Portland Uncovered 2025

GET LOST IN POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS Rediscover the lost art of thumbing through pages in Powell’s City of Books (1005 W. Burnside St.), a decades-old landmark that you might describe as Portland’s take on the legendary Library of Alexandria. Bordering the upscale Pearl District and trendy West End, Powell’s rises three stories and occupies an entire city block. The store has around 1 million volumes lining its seemingly endless shelves — a measure of how much Portlanders love reading. Powell’s clerks will happily hand you a map upon entering the store, but getting lost is one of the most pleasurable ways of exploring the nine color-coded rooms housing 3,500-plus different sections. Don’t miss the Rare Book Room, an attraction in its own right that features out-of-print and hard-tofind volumes. Additionally, a large selection of books for children and young adults will keep the kids entertained for hours. When you need to refuel, head to the coffee room to grab a locally roasted cup o’ joe from Guilder Cafe. Powell’s City of Books CONTEMPORARY BOUTIQUES Anyone under the impression that Portlanders are an exclusively flannel-clad crowd should spend a day shopping in the city’s contemporary boutiques, which specialize in apparel, footwear, jewelry and on-trend accessories — especially streetwear and athleisure. Here you’ll experience an independent designer-led scene that’s recently come into its own. An obvious place to start in the West End is at shopping alley Union Way (1022 W. Burnside St.), which makes a convenient jumping-off point to explore other nearby boutiques. This modern take on an Old World arcade packs nine eclectic retailers into a full city block, including footwear icon Danner. One block away, Wildfang (404 SW 10th Ave.) fills a corner gallery with tomboy-inspired styles. Within a several-block radius, you’ll find a number of other woman-owned shops such as Odessa (1122 SW Morrison St.) and Frances May (521 SW 10th Ave.), making this Portland’s emerging center of fashion. International streetwear takes the spotlight at Machus (1101 SW Alder St.), which focuses on noteworthy menswear designers from around the world, including limited-edition adidas Originals collaborations. An inconspicuous, gallerylike space embodies an avant-garde spirit: Stand Up Comedy (511 SW Broadway) curates a selection of uncommon apparel, books, and other surreal and absurd objects. While vintage may reign on Hawthorne, COMMUNION (3556 SE Hawthorne Blvd.) displays a contemporary take on streetwear classics for men and women, with labels culled from around the world. Frances May Tender Loving Empire HANDMADE GOODS Nothing exemplifies Portland’s style better than goods made right here. This is, in fact, a city of makers — meaning a dedication to craft and handmade products defines a number of standout retailers. For an overview of the maker culture, pop into MadeHere PDX (40 NW 10th Ave.), which showcases locally produced goods ranging from jewelry and cosmetics to outerwear and handbags. Tender Loving Empire (412 SW 10th Ave.) has been a mainstay for artful gift buyers in Portland for more than a decade. Six locations (including two spots at the Portland International Airport) showcase handmade jewelry, apparel, housewares and records (including their own label, with more than 80 artists). Crafty Wonderland (808 SW 10th Ave.) is the cheery brick-and-mortar for hundreds of local artisans who come together for two giant craft extravaganzas every year (just before Mother’s Day and Christmas). Find playful handmade necklaces, pint glasses, journals, baby onesies and more. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: NASHCO PHOTO; ROBBIE MCCLARAN; COURTESY OF TENDER LOVING EMPIRE 31 PortlandUncovered.com

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