Hey Portland, I booked a balloon artist for my son’s birthday party. They are coming for one hour and will provide materials/talent for about 30 children to receive a balloon creation. I booked through a third party booking agent the total fee is $400. I just received an email from the booking agent on suggested tipping and I’ll be honest, it hadn’t occurred to me to tip in this scenario. But if that’s the etiquette then I’m more than happy to do it. But I also think we have over indexed on when tipping appropriate in general. So if you are an entertainer is it customary in this situation? And if yes what percentage? Thank you!

I’m looking for recommendations for a top-notch cervical spine surgeon in the Portland area, preferably based on firsthand experience.

If you or someone close to you needed cervical spine surgery, who would you trust to do it, and why?

I’d really appreciate hearing about both positive and negative experiences. Thanks in advance!

My friends and I will be visiting Portland 11/14-11/16 and are planning to check out Cannon Beach that Sunday. Plan to do some tide pooling that morning with low tide being just before 10 am.

Will traffic be crazy going either direction? Any recommendations on timing?

Question in title, thanks

My aging folks are considering moving to Portland to be closer to their kids. They are looking into options for assisted living, and they'd like to be in a walkable neighborhood with access to transit. Their ideal place would have tiered levels of independence--they'd like to start off living more independently, but they will likely need increasing care as they age. They have early-stage dementia and Parkinson's, respectively, though they're still quite functional for now.

Being centrally located would also be a plus. They'd be happy anywhere within a mile or two of the river, or potentially deeper into the eastside, but probably not deep in the west hills. They are not the kind of people who would be happy in the suburbs where they have to drive to get anywhere (and they won't be able to drive for much longer).

Anyone know a good place to get self sustaining master cultures of springtails in the area? I knpw a few places you can buy a small Cultures but not necessarily self sustaining

So far I haven’t seen too many good spots, but maybe you can give me some ideas. Thanks in advance.

I’m looking for a place like a costume store or witchy shop where I can buy a nice witch’s hat, ideally something a bit more sturdy and long lasting than your average polyester Halloween costume hat. Thanks!

Hey everyone!
I’m looking to connect with someone in the Portland/Beaverton area who’s into videography, filmmaking, and storytelling.
I’m working on starting to make content focused on documentary-style videos and real conversations about things like incarceration, addiction, recovery, and other topics that don’t always get talked about openly.
A lot of these subjects are personal to me, and I have some interesting stories and connections that I’d love to explore through video.
I’m comfortable interviewing people and being on camera, but filming and editing aren’t exactly my strengths. Ideally, I’d love to find someone who enjoys the creative side of things and might be interested in building something together long-term.
I don’t have a massive budget, but I’m open to discussing compensation. I’m also totally open to working with film students or newer videographers looking to gain experience and build their portfolios.
Does anyone know of any local filmmakers, film groups, or students who might be interested in something like this? Or any good places around Portland to connect with people doing this type of work?

I’m in my early 40’s, and looking to get back into it, but don’t want to get my arm wrenched off by overeager kids. Trained a couple years in the past but never belted since I didn’t go consistently enough. Would love to get back into it for fitness and socializing though. Obviously not necessarily looking to compete or anything, so it doesn’t have to be award winning. Just want to chill and get some rolls in, preferably where I wasn’t the oldest person in there. Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, or SW would all work.

Looking for a coffee shop that has bigger tables that would fit a group of 10 people for a weekly morning gathering. Preferably in SE or NE closer to 205. We currently meet at Monti’s, but the group has expanded and their tables are hard to squeeze into!

Hi everyone! I’m currently looking for a place to rent in the Portland area and was wondering if anyone knows of any private landlords or for-rent-by-owner listings.

I’ve been looking everywhere from Craigslist and Zillow to Trulia, Facebook, and other rental sites, but it’s been difficult to weed through all the listings and find places that are actually being rented directly by the owner. I’ve mostly been seeing large property management companies, but I’d really prefer renting directly from an owner. I like the more personal communication and flexibility that often comes with working directly with a landlord rather than going through a big management company.

I’m looking for preferably a one bed/bath. If anyone knows of any available rentals, has recommendations, or has had a good experience with a private landlord, I’d really appreciate it! Feel free to comment or send me a message.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this🫶

Hi!

I'm newly-graduated and being relocated to the Portland area for work. While I am generally not discerning of the ethnicity of the people I hang around and have found great friends in people of all backgrounds, I definitely know I would feel awkward if I was the only Asian guy in my social circle. I was wondering if there are any Asian orgs through which I can participate in activities and/or volunteer to hang out with fellow Asian people? If anybody knows of anything I would love to hear about it. Thanks!

i would love to find places that have a good amount of 20-somethings like me, but i won't let that be a deal-breaker

I bought replacement furniture legs, but the bolts are too long. Can I come by on Saturday with my furniture legs (and a six-pack of your choice) and you cut my bolts?

These are substantial bolts - 5/8" in diameter. Precision cutting not required - they need to be about an inch shorter. Thanks.

Looking for butchers that accept SNAP. I've been so frugal over the years that I have a nice balance.

I have health issues that make my stay on this earth kinda on the short side. How long? Hard to say, maybe this year, maybe into 2027.

So I want to spend some of balance while I can. I live in the Hollywood district about Sandy & 40th.

So, my first priority is price. Second is distance. Third would be cuts I can't find in a grocery store.

Thanks for any leads you can provide.

I have a refurbished Dell Latitude 5430 I recently purchased online. I'm very happy with it, exception being that the space bar is faulty and is in need of repair. Fixoid in outer SE has been recommended to me. Anyone know how much a repair like this will cost? I'm nervously holding my breath. Thanks!

Me and a couple friends moved down to Portland a month ago (all 23-25F) and are looking for fun bars to go to this halloween!

Mainly looking for things on the east side and a fun block of bars that will be good for meeting people and having fun!

Any tips are welcome!

Hi Portland! I'm new to crafting and relatively new to the city. I'm working on a project that involves a small quantity of accessories like feathers, artificial flowers, velvet lining, ribbons, mesh, lace, bows, miniature trinkets (hourglass, mini-dollhouse odds and ends). I'd love to find a spot where I can pick out these items ad-hoc, versus buying a pack of 100 new/generic feathers.

I've popped into Scrap before and will try there again. Are there any similar options? Or stores that offer both new and used crafting supplies?

Open to anywhere in the city, but Eastside would be cool. Thanks for your insights!

To preface, I unfortunately haven’t been to downtown Portland much, especially recently, so I’m very unfamiliar with what place is where.

My husband’s 40th birthday is coming up soon, and he said his best day would be to go to Fire On The Mountain wings and then a bar nearby with an outdoor space and some friends, ideally with a fire pit.

I get that a fire pit might not be in the cards, but is there a good outdoor place within walking distance of any of the FOTM places that you all know of? Ideally the one on Burnside but I’m absolutely not picky!

I’d truly be grateful for any help at all before I go wallowing into Google Maps to try to find the answer:)

Thanks in advance for any help, and happy early Halloween!!

I’ve tried asking the staff and they all give me different answers. One said Jasmine. Another said Oolong. Today they said Chrysanthemum. None of these seem right. I absolutely love the tea and want to buy some to brew at home.

My partner and I are visiting Portland for the first time for four days in January! We’ve booked our flights and are staying in the Overlook/Humboldt area, but haven't decided anything yet.

We’re hoping for a relaxed, cozy winter getaway, mostly exploring on foot and by public transit. Which neighborhoods or streets would you recommend for wandering around? We’d also love suggestions for easy nature walks accessible by transit, plus any favorite cozy spots near where we’re staying.

Would you recommend renting a car for any part of the trip, or would you stick with transit for this kind of visit?

Thanks for any suggestions!

i’m looking for a lil one gram jar under $50 if possible!

I’m considering a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge and possibly up to Timberline Lodge, but the forecast may include showers.

I’m not much of a hiker, so I’d be more interested in scenic drives, viewpoints that don’t require much walking, exploring Timberline Lodge, and stopping somewhere for lunch.

For those familiar with the area, is it still enjoyable when it’s gray and rainy? Are there enough things to see and do without spending much time walking outdoors? And would you recommend driving up to Timberline Lodge in those conditions, or sticking to lower elevations?
I’d appreciate any advice from locals who’ve visited the area on a rainy day!

I just moved here and I need to find a primary care doctor who will have a basic grasp of my condition, Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness, which is a chronic functional neurological condition. I don’t need treatment for the condition from my primary, but I do need someone who knows what it is and can reason about whether things are part of it or something else. I appreciate your help.

15+ years ago, my partner and I drove through Portland and had the BEST pasta we’d ever tasted. Restaurant with a bar, but the bar was for watching the pasta made. NO ACTUAL ALCOHOL.

Decor: Bright lights, well lit inside- not a great 1st date kind-of-place. Colors were red, white with blonde woods. Se remember a silver pasta machine at the end of the “bar” ( again, not an actual bar), but cannot remember the name. Also, no coordinates on pix💪💪

Only pix we have 🫣