14 Ways To Put A Bird On It At SQL Saturday Oregon

About Portland

If you have seen the TV series ‘Portlandia’ you already know something about Portland. The show is funny because it is based, not on a grain of truth, but a whole truckload of grains of truth.  Yes we dress funny, yes we are concerned about how the chickens we eat are cared for, and yes we like to make and drink lots and lots of beer.
 

While you will spend most of your day at Portland for SQL Saturday I hope you will find time to venture out and see the local flora, fauna and hippies.

Below are some good places to sample the local fare while at SQL Saturday Oregon. Did I mention that many of them serve alcohol? Consider yourself warned. The first 9 on the list are are within walking distance of SQL Saturday (bear in mind Portland has smaller blocks than most cities).

The Mothership

SQL Saturday Oregon will be held October 8, 2011 at Portland Community College - CLIMB Center, 1626 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR, 97214. This is in a light-industrial area about 1 block from the Willamette River (pronounced WILL-A (like apple)-MET, accent on the 2nd syllable).

SQL Saturday is on the corner of Water Ave (essentially SE 1^st Ave) and SE Clay St. While centrally located, SQL Saturday does not have a lot of eating and drinking establishments immediately around it. However, there are a number of good restaurants and bars, easily walkable, 5 to 10 blocks away.

Morning Brew

1 block walking distance:

(1) Coopers Coffee House 1515 SE Water Ave
Coffee, pastries & sandwiches. Coopers is directly kitty-corner from SQL Saturday. Opens at 8am.

Evening Food & Drink

5 blocks walking distance:

(2) Bunk Bar 1028 SE Water Ave

This place has good sandwiches and drink. It is 5 blocks North of SQL Saturday on Water Ave. Open 3pm to 2am.

(3) Olympic Provisions 107 SE Washington St (corner of SE Water Ave & SE Washington)

Good food and drink. Happy Hour 3pm – 6pm, Dinner 5pm – 10pm.

(4) ClarkLewis 1001 SE Water Ave
One of Portland’s better restaurants. Happy Hour 4:30 to 6:30 pm, dinner 5:30pm to 10pm. If you decide to dine here, be prepared to open your wallet.

7 to 10 blocks walking distance:

(5) The Lucky Labrador Brew Pub 915 SE Hawthorne (SE 9th & Hawthorne)
Great local brew pub with good food and better beer. Pet the labrador.
(6) Pacific Pie Company 1520 SE 7th Ave (near SE 7^th & SE Clay St)

This place serves savory Australian meat pies, pastries, sausage rolls, beer, wine & Australian alcohol selections. Australian Rugby is often on TV here. Open 11am to 9pm.

(7) Vie de Bohème 1530 SE 7th Ave (next to Pacific Pie Company)
Beer, local wine, light food. Live music Saturday, October 8^th: Pete Petersen Septet, $5.00 cover. Open 4pm  to 11:30pm.

13 blocks walking distance:

(8) Cartopia 12^th & Hawthorne
A collection of some of Portland’s finest food carts. Portland has become famous for its food carts, now numbering over 700, each serving up their own style of delicious meals. Cartopia has a good assortment of carts and they even have a cocktail cart Friday and Saturday evenings in October. Outdoor covered seating.

Geekier Stuff

(9) OMSI The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is 1 block south of SQL Saturday Oregon. They have all kinds of science exhibits and an Omnimax theater. If you go, definitely tour the retired US Navy submarine docked in the Willamette River. Imagine spending 3 months at sea in that submarine and your server room doesn’t look so bad any more.

Authentic Portland

(10) Voodoo Doughnuts 22 SW 3^rd Ave (downtown) or 1501 NE Davis (near 15^th & Sandy Blvd)

You’ll need a transportation to get to this one but if you have not been to Voodoo Doughnuts, you haven’t really been to Portland. Voodoo will give you a real taste of Portland, and I’m not just talking about their over-the-top pastries. Their motto: ‘The magic is in the hole’. Get the bacon maple bar or the Tang donut. Both locations are open 24 hours.

(11) The 24 hour Church of Elvis 408 N.W. Couch (downtown)

This is a Portland institution since 1985.  If you are staying downtown this will be easy to get to. Lots of one-of-a-kind art and rare items such as the 'Shroud of Elvis'. One coin-operated display offers temporary marriage licenses. Get your picture taken in front.

Beautiful Portland
(12) Portland Japanese Garden 611 SW Kingston Avenue (near downtown)
Said to be the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, the Japanese Garden is a 5.5-acre haven of tranquil beauty nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland.

(13) Portland Classical Chinese Garden NW 3rd & Everett (downtown)

An authentic Suzhou-style garden and the largest of its kind in the nation. This style of garden consists of one city block with a wall around, with a lake, tea house and various tranquil spots to enjoy inside.

Walkabout

(14) Eastbank Esplanade From SQL Saturday, walk 1 block towards the river and you’ll find a 1.5 mile walk/bike loop that runs along the banks of the Willamette River. Along the way, look for signs that beavers have returned to the central city.

Dress

Dress comfortably and rest assured that in Portland you cannot be too casual.  The weather can change by the minute so dress for some sun and some rain and everything in between. The weather forecast for SQL Saturday Oregon is mostly sunny with a high of 65 and low of 54 with a 20% chance of rain. It probably won’t rain at all during SQL Saturday, which means it’s a pretty nice day in Portland.

Is This Important?
Super secret tip (DBAs over 21 only): The liquour store is at the corner of SE 11th & Hawthorne Blvd. See? You knew there was some good information somewhere in here and you kept reading until you found it!

Disclaimer

The places I recommend in this blog are not paying me, they’re just places I like to go. I do not guarantee ever-lasting happiness but perhaps a few hours of bliss. If this blog helps you see a part of Portland that is new to you, I'm a happy bird-put-er-on-er.