Neighborhoods
Alberta
The Alberta Arts District, which embodies the Vernon, Concordia and King neighborhoods, prides itself on cultural diversity and is home to an astonishing number of independent businesses. You will be hard pressed to find any chains on this street! Above all, Alberta is known for art. Walkscore.com has deemed this area “very walkable” meaning it is “possible to get by without owning a car.” The ability to slip into the Alberta Street Co-Op for a few essentials before you swing by the Community Cycling Center for a quick adjustment and top your day off with a soak at Common Ground Wellness Center or the Kennedy School’s heated outdoor soaking pool sounds like more than just “getting by” to me, though… But do not just take my word for it! Take a quiet stroll up Alberta with a cup of some of the best Joe in town the next time car-free Last Thursday (artonalberta.org) rolls around. Get a feel of the street before the people come rushing in to enjoy this Portland legend. When the sun sets, let yourself get swept off your feet in the middle of the street by the people, the music and the charm.
Clinton
Some of the finest Indian, Pakistani, Thai, Japanese and Moroccan restaurants in town reside in the Clinton neighborhood in addition to a smattering of coffee shops where one could either start a revolution or sit back and enjoy a drink while taking in some live music. Ask a local, however, about the highlights of Clinton and you will hear about the community. Known as the home of People’s Co-Op, this neighborhood has long been a powerful example of community organizing. In the 1970s the City of Portland planned to bulldoze through the neighborhood to create the Mt. Hood Freeway. The people of Clinton rose in opposition, insisting on the preservation of this historical sector—and their homes. Now Sunset Magazine insists, “Pedestrians have the right of way along this quiet stretch in southeast Portland, where you’ll likely see more people passing on foot or on bike than zooming by in cars.” Walkscore.com agrees. The walk score is a whopping 91%! I recommend you hop on your bike and head straight up Clinton—one of the oldest bike boulevards in Portland. Be certain to pop on over to one of two of the best bike shops in town while you are visiting, and promise you will not skip the Clinton Street Theatre! If you have not already found yourself here for the annual Filmed by Bike Film Festival screening, then you really ought to get yourself acquainted.
Search for homes in:
SE Portland: Clinton/Division - WEST of SE 39th Ave.
SE Portland: Clinton/Division – EAST of SE 39th Ave.
St. Johns
Neighbors call St Johns a town within a city due to its charming, pedestrian-friendly downtown. Walkscore.com has dubbed this quaint neighborhood a “walker’s paradise.”
Towards the heart of town, everything is within a 10-minute walk. Two movie theaters, three grocery stores, several convenience stores, a library, a community center, and as one resident says, “a handful of nice coffee shops and two handfuls of pubs/bars/restaurants/live music venues.”
Additionally, Cathedral Park is a stunning place to walk around, Smith and Bybee Lakes provide a wilderness sanctuary to trek through, and a trailhead into Forest Park is just across the picturesque St. Johns Bridge.
Biking to-and-from St. Johns from inner Portland can be a delight along the undulating Willamette Boulevard. Your daily commute cannot possibly come with a more scenic route. If the distance seems daunting, you will be relieved to know St Johns has two frequent service bus lines (75 & 4) that run late, a express commuter bus to downtown, and 2 other bus lines that take you downtown (and beyond) via the west and east sides (44- Van/Williams & 17- NW 21st).
Home to the city’s oldest bike shop (Weir’s Cyclery, established 1925) and some of our most innovative bike builders, there is clearly something about St Johns. Check out this video by Neal at The Montana Transit Authority who proudly bases his work out of St Johns. All outdoor footage is taken in St Johns.
