Por Que No

North Portland

Shopping on Mississippi with Mary

This would be like a morning in North Portland. So you wake up. Go to Barista on Alberta, for your morning coffee. I’d get a cappuccino—Mad Cap, if they have it.

Then I’d go to Sweedeedee to get breakfast. That’s a must. They’re like a farm to table place with their own baked goods. 

Then I’d walk down Mississippi, and I’d go to Animal Traffic, which has new and used, but mostly Western-inspired vintage clothing. Keep going down the street, and there’s a place called Back Talk. It’s more modern, trendy, really simplistic and good.

Then lunch at Por Que No. Tacos for lunch. So basically this whole time, you’re on Mississippi Street. Get happy hour at Bar Bar. They have an outdoor seating area. Oh, Tea Bar! After Bar Bar, go to Tea Bar, and get a boba matcha. They make their own boba and it’s so good.

You can stay on Mississippi for dinner—there’s a food cart pod.

A slice of salty honey pie with coffee for breakfast, at Sweedeedee. While you're there, pick up one of their beautiful mugs, by Portland ceramicist Dina No.

A slice of salty honey pie with coffee for breakfast, at Sweedeedee. While you're there, pick up one of their beautiful mugs, by Portland ceramicist Dina No.

Meeting friends at Por Que No is all about the timing. Here's the post-work happy hour line at the taqueria's Mississippi Ave. location.

Meeting friends at Por Que No is all about the timing. Here's the post-work happy hour line at the taqueria's Mississippi Ave. location.

Northwest, Southwest, Southeast

A garden tour with Chancellor

Portland's International Rose Test Garden is free to visit and offers more than 650 varieties of roses. Come here for a beautiful view of Mt. Hood, a guided tour, or just a whiff of the thousands of roses on display.

Portland's International Rose Test Garden is free to visit and offers more than 650 varieties of roses. Come here for a beautiful view of Mt. Hood, a guided tour, or just a whiff of the thousands of roses on display.

The first thing to do is to go to the Rose Test Gardens. Just see all the blossoming flowers and smell the fragrances. 

Then take a slow drive down 23rd and make your way to Schoolhouse Electric. Great coffee—and also one of the cutting edge places for design and lighting. It’s a huge, giant, amazing space.

Then go to the Chinese Gardens and explore that garden, too.

Then come down to the East Side, and get happy hour at Por Que No, and ice cream at 50 Licks. Did you get that? 50 Licks, it’s so good!