Portland Folks: Few questions

I can answer #6! Plan on 3 hours. Sometimes it's more (in winter or with crappy traffic), sometimes it's less.

The Joker said:

I'm looking into the idea of moving to Portland with the Finace' in the next year or so and had a bunch of questions. Any help recommendations would be appreciated.
1. What are the "nicer" neighborhoods? We'll likely be renting for a while before we buy anything. We're currently paying $1750 for a 1br in the nicest neighborhood in San Francisco, so that's kind of our price range. Although from what I can tell by viewing Craigslist, that's a 4br house...:huh:
2. What neighborhoods are the good neighborhoods near downtown? What area have small boutique stores (clothing for the fiance)?
3. What is the speed of life in Portland? SF it's wide open 100% of the time.
4. Where are the good schools?
5. How good is public transport? Is it regularly used? I get around 75% by bus in SF.
6. How far from Bend is it?

All I can think of for now. Thanks!

Click to expand...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1392779&highlight=portland+neighborhoods

heh. i lived in the pearl. aiming for the NW district would be good. don't live on burnside directly, tho.

public transit is awesome in portland. google the max, the streetcar, and trimet in general.

I'm actually an ex-Portlander but Toshi's right. (Actually, Toshi, aren't you an ex-Portlander now too?)

1. I think you can get a mansion in PDX for $1750 ;-)
2. If you want an upscale neighborhood near/in downtown, the Pearl and Northwest are the best options for a mix of urbanity and boutiques. If you want something a bit more inner-city suburban, e.g. mellower, there's the West Hills and Macadam.
3. The pace of life in Portland is gonna seem painfully slow compared to SF. But if you connect with the right people, you can find something that approaches big-city living. Hint: Burners have most of the best parties.
4. I haven't been in Portland schools for a VERY long time.
5. Portland has kickass public transit. I don't know if it's as good as SF's as I've only been to SF on holiday, not trying to get around to everyday stuff.
6. Heidi's right about Bend.

PM me if you want more details.

Portland is rad. Hope that helps.

The Joker said:

I'm looking into the idea of moving to Portland with the Finace' in the next year or so and had a bunch of questions. Any help recommendations would be appreciated.
1. What are the "nicer" neighborhoods? We'll likely be renting for a while before we buy anything. We're currently paying $1750 for a 1br in the nicest neighborhood in San Francisco, so that's kind of our price range. Although from what I can tell by viewing Craigslist, that's a 4br house...:huh:
2. What neighborhoods are the good neighborhoods near downtown? What area have small boutique stores (clothing for the fiance)?
3. What is the speed of life in Portland? SF it's wide open 100% of the time.
4. Where are the good schools?
5. How good is public transport? Is it regularly used? I get around 75% by bus in SF.
6. How far from Bend is it?

All I can think of for now. Thanks!

Click to expand...

1/2. Pearl district/23rd st
3. medium/slow ish
4. dunno cept I'll be at university of
5. tri met is the best in the northwest. no joke, freeking amazing you really do not need a car unless you are going riding.
6. who cares, hood river is 45mins out and fall city is a little over an hour

bikegrrl said:

I'm actually an ex-Portlander but Toshi's right. (Actually, Toshi, aren't you an ex-Portlander now too?)

Click to expand...

woohoo, someone agrees with me. yeah, i've been up in seattle for 4 years now. some day i want to return to portland.