SHOPPING SPREE IN PORTLAND!

Get this - there's no sales tax, there's plenty of savings to be found and the thrill of the hunt - priceless!

By Laura Schulte
For Oregon.com

If you think Portland's perfect summer weather is its best-kept secret, you have not heard about this city's shopping scene. No sales tax, numerous one-of-a-kind boutiques and three major retail areas within a mile or so of each other. That means buying what you need or just really, really want is easy and duty-free.

Start Downtown to find department stores, a well-appointed urban mall and independent purveyors of everything from Italian-tailored suits to British combat boots. Head north across West Burnside Street to the Pearl District, where galleries, restaurants and chic boutiques are replacing warehouses in the blink of an eye. Then go up hill ten blocks to stroll NW 23rd Avenue, an authentic neighborhood main street known for great people watching and high-end merchandise.

Shop 'til you have to drop into one of the cafés, microbreweries or artisan bakeries that line the city's streets. Then, if you still have time, venture further afield, to Portland's big-name outlets.

Going to Town: Fancy Duds, Shoes and Suits
In spite of Portlanders' reputation for casual dress, several shops cater to more sophisticated tastes. For men's and women's styles from Paris boutiques and Milan runways visit Mario's at 833 SW Broadway. Or stop in at 735 SW Park, home to the Mercantile, the well-heeled woman's best bet for everything from jeans to little black dresses.

Speaking of heels, Nordstrom Rack at 401 SW Morrison St., is bargain basement shopping at its best, especially for the shoe lovers among you. If you prefer fine service and a complete range of sizes, just walk three blocks up Morrison to Nordstrom's full-line store at 701 SW Broadway.

If you seem to have time to hit the stores only during vacations, Pioneer Place, a three-block urban mall centered at SW 4th and Yamhill, is very convenient. Here you can shop tax-free at all of your mall favorites, a well as at upscale shops like Coach, Tiffany & Company, BCBG and Saks 5th Ave.

Sportswear and Adventure Gear
Oregonians love the outdoors in spite of the weather. Gert Boyle created her Columbia Sportswear line of rain/snow/sleet/hail-resistant clothing to keep her grown son warm and dry on his outdoor adventures in the Pacific Northwest. More fleece than the worst wet season could ever require is available at the 911 SW Broadway flagship store.

Sports lover or not, visit NIKETOWN at 930 SW 6th Ave. It is just plain cool to say you have been to the store to set a new standard in retail design. Plus you'll see the latest styles from Oregon's homegrown sports apparel giant.

So Hip it Hurts
In a city where outdoor adventurers live side by side with counter-culture night owls, the retail landscape is eclectic. If you do the club scene (or at least have the body for it) Lit at 214 SW 8th Ave. has the curve and bulge hugging styles to show off your assets.

At the clunkier, chunkier end of the style spectrum, Dr. Martens' only US retail store at 616 SW Broadway has the boot for you whether you are into Punk, Ska or Grunge.

Smile-makers for Young and Old
Finding gifts to bring home is a cinch in Portland. All of the berry jams, smoked salmon, Pendleton wools, candied hazelnuts and award-winning wines stocked at Made in Oregon, 921 SW Morrison, make great souvenirs or presents on your return. For one-of-a-kind gifts, The Real Mother Goose at 901 SW Yamhill exhibits artist-made furniture, jewelry, clothing and more.

For the children in your life, try Finnegan's Toys, 922 SW Yamhill, a proudly independent toy store from a bygone era where shelves packed with quality puppets, puzzles, baby dolls and more reach to the ceiling. Have no fear, the staff is very friendly and helpful despite their "disgruntled youth" fashion statements.

For a sampler of Portland subcultures and handicrafts, join hippies, families, vagabond jugglers, accomplished street musicians and talented artisans at the open-air Portland Saturday Market held every Saturday and Sunday from March through Christmas Eve, rain or shine under the Burnside Bridge at 1st Ave.

Discovering the Pearl: Books & Music
At 1005 W. Burnside, the gateway to the Pearl District, you will find Powell's City of Books, a Portland institution and one of the largest independent bookstores in the country. Grab a map as you enter the "city" so you can find your way out of this multi-building mega-store. But take your time. Browsing is encouraged at Powell's and an on-site café provides caffeine, cookies and a comfortable place to read.

In the surrounding blocks you'll discover some of Portland's best music markets. Ozone at 701 E. Burnside pulses with music best heard loud - hip hop, rap and metal. At 1313 W. Burnside EM (Everyday Music) has thousands of new and used CDs and extensive store hours.

Taking it to Extremes, Outdoors and In
At the new REI store at NW14th Avenue and Johnson Street, a 27-foot climbing wall and several equipment demo stations let you try before you buy. Or, just rent what you need to explore Oregon's wilderness. Knowledgeable staff help outfit you and throw in local trekking tips for free.

In extreme cases, when size does matter, Oddball Shoes fits the bill. Specializing in men's sizes 12-25, the selection at 1639 NW Marshall is as good as it gets for the style saavy Big Foot. For extremely trendy shoes and denim in more common sizes, Diesel USA Incorporated, 30 NW 12th Ave., showcases the UK's hip line of jeans and more.

Fashion Forward Finds
For more restrained taste, Aubergine, 1100 NW Glisan, offers high-style yet fun fashions from Germany, France and Italy for real women, i.e. sizes 4-14. At Hanna Andersson, the Portland-based mail-order clothing company, comfort rules the wardrobe. The retail store at 327 NW 10th Ave. stocks comfy cottony basics for kids and moms, and even has a Brio play area for toddlers.

Need something special for the ultra-stylish home? Peruse the smart knick-knacks, gadgets and linens at Relish, a small storefront at 433 NW 10th. On a larger scale is Design Within Reach at 1200 NW Everett. Furniture fit for a modern art museum - or a groovy Pearl District penthouse - is displayed throughout a 12,000-square-foot loft space.

For that fashion-minded pooch stop in at Urban Fauna at 235 NW Park Ave., a high-concept pet department store that caters to non-human urban dwellers. Lay in a supply of rhinestone-studded kitty collars, bliss out watching exotic fish in the aquarium room, or watch the playmates in the doggie day care as you lap up a latté from the Barking Bistro espresso cart.

Shopping the Avenue: Spoil Them While You Can
For irresistible children's clothes stop in at Duck Duck Goose, 517 NW 23rd, the exclusive boutique for the under-12 set. Grandmas beware! Here you'll find darling tutus and baby bundlers as well as Euro-chic brands like Mini Man, Catamini and Petit Bateau.

Pop into Child's Play down the street at 906 NW 23rd Ave. for cool, Barbie-free toys. Wend your way through aisles packed with Playmobile Sets, Groovy Girls, art supplies, science kits and so much more. For the older child hit Exit Real World, 206 NW 23rd. Ave., where owners and staff take skateboarding style seriously.

To spoil yourself, check out Portland's own Music Millennium, 801 NW 23rd Ave., a tremendously well-stocked independent music store. Browse through thousands of CDs, including pop, rock, classical and those hard to find groups. With luck you will catch one of the many live performances scheduled throughout the year.

Northwest Couture
Many unique women's boutiques on NW 23rd are proving Northwest Couture is not an oxymoron! Mimi & Lena (823 NW 23rd), Michelle DeCourcy (820 NW 23rd), Elizabeth Street (635 NW 23rd) and Lena Medoyeff Studio (724 NW 23rd) are creating a new chic for the maturing Gen-Xer.

Shop Till You Drop, Then Drop in Here …
After all that shopping, you deserve a treat from Moonstruck Chocolate Café, 526 NW 23rd Ave. Choose from gorgeous bon-bons oozing with liquors or generous mugs brimming with super-rich hot cocoa. If the liquors interest you more than the chocolate, make an appointment for a tasting at their place of origin, Clear Creek Distillery, 1430 NW 23rd, which specializes in spirits made from Oregon apples, pears and berries.

Get Out To The Outlets
Venture beyond the grid system of downtown to find bargains from Portland-based retailers.

The Columbia Sportswear Outlet at 1323 SE Tacoma in the Sellwood neighborhood and the Nike Factory Store at 2650 NE Martin Luther King Blvd. are dedicated to offering day-old designs at appetizing prices. Adidas, also headquartered in Portland, has a retail store at 5020 NE Martin Luther King Blvd. which often carries deeply discounted merchandise. And finally, the Hanna Andersson Outlet Store, located at 7 Monroe Parkway in Lake Oswego, promises great deals for parents motivated to make the drive.