Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
or maybe have your aura decontaminated. Seriously, just
try
to be
grouchy in here—it can't be done.
A little farther down the street, at NW Quimby St., is a more appropri-
ate receptacle for scorn: the Casa del Matador, almost universally re-
ferred to as “the cougar bar” in reference to its regular crowd, which
consists largely of fabulous-looking, shimmery-topped women of a cer-
tain age who may or may not be on the prowl. In short, it's the sort of
thing you'll like if you like that sort of thing. If not, this is a good place
to cross Quimby St. and turn left to head south along NW 23rd Ave.,
back the way you came.
There are tons of interesting and horrible shops along NW 23rd, but
one of the most longstanding and worth poking around in is 3 Monkeys,
between NW Kearney and Johnson Sts. It sells funky clothes, jewelry,
gifts, accessories, and knicknacks of all kinds. Farther along, between
NW Flanders and Everett Sts., are a handful of kitchen and home-fur-
nishings shops.
At Irving you'll find yet another of this neighborhood's destination re-
tailers: Rich's Cigar Store, which along with cigars has one of the better
magazine selections in town, including lots of imports you can't find
anywhere else (well, anywhere except Rich's other locations). There's a
huge plastic horse out front. Do not touch it.
Between NW Irving and Hoyt Sts. is the excellent Escape From New
York Pizza, the first (and for some, the only) by-the-slice pizza place in
Portland. Escape From New York churns out classic thin-crust pie with
attitude: service is usually grumpy, there aren't many choices, they
don't take credit cards, and they won't give you ranch dressing. (Why
would you ask for ranch dressing?) Get a slice, fold it, walk around.
Forget you ever even heard of New Renaissance Bookshop.
At W. Burnside St., hang a left for a couple of blocks until you reach
RingSide Steakhouse. Even if you're stuffed with New York pizza, it's
worth stopping in here for an artfully poured cocktail at the tiny,
sunken bar. The RingSide is old-school Portland: a classy but not stuffy
steakhouse with flawless service and an unbelievable happy-hour menu
(even on Sundays!). The place has been here since 1944 but underwent a
thorough remodel in 2010, leaving all the charming touches (like a
crooked fireplace) unchanged but adding kitchen space and a
10,000-square-foot wine cellar in the basement.
