Our Portland Black Book

For a lot of people, their knowledge of Portland, Oregon comes from Portlandia: free-range chicken farms, feminist bookstores, artisanal knot stores. Portland does have its fair share of farmers’ markets and craft breweries, but its quirkiness is only part of what locals love about their corner of the Pacific Northwest. Forested parks, snow-capped mountains, and nearby coastal dunes make Portland one of America’s best cities for outdoorsy people, and its nearby vineyards are making some of the country’s best wines. Meanwhile, Portland’s famed food scene is as robust as ever, from food trucks serving Texas BBQ and Korean-inspired pasta to elevated farm-to-table spots making good use of Oregon’s bounty. But while PDX is down to earth, its artsy side is not limited to twee Etsy crafts. A world-class art museum, several contemporary galleries, and a slate of high-end fashion and design shops (including some seriously great vintage!) prove this small city holds its own when it comes to style.

CONTRIBUTORS

Caitlin Pangares is a Portland native who recently moved home after 18 years split between Seattle, SF and NYC. In New York, she contributed to the newsletter FOUND NY. In Portland, she writes for Willamette Week, Portland Mercury and Nester Magazine. 

Currie Person is the founder of Spartan Shop, a furniture showroom and gallery based in Portland, and writer of the recently launched travel and design focused Substack, Spartan Index.

Jenny Guggenheim is principal designer and co-founder of Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio. Her studio is rooted in the Pacific Northwest with residential and boutique commercial projects located throughout the United States. Her work appears in Luxe, Architectural Digest, Sunset Magazine, and California Home & Design. A native Oregonian, her city life is bookended by strong connection to both the sea and the mountains.  

Karie Burch first moved to Portland in 2002, took a brief detour to Los Angeles, and came back in 2006. She’s spent nearly two decades at the Portland Art Museum and remains curious about Portland in all its forms: old, strange, beautiful, unfinished, and still becoming. 

Kayt Mathers is the founder of Play Nice Communications, an agency serving clients in the food, beverage and hospitality space, in Portland and beyond. 

Kimiko Matsuda is a Portland-based community connector, travel curator, and storyteller known for uncovering the city’s most memorable food, culture, and design experiences. Through her editorial lens and deep local relationships, she helps visitors discover the people and places that make Portland unlike anywhere else.

Pamela Baker-Miller is the owner and creative force behind Frances May, a chic Portland boutique known for its independent womenswear and design objects that has been shaping the local fashion scene for almost two decades. 

Susan Tompkins, a California native, moved to Portland thirty years ago and never left. Upon arrival, she opened her retail clothing store ODESSA and has been helping women get dressed ever since.

Tyler Malek is the co-founder and head ice cream maker of Salt & Straw, the Portland-based artisanal ice cream company he launched with his cousin Kim in 2011.  

Tiffany Thompson is the founder of Portland-based Duett Interiors, and a multidisciplinary designer and cultural tastemaker known for her refined, audacious approach to interiors and creative spaces. Her work has been recognized by Architectural Digest, ELLE Décor, and 1stDibs.

STAYS

Favorite overall hotel

Cascada– My favorite hotel in Portland is Cascada, which also happens to be in my neighborhood! I love sending people there, and I love an evening in their rejuvenating spa, which is open to non-hotel guests as well. Walking into Cascada always elicits a deep exhale. Their amenities are incredibly thoughtful, and the guest rooms are generous and polished, while also being practical. In-room laundry? Yes, please! -Kayt Mathers. Cascada is the new kid in town and everyone is excited for the spa-forward amenities. The dreamy subterranean thermal pools are stunning. –Jenny Guggenheim. Go downstairs to the spa for one of the most restorative experiences in Portland. The restaurant is outstanding, and it’s just a few blocks from the original Salt & Straw. -Tyler Malek. It’s a bit nontraditional and feels more like an Airbnb, but it’s elevated. It’s connected to a thermal springs and one of the best restaurants in Portland. -Tiffany Thompson 

Woodlark Hotel – A charming boutique hotel located in the West End/central downtown, so you can walk to everything. -Susan Tompkins 

Sentinel – Sentinel is a classic choice, located downtown. It offers terraces with many of their rooms. Easy walking distance to Spella for your morning coffee. -Jenny Guggenheim

Jupiter Next for the bar Hey Love, Cascada for the spa, and the Woodlark for its proximity to my shop Frances May. -Pamela Baker-Miller