Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
18
IRVINGTON: THE BEAUTIFUL AND
THE DAMNED
BOUNDARIES:
NE Knott St., NE Weidler St., NE 15th Ave., NE 28th Ave.
DISTANCE:
2.5 miles
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
PARKING:
Free street parking
PUBLIC TRANSIT:
TriMet Bus 8 (NE 15th Ave. and Broadway), MAX Red and Blue
Lines (Lloyd Center)
Irvington was planned, successfully, as an upper-middle-class neighborhood, with
strict rules about things like yard size and the proximity of sidewalks to front doors.
There was also, for a long time, a rule against most commercial development, which
in hindsight was a great idea, as it has allowed much of the neighborhood to be pre-
served as originally laid out: quiet, tree-lined streets with big, stately houses and well-
landscaped yards. (This is not counting the parts that were demolished to build up the
Lloyd District—more on that later.) Irvington is a pleasure to walk through, despite
the lack of things to do here. This walk is mostly just a peaceful wander among the
lovely old Victorian houses, with a couple of exceptions, and one jarring architectural
and spiritual contrast that couldn't be avoided. (Spoiler alert: it's a mall.)
Start the walk at the corner of NE 15th Ave. and Broadway. Head north
along 15th. As you cross NE Schuyler St. you'll see an enormous sky-blue
Queen Anne house, which is now Lion and the Rose Victorian Bed &
Breakfast (fans of the NBC series
Grimm,
set and filmed in Portland,
might recognize it from an episode in Season 1).
Keep heading along NE 15th Ave. to NE Thompson St., where you'll turn
right. Walk a block, then turn left onto NE 16th Ave. Follow 16th to NE
Brazee St., where you have an opportunity for refreshment at the newly
established Fifteenth Avenue Hophouse. Dozens of imported and craft
beers are available here, along with some killer sweet-potato fries and
other classed-up pub fare. It almost didn't open, which is surprising in
light of its quiet, low-key, grown-up vibe. The Irvington Community As-
sociation voted in early 2011 not to grant the pub a liquor license, citing
concerns about noise. (The president of the association told
The Oregoni-
