Oregon propaganda (there is a mention Seattle here, too)

[Andy Patrizio]

I recall an episode of 'Man v. Food' where Adam went to Portland and he talked about the downtown scene and how it had a "grunge scene that never really went away," or something to that effect. All I know is any state that won't let me pump my own gas is a little too dictatorial for me.

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by RotseCherut

Actually, Portland is more hipster and hippy than Seattle. Seattle also has a lot of pseudo-hipsters, where you have people who try to dress cool and funky, yet are still just corporate robots with the same attitude and mentality as any other urbanite around the country. Seattle feels very mainstream and un-hip altogether, whereas Portland still maintains its funk, which also explains why it suffers from some byproducts of this phenomenon, such as laziness, lack of inspiration and too many low wage earners driving up prices by living in shared housing, coupled with not enough incentives for large corporations to supply jobs that can match the living costs. Then, we have the uber-liberal/socialistic city and state governments that love scaring away businesses.

However, if you want "hipster" there is no greater hipster mecca than the Alberta and Albina districts of Portland. Sellwood, Hawthorne and Brooklyn also have their fair share, probably more than Seattle.

The old hippy neighborhoods are were I use to live in Hawthorne, Brooklyn and Belmont. Sadly, the hippy element seems to be replaced with more yuppie, urbanite, pseudo-hipsters that are more common of Seattle, but the element is not totally lost.

Your post is quite accurate down to the last bit. Almost four years ago, my family moved to Portland and we wanted to check out Belmont area since it is a few neighborhoods away from our hood. We were in Zupan's on Belmont, I was getting a coffee and noticed a mother giving me stink eye. I told my husband, that granola mom probably thinks we are yuppies from Seattle. We actually are not yuppies or corporate types and we are originally from S.F. but I guess we are judged as, "urbanite, pseudo-hipsters that are more common in Seattle". Funny.

[skiffrace]

Portland clearly has a Napoleon complex... I don't get the animosity from Portlanders.

It's all in a good humor folks, we are all friends here. I admit to being a little trollish on this thread. I love most of PNW, including Seattle (but excluding Boise - it should not count as PNW city)

If I were not living in PDX, I would most likely live in Seattle area, place like Federal Way or Tacoma for example.
BTW, I don't live in Portland proper, I live just outside of it, within 10-minute drive to the downtown. Thus I enjoy the city attractions without the city problems..

Seattle is a great, world-class city, the fact that I think Portland is a little better does not diminish Seattle in any way.

If you want to see cities that suck, go to, let's see, starting with the upper-right corner of US and going clock-wise...(very long list, and then we need to visit the center of the country as well.. :-)

[mrslovettstailor]

Originally Posted by jm31828

I was just going to say the same thing! I have never understood the hype over Portland. I mean all the hip people and "stuff" going on there sure, I can see that- but it is not a very visually appealing city. Whenever my wife and I go down there we just feel it's a bit more of a run down or dirty city compared to Seattle. Just a tad bit more shabby, not as flashy, so to speak. So how can someone from down there think the suburban areas of Seattle are ugly? Most are very, very nice- I moved here not long ago after having lived in many other cities and having visited a large number of major cities in the country, and none are as nice looking in both the urban and suburban areas as Seattle.

Agree!! I have not been to Portland yet, but I have been looking at the sites doing research just as I was for moving to Seattle. After the pics I found I can honestly say I think it has a much more run-down feel. It really looks like a smaller metro-area in some of the more run-down Midwest cities. It looks A LOT like Flint actually **shudder** I don't know if people consider Seattle or Portland more hip and really I don't care, what matters to me is the beauty or lack-there-of of the place I am going to live. I have been to cities bigger than Portland or Seattle and I can honestly say that Seattle is by far the prettiest. The views are knock out, it has done a lot to preserve the natural greenery as much as possible and aside from the highway you have to take to the suburbs (though there is still a lot of green to look at) the suburbs are beautifully laid out. Seattle is much more visually appealing IMHO.

[mrslovettstailor]

Originally Posted by Andy Patrizio

I recall an episode of 'Man v. Food' where Adam went to Portland and he talked about the downtown scene and how it had a "grunge scene that never really went away," or something to that effect. All I know is any state that won't let me pump my own gas is a little too dictatorial for me.

Love it!

[rmkiefer07]

Originally Posted by mrslovettstailor

Agree!! I have not been to Portland yet, but I have been looking at the sites doing research just as I was for moving to Seattle. After the pics I found I can honestly say I think it has a much more run-down feel. It really looks like a smaller metro-area in some of the more run-down Midwest cities. It looks A LOT like Flint actually **shudder** I don't know if people consider Seattle or Portland more hip and really I don't care, what matters to me is the beauty or lack-there-of of the place I am going to live. I have been to cities bigger than Portland or Seattle and I can honestly say that Seattle is by far the prettiest. The views are knock out, it has done a lot to preserve the natural greenery as much as possible and aside from the highway you have to take to the suburbs (though there is still a lot of green to look at) the suburbs are beautifully laid out. Seattle is much more visually appealing IMHO.

Uh...really? I lived in Flint, and by my estimation Portland looks nothing like Flint. With all due respect, I think that statement is over the top, particularly if one has never been.

I do agree that aesthetically, Seattle is more visually appealing. But Portland is stunning in it's own right. I was just down in Roseburg Oregon week before last and driving home through PDX I saw Mt Hood and Mt St Helens - breathtaking is the only way to describe it. I just don't understand what appears to me to be a one sided rivalry.

[mrslovettstailor]

Originally Posted by rmkiefer07

Uh...really? I lived in Flint, and by my estimation Portland looks nothing like Flint. With all due respect, I think that statement is over the top, particularly if one has never been.

I do agree that aesthetically, Seattle is more visually appealing. But Portland is stunning in it's own right. I was just down in Roseburg Oregon week before last and driving home through PDX I saw Mt Hood and Mt St Helens - breathtaking is the only way to describe it. I just don't understand what appears to me to be a one sided rivalry.

I am from Michigan btw. Have worked in Flint and Detroit. I am not talking about the seriously run down areas of Flint I am just saying in general that is how it looks and feels to me from all of the pictures they show of the neighborhoods on rental sites, google and walkscore. If there was something more appealing to show I think these sites would show it?

[rmkiefer07]

Originally Posted by mrslovettstailor

I am from Michigan btw. Have worked in Flint and Detroit. I am not talking about the seriously run down areas of Flint I am just saying in general that is how it looks and feels to me from all of the pictures they show of the neighborhoods on rental sites, google and walkscore. If there was something more appealing to show I think these sites would show it?

As I have been to both cities, my perception is different. I googled some pictures of PDX and think I understand why you may draw the parallel. However, I'm sure we can agree that photos rarely capture the true sense of place. But I digress.

Having just returned from Brookings and Roseburg, it seemed that "Seattle Sucks" propaganda item is more a Portland thing than a Oregon thing. BTW, this Seattleite, while happy to be home, had a great time in Oregon and look forward to my next trip in a few months.