The Pearl District in Portland, Oregon used to be a place few people ventured into unless they worked there or had unavoidable business there. Today it is a thriving urban neighborhood--Portland's most popular.
cicerone, Creative Commons
It is a lesson on how cities can make lemonaid out of an unwanted lemon.
Originally the area was full of 100-year-old brick warehouses and not much else. Today it is full of New York style loft apartments, new high-rise condominiums, specialty restaurants, boutique shops and hotels, and even parks. It is up scale but has a casual atmosphere and it is the place to be in Portland.
The neat thing about it is it is close to the main downtown Portland area and it is easy to take the streetcar from one area to the other. It is bordered by the Willamette River, West Burnside, Broadway and the 405 Freeway.
If you are looking for something distinctive whether it is for your home, children, pets, or your own body there is a good chance you will find it here.
Justin Burger, Creative Commons
baby
pets
furniture
home accessories
lighting
clothing and shoes
bakeries
garden
art galleries
restaurants (all kinds)
wine bars
breweries
gerrychu, Creative Commons
The Pearl is more than a place to shop. You can find every kind of restaurant here including restaurants with ethnic foods. In addition there are wine bars, coffee bars, brewpubs, bakeries, ice cream parlors, vegan shops, and grocery stores.
Art is a big thing in The Pearl and there is a large number of art galleries. First Thursday is an art event that takes place the first Thursday of every month. This is when the art galleries stay open late during the evening hours.
MuddyRavine, Creative Commons
This is a dog friendly place. Most shops allow dogs and many will even have a treat for a nice, well-behaved pooch.
There is underground parking at NW 12th or 13th between Couch and Davis. Near Union Station you will find parking at Station Place Garage on NW 9th & Marshall. Of course you can also take the streetcar.