subject: Portland Oregon: Hotels, Corporations And The Hip [print this page] When Portland comes up in the course of a conversation, you can be sure it will be confused with Seattle, Starbucks, and Grunge. If this was 1995, that would be fair play. The ubiquitous nature of Starbucks now makes it as all-American as Bank of America -- and just as flavorful. Grunge has come and gone, and sure, Seattle is still the largest city north of San Francisco, but lets shift our weary eyes to the best kept secret: Portland rules.
Imagine that the Pacific Northwest is a royal family. Washington would be the king, British Columbia the queen, and Oregon the princess. The most populated city in Oregon is -- you guessed it -- Portland. It's the City of Roses -- a fitting adornment for a princess. It is the third most-populated city in the Pacific Northwest, and is home to one of the largest growing economic and cultural expansions in recent history.
While New York is teaming with droves of hipsters, these 18-35 year old, upper middle class, college-educated men and women are flocking to Portland in record numbers. Indeed, where hipsters go, so too the alternative bands follow. Such bands as Modest Mouse and The Shins now call Portland home -- solidifying the city's status as the new alternative music capital.
In contrast to this street-cred-seeking crowd are the economic bulwarks, Nike, Intel, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear. Portland, as well as Seattle, has become the inheritor of some major technological firms (like Intel), prompting speculation that the Silicon Valley of the San Francisco Bay area could e supplanted by this emerging Silicon Forest. Whether or not this monumental shift ever takes place, Portland has indeed set itself apart as a very attractive city to companies eager to employ the droves of well-educated hipster who are quickly becoming residents.
There are still some blue collar pleasures to be enjoyed, namely the wealth of microbreweries located in the city and the fact that it is home to the hard-working Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. Today the NBA, tomorrow who knows? There is talk of expansion Major League Soccer and Major League baseball teams being assigned to the city, as well as a possible NFL team. What would we call them? The Portland Roses?
