Neighborhood:
Division & Clinton Kid sister to Hawthorne, the Clinton/Division neighborhood brings a quieter and distinctively homegrown vibe to its several pods of commerce, all dedicated to local shopping and eating. (read more) At the intersection of Southeast Division Street and 12th Avenue, Motokitty + Modified (1117 SE Division St., 234-7044, www.motokitty.net) slings handmade, super-cool bags, clothes and jewelry. Farther up Division, a handful of acclaimed restaurants are clustered: Nuestra Cocina (2135 SE Division St., 232-2135, nuestra-cocina.com) dishes out fresh plates from central Mexico; the ever-popular Lauro Kitchen (3377 SE Division St., 239-7000, laurokitchen.com) serves up Mediterranean fare; and Pok Pok (3226 SE Division St., 232-1387, pokpokpdx.com) is a step up from Portland’s ubiquitous Thai joints, beloved for its authentic Thai street food. One block south of Division is Southeast Clinton Street, a bustling strip thick with bars and restaurants. Every Saturday, catch a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St., 238-8899, clintonsttheater.com), then grab a beer across the street at Dots Cafe (2521 SE Clinton St., 235-0203), a charmingly grungy Portland watering hole (beware its creepy clown paintings). Hungry? Try a Swedish cheese and meat plate at the Swedish Broder Cafe (2508 SE Clinton St., 736-3333, brodercafe.com), or binge like a Packers fan on the Savoy Tavern & Bistro’s (2500 SE Clinton St., 808-9999) deep-fried cheese curds. —Laura Shinn
Featured in Dish Review
The Powell’s of coffee shops, Stumptown put Portland coffee on the map. They roast actual beans at the original store on Southeast Division. Its second store, on prime Southeast Belmont real estate, gets plenty of foot traffic. Downtown’s lofty space boasts a DJ and more magazines and bike messengers than you can shake a steam wand at. Finally, the newest Annex spot, two doors down from the Belmont cafe, is primarily a retail space for buying beans and sampling the goods by the cup. [Wi-Fi]
