Posted in Portland
July 26, 2017
8 Things Longtime Portlanders Wish They Could Tell Newcomers
Portland is new for many of you out there, but as longtime residents know, Portland is a city like many others. Sure, we have one of the most beautiful landscapes, great food, wonderful people, and a thriving arts scene. But just like many other cities, we have our share of ups and downs. If you are new to the City of Roses, here are 8 things you should know.
You may have heard otherwise, but Portlanders are really not that weird. For the most part, we are just regular people trying to work and live.
Collectively as a city, we freak out over snow. Life shuts down and we hibernate when more than an inch of snow falls. And don't try to change it. It may not be like that where you came from, but that is how we roll here.
While it may seem like the rain will never stop in the spring, we actually get a lot less rain than many cities in the US. And come summer, we are all sun.
We have some serious traffic jams in the city, and oftentimes traffic is held up because we are just too polite to take the right of way. A four-way stop sign intersection is prime ground for the very Portland indecision.
Portlanders have a long history of protests dating back to the longshoreman's strike in the 1930s. While protests have been ongoing since the most recent election, this is nothing new here and will surely continue.
Help us keep the roads moving along by taking some of your traffic to the bus, train, or streetcar. Our public transportation has come a long way and you can get all around town with less stress on Trimet.
We are serious about the environment in Portland, and recycling is a big part of it. Make sure you separate your garbage, food scraps and recyclables and you will fit right in.
Now that you are a resident, you must know that Voodoo Donuts is for tourists. Why wait in line there when you can hit up Blue Star, Pip's or Coco's for awesome donuts without the wait.
Anything else you would tell Portland newcomers? Feel free to share below.