Portland Saturday Market

One of the highlights of any shopping tour of Portland is the Portland Saturday Market in Old Town. It’s been running since 1974, connecting artists and artisans directly with the people who buy their products. The market is also a great place to get a quick bite to eat in the international food court. And though it doesn’t run year-round, it’s only during a few months of the year that you won’t find it open and bustling on weekends - rain or shine!

The market sits under the western end of the Burnside Bridge, between SW Naito Parkway and SW 1st Avenue. So although it’s outdoors, much of it is under the cover of the bridge so you’ll be able to do most of your shopping in a rain-free environment (even in the winter). Some of the market booths aren’t covered by the bridge, however, and the food court is entirely exposed, so dress appropriately and bring an umbrella just in case!

In addition to the Portland Saturday Market being open every weekend from March until Christmas Eve, the entire week prior to Christmas the market is traditionally open every day for those last minute Christmas shopping needs.

Date: March 31st, 2008 | No Comments

Nude beaches in Portland? Yes, indeed.

You might not associate the Portland area with nude beaches, but there are two clothing-optional beaches in the Portland metro area. The summer sunbathing season might be short, and Oregonian skin might be abnormally pale, but that doesn’t stop us from baring it all on those beaches. To strip off (legally) in public, you’ll need to get yourself to one of these two nude beaches in Portland.

Collins Beach - This sandy beach on Sauvie Island, north of downtown Portland, runs along the Columbia River and is partly clothing optional. It’s a very popular beach with all age groups, and it’s not unusual for the beaches to be packed during the heat of summer. In addition to the stretches of sandy beach, there are also volleyball courts toward the south end of the beach. Not everyone goes without a swimsuit. Collins Beach is regularly patrolled by the Columbia County Sheriff’s department. For directions to Collins Beach, scroll down on this page.

Date: March 17th, 2008 | No Comments

Portland’s Dignity Village

Portland may not have as large a homeless population as some other cities, but there is most certainly a homeless community in Portland. In a somewhat controversial move in late 2000, a small group of homeless people and activists claimed some unused land in downtown Portland as their own. They renamed it Dignity Village, and it did more than give its residents a place to call home - it has also given them a political voice.

The original site for Dignity Village was in downtown Portland, but residents were under constant pressure to move because they weren’t licensed to use the land they were on. Eventually, through the efforts of homeless activists and some local politicians who sided with the Dignity Village residents, the group was relocated to its current location and recognized as a legitimate community. The current site is some seven miles from downtown in an area of NE Portland called Sunderland, and although a location so far from downtown was initially something the Dignity Village residents fought against, in time they accepted it as a compromise.

Date: March 3rd, 2008 | No Comments