=Downtown Portland and Northwest 23rd Avenue have been the hippest, most famous places to shop, walk and eat in the Portland area — until now. Students can add the Pearl District to the list of urban destinations. Plush with restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and clothing shops, the Pearl’s list of places to go and things to see is rapidly growing.
The Pearl District extends from West Burnside Street to NW Naito Parkway and from NW Broadway to the Interstate 405 freeway. Anthropologie is one of the hottest women’s apparel and home décor stores in the area. With stores nationwide, the company recently opened its doors in Oregon on NW 11th Avenue and Couch Street, the heart of the Pearl District.
Located on the outskirts of the district, American Apparel is another new addition. On SW 12th Avenue and Stark Street, American Apparel is a sweatshop-free, 100 percent cotton manufacturing company with trendy and comfortable looks for cheap. The area also offers world- and nation-wide department stores such as REI, Patagonia, Adidas and Diesel.
With stores like these opening faster than shoppers can arrive, it’s no wonder the Pearl Districtis generating such hype. Portland resident and restaurant entrepreneur Art Fortuna says the planning for the Pearl District began about 20 years ago.
“I think it’s a great tribute to the fact that urban planning does in fact work,” he said.
The district also has its fair share of hip restaurants such as the BridgePort Brew Pub, PF Chang’s China Bistro and Hot Lips Pizza. What makes the Pearl stand out, however, is the novelty shops and cafes, which seem to be booming with business. Mio Gelato makes incredible Italian ice cream from scratch, Sungari Pearl has a romantic and trendy atmosphere with gourmet Chinese food and Oba! has incredible and contemporary Latin cuisine.

However, not all individuals agree that this district is so hip.
“I heard about it and thought it’d be a little more posh; the crowd seems to be a bit older,” said Portland State University student Megan Brizendine, who was visiting a friend at Pizza Schmizza, located on NW 10th Avenue and Glisan Street.
Brizendine did mention that she liked the older brick buildings and thought the area had a very nice old-town feel to it.
One of the area landmarks is the Go By Streetcar sign on NW 11th Avenue and Lovejoy Street. This design replica of the famous Go By Train sign at Portland’s Union Station sits atop a tall building. The streetcars, free to those traveling around Portland make the Pearl easily accessible. The seven air-conditioned cars run on a loop going from NW 23rd Avenue, through the Pearl district and on to PSU.
Many students visited this growing area during spring break, but there are still those who have yet to check out the dozens of art galleries, restaurants, cafes and specialty shops in the Pearl District. If you’re in the later group, it’s time to make the trip.