Things to Do in Hawthorne District, Portland

Atmosphere

Equal parts thrift store treasure hunt and backyard barbecue where everyone's slightly stoned and arguing about which food cart has the best fried chicken.

Price Level

$$

Safety

good

Powell's Books on Hawthorne

The smaller, more intimate sibling of downtown's behemoth, where floorboards creak under foot and the smell of yellowing paper fills the narrow aisles. Purple-haired clerks hand-write recommendations on index cards taped to the shelves.

Tip: Head straight to the back room's 50-cent racks - locals donate here daily, so treasures appear by the hour

Mount Tabor Park

An extinct volcano rising behind the district where pine needles crunch underfoot and the city spreads out below like spilled Legos. Evening joggers pound past while the sunset paints Mt. Hood sherbet orange.

Tip: Climb the east stairs at dusk when the reservoir reflects the sky and teenagers smoke clandestine joints behind the water towers

Hawthorne Theatre

A red-velvet relic where the bass thumps through your chest and spilled beer makes the floor stick in rhythmic patches. The walls sweat during punk shows while aging rockers sip Rainier in the smoking patio.

Tip: Buy tickets at the door for weeknight shows - weekend scalpers jack prices up to triple face value

Bagdad Theater and Pub

McMenamins' 1927 movie palace with Middle Eastern fantasies painted across vaulted ceilings and waiters who serve pizza to your cracked leather seat. The projector hum mingles with clinking pint glasses.

Tip: Tuesday classics screen at 7pm sharp - arrive 30 minutes early for the best balcony seats under the starscape ceiling

Hawthorne Asylum Food Carts

A gravel lot ringed by Airstream trailers where smoke from Korean barbecue mingles with the sweet perfume of Belgian waffle batter. Picnic tables wobble under the weight of loaded fries and mason jar cocktails.

Tip: The Thai cart with the broken neon 'A' serves drunken noodles that'll clear your sinuses - cash only, no exceptions

Apizza Scholls

New Haven-style pizzeria

Specialty: The Apizza Amore with pepperoni cups crisped into tiny grease chalices ($18)

Lardo

Sandwich shop with beer bar

Specialty: Pork belly gyro with cucumber yogurt and crispy fries stuffed inside ($14)

Chez Machin

French crêperie in a converted house

Specialty: Crêpe complet with ham, egg, and gruyère, served on mismatched vintage plates ($11)

Cartopia Food Cart Pod

Late-night food cart collective

Specialty: Whiffies fried pies filled with marionberry and cardamom ($6)

Zell's Cafe

German-American breakfast joint

Specialty: Dutch baby pancake puffed like a golden UFO, served with lemon wedges ($13)

Bar of the Gods

A basement dive where metalheads and philosophy majors share pitchers of Hamm's under Christmas lights year-round. The jukebox leans heavy on Bowie and Motorhead.

Grungy, cheap, unpretentious

Velo Cult

Bike shop by day, craft beer bar by night, with mechanics drinking IPAs alongside spandex-clad cyclists. The wood-paneled walls display vintage Schwinn ads.

Gearhead hangout, 30 taps

Space Room

A time-warp 1960s lounge with blacklight murals of the cosmos and bartenders who've been mixing the same drinks since the moon landing. The booths still have cigarette burns from the smoking days.

Retro, slightly seedy, well-known