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Portland OregonINTRODUCTION Portland, Oregon is a Pacific Northwestern city known as the “City of Roses” because of its long tradition in cultivating some of the finest roses and rose parks in the world. This city, the center of the Portland Metro Area, has a very strong land use planning control system, meaning that the city controls very strictly how land is used, which has lead Portland to become a city of parks rather than urban sprawl. The city possess both the largest (Forest Park) and smallest (Mill Ends Park) park in the United States. Another one of the cities ample parks is Mt. Tabor Park?, home of an extinct volcano, one of only two volcano’s located within city limits in the continental United States. Portland posses more than just greenery, it is also home to more breweries than any other city in the US, hosting several annual events in honor of the drink, and leading it to the unofficial title of "Beervana." HISTORY The area that became Portland, Oregon was originally a 640 acre plot that was bought for a total of 25 cents. (That amount of money is now good for 12 minutes of parking downtown). It was originally known as The Clearing, a small area used by travelers on their way to either Fort Vancouver to the north or Oregon City to the south. The city got its chance at growth when the river was assessed as welcoming to larger ships, something that Portland's older and bigger brother, Oregon City, couldn't handle. The men who bought the property, were Asa Lovejoy and William Pettygrove, from Boston and Portland, Maine, respectively. In a coin toss, the city was named Portland, after Pettygrove's hometown. Portland was incorporated as a city in 1851 and remained an important port in the Pacific Northwest throughout the 19th century. During this period the area was also infamous for the act of Shanghaiing, tricking or capturing free people into working on trade ships to Asia. During the dot-com era of the 90s, Portland was an important city in the boom. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Portland is known as a pedestrian friendly city, filled with great bike paths, and a solid public transportation system, making it ideal for those who hate to drive. The MAX and the Bus lines are easily accessible from all parts of town. Although you can enter the MAX without paying, make sure you have money or a ticket handy, as ticket-collectors will walk up and down the rows, making sure you have paid. The city isn't too expensive, however, it's good to carry cash with you, as a lot of great spots in the area do not take credit cards. In downtown Portland, there is a large population of homeless individuals, particular members of the youth, who panhandle as their way to make a living, but Portland is generally safe through most of its parts. There is also a booming music scene here. From punk rock to hip-hop, Portland provides a venue for almost every music lover. THE QUADRANTS In a strange quirk of organization, Portland is a city that's divided into five "quadrants," each of them with a distinctive local flavor and type of typical citizen. Northwest Portland - This is the original staging ground of Portland's urban renewal. Located north of Burnside St. and west of the Willamette River, it is known as one of the city's most expensive areas. It includes the alphabet blocks that run through the "Nob Hill" area on 23rd and 21st, along with the uber-upscale Pearl District below I-405 where the former industrial areas of the city meets yuppie culture. It also includes the rich neighborhoods of the West Hills. Southwest Portland - This area is mainly known for the big skyscrapers of downtown Portland. It's the business center of the city, and the business of the area shows it. It also includes areas like Hillsdale and Raleigh Hills, smaller suburbs further away from the river. Southeast Portland - This quadrant, along with its buddy Northeast, houses the majority of the citizens in Portland. It stretches for miles beyond the Willamette River, and is the home to quite a few of Portland's most hip neighborhoods, such as Ladd's Addition, Belmont, Hawthorne, and Laurelhurst. Northeast Portland - North of Burnside and east of both the river and Martin Luther King Blvd. Northeast is a quickly rising area of Portland (which seems a little redundant to say). Check out the revitalized Alberta area for some great shops and a restaurants. North Portland - Known as "NoPo" to the people in Portland noone likes, and as "The Peninsula" to hipsters, this is an area to the west of MLK that takes up the peninsula south of the Washington border. Formerly an area of drugs, gangs, and violence back in the 80s, it has become one of Portland's most desirable places to live, even if there are class conflicts between the people who have lived there for decades and the upwardly mobile young people moving in there today. Check out the Mississippi area for some of the best cafes in Oregon. ATTRACTIONS Portland International Rose Test Gardens? RESTAURANTS LODGING PERSONAL STORIES Beautiful Rose Gardens? is what the city is famous for, in addition to the Rose Festival and parades. "The Taste of Portland" highlights all the fine restaurants. One can exercise at Mt. Tabor Park? in southeast Portland, walk on the promenade at the beautiful waterfront park, enjoy the park blocks, or go to the river to fish, boat, and sunbathe. The jazz clubs come alive at night, and there are more blues bars here than in most United States cities! Musical talent abounds here, from the Curtis Salgado Band, blues artists, and of course, the Cascade Blues Association - the first place to check if you want to know where your favorite blues band is playing. The next major event is the Waterfront Blues Festival, held for five days in three states and benefits the Oregon Food Bank, which helps feed the hungry. 
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