#Belmont is the bomb…
Tucked between SE Stark St., at the southern end of Laurelhurst Park, and SE Hawthorne Blvd., the bohemian mecca, this quirky thoroughfare has a lot going on, https://www.belmontdistrict.org/, stretching from the Central Eastside Industrial Area, cutting through Buckman and Sunnyside, heading up to the northern edge of Mt. Tabor Park, this fab road offers a wide range of food, activities and vibes. At spots reminiscent of the famed #Haight Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco and at others full on #Portlandia, there are also plenty of signs of slick modern urbanisation. Watch the video!
Lower Belmont
Hop off the streetcar at the west end of the strip and meander east. Discover the gourmet, family owned grocery, Market of Choice, the Portland outpost of the Tokyo-based Afuri Izakaya, grab a brew at Modern Times Beer and continue on your way.
If you have a curly top, get a Deva Curl haircut at Venus Allure Salon and Spa and play some ping pong at Pips and Bounce, which is right behind the uber-hip Grand Central Bowling alley. Take your time to stroll and window shop, or grab an orange Bike Town bicycle and keep exploring. There are so many cool places to check out. Around the corner from Crush Bar is Farm Spirit, a top notch, hyper locally sourced, vegan eatery (don’t miss their new baby, Fermenter, on SE Morrison).
Central Belmont
The heart of the Belmont District is from about 30th to 35th Avenues, which is home to some Portland favorites: Pied Cow Coffee House, Dick’s Kitchen, The Sweet Hereafter, Circa 33, The Tao of Tea and the virtually top secret dining experience at Khun Pic’s Bahn Thai, as well as the Korean market, HMart, plus many other delights. This section also features a food cart pod, Electric Castle’s Wonderland Arcade, the Avalon movie theater and the Historic Belmont Firehouse Museum.
If it is the holiday season, don’t miss a quick detour along Peacock Lane, just east of Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. to view the quaint English style homes in their full holiday regalia. There is plenty more in the upper Belmont area: coffee, more food carts (house-made vegan ricotta at Dinger’s Deli!) and griddle your own pancakes at Slappy Cakes. You and your cat and dog family members will appreciate the posh environment at Mt. Tabor Veterinary Care, with its overstuffed furniture and tea selections.
Upper Belmont
Belmont is home to some unusual things: PDX Commons Cohousing for seniors, Flipside handmade hat shop, Tabor Space (coffee house and community center) and the treasured Movie Madness Video rental, home to a historied collection of original film costumes and props on full display.
At the eastern end of your adventure, the acclaimed restaurant, Coquine, sits above Mt. Tabor Park, sprawling on an extinct volcano.
Whether you live in Portland, or are just passing through, this area has so much to offer. Grab a quick meal, or, make it your home. The housing options range from architecturally significant century homes to ultra contemporary condos. Prices range from about $250,000-approximately $1,000,000. #LoveWhereYouLive