Hey, I know... I'm early. But - I'm a planner! I am heading out to Portland in December for a work conference. I will arrive at about 8:00pm on Sunday, and head out again at about 7:00am on the following Saturday. My conference runs from 8:30-4:00 each day, but I want to squeeze in (somewhere!) a little bit of the City.

The hotel is on SW 6th & Taylor. Okay - here are some questions:
  • Any really good (strong!) coffee shops near the hotel for my early morning buzz?
  • Any really good (sorry, no Applebee's or Burger King need apply), relatively quick places I should go for lunch? Again, near the hotel would be best!
  • (This might sound familiar) Any really good places to go for dinner? Not necessarily close to the hotel, but public transportation / walking distance best. I'm a small-town Yankee, so I always like the places I don't find around here. Ethnic food is great!
  • Are there any areas of the city that I should avoid? I may be alone... and, given the conference schedule and the time of year, it looks like I will be wandering around after dark.
  • Any museums/shops/favorite things I should try not to miss?


Any advice you could offer would be fantastic! Thanks!