Take the MAX Light Rail system or the downtown streetcar (from $1.75; 503/238-7433) to avoid the hassle of city parking.
SHOP
Fabric in the City Such gorgeous quilts, you’ll want to go home and sew a few of your own. Find ribbon-tied packets of squares arranged in every possible shade. A good selection of fabric by the yard too. INFO: Closed Sun; 1034 S.W. Taylor St.; 503/224-0320.
The Button Emporium & Ribbonry Drawers and vials brim with buttons, including whimsical ladybugs, glassy pinup girls, and bright red stop signs. INFO: Closed Sun-Mon; 914 S.W. 11th Ave.; 503/228-6372.
Josephine’s Dry Goods The 31-year-old institution carries a great selection of cottons, lace, silks, and wool. INFO: 521 S.W. 11th Ave.; 503/224-4202.
Knit Purl Cubbies crammed with some of the top yarns on the market, plus beautiful completed projects, patterns, kits, and books. INFO: 1101 S.W. Alder St.; 503/227-2999.
The Playful Needle An ode to all things embroidery. Find floss, hand-painted needlepoint canvases, and cross-stitch charts of all shapes and sizes. INFO: Closed Mon; 1103 S.W. Alder St.; 503/235-1636.
Let It Bead An impressive assortment of glass, semiprecious stone, and vintage beads, as well as artisanal jewelry. INFO: At presstime, the store was moving; see letitbeadportland.com or call 503/228-1882 for new location.
EAT
Southpark Seafood Grill & Wine Bar A perfect spot on a drizzly winter day. Cozy up to the wine bar for oysters and bubbly, or settle into an oversize booth for Mediterranean-inspired seafood made with local ingredients. INFO: $$; 901 S.W. Salmon St.; 503/326-1300.
DON’T MISS
The eye-catching exterior of the Central Library (801 S.W. 10th Ave.; 503/988-5123), a 1913 Georgian revival whose friezes are engraved with the names of notable authors, playwrights, and architects. Inside, browse 17 miles of bookshelves spread over three light-filled floors, each connected by a grand, artfully carved granite staircase. The Collins Gallery hosts rotating art exhibits, while the children’s section is distinguished by an intricate, 14-foot-high bronze tree.
