Let’s talk about Portland, Oregon. What a beautiful, green city full of healthy back-pack wearing people. Portland likes dogs just fine, although Portlander dogs tend to be big, shaggy and mossy. (If I’ve offended, Portlanders please bark back via the comments. We know there are some small dogs and some posh pups out your way too. And, what’s wrong with being shaggy and mossy anyway? Raja does his best to be as shaggy and mossy as possible every day. He gets dirty. I clean him up. He gets dirty. I …etc.)
There’s a lot to do with furry friends in the Portland area- nature hikes and excursions through the Columbia River Gorge near Portland and hikes up Mt. Hood. And wineries. (Raja loves a little wine- don’t you?) Oregon produces almost all of the seed crops for the US and its countryside is pocketed with privately owned farms where sheep, alpacas, and even yaks are raised for wool. But today I want to talk about only Portland- city of eco-awareness, artisanal fabric and yarn crafts, polar fleece, flannel shirts, strong coffee, micro-brews and rain.
There are plenty of dog friendly café’s in Portland; even many high end restaurants will serve you with your dog on the patio under a heat lamp (it’s never too hot or too cold in Portland.) Check out this list: http://www.portlandpooch.com/directory/restaurants/listings.htm
The Pearl District downtown is Portland’s urban residential, shopping, and art district. Virtually all establishments accept dogs. Portland dogs tend to walk on leash through the rain, even the small ones. If that doesn’t work for you, just carry your doggy, but expect sideways glances. Portland’s rugged and everybody enjoys a bit of weather.
Raja and I recommend the following shops: Dr. Marten Airwair USA (10 NW 10th Ave.)- the only Dr. Marten store in the US; Narcisse (1015 SW Washington)- a Mecca for Gothic Alice in Wonderlands; Dublin Bay Yarn Shop (1227 NW 11th Ave)- what is it about the damp that makes one want to knit?, and Ecce Domus (1422 NW 23rd Ave.) for a gloriously shabby chic North Coast take on Asian furnishings.
Is there anything we don’t like about Portland? Well, OK, sometimes the eco-consciousness and PC-ness gets a bit worthy. Like outside the airport. There’s a sign that says “Designated Smoking Area” and another sign that says “Dog Walking Area.” So we have to pollute in different spots and not get them mixed up. But what if I want to smoke and walk my dog? Hmmm... how to work that?
In the photo below Raja and I are hanging out with our Oregon friends, Lamia the Anthropologist; Raja Babu, the Tibetan Terrier- Shih Tzu mix and Preeti Cassandra, the Corgi. If you go to Portland, do your research because there is so much to do and if you don’t stay long enough, you’ll just have to go back.
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