nw portland Archives - Sean Besso Realty

*Photo by Sean Pavone from Getty Images* *Pro*

Filled with restaurants, boutiques, and historic Victorian homes, Northwest/Nob Hill oozes Old Portland charm. Not only is it a very walkable neighborhood, it is also very close to downtown, Forest Park, and the Pearl District.

About Northwest/Nob Hill
Northwest/Nob Hill is such a densely populated retail and residential neighborhood and you don’t have to walk far for delicious food or fun activities. Whether you want to hike through Macleay Park or enjoy happy hour at a local watering hole, there is something for everyone in this neighborhood. Love to bird watch? Then you’ll definitely enjoy the Chapman Swift Watch. It’s a month-long viewing party at Chapman Elementary school where you can watch thousands of birds migrate through Portland. Unfortunately, the Swift Watch has been cancelled due to COVID-19, but hopefully they will be able to resume this year. As far as housing goes, you’ll find a sweet mixture of everything – historic homes, Victorians, Craftsman-style, Old Portland-style, grand old apartment buildings, and sleek new condominiums. Northwest has an abundance of homes that are in the National Register of Historic Places. The Architectural Heritage Center often puts on walking tours of various neighborhoods and I highly suggest taking one of their walking tours around Northwest Portland.

Macleay Park
One of Portland’s earliest city parks, Macleay Park spans almost 140 acres and is a green oasis close to the city’s core. You’ll find hiking trails, towering Douglas firs and western red cedars, and the infamous Stone House. The Stone House was built in the mid-1930s by workers with federal relief programs to provide a public restroom within the park. After being damaged by a storm and vandalism, park workers partially dismantled the restroom in the 1960s leaving what is now the “Stone House” or “Witch’s Castle”. Park trails connect to Forest Park and Audubon Society of Portland wildlife sanctuaries.

*Photo of The Stone House/Witch’s Castle/Macleay Park Shelter by Anna Calvert / 500 px from Getty Images*

Food/Drink
Caffe Mingo – Warm and welcoming italian restaurant serving the classics with a Northwest touch. Gnocchi is always a good choice 😉 and don’t forget dessert!
Nob Hill Bar & Grill – A low-key tavern specializing in burgers. Delicious sliders (only $5!!!) and be sure to stop in on a Friday to try their delicious clam chowder.
G-Love – Dubbed Portland’s first ever “Reverse Steakhouse”, G-Love offers unique, locally grown produce with proteins playing a supporting role as side dishes. If possible, go for the family style tasting menu so you can try a little bit everything.
Paymaster Lounge – Very laid-back bar with affordable drinks and food. They even have outdoor pool tables to help with social distancing. Their Ginger Hot Toddy is delicious on a rainy day,
Dragonfly Coffee House – Cozy coffee shop on the northeast side of the Alphabet District. Their housemade chai is a must.

Shops/Things to Do
Freakybuttrue Peculiarium – Truly one-of-a-kind art gallery with interactive art and installations. If you love sci-fi, horror, cryptids, and the mysterious, you definitely have to check it out, but maybe leave the kiddos behind.
betsy & iya – Boutique featuring handmade jewelry and curated goods on NW 24th Ave.
Tender Loving Empire – Tender Loving Empire is a local record label, music store, gallery, and arts collective that does pretty much everything. There you’ll find a collection of goods and music from hundreds of independent creators.
Cinema 21 – Specializing in classic, foreign, and art house films, Cinema 21 is a three screen multiplex where you can wine, dine and enjoy a movie in the heart of the Alphabet District.
New Renaissance Bookshop – The oldest metaphysical bookstore in Portland, you can find books, crystals, candles, trinkets, oils and more at New Renaissance.

Market Stats
Over the past few months, Northwest/Nob Hill’s market hasn’t been very competitive. On average, homes in Northwest District sell after 56 days on the market. Last month, the median sales price of a home in Northwest was approximately $585,000 with 2% of homes selling over asking price. Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia & TravelPortland.com

For this month’s PDX Neighborhood Spotlight, I’m highlighting the lovely and full of small town charm St. Johns neighborhood.

About St. Johns
Located in North Portland, St. Johns is on the tip of the peninsula formed by the convergence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. It was a separate, incorporated city from 1902 until 1915, when citizens of both St. Johns and Portland voted to approve its annexation to Portland.

St. Johns is named in honor of settler James John who made his way to the Pacific Northwest from Missouri in 1841. After his death, John left his remaining personal property to the township of St. Johns to use to build a public school. It was John’s wish that children of all religious denominations could study together and receive an education that stressed the importance of civic engagement. St. Johns was officially recognized as a municipality by the Oregon State Legislature on January 5, 1902.

As of the 2010s, there has been a lot of new development in Portland and St. Johns is one of the most rapidly developing parts of Portland. Downtown St. Johns consists primarily of boutique shops and individually owned and operated restaurants, including two theater pubs, while the northern portion of the neighborhood gives way to a vast industrial landscape of warehouses, parking lots, and cargo & shipping facilities, including the Rivergate Industrial District of the Port of Portland.

The most notable feature of St. Johns is the tallest bridge in Portland, the St. Johns Bridge. Designed by internationally renowned engineer David B. Steinman and Holton D. Robinson, the St. Johns was the longest suspension-type bridge west of the Mississippi River at the time of construction.

Via artran from Getty Images

Parks
There are many beautiful parks and natural areas in St. Johns, including Pier Park, the Columbia Slough, Kelley Point Park, and The Smith & Bybee Wetlands Natural Area. It is also very close to Cathedral Park and Baltimore Woods in the Cathedral Park Neighborhood and right across the river from Forest Park. Upon entering St. Johns there is a conspicuously placed sign in the traffic median which says, “Welcome to the Peninsula, Gateway to Nature”. Sightings of bald eagles and other birds of prey are common. Chimney Park is a great place to take your furry friends and is also the ending point for the Pier Park Loop Hike. The Pier Park Loop Hike is around 2 miles and starts at Pier Park Trailhead.

Are you a lover of jazz music? Jazz Society Oregon hosts the annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival every July for FREE! The 2021 festival will run July 16th – July 18th. You can check out this year’s lineup here.

Via Another Believer – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11246914

St. Johns Parade & Farmers Market
Starting in 1962, St. Johns holds an annual parade consisting of homemade floats, family friendly celebrations, and is an all around great way to meet your neighbors & support local businesses.
The parade takes place on the second Saturday of May, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the parade has been postponed until May 2022.
You can find more information on this event and event COVID-19 updates here.
The St. Johns Farmers Market usually runs from the middle of May to the end of October and is located in the St. Johns Plaza every Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm.

Food/Drink
Tienda Santa Cruz – An unassuming Mexican grocery store where you will find some of the best tacos in all Portland. Be sure to pick up some house-made Mexican breads as well!
Signal Station Pizza – Previously an old abandoned gas station, Signal Station Pizza is a local favorite. I recommend the Willamette and the No. Portland Special pizzas.
Homegrown Smoker – Vegan? Homegrown Smoker has delicious BBQ for you!
Leisure Public House – Great place to grab a cold beverage and play ping pong or bocce ball with friends. I recommend the Mezcal Old Fashioned or a Boozy Popsicle (especially in this heat!). Tuesdays are trivia nights.
St. Johns Theater & Pub – Once the National Cash Register Building at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition, it attracted over two million people to NW Portland during the World’s Fair. You can find out more about it’s history here. Now a McMenamin’s, you can catch a movie in the theater or enjoy a nice outdoor lunch with friends and family.

Via ColumbiaRiverImages.com

Shops
Vinyl Resting Place – One of the oldest used record stores in Portland. The name alone should be enough to go in and take a peek at their selection. Twice a year they hold a “$1 Record Sale”.
Blue Moon Camera & Machine – Home of the International Camera Museum, Blue Moon Camera is an all-analog camera shop that sells photo equipment, typewriters, books and more.
Salty Teacup – Quirky boutique featuring whimsical gifts and cool vintage finds.
Revolutions Bookshop – Independently owned bookstore specializing in a curated selection of mostly used books, some new books, vinyl, and collectibles.

Market Stats
Right now, the average price of a home in St. Johns is approximately $477,000 with over 80% of homes selling over asking price. Like I’ve mentioned before – it’s a seller’s market! Click here for a free home valuation.

References: Wikipedia, TravelPortland.com, and ColumbiaRiverImages.com

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: Northwest/Nob Hill

PDX Neighborhood Spotlight: St. Johns

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