What Makes Portland So Weird?
Oregon has always been a mecca for hippies and outdoor lovers alike, and Portland is no exception. But aside from the ever popular outdoor sports of hiking, biking, kayaking, mountain climbing, sight-seeing, skating, skiing, snowboarding, and all of the other great outdoor activities that Portlanders and Oregonians love so much, there is an entire culture of people that embrace the hippy bohemian lifestyle. It has become a part of Portland’s reputation, part of its style, and part of the locals’ way of life. From eclectic dining experiences to eccentric style and fashion, themed restaurants to street fairs and waterfront festivals, Portland one proud-to-be-weird city!
Just a few examples of some of the weird things you can eat and strange things to do while in Portland:
- Voodoo Doughnuts - Not your typical doughnuts! Open 24 hours, 6 days a week, and lots of strange toppings on their menu. Things you may have heard of, things you’ve probably never dreamed of, such as vegan doughnuts, maple-bacon donuts, cock-n-ball or voodoo doll doughnuts, cereal-topped doughnuts, and even a Doughnut & Wedding Chapel, where for $175 you can get married and have doughnuts and coffee with 10 of your favorite people! They even have a Doughnut Eating Contest on the first Friday of the month!
- Apizza Scholls - Some of the greatest pizza, and the strangest rules, you’ve ever imagined. But you’ve got to time out your trip just right, because they open at 5:00 p.m., and when the fresh hand-made dough is gone - they close up shop! The rules are, no more than three toppings, no more than one meat topping, and no substitutions on house pizzas. Why? According to the pizza chef, too many toppings prevent crust from cooking to perfection!
- Horse Project - You’ll just have to find your own place within this project, whether you choose to find pretty ponies in the streets, decorate them, or just laugh at them, they’re everywhere. Just make up your own adventure, but be sure to check out the history of the project!
- GrassHut - Check out some really funky art at the Grass Hut on Burnside. Their blog is pretty strange too, but if you’re in the mood to take a wild and funky trip to their gallery to check out some of their artwork, you won’t be disappointed!
- My Father’s Place - For some great nighttime fun, and a taste of the truly fun and weird people in Portland, take a load off and go for a drink while you ponder the concept of mannequin parts on the ceiling - seriously!
portland, oregon, art, nightlife, weird, fun places, food, strange, pizza, donuts
January 27th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Hmmmm-I have a question - why would anyone want to live somewhere “weird”? I have been here 3 years (not by choice) and all I can say is Portland is full of freaks and misfits, people who wouldn’t fit in anywhere else except maybe San Fran. The men are more feminine than then women and vice versa. People here are devoid of character and emotion- I feel like I’m in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” - you can see this when you’re driving - everyone has a blank stare on their face. Portlanders however don’t see this because they’re from here and have nothing to compare it to.
March 7th, 2009 at 4:27 am
Beautifully said, Elizabeth! I hate Portland and also am trapped here until the recession is over. When I get back to my beautiful East Coast I will tell everyone i know how awful it is here - the same people who won’t throw a gum wrapper on the sidewalk are the rudest, nastiest people I’ve ever met - self-righteous hypocrites, all of them. Grown men who sit on the train KNITTING, for Christ sake and riding skateboards at the age of 40. Women get no respect because of the stupid feminazis convincing the men here that opening doors for us and pulling out chairs for us is sexist. Ugh, I can’t wait for the West Coast to sink into the sea!
May 27th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I’ve got to agree. I too hate Portland but feel stuck here for a number of reasons, the economy being #1. I find the people here to be sanctimonious, phony, no-class slobs. Get me out, the sooner the better.
January 16th, 2010 at 6:55 am
yes i agree portland is my least favorite place i have ever lived…..and i have lived alot of places. I have never seen so many hippie hypocrites in my life, unnatractive people, only friendly in a fakey way, very self righteous….im leaving next month also