Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
23
ALBERTA ARTS DISTRICT:
ARTISAN LIVING
BOUNDARIES:
NE 33rd Ave., NE 9th Ave., NE Alberta St.
DISTANCE:
1.25 miles
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
PARKING:
Free street parking
PUBLIC TRANSIT:
TriMet Bus 72 (NE Alberta St. and 9th Ave.), Bus 70 (NE Alberta St.
and 33rd Ave.)
If you'd left Portland in the early 1990s and not heard a word about it since, you
would be astounded by the changes that have since taken place along NE Alberta
Street. Back then, more than half of the businesses were shuttered, and nobody yet
was using the term
gentrification
anywhere near here. But things change quickly. As
is ever the way, bold artistic types noticed the cheap rent and made their way over,
hipsters and hangers-on soon followed, and then came the business dollars, the build-
ing renovations, the local press's guilt-ridden griping about forcing longtime locals
out of the neighborhood, followed by still more emboldened newcomers … you know
the story.
These days the district is settling into its comfortably gentrified role; the identity
crises seem mostly to have passed. It's now considered one of the most desirable
neighborhoods in Portland, and it boasts a thriving arts scene that has matured signi-
ficantly since its early days of silly posthippie summer-camp crafting displays. The
last Thursday of each month, Alberta turns into a chaotic street fair that has only nom-
inally to do with artists and art galleries. Thousands of people attend—don't plan on
driving or parking anywhere near here on those evenings. It's well worth seeing,
though, even if it's not necessarily everyone's cup of tea. If street fairs aren't your
thing, don't despair: this part of town easily holds its own any day of the week.
Start at the bus stop at NE Alberta St. and 9th Ave. From here you can
see the landmark French Gothic towers of St. Andrew Catholic Church.
This spot has been home to a chapel since 1907, when a group of Irish
immigrants pooled their resources and bought the land. It's known today
as a diverse and open-minded organization, reflecting the character of
the neighborhood.
