The city that tries too hard (Portland, Eugene: new home, neighborhood, high school)

[HRW]

After two years in Portland, my observations:

1. A population which is either uneducated (think career baristas) or educated, but provincial - why would anyone want to school anywhere but Eugene?

2. Following up on provincialism, a dislike for anyone moving to Oregon, especially Californians, and blaming them for the rise in property prices

3. Very poor public education system, evidenced by the extremely high school dropout rate

4. Either the residents have clueless regarding restaurants or they overrate everything in order to justify their living in an overpriced restaurant city. I am familiar with what others say about how great Portland restaurants are, but I have lived most of my life in Europe and Asia and am shocked at the poor imitations of, particularly, Asian restaurants. The most authentic Asian restaurants I have found are Vietnamese and I suspect that this is because most of their customers are of Vietnamese origin

5. Accepting mediocrity in other areas including live music and comedy and treating it as excellent.

6. Keep Portland weird - does this mean everyone needs most of their body covered by tattoos, purple hair or having homeless occupying doorways?

7. The most depressing weather I have encountered in my long life

8. In summary, a little, uncultured town mostly populated by people who are not very educated, worldly, or well paid

I could go on destroying illusions, but will leave it to the locals to chastize me

[CAjerseychick]

I have to say I do really enjoy the Vietnamese restaurants here (especially the whole roasted catfish you can get at Pho Van, what a lovely presentation with the rice paper crepe and herbs, vegetables, and dipping sauces on the side).
Pok Pok is a pretty decent representation of Thai (street?) food too, although imo, way overpriced and too trendy as evidenced by the wait times-
I hate to say it but I kind of agree with you on the whole on the ethnic restaurants-
(one exception is the new Falafel house in my neighborhood thats delicious, and run by Iraquis)...

I do like the multitude of choices via new eateries and carts though, ethnic restaurants aside...
ok thats all I have to say about your Post, OP, I wont touch the rest...

[Squidlo]

The word provincial has crossed my mind a few times. My mudhill is better than your mudhill. Not having seen anything to compare it to then yes, this is a fine mudhill. The locals may tear you to bits metaphorically but, hey whats a few keystrokes between strangers eh?

I still miss my old home town. I will continue to wander back and visit the friends and family who by all accounts love their muddhill.

[Yankeemama]

Portland is not for everybody so it's a good thing you found another place to live that suits you better, OP. Good luck to you.

[freemkt]

Originally Posted by HRW

After two years in Portland, my observations:

1. A population which is either uneducated (think career baristas) or educated, but provincial - why would anyone want to school anywhere but Eugene?

2. Following up on provincialism, a dislike for anyone moving to Oregon, especially Californians, and blaming them for the rise in property prices

3. Very poor public education system, evidenced by the extremely high school dropout rate

4. Either the residents have clueless regarding restaurants or they overrate everything in order to justify their living in an overpriced restaurant city. I am familiar with what others say about how great Portland restaurants are, but I have lived most of my life in Europe and Asia and am shocked at the poor imitations of, particularly, Asian restaurants. The most authentic Asian restaurants I have found are Vietnamese and I suspect that this is because most of their customers are of Vietnamese origin

5. Accepting mediocrity in other areas including live music and comedy and treating it as excellent.

6. Keep Portland weird - does this mean everyone needs most of their body covered by tattoos, purple hair or having homeless occupying doorways?

7. The most depressing weather I have encountered in my long life

8. In summary, a little, uncultured town mostly populated by people who are not very educated, worldly, or well paid

I could go on destroying illusions, but will leave it to the locals to chastize me

Portland has a lot of overeducated (or perhaps miseducated) career baristas.

As a poor person, it's not the people moving to Oregon I dislike, its the HIGHER RENTS caused by the people moving to Oregon. Nobody enjoys downward mobility and nobody should be expected to welcome it.

As a poor person, I cannnot afford to dine at restaurants; consequently I don't rate any of them.

[Merrily Gather]

You're 4 for 1 HRW in responses. That's not bad at all really.

I want to eat all the things in Portland starting with sandwiches and then moving on to pizzas. I also have a list of patios, roof tops, bars, bakeries, historic restaurants that make up Portland, etc to try. At least the Oregonian, Eater PDX and Condé Nast distract me with endless foodie articles to mentally grub on. Om Nom Nom!

I really want you to go on with shattering illusions though as I'm curious what else you have to say on the matter that you left out. Give it to us. Tell your Portlandians how you really feel, and continue talking about the food culture especially. I eat that up.

Like what are the names of the places you'd recommend?

[sayulita]

Originally Posted by HRW

After two years in Portland, my observations:

1. A population which is either uneducated (think career baristas) or educated, but provincial - why would anyone want to school anywhere but Eugene?

2. Following up on provincialism, a dislike for anyone moving to Oregon, especially Californians, and blaming them for the rise in property prices

3. Very poor public education system, evidenced by the extremely high school dropout rate

4. Either the residents have clueless regarding restaurants or they overrate everything in order to justify their living in an overpriced restaurant city. I am familiar with what others say about how great Portland restaurants are, but I have lived most of my life in Europe and Asia and am shocked at the poor imitations of, particularly, Asian restaurants. The most authentic Asian restaurants I have found are Vietnamese and I suspect that this is because most of their customers are of Vietnamese origin

5. Accepting mediocrity in other areas including live music and comedy and treating it as excellent.

6. Keep Portland weird - does this mean everyone needs most of their body covered by tattoos, purple hair or having homeless occupying doorways?

7. The most depressing weather I have encountered in my long life

8. In summary, a little, uncultured town mostly populated by people who are not very educated, worldly, or well paid

I could go on destroying illusions, but will leave it to the locals to chastize me

Sweeping generalizations and either/or divisions of people do nothing but nullify your observations.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

YAWN......................Agree with Leis's post above.

Good luck in your new home.

[Luckystrike1]

Originally Posted by HRW

After two years in Portland, my observations:

1. A population which is either uneducated (think career baristas) or educated, but provincial - why would anyone want to school anywhere but Eugene? Some of those barista jobs pay a little more than you think, though.

2. Following up on provincialism, a dislike for anyone moving to Oregon, especially Californians, and blaming them for the rise in property prices. I listened to that in the late-70's when I moved here. California was looked upon as a threat all those decades ago. I happen to know (thru my job) that not nearly as many newcomers are Californians as locals like to think. And, yes, it IS frustrating to watch the quality of life change so fast as it swells at the seams to accommodate everyone. But this isn't just a Portland problem.

3. Very poor public education system, evidenced by the extremely high school dropout rate

4. Either the residents have clueless regarding restaurants or they overrate everything in order to justify their living in an overpriced restaurant city. I am familiar with what others say about how great Portland restaurants are, but I have lived most of my life in Europe and Asia and am shocked at the poor imitations of, particularly, Asian restaurants. The most authentic Asian restaurants I have found are Vietnamese and I suspect that this is because most of their customers are of Vietnamese origin I don't think the food scene is as good as it was 20 to 30-sum years ago.

5. Accepting mediocrity in other areas including live music and comedy and treating it as excellent. Well, with music I think it largely depends on what your tastes are. Jazz isn't nearly, not even a fraction of, what it was before the mid-80's, but we have a great blues culture that it's known for. Lively night clubs aren't what they used to be because they have gotten expensive and many close down on a regular basis.

6. Keep Portland weird - does this mean everyone needs most of their body covered by tattoos, purple hair or having homeless occupying doorways?

7. The most depressing weather I have encountered in my long life Yes, it sure can be ~ not for everybody. Did you not know this beforehand, or did you think you could be strong and adapt?

8. In summary, a little, uncultured town mostly populated by people who are not very educated, worldly, or well paid

I could go on destroying illusions, but will leave it to the locals to chastize me

Well, that was my few cents.

[pdxex]

Originally Posted by HRW

After two years in Portland, my observations:

1. A population which is either uneducated (think career baristas) or educated, but provincial - why would anyone want to school anywhere but Eugene?

2. Following up on provincialism, a dislike for anyone moving to Oregon, especially Californians, and blaming them for the rise in property prices

3. Very poor public education system, evidenced by the extremely high school dropout rate

4. Either the residents have clueless regarding restaurants or they overrate everything in order to justify their living in an overpriced restaurant city. I am familiar with what others say about how great Portland restaurants are, but I have lived most of my life in Europe and Asia and am shocked at the poor imitations of, particularly, Asian restaurants. The most authentic Asian restaurants I have found are Vietnamese and I suspect that this is because most of their customers are of Vietnamese origin

5. Accepting mediocrity in other areas including live music and comedy and treating it as excellent.

6. Keep Portland weird - does this mean everyone needs most of their body covered by tattoos, purple hair or having homeless occupying doorways?

7. The most depressing weather I have encountered in my long life

8. In summary, a little, uncultured town mostly populated by people who are not very educated, worldly, or well paid

I could go on destroying illusions, but will leave it to the locals to chastise me

That's VERY TRUE! ALWAYS has been.Portland has an eternal inferiority complex, the BUBBLE Portlanders live in is just silly?MOST have never been anywhere else.
What you describe is exactly WHY I left in 1986. The same thing.
Why do I care? I grew up in the 50's and 60's and 70's there.Nostalgia, and a memory of when it wasn't so damn full of itself!
Now the FAITHFUL will go crazy!