Tag: #NeighborhoodVibe

RACHEL’S NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE: Buckman

Posted on by Rachel Schmerge
Buckman is one of the oldest neighborhoods on Portland’s east side, and arguably its most culinarily diverse. The western edge along MLK was once a working industrial corridor, full of warehouses and rail lines that fed the city’s early economy. As industry moved out, restaurants, roasters, and creatives moved in, lured by old warehouse buildings and the easy access to downtown. The residential interior is just as historic: the “Buckman Threes,” rows of near-identical homes built by small local developers in the early 1900s, sit alongside Victorian painted ladies, solid Foursquares, and Craftsman bungalows. The neighborhood runs from the Willamette River to SE 28th, and from Burnside south to Hawthorne.

Buckman has the energy of a neighborhood that’s deeply rooted and constantly surprising, where Portland’s food and arts scene come out to play. You can find James Beard-recognized chefs, experimental roasters, whiskey bars, and late-night karaoke within blocks of each other, while the tree-lined residential streets are quiet, walkable, and full of architectural charm. It’s a neighborhood that rewards the people who actually live there. Here are a few of my favorite spots to eat, drink, shop, and soak in all things Buckman.

Coffee & Cafes

Coava Coffee — 1300 SE Grand Ave
Coava’s flagship roastery in a stunning converted industrial space, with communal tables, a fireplace, and some of the city’s most precise single-origin espresso.

Exquisite Creatures Coffee — 537 SE Ash St #108
A hole-in-the-wall coffeeshop that’s entirely plant-based, with unique specialty drinks and charming decor.

Push x Pull Coffee — 821 SE Stark St
A neighborhood cafe with thoughtful pour-overs and espresso in a welcoming space near the heart of Buckman (and Living Room’s SE office!).

Good Coffee — 1150 SE 12th Ave
A bright, modern coffee shop with house-roasted coffee, seasonal drinks, and excellent pastries.

Water Avenue Coffee — 1028 SE Water Ave
Interesting single-origin roasts in a relaxed setting steps from the Eastbank Esplanade.

Restaurants

Kann — 548 SE Ash St
Chef Gregory Gourdet cooks Haitian cuisine with local PNW ingredients over a live-fire hearth, paired with impeccable service and presentation. Recent James Beard Award winner and one of the top-ranked restaurants in the US.

Le Pigeon — 738 E Burnside St
Chef Gabriel Rucker’s beloved French bistro and a Portland landmark for nearly two decades. Set in a cozy space with exposed brick and shared tables, this inventive, deeply satisfying cooking has won multiple awards.

Nong’s Khao Man Gai —609 SE Ankeny St
The brick-and-mortar home of Portland’s most beloved food cart, serving the same perfectly rendered Thai poached chicken and rice that launched a cult following and a sauce empire.

Nostrana — 1401 SE Morrison St
An Italian landmark. Chef Cathy Whims has been rewriting the menu every single day since 2005, built around seasonal produce and a glowing wood-fired oven. Their happy hour is one of Portland’s best-kept secrets.

Kachka — 960 SE 11th Ave
Soviet-era comfort food through a Pacific Northwest lens: house-infused vodkas, caviar toast at happy hour, pelmeni, and a warm, wonderfully kitschy dining room.

Afuri Izakaya — 923 SE 7th Ave
A Portland outpost of the celebrated Tokyo-born ramen chain, set in a soaring converted warehouse. The izakaya menu and cocktail list are worth exploring beyond the noodles.

Hat Yai — 605 SE Belmont St
Simple Thai fried chicken with scratch-made roti and Southern Thai-style curry has won hearts and awards.

Obon Shokudo — 720 SE Grand Ave
Vegan Japanese comfort food done beautifully, from a couple who spent years at farmers markets before opening this beloved brick-and-mortar. Known for onigiri, curry udon, okonomiyaki, and house-made miso and koji.

Lardo — 1212 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Sandwiches taken seriously, with slow-cooked meats, house-made condiments, and dirty fries that have their own devoted following.

Food Cart Pods

Hawthorne Asylum — 1080 SE Madison St
One of Portland’s best, with 20-plus carts, a firepit, and a sprawling courtyard near the historic site of Dr. Hawthorne’s original asylum. You can find Ethiopian to Egyptian to barbecue to brunch.

Cartopia — 1207 SE Hawthorne Blvd
A late-night favorite open until 3am on weekends, with wood-fired pizza, Latin chicken, bacon-honey-walnut crepes, and famous vegan poutine.

Wonderlove — 262 SE Main St
A newer addition and already a standout: a multi-level food cart pod and bar built from stacked shipping containers, with a rooftop patio, great skyline views, fire pits, live music, and a welcoming community vibe.

Bars & Nightlife

Scotch Lodge — 215 SE 9th Ave
An award-winning whiskey bar with a library-ladder wall of bottles, beautifully crafted cocktails, and a cozy speakeasy atmosphere.

Hey Love — 920 E Burnside St
An indoor tropical garden inside the Jupiter NEXT Hotel, winner of best hotel bar in North America. Tropically-inspired cocktails and slushies, weekend brunch, and genuinely good food make it a fun destination.

Rontoms — 600 E Burnside St
A midcentury-inspired neighborhood bar with a huge heated patio, ping-pong, and live music. A lower Burnside anchor loved for its easygoing energy and plentiful hipsters.

Rum Club — 720 SE Sandy Blvd
A “craft cocktail bar with a rum problem” on Portland Monthly’s best bars list. Dim lighting and a cute atmosphere with a cocktail menu that rewards adventurous drinkers.

Creepy’s — 627 SE Morrison St
Willamette Week calls it a “polished, nightmare carnival parlor.” The atmosphere is dim and kooky, with animatronic dolls, a portrait of John Quincy Adams, velvet paintings, pinball, and surprisingly good burgers.

The Vern — 2622 SE Belmont St
A dive bar with a cult following, named for the “Tavern” sign outside that lost its first two letters to a passing truck decades ago. Big red booths, a fire pit, pinball machines, hand-smoked chicken wings, and a roomy back patio make it a local fave.

Honarable Mention: Trio Lounge – ask me about the lore

Arts & Entertainment

Revolution Hall — 1300 SE Stark St
A concert venue and event space converted from a historic high school auditorium, with a rooftop bar and one of Portland’s most distinctive settings for live music and events.

The Get Down — 680 SE 6th Ave
An intimate venue for hip-hop and jazz, with a great sound system and a warm, community-focused atmosphere.

Hopscotch — 1020 SE 10th Ave
An immersive, collaborative art experience inside a renovated industrial building. Family-friendly during the day, with select adult-only evenings.

Voicebox Karaoke — 734 SE 6th Ave
Private-room karaoke with soundproof suites, sake cocktails, and tater tot nachos.

Holocene — 1001 SE Morrison St
One of Portland’s oldest independent music and dance venues, with live acts on weeknights and DJ dance parties on weekends in a converted warehouse space.

Shopping

Rejuvenation Hardware — 1100 SE Grand Ave
Portland-based architectural hardware and lighting brand with a national reputation. Its heirloom-quality furniture and lighting are built to last. The SE Grand flagship gallery is a joy to walk through, and don’t miss the sale and seconds section.

Cargo — 81 SE Yamhill St
A sprawling, colorful marketplace of globally sourced goods, textiles, ceramics, toys, furniture, and curiosities from Asia, South America, and beyond. A personal favorite.

Hippo Hardware — 1040 E Burnside St
A delightfully scrappy architectural salvage treasure trove: vintage hardware, lighting, toilets, and fixtures for old homes and curious collectors.

Memory Den — 499 SE 2nd St
A vintage and antique mall with dozens of vendors offering one-of-a-kind furniture, art, and collectibles.

Lounge Lizard — 1426 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Vintage furniture, retro lighting, and unique housewares. A Hawthorne classic for reasonably priced mid-century and retro home goods.

Next Adventure — 426 SE Grand Ave
A Portland institution with two floors of new and used gear, from backpacking to paddling to skiing. The bargain basement always delivers.

Parks & Recreation

Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery — 629 SE 26th Ave
Portland’s oldest cemetery and a lovely green space, with hundreds of heritage trees, birds, and the graves of many of Portland’s earliest residents. Guided tours available; the annual Halloween event sells out fast.

Colonel Summers Park — SE 20th & Belmont
A beloved community park with basketball courts, a baseball diamond, summer movie nights, and a community garden.

Grand Central Bowling — 808 SE Morrison St
Classic bowling with B-movie projections, arcade games, and a retro atmosphere that makes for a fun night out.

 

Thinking About Buying in Buckman?

Buckman is one of those rare neighborhoods where you can walk to some of the best restaurants in the country, cross a bridge to downtown, and come home to a street lined with century-old homes. It’s an ideal first stop in Portland and a hard neighborhood to leave. If you’re ready to make a move, I’d love to help you find the right home here. Drop me a message to get started or check out my Instagram for more local tips!

 

Finding Your Perfect Portland Neighborhood

Posted on by Will Sing

Setting out on the homebuying journey is a bit like diving into a new adventure. It’s exciting, a little nerve-wracking, but ultimately, it’s about discovering that special place you’ll call home. When it comes to finding your spot in Portland, the neighborhood you pick is a huge part of your story. Let’s walk through the real factors that’ll help you find that perfect Portland neighborhood that just feels right.

Planning Your Future Think about where you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years. Most folks stay in their homes for about 8 years, so it’s not just about today, but where you’ll be down the road. Will the neighborhood grow with you, offering the right schools and community vibes for your future self?

Neighborhood Feel Portland’s neighborhoods each have their own unique flavor. Do you see yourself in the lively streets of the east side, buzzing with cafes and culture? Or maybe in a quieter, leafy suburb where you’ve got room to breathe and grow? Take a walk, soak it all in, and find the place that feels like it’s singing your tune.

Getting Around Your daily commute matters. Whether it’s a slow grind from Vancouver to Hillsboro or a quick zip to the office, think about how each trip will fit into your life. A smooth commute can turn a good day into a great one.

Schools and Learning Great schools are the heart of a strong community. Whether you’ve got kiddos or are thinking about resale value, dive into the school scene. Sites like greatschools.org and Niche.com can be helpful to get a better idea of the school districts, but take them with a grain of salt and consider how they score schools.

Feeling Safe and Sound Everyone wants to feel safe and cozy in their neighborhood. Use tools like Neighborhood Scout and Portland Maps to get the lay of the land on safety. It’s about finding that secure spot where you can relax and be yourself.

What’s Nearby? Life’s easier when you’ve got what you need close by. Think about how close you want to be to groceries, parks, hospitals, or even your family and friends. It’s all about crafting that perfect blend of convenience and comfort.

Peeking into the Future What’s on the horizon for your potential neighborhood? That open lot might turn into a park, or a new cafe might be brewing up. Keep an eye on what’s coming – it can add a whole new layer of awesome to your home.

In Summary, Consider:

  • Long-Term Plans: Will the neighborhood fit your future?
  • Neighborhood Vibe: Does it match your lifestyle and energy?
  • Commute: How will traveling to work or places you love fit into your life?
  • Schools: What’s the quality of local education?
  • Safety: Do you feel secure and comfortable?
  • Amenities: Are the conveniences and joys of life within reach?
  • Future Developments: What changes might be on the way?

For more insights on finding your ideal neighborhood, check out the full video here.

Thinking about turning the page on this exciting chapter? I’m just a call or an email away. Reach out at 503-303-0822 or hello@agentlivinginpdx.com, and let’s start this journey together. Your ideal Portland neighborhood is out there, ready to be the setting for many happy chapters ahead.

4 Weeks from Hair Cut to Closing: Congrats Makayla and Chancelor!

Posted on by Lita Batho

Recently, I was getting my hair cut, listening to a story my hair stylist had been telling me for a couple years: she LOVES her neighborhood.  She owns a home with her husband that is a bit small, but they can’t imagine leaving the area and felt priced out. On this day, she was even talking about consulting an architect to build a second level onto their single story house.

Just three days later, my hair whisperer called to say they were on their way to an open house, “to check it out”.  It was love at first step.  The 117 year old home had original leaded glass, wood floors, remodeled bathrooms and kitchen, and a front porch with roses creeping over the railing.  I looked through the listing details and spoke with the listing agent to determine what offer terms would be meaningful to the sellers.  I also put together a report of recently sold comparable homes to determine price, and worked with my buyers’ lender to be sure we were putting together a plan to succeed. My buyers weren’t the only ones who loved the house: by Sunday afternoon there was an offer deadline, and we ultimately competed against three other offers.

Less than 36 hours after the open house, I made a phone call a bit past my own bedtime to share the good news that the offer had been accepted! With a short timeline to closing, we got to work on inspections–which are no joke with a vintage house–and spent the week meeting with additional specialists and obtaining assessments and estimates.

I had the good fortune to be working with my skilled colleague Kim Parmon as the listing agent on this home purchase.  It’s gratifying as an agent to work with someone equally skilled and committed on the other side. This helped us quickly find solutions that satisfied both the buyers and the sellers. In addition, our team at Root Mortgage and First American Title went the extra mile to bring everything together, including overcoming last minute challenges.

Today, exactly four weeks after my hair cut, we closed on their ‘dream house’.  On this rainy fall evening, my buyers unlocked the door for the first time to begin a new era in the neighborhood they love, with the bigger, character-filled home they didn’t think was within reach.

Congratulations, Makayla and Chancelor!!