Portland Recommendations (2022)

https://bissellbrothers.com/location/portland/#releases

 

Thought this was an interesting piece in Vine Pair https://vinepair.com/articles/portland-bar-scene-locals-lose-out/

 

This is a pretty common topic of discussion up here. Affordable housing is certainly a problem here, as it is in many places. Living in a cool place to live is always going to be expensive. I’m not quite sure what the solution is.

 

Yeah, I feel it's less of a Portland problem and more of an overall problem (which is really what you stated above, so I'm just repeating).

The median cost for a house right now in Greater Boston (defined as before the Cape, to Worcester, up through southern NH, likely Manchester/Nashua...so basically all of eastern MA) is ~650K.

It was estimated you need to make $180K/year to afford that. The median salary for that area is $93K...so if you're not a couple buying a home, you're renting.

So looks like you'd need to rent in most cases, which depending on certain variables (are you by yourself, how nice is the place, are you living with multiple people, what city/town) can actually be affordable.


This is my long way of saying, I think Portland will be able to find people to work in establishments. It's definitely a problem, but it's always been a problem in popular areas with a great dining/social scene. Just look at Somerville back in say, 2008 compared to now.

 

Just fyi, Swish is their late-Fall to early-Spring so we won't see that until...October(?).

I think what stood out to me more than anything was the sheer amount of non-full time housing. That is to say, there's a ton of vacation houses/AirBnB which is kind of a harder thing to do in the Boston area since it is SO expensive. I guess you shouldn't expect anything different in a state that markets itself as Vacationland, but it sucks for the people who actually live there or need to find housing that is affordable. I like staying in AirBnBs for the location and charm but I've beene reconsidering it due to all of the negative effects it has been having on areas.

 

Yup, most of this checks out. Portsmouth where we live is insane right now for housing costs. Rent has also gone up quite a bit. But then again, you’re not always going to live where you work. I am glad we bought our home in town. But worked very hard and saved to do so. So it is shitty when people complain and act like you have to be some trust fund baby or elitist and dismiss you, or worse, get angry you own in the city here. My reaction is, you can as well. And I had to work my way up living in other areas over years to do it. I also cared more about music, surfing and skating in high school over grades. So I had to work to get into a college and find my way, while paying for it. But I did it. I also know I can’t currently own a home on the water on Cable way in Rye. But someone worked for it and does deserve it. Just as some folks who may work in town at the restaurants may need to live a few towns over with better prices. Where you live isn’t a right. You have to earn your way into places. Same as I can’t afford a house in the Beverly Hills.

Portland is amazing and there is housing for all. It is increasingly more expensive but there are towns around there that are cheaper. I do think at times there are people who just expect the world with 1/4 the effort. Some of which I know. For sure not everyone, but I know some characters that do. I think kindness to a server or host or cook and cleaner can go a long way. That person may be working that job, while also maintaining a home and kids and be in college to buy that home. I know I was looked down upon working in a snowboard shop years ago while I was paying for my first two years of school towards my bachelors and it was tough. Unless you come at me overly rude I just assume be kind and understanding.

Anyways now I’m jonesing Novare!

 

Yeah that statistic that 72% of homes are “recreational” also jumped out at me as something that couldn’t possibly be true, and it isn’t. According to Google, 72% of currently vacant homes are vacation homes, not of all homes. Important distinction that the article misstated. But the author is correct that there is not enough housing stock here, and Air BnBs are certainly part of that.

On the flip side though, people coming here to stay in hotels and Air BnBs are why so many great restaurants and bars can survive. There aren’t enough full time locals to support all of the hospitality jobs. It’s a tough catch-22. And the irony isn’t lost on me that someone who moved here 4 years ago to work in Portland’s already thriving hospitality industry is complaining about too many people coming here to patronize that industry for her to find an affordable place in the city.

 

Also something that's a problem everywhere.

 

Hoping to score that barrell aged stout at Bissell this weekend (maybe tomorrow evening)

 

You talking about Age of Light? It’s good but not as good as I hoped. Their last few BA releases before this were better I thought.

 

While you can't get Swish right now, Trillium is releasing their collab with Bissell called Swishium if you can make it into Boston.

 

(or Canton, if you're coming up I95)

 

yes did see their post and hope it’s still available during our trip. I’ll be in Portland 7/7-7/9 and Boston 7/10-7/12 we’ll have both greenway and fort point about 1/2 mile away from where we’re staying, pretty stoked!

 

Love Baharat - best Middle Eastern food in the city, unique cocktails, and always a short but well-curated taplist. Steps away from all the beer places in East Bayside or up on Washington. Wonder why Liquid Riot gets no love - creative menu of small plates, on-site distillery offerings and cocktails (their bierschnapps is amazing!) and the house beers are varied and quite good. Awesome deck out back hanging out over the wharf. Novare is my go-to beer stop, but LR is where I go for a meal & more. Then walk up to Gelato Fiasco for dessert!

 

Thanks for the endorsement! Visiting for the first time next week and Liquid Riot is one of the planned stops!

 

Went to Bissell on Sunday and it was very chill. I must have Tree House PTSD, and just assume every good brewery will be mobbed on a weekend/holiday weekend

 

Sorry if this has been answered(didn’t see it the last few pages), but any breweries especially dog friendly around Portland? We got another rescue about two months ago and he’s been great at the breweries around greater Boston. Being north of the city, Portland is an easy day trip for us if we want to take him somewhere new. Thanks!

 

Read through this entire thread, so informative! I'm having a dilemma, so maybe some fellow BA's can help out.

I'll be in the Portland area for the first time with my wife and 6 year old. We're staying in OOB for 3 days early week (Sun-Wed) before heading to Nova Scotia. I'm looking to head to some of must visit places for some take away and maybe a lunch and/or early dinner spot for one day (Mon or Tues). What would you do? 50/50 shot the wife and kid might come with me into Portland, or they might stay at the beach depending on weather.

 

The real question is which ones aren't. I can only think of Bissell Brothers. Can't recall seeing a dog on the patio there. The ones that are especially dog friendly are Austin Street, Belleflower, Allagash and Oxbow where I've seen so many dogs at each of those. Wouldn't recommend Goodfire as patio is small.

 

Some of us here have mentioned Liquid Riot, but yes, it isn’t quite as hyped. It does have a nice area out back on the water, which is unique for Portland breweries, as far as I know.