Hip, Green, and Portland Bound

The scene is always green in the Pacific Northwest, specifically, Portland. I've been writing about this gem for a few months. Why? I love this crazy little place. having survived stints in Sac, SF, LA, and NYC, I think I've finally found a place to rest my weary bones. Yes, at least for the foreseeable future, I'll be planted in this green-mecca.

I've said this before, but I can't help it. It's an apt analogy and one I'm not keen on giving up: that of a royal family. If Washington State is the king, and BC (that's British Columbia) the queen, then Oregon is the Crown Prince. As Seattle plays itself out, and the economy crumbles, it'll be the City of Roses -- yes, that's Portland -- that will rule the PNW (that's the Pacific Northwest).

To be sure, Portland is Hipster-Central. There is no denying it anymore -- or being ashamed of it. I've read, seen, and written about it ad nauseum. yes, there is a firmly entrenched and exciting hipster culture here. While the haters will hate on anything not swathed in gray flannel, the young people and young at heart will dig on the cool, smirky smug vibe. We're talking about upper middle class, college-educated men and women who are excited to try something new and refashion something old. Raise your hipster banner high -- there's no shame in Portland.

Now, if corporate greed and power are more your bag, well, we've got that too. Portland, like Seattle, has become the inheritor of some major technological firms (like Intel), prompting speculation that the Silicon Valley of the San Francisco Bay area could e supplanted by this emerging Silicon Forest. Whether or not this monumental shift ever takes place, Portland has indeed set itself apart as a very attractive city to companies eager to employ the droves of well-educated hipster who are quickly becoming residents.

It's not all hipsters and corporate types. As my adopted city strains under the weight of hipster angst, there are some prosaic blue collar pleasures to be enjoyed. These include a number of non-ironic bowling allies, a wealth of microbreweries, and catching the hard-working Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. Today the NBA, tomorrow who knows? There is talk of expansion Major League Soccer and Major League baseball teams being assigned to the city, as well as a possible NFL team. What would we call them? The Portland Poseurs?

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Before you pull up your roots and pack your faded hoodie and skinny jeans, be sure you visit first. Some people swear they're hipsters, only to arrive and be blown away by the hipster magnitude here. Book a Portland hotel, stay for a week, then decide.

by: Myer Thompson

Total views: 4 Word Count: 414 Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 Time: 1:24 PM - 0 comments

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