I'm fortunate to know some kick-ass women who happen to own small, independent businesses in Portland. They've all been burned and risen from the ashes in some way or another, and I'm inspired by them—and you may be as well—because the lessons they’ve learned are relatable, whether you’re a business owner, stay-at-home mom, unemployed, or whatever sitch you find yourself in. If more...

If you’ve lived in Portland for any time at all, you’re probably intimately familiar with the listicle and the local media’s somewhat exhausting obsession with defining the best things in town. If you’re like me, you read these lists and very rarely agree with what’s on them because it’s your collective experience that defines what’s best—not anyone else’s. One more...

Have you ever wondered if there’s any real difference between living in North and NW Portland? Oh sure, people will say one part of town is better than the other, but after moving from the Pearl District to Arbor Lodge, I’ve spotted some tangible, discernible lifestyle differences. The driver of the differences appears to revolve around housing stock and density: NW Portland is a high-density mix of more...

Looking for a battery-operated good time with an enthusiastic guide? Then you’re gonna love riding an electric bicycle around the Rose City with Portland Adventure Tours (PAT). A couple of weeks ago, my friend Sarah Bott, owner and operator of PAT, invited me to ride along on an e-bike tour of the city. I had never ridden an e-bike before and, as it turns out, it’s a really fun, easy way to traverse the more...

After a decade of writing about Portland neighborhoods, people often ask me if I'm tired of it—especially given the recent changes in my life. The short answer: No. Actually, I'm falling in love with Portland and Neighborhood Notesall over again because my heart is full of gratitude for the people I'm meeting, the experiences I'm having, and this glorious townI'm living in. You're part more...

How do you respond when people ask: “Where do you live?” And how do they respond when you tell them? Before I even made the move to Arbor Lodge from the Pearl District, I noticed something that was a real head-scratcher: People reacted to me differently based on where I said I lived/would be living. It didn’t occur to me that people would perceive and treat me differently based on my zip code. I more...

A lot can change in 10 years. Relationships begin and end. Businesses evolve. Addresses change. And if you’re like me, you shake everything up at once. The way I see it, if you’re gonna start over, you might as well make life a total shit show, because when you emerge from the ashes, the changes should be dramatic. Over a decade ago, I created Neighborhood Notes as a means of exploring my new more...