By Heather Schindler
about.com
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Hipsterland, USA
When the word hipster is mentioned, the first place that comes to most people’s minds is Brooklyn.
While Brooklyn is still home to artisinal candle shops, pickle-tasting
tours, breweries, and more, it can no longer be considered the most
hipster place in the U.S. As Brooklyn became known as a haven for the
unconventional, more and more people flocked to it, which ironically
turned it into a more mainstream (not to mention high-end) neighborhood .
As a result, people seeking to live off the beaten path followed in the
footsteps of so many Americans before them and headed west. Their
newest destination? Portland, Oregon.
Mainstream Need Not Apply
Within
the past few years, Portland has been transformed, as people from
around the country became attracted to its quirkiness and laid-back
feel. Today, it's hard to go a block without seeing a bearded man, a
one-dish restaurant, or a store selling something handmade. In fact,
you'd be more likely to see all three!
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With the 2011 debut of the television show Portlandia,
which satirizes the city through short sketches, Portland became the
de-facto hipster capital of the U.S. While many of the show's craziest
sketches wouldn't be out of place in Portland, they city's hipster
culture is a large part of what makes it unique. Check out some of the
best places to eat, drink, and shop that are far outside the mainstream
yet not so hipster that they'd be mocked on Portlandia.
Eat & Drink
If
Portland is known for anything other than being a hipster paradise, it
would be for their coffee. Finding the perfect artisinal cup is easy, as
nearly every corner boasts another cozy coffee joint. One of the most
memorable ones, though, is Case Study Coffee.
While its three locations feature rustic decor, tattooed baristas, and
all the other standard-issue elements of a hipster coffee shop, what
you'll remember them for is their amazing specialty lattes. They make
many of their drinks' embellishments, such as caramel sauce and hazelnut
paste, in-house, so local favorites like the Toasted Hazelnut Latte and
the Aged Bourbon Caramel Latte will make you forget why you ever loved
Starbucks' Christmas coffees.
Brunch is a favorite weekend pastime
of Portland residents. While brunch spots are nearly as abundant as
coffee shops, anyone you ask will tell you that the very best food and
drinks can be found at Tasty n Alder.
Although you'll almost definitely spend some time on line just to get a
table, once you tuck into your lemon ricotta pancakes or Korean fried
chicken you'll know the wait was well worth it. No brunch is complete
without alcohol, of course, and Tasty n Alder is no exception, offering
specialty cocktails, and, best of all, spiked milkshakes.
Definitely don't miss Voodoo Doughnut,
considered the most famous desert spot in the whole city. Coming in
flavors like Mexican hot chocolate and shapes like voodoo dolls, their
doughnuts are like none you've ever tasted (or Instagrammed). Better
yet, they are all hand made and many are vegan, so you can even convince
yourself that they're good for you.
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Portland is home to so many
eateries that trying out all the ones on your bucket list will likely
feel like a challenge. Luckily, the city seems almost designed for
foodies who want to try as much as they can in as little time as
possible. Over 700 food trucks, offering everything from Israeli poutine
to pumpkin spice waffles, can be found roaming the streets. Many of
them choose to put on the brakes in parking lots or other public areas,
forming groups that are referred to as pods. Check out the Alder Street
pod, one of the largest, or the one aptly named Good Food Here.
Another option is to let Forktown Food Tours
take you on a three-hour walking tour to one of five different
neighborhoods known for their eats. During each tour, you'll make six
stops and sample tons of Portland's most beloved dishes and drinks.
See & Do
Portland
is relatively small, making it easily walkable. One of the best ways to
experience the city (that's also free) is to just stroll around one of
its many charming and unabashedly hipster neighborhoods. Downtown,
you can enjoy tax-free shopping at dozens of unique boutiques, and take
a break by visiting some of the many parks, which are packed with food
trucks.
In the Alberta Arts District, you'll find more shopping and great restaurants, in addition to a string of galleries. The area is also famous for its Last Thursday street fair,
which occurs, as the name suggests, on the last Thursday of each month.
Any artist or performer who so wishes is allowed to set up a table,
which makes for a crazy but very lively event that you can't miss. The
ultimate hipster experience can be found on Mississippi Avenue,
as you'll be able to shop everything from vintage comics to urban
gardening supplies, sample southern biscuits and lavender ice cream,
and get to do some great people watching.
If you're looking for a
souvenir or gift that screams Portland, think about investing in a
handmade leather item. While local crafts are a dime a dozen, the city
is home to a select number of leather workshops that create pieces
you'll cherish for years to come. Head to Orox Leather Co. for fashionable yet functional bags and sandals. If you want something truly personal, check out Tanner Goods, which allows you to monogram a number of small leather items, from belts to bracelets to luggage tags.
If you don't want to spend as much, go with a classic hipster item: a used book. In Portland, the only place to go is Powell's Books,
the largest independent bookstore in the world. It occupies an entire
city block and sells new, used, rare, and out-of-print books, so you're
almost guaranteed to walk out with something special. If you're going
for the full hipster effect, purchase a frayed copy of a great work of
American literature and let everyone know you're too cool for e-readers
by spending hours with it at your favorite new coffee shop.
