As a destination, Portland is best known for being calm, idyllic, and very, very, very green. Though it's not a swarming metropole, it has, for years, also enjoyed a reputation for being a major culture hub in the Northwest.

What the city lacks in grit and grime it makes up for with a music scene to rival that of Seattle and San Francisco. Just ask the likes of The Dandy Warhols, The Decemberists, and The Shins, all of whom have ties to Portland. In other words, it's a lot more rock 'n' roll than the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden lets on. ]]> Heidi Atwal 2009-09-03T14:06:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/31/103312/660

What do you call it when a bunch of pirates get together? Well, call it this fall's Portland Pirate Festival, which needs your help setting a world recARRRRRd for the most fully dressed pirates in one location.

The salty sea dogs will board Cathedral Park September 19th and 20th for two days of kraken riding, sea chanteys and grog. Watch an exhibition of Samoan fire knife dancing or pirate belly-dancing (which we must see to believe), or play a role-playing game called Pirates of the Cursed Seas. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the gate ($6/$8 for children under 12). ]]> egw 2009-08-31T12:24:43-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/15/93559/9536

Dave Chappelle in Portland

Our favorite comedian before he abruptly left the public eye, Dave Chappelle, is apparently still crazy but this time, his crazy actions benefited thousands of folks who crowded Pioneer Square in Portland, Oregon to see him do a sort of flash mob stand-up routine after rumors lit up Facebook and the Twitterwaves.

The comedian, who suddenly dropped out of a lucrative $50 million contract for his Comedy Central sketch show and the comedy scene altogether, stepped on stage just after midnight and performed for nearly 90 minutes.

From the Oregonian:

Chappelle seemed surprised by the scene.

"This has never happened in my entire career," he said, to a huge cheer. "I'm grateful everybody came out."

Chappelle did squeeze in some comedy. He compared one guy working on the sound system to Scotty from Star Trek, and took an OPB reporter's microphone and said, "Support Oregon Public Broadcasting." At one point, a woman and two men atop Starbucks began stripping as Chappelle gaped and the crowd cheered and jeered.

By 2 a.m., it was clear the sound system wouldn't go, and Chappelle wound things down. He thanked the crowd and shared a few things he learned, including: "Don't tell a secret in Portland."

]]> juliana 2009-07-15T09:47:39-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/14/73714/5828

If you were busy watching last night’s Home Run Derby, the contest to see which big leaguer was able hit the most dingers, then tonight you'll be similarly glued to the tube when the All-Stars try to impress their fellow players and fans. This year, however, we say give some love for the AAA All-Stars. They are trying their best to make the jump to the majors, so their game will be even better because they want it so badly. Also, their team nicknames are far more amusing than those in the majors—Isotopes, anyone?

The 2009 Cricket Wireless AAA All-Star Game will be held in Portland at PGE Park tomorrow night, July 15. Future stars from the International League and Pacific Cost League will face off against one another in a friendly little competition. Many current big leaguers were all-stars during their time in the minors, so make sure you stay after the game to score some autographs to sell on eBay. ]]> kjb 2009-07-14T14:09:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/26/10844/2484

Chicago has its street dog vendors. DC has jumbo slice. New York has Pommes Frites. Every half-decent drinking town has that one late-night, greasy, calorie-ridden eating option that any sane, sober person would avoid like the plague, but at 2 a.m. after a particularly arduous bar crawl, sounds like the very best idea in the world.

In Portland, Oregon, that option is doughnuts. Specifically, VooDoo Doughnut, a tiny, 24-7 downtown bakery outfitted with a disco ball and quirky duct tape mural, where a rowdy line inevitably starts forming once the bars start closing.

These hot, freshly baked treats could probably have attracted a following just by keeping it simple, and indeed, their basic frosted chocolate doughnuts rank up there with the best. But what keeps the late-night crowds streaming in here are the much, much crazier options, including doughnuts covered in oddball toppings of the day, from mini-marshmallows to Lucky Charms to bacon strips.

Are you going to feel good about eating a bacon-covered doughnut the next morning? Absolutely not, but that's hardly the point.

Related Stories:
· Voodoo Doughnut [Official Site]
· Get Dat Donut [Jaunted]
· Do-Nuts So Old School, They Won't Drop the Hyphen [Jaunted]

[Photo: kimberly marie lawson] ]]> BS 2009-05-26T13:27:01-05:00 45.5227210 -122.67320 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/6/12173/41204

When Travel Portland launched its associated Twitter account, it added a little something longer than 140 characters -- a mission statement:

If what you’re doing is planning a trip to Portland — or just looking for cool places and happenings around town — you should follow Travel Portland. We share tips on making the most of this city we love, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro.