Any cool shops in Portland, Oregon?

[J.B.]

My wife needs to travel to Portland for work this coming weekend and I'm going to tag along. We've heard that there are some amazing places to eat there and want to try as many as possible. While she's at work I want to check out the vintage toy scene. The only store that I'm aware of is Billy Galaxy, which I've heard about for years. Are there any other cool shops in town that I should visit?

[Hector]

Portland is known for its lively food cart culture, you might wanna hit those places.

http://www.foodcartsportland.com

http://roaminghunger.com/pdx/vendors/most_liked

http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2009/10/portlands_top_10_food_carts.html

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=food+trucks&find_loc=Portland%2C+OR

[megomania]

My wife needs to travel to Portland for work this coming weekend and I'm going to tag along. We've heard that there are some amazing places to eat there and want to try as many as possible. While she's at work I want to check out the vintage toy scene. The only store that I'm aware of is Billy Galaxy, which I've heard about for years. Are there any other cool shops in town that I should visit?

MikeMc could answer...my experience with Billy Galaxy is over-priced

[SeattleEd]

We frequent PDX once a month since my wife is from there so we hit up some great places for food and I seek where I can for some collectibles.

Collectible wise:

1. Billy Galaxay on Burnside is great but might be a tad spendy so brace yourself. While you are there you can venture across the street to Powell's bookstore if you want to see the biggest bookstore on the west coast or if you are into vinyl records, go down the corner of the same block going east to Jackpot Records. For some great chocolate there is an amazing chocolate cafe Cacao. A tad spendy but just get a thick hot or cold chocolate drink. All in the Pearl District area of downtown.
2. Things From Another World: Comic book store with the flagship store found in Milwaukie neighborhood next to Dark Horse comics store and offices. I frequent the one by Lloyd Center in Northeast PDX on Broadway. Not too far from the Pearl District.
3. Cosmic Monkey Comics: If you travel further up Broadway going east past the Hollywood Neighborhood. Great place for comics and some new toys and collectibles.
4. If you are vinyl hound check out Music Millenium in SouthEast Portland. Best record store in PDX. IMO. I do record store day there now.
5. For food and want some really good foodcart food, not all are the same and many are hit or miss but the best is on SE Division street on SE Portland. Again, not to far from downtown. D Street Village for food cart grub this is highly recommended and was told my brother in law it's the 4th best food cart food in America. I agree:

http://www.alacartspdx.com/lot-map-cart-vendors--photos.html

While there and if you are into Vietnamese fusion this place is the best and very authentic:

http://www.pokpokpdx.com/

While still in that area, if you are into high end NW comfort food this place, IMO, has the best made french fires I've ever had. Perfect consistency through and through:

http://www.theamericanlocal.com/

There is also some amazing Indian fusion cuisine across the street called Bollywood Theatre. Best I've had in a long time, next to the food in Mumbai and Goa:

http://www.bollywoodtheaterpdx.com/

6. If you care to venture out into another neighborhood for food and shopping, go to NE Portland and get on Alberta St. from 15th NE to 33rd NE. You can check out the art gallery toy store called Screaming Sky Collectible:

http://www.screamingskygallery.com/

Right next to Salt & Straw Ice Cream if you care for some good local Ice Cream.

7. Chinatown aka OLD TOWN right next to the Burnside Bridge on the Downtown side, I recommend here:

http://floatingworldcomics.com/

Floating World has some great indie artsy stuff and the Grass Hut Gallery inside run by Bwana Spoons, artist. High recommended. If you feel like visiting an old arcade with working old school arcade machines walk down the street called Ground Kontrol:

http://groundkontrol.com/

If you feel like a super tourist trap, head south across of Burnside to VooDoo Donuts and wait in line for almost an hour. LOL

http://voodoodoughnut.com/

We avoid this one all together and head on to one on Sandy. Not much crowds.

8. OMSI. Recommend the science Museum. Definitely much better than the one in Seattle and L.A.

https://www.omsi.edu/

These are places I would recommend but there is so much more like Wonderland arcade. Fun if you have kids and want to watch a movie. Speaking of movies, while in the Pearl District, check out a movie at the Living Room bar & theatre.

http://pdx.livingroomtheaters.com/

Or you can go to a McMenamins chain and get some bar food, craft beers and a movie.

http://www.mcmenamins.com/

Like I said there is a lot more that I'm sure our PDX folks can recommend but I love that town so much. Next time visit during summer to hit the beaches. We do that every year since the beaches are much nicer than the ones in Washington.

Have fun and good luck. So much to see, explore and taste like gardens, waterfalls, hikes, walks, wineries, countryside walks, etc...

[J.B.]

Wow; awesome. Thanks for all the great info. guys!

[pmwasson]

Great list! The only thing I would add is
Compound (formerly JustBe) http://compoundgallery.com/ 107 NW 5th Ave
They are now mostly fashion, but still have an art gallery and imported vinyl toys that are pretty cool.

And if you find yourself across the river, there is a great pizza place called Vancouver Pizza Company (right MikeMc?)