Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ous textiles, rescued and repurposed furniture, hardware, fixtures, and
more.)
Cross NW Nicolai St. and continue straight along NW 22nd Ave. past
empty shipping containers and random industrial equipment until you
get to NW Wilson St. Take a left on Wilson (although you may want to
stop in at Motocorsa for a peek at some very shiny Italian motor-
cycles—it's a Ducati dealership, and quite fancy inside). From Wilson,
hang a right onto NW 21st Ave., then a left onto NW Vaughn St. This
might not be the most scenic part of Portland, but it's interesting from a
behind-the-scenes point of view.
Follow Vaughn as it bends to the right; turn left at NW Upshur St., and
don't miss the scary metal sculpture of an angry bear (made of gears
and metal scraps) in front of Castaways nightclub. From here you also
have a cool view of the underside of the Fremont Bridge.
Take a right at NW 17th Ave., then a left onto NW Thurman St. You can
stop here to pick up some charcuterie at Olympic Provisions, or just ad-
mire the pretty facade of the Smith Teamaker building next door.
Continue along NW Thurman St. to the funky-looking Triangle Build-
ing, where you can get a hearty meal worthy of a stevedore at Breken
Kitchen. Take a right onto NW 15th Ave., and follow it underneath the
highway bridges. Continue along 15th, then turn left onto NW Petty-
grove St. and right onto NW 13th Ave. At the corner of NW 13th and
Marshall St. is the first of Portland's major craft-beer joints,
BridgePort Brew Pub (their winter seasonal brew, Ebenezer Ale, is one
of our favorites). Though the place has fancied itself up a bit since its
no-frills beer-and-pizza early days, hopheads and beer historians will
find it well worth a pilgrimage.
Take a right to walk up NW Marshall St., crossing underneath the high-
way bridges again. This area is loosely known as Slabtown—named for
the huge slabs of lumber once used for heat and produced in nearby
lumber mills. A more recent highlight of the neighborhood is also called
Slabtown—but it's a rock club, a great local dive with live garage rock,
cheap food, and pinball. It's at the corner of NW 16th Ave. and Mar-
shall St. If that's not quite your scene, turn left on NW 16th and one
door over you'll find Le Happy, a sweet little crêperie.
