Help for my Tigard trip! (Portland, Beaverton: rental car, rental, credit card)

[PaullieWalnuts]

I'm looking at driving up to Portland this week to investigate the area for a potential move in the not-too-distant future. I'll be arriving in Tigard on Thanksgiving and departing the following Monday morning. If anyone could provide some assistance it would be greatly appreciated! Couple questions...

1. I think it's called the Portland Saturday Market... will it be on even if it's raining? I'll be using a rental car, so will I have to pay for parking somewhere in the area?

2. What else would you suggest a solo traveling, 30/m do for Friday and Sunday? I'd like to perhaps hit up a bar, after-hours, as long as it is chill and around the 217 (by SW Greenburg Rd.... is that even a safe area?), but also need something to do the rest of the time. I'm interested in a move to Beaverton (potentially), so anything over there would be great, too.

3. What suburb outside of downtown would be your choice for a single guy like myself to move into? I'm looking for safety, $700-$900/mo rent, other single professionals (not college students), malls, dining, movies, etc.

4. Lastly, and not that I'll be investigating this during my trip, but what's the dating scene like there? Are people generally friendly, confined, easily approachable? Where could I meet nice women without going to downtown Portland clubs? I like the alternative, or grunge, scene to a certain extent so I'm down with anything that caters to that.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[FoxyKnox]

Saturday Market is every weekend except around Christmas and is in downtown PDX. You can go on Sundays too, on Sunday street parking is free...if you can find it. If not SmartPark lots are really cheap and there is one walking distance to the market...which is rain or shine. Another option is to park elsewhere and the MAX line stops at the Market (TriMet: Public Transportation for the Portland, Oregon, Metro Area).
Umm, I think Beaverton may be your suburb.

[Sobefobik]

If you're looking for grunge, I would move to the Hawthorne area. It's downtown though.

I personally don't like Beaverton. It's filled with subdivisions and HEAVY traffic. I'm not over there a lot so I don't know about any bars. I wouldn't say that it's the "bar scene" kind of town. A lot of wealthy people live in that area, and I don't believe that you're going to see a lot of bars.

Like the other poster said, Saturday market is going to be downtown on the waterfront. It will be open if it rains. (It rains a lot here so we can't close everything down when it rains. We would be out of business if we did that.) If you're going to be staying in Beaverton, I would recommend taking the MAX. It takes about 40 minutes to get there, but it's a nice stop. Take a stop at the zoo while you're on your way. It's a great place with a really nice park. Saturday Market is great!

[Lee151]

When I think of where young singles would want to live I don't think of Beaverton. I think of The Pearl District.

[PaullieWalnuts]

Thanks for the quick responses! I'll definitely look at cruising some of the aforementioned areas. I looked into some of them and wish I could be there for the First Thursday art exhibits (free drinks, chat with artists), but for obvious reasons I doubt I'll be attending. Hawthorne, Pearl and wherever the Saturday Market is... I think that should be pretty fascinating.

Also, I read some blog about how it is illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon... is this true?? The article was dated back a couple years ago so I'm not sure if still holds true (if it ever did).

[nancy thereader]

Lots of states do not allow you to pump your own gas. It is for your own safety, though.

[sedgemouse]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

Lots of states do not allow you to pump your own gas. It is for your own safety, though.

I think that only OR and NJ still refuse to let people pump their own gas. In NJ it has less to do with safety than with preventing drive offs. You could always slip over to Vancouver if you want to pump your own. lol.

[PaullieWalnuts]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

Lots of states do not allow you to pump your own gas. It is for your own safety, though.

So, if you don't mind, what's the standard procedure for this? I actually went to pay for gas a couple hours ago and thought someone was trying to steal my nav system while I was inside. Turns out it was the attendant waiting by my car.

What do YOU ALL normally do when you pull up to the pump? Put in the credit card and wait for the guy to come over (it was freeeeezing, btw)? He mentioned that he, technically, has to remove the pump and put it in and also remove it and put it back... yet, the car right next to me (an Oregonian) seemed to be pumping his own, like a big boy. I don't want to look like a newbie that can't handle the gas situation like a champ, so any advice on how to speed up the flow?

Also, do you tip? If so, this guy got stiffed.

BTW... two completely different worlds, California and Oregon. Wow. I'll elaborate on this when I come back from my trip, but I think I like it here.

[oldtintype]

I used to feel so at a loss and felt like I should be tipping the attendant--I felt guilty that he was filling up my car. Then I got over it! And now I think it's great. You pull up, wait for them to approach your car, hand over the card, sit back while they fill up, get your receipt and go. That's about it. It's great when it's cold out. When I'm in WA for some reason and actually have to pump my own gas I hate it. I did take me about a year to get used to someone else filling my car up for me though.