I was just here this week, sitting in a booth chatting it up with a friend.  The ambiance is spot on.. the bar is pretty classic and the service was good.  They have Ninkasi on tap wich always scores points and with 4 other IPAs behind the great total domination you can't go wrong.  The location is great for folks coming from close-in northeast.  Parking provided you get there late is easy...  no complaints..

The corner AJ sits on is pretty notorious, but if you are in Piedmont and need a good cup of joe this is the spot!  you can't miss it, its a giant purple building with parking, tons of seating and a clientele you know within seconds is as allegiant as they come.  The coffee is pretty good and the service that I had was great...  great for a quick pit stop if you are at the park or community center across the street!

I have worked with Gravitate on and off for years now.  I come back to them for one primary reason -- Cyndi Nguyen.  To put it simply, she is incredible at her job.  Her understanding of web design, user interface design and her creative direction is unparalleled in my opinion.  She has worked for 10 years to grow Gravitate with her partner Michael who is something of a jedi-knight when it comes to SEO.  If you have the opportunity to work with Cyndi your website will be better for it.  I trust her like a friend and couldn't put my website in better hands as the demands of the web continue to grow.

I wish I remembered O'Conners more often when I am in SW and looking to grab a bite.... the interior is great, outdoor seating on the deck is pretty epic and the food is solid.  Don't have any complaints about O'Conners...  I am actually making a note now to go back this week!

Thinker Toys is worth a stop if you are a parent, friend of a parent, grandparent, etc.. and are in SW Portland....  good toys, thoughtful toys... toys you don't find at Target...  isn't that enough to get you in the door? 

Nice new local album!  Have you heard it?  If so, share your thoughts! CPR and White Liars are pretty solid!

What is the verdict Portland?  I am lovin it so far.  Was supposed to come out tomorrow, but itunes is allowing the purchase tonight.  So far so GREAT!  Can't wait to see them at PDX pop now!  SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? FAVORITE TRACK?

If "street food" is synonomous with food carts then I wouldn't know where to start.  Moxie, the Grilled Cheese, Tabor.... Koi Fusion, the list is long!

Hey there rosieposie!  If safest by way of statistics were to be the recommendation then you would probably find the suburban neighborhoods of Lake Oswego to be among the safest.  However when you also say best that is a whole other ball of wax.  As a realtor of 8 years I can tell you what my favorite neighborhoods are, but I would need a lot more to go on... example: do you want to walk to coffee/grocer, do you want to be close to public transportation, do you want to ride your bike places easily, etc.  do you prefer a commuter neighborhood, urban vs. suburban.. the list is long.  Portland's neighborhoods are diverse and you can find different aspects of livability in each.  If you throw out some more details there will plenty of direction I or others can offer!  Thanks!

I noticed in a local publication that a particular burger wasn't on the list of Portland's best burgers.  It has caused me to create this inquiry with other Portlanders about their favorite burger?  For me,,, Toro Bravo has the best burger I have ever had, but for a heavy burger, fries and some suds another one comes to mind which I am interested to see if others comment on.