Clothing, furniture, food and, of course, beer! The Rose City is home to thousands of creative artists and artisans, making it one of the Pacific Northwest’s favorite shopping destinations. Many of these artists show off their wares at the great markets you’ll find around the city. Last weekend I visited three to get a jump on my Christmas shopping list.
Source: Go Mad Nomad
Portland Saturday Market
As the nation’s largest continually running arts and crafts market, the Portland Saturday Market is full of long-time vendors and food carts that people return to year after year. From Ankeny Square to Waterfront in the Northwest District, you’ll find dozens of tent stall shops bursting with beautiful handmade clothing, jewelry, and home décor.
I found these stylish hats to be a perfect gift for my niece
and a cute teacup birdfeeder for her mom.
The food carts are equally satisfying. Choose from American standards, like barbeque and Elephant Ears, or try something new, like Ethiopian or Nepalese. My go-to favorite is the pierogi plate at Taste of Poland.
Bands play throughout the weekend and a fountain is a great hangout for kids during the summer. Head to Old Town early in the morning if you want to get ahead of the crowds at this busy market. Portland Saturday Market is open every weekend from March to Christmas Eve (10am-5pm on Saturday and 11am to 4:30pm on Sunday).
Portland Night Market
You can keep shopping long after the sun sets at the Portland Night Market. Located on Alder Street in the Central Eastside’s Industrial District, this after-hours market hosts a collection of Portland’s best arts, food and beverages craftspeople. It is a combination of inside and outside space, with food carts located in the adjoining parking lot.
Inside the warehouse, you’ll find imported goods, handmade gifts and unique reincarnations of classic seasonal treats, such as the Holiday Egg Nog Liqueur from Eastside Distilling. Many of the food vendors have beautifully presented gift baskets available, too.
Stop by Annie Pies for a sweet treat for yourself, or pick up a healthy and delicious tea blend from Mountain Mel’s.
One of my favorite gift ideas is a poem written especially for your loved one by the Typewriter Troubadour, Jeremy Brownlowe.
Don’t forget to try one of the scrumptious offerings at the food truck pod outside the warehouse. I fell in love with the Tilikum sandwich from PDX Sliders. It’s a buttermilk-fried chicken breast smeared with BBQ and aioli sauces, set on a bed of creamy slaw and sandwiched in a Ciabatta bun. So good!
Pine Street Market
Once you’ve got your shopping finished, treat yourself at Pine Street Market, Portland’s first food hall. Capitalizing on the city’s “foodie” frenzy, this upscale food court has brought together nine of the Rose City’s best chefs and purveyors.
In this fast casual setting, you’ll find tastes from every corner of the world, like Toro Bravo’s tapas bar Pollo Bravo and Kim Jong Smokehouse Korean BBQ. There are also Portland classics, like Salt and Straw’s soft serve ice cream at Wiz Bang Bar.
There’s much more yumminess to explore so go hungry. Pine Street Market is located at 2nd Avenue and Pine Street inside the historic Baggage & Carriage building. Doors open every day from 8am-10pm.
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