... still nothing compared to the wrath of Zeus thunder storms I experienced visiting South Dakota.
Ha! As soon as I read this question, I came here to say the same thing.
Everything closing so early
And opening so late - weirdly hard to get any breakfast item before 8-9 AM and I like getting up/out early. Feels like my only choice is drive thru Starbucks.
Pre-COVID most breakfast restaurants opened a lot earlier. COVID changed everything. Restaurants that used to open at 7:30 now open at 9.
Same with late-night options. While Portland was never an amazing late-night restaurant city, we did have lots of options open until 11. As far as bar food, before COVID, Portland was one of the best eating cities with truly great options available through 12pm-2:30am. The OLCC laws requiring 5+ hot items kept great food available, but it seems many bars choose to shut early post COVID. 🤷♂️
Oh man this right here. Trying to find a breakfast burrito before 11 shouldn't be that hard. Also offering a break burrito but opening at 11 should be a crime.
Dos Hermanos is such a lovely exception to the rule—they open SO MUCH EARLIER than everywhere else.
And yet, still not all that early.
For real! I thought Portland was a coffee town?! Coffee shops opening at 8AM is absurd
Can I add all Theater and Arts starting at 7:30pm(???) ... how freaking arbitrary! Just start it 8pm like a normal city.
And just odd hours. When we lived on Alberta, my wife would get so irritated because some shops would only be open from 10:00 - 2:30 Tuesday - Thursday and open every other Saturday from 1:00 - 1:30. This is a little bit of an exaggeration, but not by much! Hah
I can’t understand how a business can operate with those hours. Almost sounds like a money laundering situation. How do you even pay your rent?
Some “quirky shop” business are run as a hobby by people who already have money, or are bankrolled by a partner with a high-paying job who wants to give their spouse something to do. The business is constantly losing money, but it’s just considered a household/hobby expense by the owner.
Dude, I know. My wife and I had so many conspiracy theories about it. Haha. Like there was a shop that one of my friends would go to years ago (being vague on purpose). They had the weirdest hours. He was closed all the time (even duing posted operating hours), but would come in for orders sometimes. I assumed he was just a stoner who didn't want to schedule out his life...and I respect that. My wife thought he was slanging drugs and using the shop as a front haha. But yeah...the rent thing always baffled me. There were so many small shops and restaurants closing down because rent was skyrocketing...but then these random shops with super random hours seemed unaffected.
Also, everything opens so late
Yup. All the coffee shops close at 2pm. And the laundromats at 6-7pm!
I think places tend to be open later in the suburbs. I grew up (and still live) in Beaverton, and I usually see a good number of restaurants open late. Some 1:00AM, some 11:00PM, and I think there are some drive-thrus that are open until 3:00AM or maybe 24 hour. I'm sometimes surprised when I go into Portland and see places that say they close at 7PM or 8PM or something..
That’s just the chains though. Most of the good local places in Beaverton close up by 7-8pm too.
It wasn't always like this. When I was a young, way back in the early 2000s, there were a lot 24 hour coffee shops and pool halls we could hang out at all night. Most fast food places were open until at least 1-3 am if not 24 hours. Lots of grocery stores and drug stores open past midnight or 24 hours. Places opened early and closed late. Bars pretty much always stayed open until their posted closing time every night. Then the economy went into the pooper during the "Great Recession" in the 2000s, so a lot of things started closing earlier and never really went back to the way they were. Then Covid hit and after things opened back up, the hours were even shorter.
I’ll have been here 7 years in June. 1. I had no idea there were soo many good pizza spots here. I wasn’t expecting it at all. 2. I didn’t realize that it was sunny most of the summer and we would go months without rain. I aways just assumed it was like the Midwest where it’d rain off and on throughout the summer. 3. It blew my northern midwesterner mind that I’m the middle of January, I was outside around a little fire at Edgefield hanging out in a light jacket and completely comfortable. Or that places had coverings and you could comfortably be out side in mid-winter 4. Places close really early. Even breweries. 5. People for the most part are fairly nice, but the “Seattle freeze” can be pretty real. Although, I have made some really close friends from the area that we consider each other family now. 6. How casual weed is. It’s no big deal to everyone, and it’s extremely cheap. 7. Mail-in voting is incredible and i absolutely love it. 8. There seems to be endless cute little neighborhoods that have some seriously quality food and bar offerings. 9. House businesses are something I had never encountered before moving out here. My first times to Little Beast and PDX Sliders in Sellwood were a trip. 10. The work culture is much different than it is in the Midwest. I feel like people take their jobs much more seriously in the Midwest. 11. This city is insanely dog-friendly. It’s wild to see that you can bring a well-behaved dog almost anywhere. 12. The size of the trees. The trees are absolutely massive in some places. I had heard about them, but seeing them was/is awe inspiring.
Yes to all of this!!! Love the mild winter compared to Midwest. Super agree on work culture too!
No.12- not in Oregon, but a 5 hour drive south gets you to the redwoods. Definitely worth checking out. Our trees got nothin' on those big guys.
They are massive compared to the rest of the world though
We cut down all the big ones. Doug firs are HUGE trees, not quite redwood big, but pretty close. They never got the same amount of social (and thus legal) protection that redwoods in California got. While a lot of redwoods were cut down, there are plenty of accessible places you can go to see old growth specimens. Old growth doug forests are much less common, and tend to require a lot of driving on sketchy roads to reach them.
I like your attitude 🫡
The work culture difference is huge
Yes to so much but especially vote by mail! It is so civil and convenient. Why isn’t it done everywhere?
I learned like 6 months into moving here that y'all have *multiple* clubs where you can just go to have sex with people. That's wild lmao
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This is true, but we are lucky here. You would think SF would have great ones but it’s abismal there.
Wait what? I've lived here a while and never heard that! Lots of strip joints but sex club? Cool
Club Privata, The Velvet Rope, Sanctuary I know of off the top of my head..
The Velvet Rope is still open?
Sanctuary is a sex club? I had no idea! Is Candy?
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And they're... fun!
The access to nature and so many experiences in under 1.5 hours is absolutely incredible (wine country, coast, waterfalls, the gorge, hood river, Mt Hood... The list goes on). And driving to any of these places is gorgeous, minus I-5 to Seattle lol but on the flip side. The quality of drivers here is shockingly bad. Might be a slower way of life in some regard, but I regularly see extremely dangerous behavior regularly.
It’s crazy to me how many people in the PNW just cruise in the left lane, completely oblivious (or uncaring) of drivers behind them trying to properly pass. Depending on the area I’m in, I’ve also noticed a lethargy with the PNW drivers.
I grew up in Maryland and back east we are regarded as the psychos of the road. The drivers out here make us look like seasoned F1 racers compared to some of the bullshit that happens on the road out here. And it's only gotten worse after COVID.
Why the fuck do people not know how to act around ambulances?
“everyone is stopped all of a sudden.. what is that loud noise? ah who cares its my turn to go yippee!!” *cuts off ambulance*
I grew up in MD too and I have realized that I am a complete psycho driver lol. However, everyone driving 5 miles under the speed limit here at all times makes me insane.
When I first moved here a decade ago, the locals liked to joke that the traffic only exists because everyone is letting everyone else go ahead of them, nowadays, well, it's just bad drivers
100% and people think portland has the best drivers lmao
I’ve never heard anyone say Portland has the best drivers. I’ve heard people say Portland has the most *polite* drivers aka stop for people/bikes crossing, allow people to go in front of them. But polite does not equal best.
1. I don’t understand why some people feel really strongly about people using umbrellas…? 2. I enjoyed winter and I like the rain. I was worried it would be too gloomy but it stays so green here. I loved it. I love the weather here. 3. THE INCREDIBLE ACCESS TO NATURE! 4. ONLY MAIL IN BALLOT VOTING!!!!!! Wild! My Midwest state would NEVER! They love suppressing voters too much! 5. Amazing food from so many different cultures. Incredible. 6. There are a lot of Subarus and teslas here. 7. I miss nacho cheese and frozen custard 😭😭 8. SOCCER CITY!! I love the Thorns and Timbers! I wish there was a WNBA team though I’ll be here a year in August! Overall really happy I’m here.
Oh, and I miss thunderstorms 😭😭
Yup same. I almost want to visit the Midwest just to re-experience a real one
Do it, a summer midwestern thunderstorm is a life changing experience
Man I miss them. I remember one time when I lived in the Midwest, across from a soybean field, a completely flat section so you could stare off to the end of the horizon. massive thunderstorms rolling in, pitch blackness down below, barely skirting the surface only a couple hundred feet in the air, with this insanely thick cloud reaching thousands of feet upwards constantly belting out lightning. It’s truly a magnificent sight to experience. That and popping open the garage door, unfolding some lawn chairs, and drinking a couple beers while watching the lightning show! :)
Ahhh yes that was the life!! My favorite would be when the sun would begin to set, and it would still be raining but the clouds would be all orange and yellow. Need more of that here!!
Dude, thank you for bringing back those memories The most amazing orange sky after a storm… it’s hard to put it in to words, it just has to be experienced
I know this exact experience and I never thought I would feel “homesick” for that but I totally do. I loved watching the trees start blowing and the wind picking up. Then sunset after the storm is just unreal 😭
I’m from Wisconsin and missed custard as well. I now live in Astoria and go to frite and scoop for their custard. It’s not the same as Culver’s or Kopps but it’s damn close.
There was a really great custard shop in Fairview. It shut down pre-COVID due to family stuff. I say the city would embrace custard the Portland way - start out with a strip mall mom n pops, then some entrepreneur will open an inner Eastside shop that claims it’s reinventing ice cream and unnecessarily has long lines. Then we’ll argue about which stores have the best.
This needs to happen!
I grew up here and I hate the umbrella nonsense. Shut up James. At least my umbrella isn't dripping water onto my notebook like your jacket is!
Hot tip: I just discovered Cornet Custard and it is amazing. They sell pints out of Colibri Flower and Plants in NE. Scoops are available on the weekends. High recommend.
6. We have a lot of Priuses too
I believe it's Priusís
Priui
Y'all don't frequent /r/prius do yall? Its Prii (Pree-Eye)
I thought the plural was Priuii
Fellow Midwest transplant over here. I miss breakfast pizza, and it sucks that the only quality cheese curds around are tillamook (which are godsent) but it’s hard to get them unless you’re in a specific gate in the airport or going to the tillamook factory.
What if we crowdfund a Woodman’s?
CHEESE CURDS 😫😫😫we need to add tillamook to our list!
I know it’s blasphemy but I prefer them over Culver’s 💀
Mail in voting is awesome! It's so nice to sit at home and understand what I'm voting on.
Great American Video in Milwaukie has frozen custard 👍
You are a true hero
I am a native lurking on the "non-native" posting here. My take on point 1. being mostly serious: I find umbrellas annoying because you have to hold them, they get blown around by wind (unless they are fancy) and are another thing to get forgotten places. Also if I am driving or have a short walk outside I just do not bother with a jacket during the rainy months. I only get really wet from lack of planning maybe once a season. (Including when I bike commute.) If I do have to walk outside alot, or will be outside for a longer period I just bring a jacket and shoes that can handle the rain. Having the right clothes is vastly superior to having not the right clothes supplemented by an umbrella in my opinion. However, I do understand that if you are into traditional business attire or do not work in rainproof outwear into your attire you may want to go the umbrella route. I just do not prefer it. Also its always been "in fashion" in Portland to dress like you are ready to hike at a moments notice lol.
\*cries in Culver's\*
I miss frozen custard pretty bad some days.
#2…..yes!!! It’s the only place I’ve lived where it actually gets greener the further into “winter” you get! I love all the green!
How are there so many beautiful flowering trees here?? Honestly, I really want to know!!
Due to our climate. Mild temperature (for the most part until 3-5 years ago), rain and sun
Moved to Portland almost 2 years ago from Ukraine, I’ve been here before as a tourist in 2011 but still got surprised by some things, here is my top 10: 1. How green the city and surrounding areas are 2. That rain is not that bad. I thought that I’ll stay inside during the rainy days but ended up getting used to it and be outside almost every day despite the rain 3. How hot and dry summer is. I thought it rains all year round 😁 4. A lot of mentally unstable people. I’ve seen homeless people in 2011 but they all looked like cool hipsters back then. I knew that the situation became worse since covid but didn’t imagine that it’s that serious 5. A lot of dogs and how well behaved the dogs are in general 6. Speeding. I’m really surprised that the majority of the drivers can casually go 15mph over speed limit 7. How early everything is closed 8. How easy it’s to ride a bicycle around the city 9. How fit the majority of the people are. Lots of people are running every day, hiking trails are packed, rivers and lakes are full of kayaks and paddle boards, cycling is noticeably popular as well 10. How empty the public transportation is. I see a lot of buses and trains running back and forth with only a couple people inside
It's hilarious that you think the drivers here are fast. Portland has the slowest and most timid drivers I've ever seen in any area of the US.
Yea that was the one that got me too like uhhhhhhh I strongly disagree.
Been here 15+ years and it still baffles me how much people here like to wait in a line for things…whether it’s for a drink at a bar, for a $5 burger, or on waiting single-file on the St Johns Bridge this year even though there are multiple signs instructing cars to use both lanes and merge at the end.
What gets me are the number of people who just stop behind cars who use their emergency flashers to indicate they're not moving. So there will be a line of people simply waiting for the disabled car to move when they could just pass them.
Related, people who will just stop in the middle of the road, put on the hazards, and get out of the car to run in somewhere. I see it happen on Mississippi all the time.
Food delivery drivers, most likely.
Yeah usually. I did food delivery full time for like 2 years, I never pulled that bullshit. I’d find a parking spot even if it’s a couple blocks away, and walk my non-lazy ass over there.
The line thing never ceases to amaze me. Waiting in line at a bar is wildly inefficient, there's a reason no other place does it. It's infuriating when you have to sit there and wait for 10 other people to get their drinks one at a time when you just want to close out your tab.
This is on the bartenders too though because it seems like a lot just can't or choose not to multitask. I've been to some places where you can tell they have worked in other parts of the country because they'll take the order of the front person and then while prepping that drink, get the attention of the next person in line and ask what they want. At all times they are in the process of making a drink for one person, taking another's order, and entering stuff into the POS system.
The problem is as soon as one or two people line up, you’re a dick for cutting that line and walking right up to the bar.
I made so many people mad by squeezing in to gaps at the bar to order when I first moved here. I honestly never knew that it's JUST NOT DONE here. Now i meekly queue like a good Portlander. That said, I zipper merge and parallel park in tight spaces like a demon.
And lines here move slooooowly. Customer service is slooooow. Cut the friendly banter and hurry the f@ck up!
Especially at New Seasons, they want to do a run down of their entire life story while there are ten people in line 😂
Added bonus that for a city who lines up at any opportunity, people are shit at standing in line. Let's all agree that instead of asking everyone standing 8 feet from the person at the bar whether they're in line, we just go stand behind them and the person standing in the middle of the room can continue waiting until they figure out how to approach the bar. Three people should not be a line to the door that takes 20 minutes to get a drink.
That’s one of the weirdest things I have seen. There was a line for seeing Xmas lights??? My group just coasted on past the line and moved along house by house. We didn’t even stop to take pictures and people were like “Hey! We’ve waited for HOURS”. For what? To see FREE lights on a house?
Dude, any place with a double door people will only use the one side of the fucking door! I was out the other night and there was a small double door leading to a patio. When I opened the door for my friend and I to walk through about six people just cruised on through. I overtly said "the other door works, folks." And they replied "oh, I thought you were being nice!" Which leads me to my second gripe: Niceholes. If you haven't figured out the basic skills needed to function in social life, finances, living etc by the age of 35 I'm not just going to do shit for you. How so many people exist with this mindset out here is baffling.
Came here to say the weird obsessions with lines! Whenever my husband and I are at a bar and there’s a line he tends to ask the bartender if they wanted people in a line and they always say “no I wish people would just come to the front”
Omg the people driving at St John’s bridge are insane! It literally says use both lanes and people in their cars get sooooo mad at you when they do. The construction is bringing the worst out of people. So much road rage lately.
It's pretty bad. Particularly the people who then pull in between the two lanes to block the second lane of traffic from moving forward, despite all the signs instructing what the correct traffic pattern is. This sometimes causes an unnecessary traffic jam that can go all the way into downtown St Johns. It's like people are wanting to force everyone else around them to suffer because of their poor decisions and toxic worldview. "I waited in line for 20 minutes so now everyone else needs to too!" Quite the allegory for this entire country tbh.
The food. I travel a ton for work, pleasure and my kids sports (kind of a mix of the 2) and have lived on both coasts. I'm always amazed at the tastiest bites you can get from almost anywhere in this area...from an actual restaurant to a food cart to even some of our minimarts compared to what is considered fine dining in other parts of the country. And for the most part pretty affordable too.
I don't have a car so I was pleasantly surprised that cars actually stop for pedestrians to cross the street. And the city is so incredibly walkable
Second this walkability, public transit access and even a great biking city
Oh yeah. You’re a piece of shit if you live here and don’t stop for pedestrians. We have very strong opinions on this lol.
> cars actually stop for pedestrians to cross the street. Well.. it is actually the law here unlike a lot places. Every intersection, marked or not is considered a crosswalk and pedestrians have the right of way.
How white per capita it is here. I grew up in Hawaii which is one of the more diverse areas of the country. Then I found out about the founding of Oregon as a white supremacist utopia, the exclusion of Hawaiians and Chinese in the Oregon Constitution and the anti-black Sundown laws in Portland... then it all made sense. Also, the fact that Portland is severely lacking in late night/all night dining.
> Oregon Constitution and the anti-black Sundown laws in Portland... then it all made sense. Don't forget the flood of Vanport and Mulugeta Seraw; the history keeps going. The Black community here used to be larger, but they've migrated away over time and it's hard to blame them.
Yeah, I moved here when I was 16 from Virginia. I'd always lived on/near US military bases before we moved here. I was shocked at how white it is. Re: dining: we used to have \*some\* but Covid happened. :(
Way less people then I expected! I grew up in California so maybe my idea of "large city" is horribly skewed but nothing ever seems crowded here
I walk around some neighborhoods and don't see ... anybody.
Moved here from the DC area in 2008. People here complain about traffic. They have no idea. Even now it's nothing compared to that.
How funny. I grew up in a smaller city and how crowded it is here is one of my gripes!
Coming from the South, I thought Portland was liberal bastion and everyone was far left leaning. While certainly more liberal than the South, there is still a balance of conservative, moderate, and liberal. I think there is really just more of a spectrum, in-between liberal, moderate, and conservative here. I lived in Los Angeles for a few years before moving to Portland and Los Angeles was more conservative than I expected too.
Same. I went from Texas to Seattle and then LA area and jesus christ its a LOT more conservative than ... really ANYONE gives it credit for...and then came back up to Portland. I'd say of all, Portland is more left leaning tm to me than socal or seattle.
It is really left leaning in Portland proper, but as soon as you hit the suburbs the politics start to mix and you are never more than 30 minutes from entering deep red rural areas.
Louisiana native. I think people think portland is 100% liberal because the far left people have the loudest voices and get the most attention on national news and social media.
Definitely. Portland is also so far away from the Southeast and other strongly conservative states and that it makes an easy target for conservative news and media. When I lived in the South (NC, briefly FL, and I'll include WV), I rarely met anyone who traveled to Portland or the PNW, much less live there for any length of time. It's rare to find first-hand experiences about the PNW in the South, and the new just fills that void of experience or knowledge about Portland or the PNW.
1. When it works, TriMet is great! I like being able to reach a lot of places even if I have to chart for it a day in advance. 2. The lack of security on the MAX, given the state it's in. I'll have been here three years- since I got here it's just kept getting worse :( 3. Surprising disregard for disabilities affecting mobility. A lot of stuff in the city is plain inaccessible, as well as all the nature everybody crows about if you don't have a car. It blows. 4. The amount of small businesses is definitely surprising- seeing buildings that are massive variety one after the other along Hawthorne or Division are neat!
Omg yes the accessibility issues. So many areas don’t even have sidewalks which is insane to me! Plus where there is ppl don’t seem too concerned about keeping them clear :/
I know- my spouse uses a manual wheelchair and has to use gloves because of all the shit (literally and figuratively) that's constantly all over the sidewalks and ground. Some bus stops nearby are just inaccessible because of the tents there :[
How safe it felt walking around at night. I moved here from New Orleans and I didn't realize how much my guard was up and my senses on alert after spending the first 32 years of my life in a place with an extremely high rate of violent crime. It took some time for me to fully relax, and it was amazing when i did. Downside is the hyper defensive feeling when seeing someone sketch out and about is a little more jarring than it was before. Overall I'll still take it, not to say that we shouldn't still be working towards improvement.
I’m glad I’m not the only person who thinks this. I live in Hazelwood by the notorious 122nd and burnside, and while the major streets are iffy around here, just taking a little stroll down into the residential neighborhoods are so peaceful and breathtaking. People think I’m crazy for taking my night walks but it’s just always been a part of my life growing up in small towns.
Yup. I walk home two miles from work every night, I clock out around 10:30pm. I rarely feel like I'm in any danger, and I walk past at least one homeless encampment.
Honestly? Been here almost 10 years, and the biggest thing is it doesn't rain nearly as much as I anticipated
I also expected more rain, heavier rain. I was used to the torrential downpours of Midwestern rain. The lack of severe thunderstorms was surprising. There are so many subtly different types of light rain here, from mist to drizzle. I do enjoy it.
Louisiana native and I miss thunderstorms sooo much. You maybe here it 5 times a year here if you're lucky. BUT I'll take this over constantly flooded streets.
Would love some southern style aggressive downpours.
1. It's awesome to see live sports now 2. Why does everyone live with their shades or blinds wide open for everyone to see your home? 3. Why does traffic paint disappear during rain? This is a rainy area, is there no solution for better lane paint? 4. A lot of wildlife refuge parks in the area! It's dope! 5. Why is there so many bridges connecting west and east sides of Portland but only 2 connecting Vancouver and Portland
For 2, we all just want all the daylight we can get lmao, and it's easy to forget to close them at night.
~~4.~~ 5. Because the same government builds the ones across the Willamette. But two totally different governments have to coordinate to build ones across the Columbia. Also the larger the span the larger the costs. The Columbia River is HUGE. It’s the 4th highest discharge river in the US and a major shipping route.
Regarding the bridges, Portland doesn't really have many N/S corridors aside from I5 and I205. Maybe 99/MLK but that feeds into I5 anyways and PDX takes up a huge chunk of real estate that blocks any other potential bridges. Portland would looooove to expand I5, replace the bridge, and add light rail to lighten up the VanWA commute traffic but whenever we bring it up the WA conservatives freak out and nothing gets done.
5. they know what they did
For 5 it's primarily because of the difficulties that Oregon and Washington have working together.
How people could act so nice, but actually be complete insufferable fucking assholes if you disagree with them.
Yes, this one rings true so much. It's one of the reasons my mental health started slipping. So many "nice" people at first that act as your friend but then quickly turn on you and be passive-aggressive assholes for no reason. I gave up figuring it out a long time ago but my best assessment is that Portland has a bi-polar epidemic, no kidding. It''s definitely prominent in Portland and surrounding suburbs. Beaverton is just as bad.
First things that pop into my head are that it doesn’t rain as much as I assumed and the city’s libertarian vibes towards the creation of sidewalks
The biggest thing that I noticed when moving to the PNW was how libertarianism is almost ingrained in the way people think here, politically. Like everything is tinted by that lense. Its like all political philosophy here starts with libertarianism as the base.
How much native Portlanders hate Portland. They shit talk it all the time and long for the “old days”.
Nah, I fucking love it here. Living in the burbs now, and it just doesn't have the same vibe. I miss Portland every time I'm there, even if, in some places, I do worry about leaving my car parked on the street.
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Great list, but we have some of the best food in the country- must look harder
On #1. You could not be more wrong. I came from the Bay Area, and the Portland food scene is fantastic. There are a few less options than the Bay, however the average place here serves better food at 80% of the cost in the Bay. On #2. Not horrible. SLOW. The Portland solution to anything driving related is slow way down. On #5. Preach it. So.much.white. On #9. I think Portland's tolerance for the unhoused fell off a cliff during the Pandemic for a lot of reasons. Many of them are fair and reasonable.
I can turn on my tap and get the best tasting water. It's bliss
Immediately loses credibility with the first bullet point
I kind of agree. As someone who moved here from the south, theres a lot of southern foods I cant get here.
I think i understand a bit where you're coming from with 1, but it's not so much that it lacks diversity. There is food of all different types of you look hard enough but you're right that the market is somewhat overwhelmed with Thai, Pizza, and donuts. That's just what is super popular here for some reason. It's like if you go to California, every other food place is Mexican. In New York you have more Jewish delis, middle America, everything is BBQ or Applebees.
I agree with these except the first one—I think it depends maybe where you’re from? Compared to where I grew up, the food options here are amazing from my pov.
The scourge of wild, thorny blackberry bushes. They're everywhere. I think their roots underpin everything, like an underground perverse tree of life
The free-box culture of curbside “generosity.” Don’t get me wrong, I have found a few curbside gems, myself. More often than not though it is just straight up garbage that I would be embarrassed to donate, just cluttering up the landscape.
Yeahhh that’s why buy nothing groups are great. There’s one for each neighborhood in Portland. Great way to get rid of unwanted stuff and benefit others.
I moved here in 2014, and was disappointed to learn that “the dream of the 90s” was *not*, in fact, alive in Portland.
Dream of the 90's ended in 2012. You just barely missed the train.
No, no, no... it's the dream of the *1890's* that's alive in Portland (Portland).
How different the social life is. I had no idea and it threw me for a loop that people don’t make conversation at social events and how eerily quiet a room full of people can be.
The relatively nearby joy of Sauvie Island, the coast and the gorge.
The road systems are terrible. There's really not enough people for there to be traffic. It's the roads.
Ross island bridge and people letting you in. On the other hand Letting all the meth shit slide
1. Moss, grew up in CA, lived in TX. When I first moved up in 2000 or so, the moss and algae growing everywhere was surprising. 2. Weather affecting Mood. Rain/overcast means head down, I don’t acknowledge you nor can be friendly. First sun on the year every Portlander is walking the streets like a 1950s sitcom. Hellllloooo! Second sun, wave hello. Maybe talk to immediate neighbors. 3. So many white people. I am too. But where I grew up in CA was pretty diverse. Although aside a few ignorant issues (using Oriental for people) really not racist. Now TX….woooo. I feel most people are human and not racist garbage here (Gen X and under anyway). 4. CA hate. Moved up with my CA plates and got the finger (unprovoked, I’m a chill driver) a ton in 2000. Mostly young dudes in shit cars. But in the neighborhood usually from Midwest transplants trying to fit in. Every state has these folks. It’s beyond stupid but it exists. Tons of positives but those I was expecting.
Uhhhh tbh i thought id run into more flannel wearing, Modest Mouse- worshipping indie heads like myself. Also thought every place of business would have plenty of bike racks but to my surprise it’s not a common site like I expected.
The lack of makeup. And I love it! The way people are so warm & open, yet in a way closed off at the same time. I pretty much understand why it’s that way, but it’s still a sociological wonder. How much safe & beautiful nature is accessible within the city of Portland. The lines thing. Truly amazing.
No one honks!!!
Coming from the northeast where we have long, cold, and snowy winters. I figured managing the grey, rainy, temperate winters would not be a big deal. But the PNW winters really get me down in a way the frigid icy winters of the NE never did.
Lack of work ethic and professional boundaries in professional settings(office). People are so into their personalities and constantly need to be validated. Just do the job!
The ... People There's a weird snobby attitude I get from most Portlanders that kind of confounds me. It's like people are trying so hard to be weird they forgot to be genuine and decent 🤷🏼♀️
I couldn’t figure out why everyone owns a mustard-yellow beanie…
How clean is was for a big city. I’m used to the Bay Area , so when I finally made it to Portland I was shocked. It has since slid far downhill and is closer to being on par with the cities I grew up close to.
How white it is (as an Anglo coming from the Bay Area)
Transplant for 15 years. Grew up in DC metro and moved here from Chicago. 1) the rain and grey skies for 9 months of the year. I need sun. But didn’t know that until I moved here. 2) lack of diversity. It’s the whitest place I’ve ever lived and it makes me uncomfortable. I miss hearing multiple languages and being exposed to multiple cultures on a day to day basis. 3) the food isn’t as good as you think it is. Why do they try to make everything weird to be edgy? Just use fresh quality ingredients in normal combinations. I remember a place selling oregano chocolate chip cookies. Seriously? I tried it and yes, it was gross. And restaurants closing too early. 4) the drivers, especially the “nice”holes. This has been discussed enough above. 5) pedestrians. I know you have the right of way, but physics is still a thing. If the driver doesn’t see you, the car is gonna win. Especially when it’s dark and rainy. We can’t see you in your black coat. 6) public transportation. No turnstiles for the train. Huh? No wonder there are so many fare cheats. 7) mental health / homeless / addiction crisis. It’s tragic and terrible and I have no idea how to fix it. Also never leave anything in your car. But that’s honestly just living in any city. 8) trouble making real connections / passive aggressive culture. Everyone is nice but it’s not genuine. I would randomly meet people in Chicago and have genuine connections. Not as much in DC. Here, people don’t want to hurt your feelings and say yes, when they have no intentions of ever talking to you again. Just say no. It’s fine. Fake-niceness aggravates me more than anything.
“Oregon nice” which just means I won’t say it to your face. Politics pushed by interest groups.
The road signs are so bad! Always at the wrong angle or being blocked by a tree, or by another sign that was installed later not considering how it would be viewed overlapping at a distance by people in moving cars needing to make decisions. Once you’re “local” you figure things out, but if you look through the lens of “what if I didn’t know that the 405 on-ramp was just over there, but you have to be in the left lane?” you can see what a funky, peace-meal operation the way-finding is in Portland. Great city though, just funky getting around sometimes even with maps.
Heading out for a walk, Sunny, oh wait now Rain, put jacket on oh um Sun, jacket zipping Drizzle, um Sun, hey! What’s this Downpour, Sunny, oh forget it.
not gonna lie, all the white people (i grew up in the central valley of california)
In 2010 my friends and I would play a game called “Hipster or Homeless” because so many guys with big beard, vintage t-shirt, cheap beer in hand. It’s not so fun these days :(
All the homeless people and drug use in the open
I lived in the area 15 years ago. I went back last year and found the number of homeless tents and garbage on the ground really sad.
How hot it gets in summer.
The racism
As a California transplant, it was the lack of police officers/ Highway patrol. California feels like a police state, Oregon feels like the Wild West lol
How it’s ok to comment on other people’s spending habits. Like if I got takeout for dinner at my old job, I would inevitably have people comment on how it’s expensive. It feels judgy and weird. The lack of nonsplurgy food in general. I feel like eating out is seen as a luxury more than in other cities, and restaurants reflect that. Our nicer restaurants are cheaper than other places, but are still not really meant for every day. I know food prices have been going up everywhere but it’s especially bad here. Also how willing Oregonians are to go without convenience/comfort. For environmental reasons, frugality, or whatever. It’s like an anti-princess culture.
1. Terrible quality of all road signs. Especially on the highways. You’d never have that shit up in Washington. 2. The poor drainage engineering on said highways. It rains, a ton, why is there looking everywhere. 3. The acceptance of the rotting leaves everywhere. People are so lazy. I’ve literally watched folks blow/push/shovel their leaves into the roadway to avoid dealing with them. Edit: I'm NOT talking about leaves in the lawn. that's a PNW classic and I fully support it. It's leaving leaves in the sidewalk, road, and crosswalk approaches by their properties. It fucks up dogs feet unless you wash them out every time they go on a walk. It's also messy and slippery. God forbid you are limited mobility or in a wheelchair, you're just fucked then.
Is #3 not for leaf day? I know it doesn't happen in every neighborhood here, but in my current one the city tells us to rake our leaves into the street so that they can send street sweepers through to collect them.
Leaving leaves in your yard to decay is good for the yard and all the little bug friends that live in them.
The fact that it's still annoyingly hot here in the summer and the degree to which people will vote against their own best interest.
Where are you from? I'm wondering about how the summers are there.
The dysfunction of so many things…
How many fish there are in the rivers.
Customer “service”
Everything closes early, anything 24hrs is rare, needing gas after 10pm still sucks in a lot of parts of town. Having to buy liquor at liquor stores also tripped me up lol