Jordan grew up in the suburbs of Portland, and can recommend a few things if you're in town.
Food & Drink
Start the day with a Matcha Boba (half sweet, oat milk) from Taiwanese-owned BUBBLE N TEA.
For a decadent morning, head to COQUINE for their seasonal brunch menu (do not skip the house cookies).
For lunch, OBON SHOKUDO creates an uncompromising vegan bento, get one (or two) buddha's hand onigiri.
For dinner, HAT YAI for 2 for the perfect portions of Thai fried chicken. Balance the curry with an extra side of pickles and perhaps a hibiscus slushy.
As a kid, I visited PHỞ OREGON almost every weekend with my parents in what is now deemed the Jade District. My order to this day, phở tái bò viên (rare beef and meat balls) with gỏi cuốn (salad rolls).
Shops
Visit TONE POEM tucked in the back of NATIONALE for curated ambient records amongst a gallery and bookstore.
POWELLS CITY OF BOOKS is unparalleled in it's selection and simultaneously it's curation, particularly the Pearl Room and it's Rare Books.
Take the freight elevator up to the GOOD MOD showroom and workshop for mid-century and custom furnishings. Downtown views are a bonus.
Peruse OUTLET, risograph workshop, printed goods store, and studio of the incomparable Kate Bingaman-Burt.
OLO FRAGRANCE is a local parfumerie. Stand out in a sea of Santal 33, my OLO go-to is the Cedar & Rose.
Galleries
Graphic design meets worldwide contemporary art curation meets creative agency with seasonal gift drops at FISK GALLERY.
LAND is both a charming Portland shop and gallery of printed matter by (mostly) local illustrators.
PICA, a non-profit as well as exhibition space, runs the annual Time-Based Arts Festival, galvanizing the Portland art community through interdisciplinary and performance art.
DISJECTA is home to contemporary thought and the Portland Biennal, engaging with art on both the local and national scale.
Sites
Stroll the JAPANESE GARDEN and the remodeled PAVILION by Kengo Kuma.
Drive out to MT. ANGEL ABBEY to experience the LIBRARY designed by Alvar Aalto.
For the summer months, PENINSULA PARK is the less travelled rose garden perfect for picnics.