Shopping

Portland has no sales tax, making it a popular shopping destination for Washingtonians, who cross the Columbia River to avoid paying their state's substantial sales tax.

The Shopping Scene

The blocks around Pioneer Courthouse Square are the heartland of upscale shopping in Portland. It's here that you'll find Nordstrom, Macy's, NIKETOWN, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany, Pioneer Place shopping mall, and numerous upscale boutiques and shops.

However, Portland's hippest shopping districts are the Pearl District and Nob Hill/Northwest, both of which are in Northwest Portland. Most of the Pearl District's best shopping is along NW 10th and 11th avenues going north from West Burnside Street. Here you'll find all kinds of trendy boutiques, art galleries, and home-furnishing stores. The best Nob Hill shopping is along NW 23rd Avenue going north from West Burnside Street. Both neighborhoods have block after block of interesting, hip boutiques, and, along NW 23rd Avenue, a few national chains such as Gap, Urban Outfitters, and Pottery Barn.

For shops with a more down-to-earth, funky flavor, head out to the Hawthorne District, which is the city's counterculture shopping area (lots of tie-dye and imports).

Most small stores in Portland are open Monday through Saturday from 9 or 10am to 5 or 6pm. Shopping malls are usually open Monday through Friday from 9 or 10am to 9pm, Saturday from 9 or 10am to between 6 and 9pm, and Sunday from 11am until 6pm. Many department stores stay open past 6pm. Most art galleries and antiques stores are closed on Monday.

Shopping A to Z

Antiques -- The Sellwood/Westmoreland neighborhood (south of downtown at the east end of the Sellwood Bridge) is Portland's main antiques-shopping district, with about a dozen antiques shops and antiques malls along SE 13th Avenue and SE Milwaukie Avenue. With its old Victorian homes and 19th-century architecture, Sellwood and Westmoreland are the ideal setting for these shops. There are plenty of good restaurants in the area in case it turns into an all-day outing.

You'll also find three more large antiques malls (all under the same ownership) nearby on Milwaukie Avenue: Stars, at 6717 SE Milwaukie Ave. (tel. 503/235-9142; www.starsantique.com), and at 7027 SE Milwaukie Ave. (tel. 503/239-0346); and Stars & Splendid, 7030 SE Milwaukie Ave. (tel. 503/235-5990).

Art Galleries -- On the first Thursday of the month, galleries in downtown Portland schedule coordinated openings in the evening. Stroll from one gallery to the next, meeting artists and perhaps buying an original work of art. On the last Thursday of each month, galleries in the NE Alberta Street neighborhood stage a similar event. This latter event tends to attract a very culturally diverse crowd. To find NE Alberta Street, drive north from downtown Portland on I-5 and watch for the NE Alberta Street exit.

Books -- Major chain bookstores in Portland include Barnes & Noble, 1720 Jantzen Beach Center (tel. 503/283-2800; www.barnesandnoble.com), and Borders, 708 SW Third Ave. (tel. 503/220-5911; www.borders.com). For information on Portland's massive Powell's City of Books, see the box below.

The City of Books -- Portland's own Powell's City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside St. (tel. 800/878-7323 or 503/228-4651; www.powells.com), is the bookstore to end all bookstores. Powell's, which covers an entire city block three floors deep, claims to be the world's largest bookstore. At any given time, the store has roughly three-quarters of a million books on the shelves. Both new and used books are shelved side by side, which is why browsing is what Powell's is all about.

Once inside the store, be sure to pick up a store map, which will direct you to the color-coded rooms. Serious book collectors won't want to miss a visit to the Rare Book Room.

One warning: If you haven't got at least an hour of free time, enter at your own risk. It's so easy to lose track of time at Powell's that many customers miss meals and end up in the store's in-house cafe.

Believe it or not, City of Books is even bigger than what you see here; it has several satellite stores, including Powell's Technical Books, 33 NW Park Ave.; Powell's Books for Home and Garden, 3747 SE Hawthorne Blvd.; Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd.; and Powell's Books at PDX, Portland International Airport, 7000 NE Airport Way, Suite 2250.

Crafts -- Visit the Portland Saturday Market, which is a showcase for local crafts.

Food -- The Made in Oregon shops offer the best selection of local food products.

Gifts & Souvenirs -- For unique locally made souvenirs, your best bet is the Portland Saturday Market.

Jewelry -- For some of the most creative jewelry in Portland, visit Twist, the Hoffman Gallery, the Contemporary Crafts Gallery, and the Real Mother Goose.