Okay... some background. I moved to Portland from Chicago in September 2019. But instead of doing the full-on move where I sold my house and brought all my stuff with me, I elected to take a year as an extended trial run, working and living amongst Portlanders to see how I’d like it (turns out I love it!). I left my home and its contents in the care of close friends and only packed the car with what it could carry and for those 12 months (we are now at month 10), I chose to stay in different AirBNBs in different neighbourhoods (some for a few weeks, some for a few months) so I could see how it felt to live in those areas and to ultimately help me decide where I would want to settle when I do make the full, final move.
Kristin's place was AirBNB#4 in my one-year audition of the city. The pictures you see in the listing are 100% accurate and was perfect for the two-month stay I allotted for exploring living in the southeast quadrant of the city. It's a basement unit accessible by a set of stairs at the back of the house. The bed was firm and comfortable. Some nites would get a bit chilly, even during a heatwave, so extra blankets and a space heater are provided. The bathroom was clean and had a nice selection of towels. The kitchen is well appointed with everything I needed - a fridge, microwave, toaster, oven range, plates, pots, cooking utensils, silverware, dish towels, and even olive oil and seasonings. As a major convenient bonus, it also has a combo washer/dryer in the kitchen as well. In the living room, there's a comfortable couch for napping and an Apple TV hooked up to a flatscreen TV. There is ample coset space for clothes and luggage. My communications with Kristin and her husband, Colin, was very easy and they were always very responsive and respectful. The backyard is a nice, quiet space to sit and relax, especially at nite. (Of note, I moved in in early June, three months into the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of cleanliness, I felt very comfortable and satisfied that the space was cleaned to a good standard.)
Other bits of interest about the area: The house is conveniently located next to a community co-op grocery store (full of organic and natural food products). There's also a full-service New Seasons grocery store (a bit pricy) five blocks north of the house as well as a Target about eight blocks east of the house on Powell Blvd. One of my favourite places in the city that I've discovered is the Artichoke Community Music Center - an intimate music venue specializing in acoustic/folk/roots music - just around the corner from the house. It's a neat little place to see a show by up-and-coming folk and Americana singer/songwriters. (This was, of course, pre-COVID-19. It’s my hope things will improve so this place can host music again.)
And when it comes to food, the area that encompasses the Ladd's Addition and Richmond neighbourhoods has a bevy of outstanding choices. A few blocks east of the house on Division street is perhaps the best hidden gem for burger lovers: PDX Sliders serves THE BEST BURGER AND GARLIC FRIES EVER - come hungry and be prepared for the best food coma you've ever had! Also great are Kati Portland for Thai food, St. Honore Boulangeri for croissants, sandwiches and pastries, and Salt & Straw Ice Cream for their Chocolate Gooey Brownie! Thankfully, Mount Tabor Park is a good 45 minute walk (in both directions) so you can burn it all off... For a park that's a bit closer (about 25 minutes each way), try the smaller but just as nice Laurelhurst Park (an almost straight shot up SE 33rd Ave), which is also just a couple of blocks away from another one of my favourite places in the city - the Music Millenium record store. As a musician and music lover, I love digging around for new music (it's kinda like what Tower Records used to be).
There was always parking available in front of the house. To catch the MAX lite rail to go downtown, the Oregon Zoo/Washington Park, or PDX airport, there’s a station located at Clinton St. & SE 12th Ave, which takes about ten minutes to walk to from the house.
The takeaway - If you are looking for a comfortable place to call home for a while, this is the place. Tell Kristin & Colin that Dennis from Chicago sent you!