Mama, I remembered a couple of other Portland Goodies...
Kornblatt's on NW 23rd is a New York Jewish deli that was mysteriously transported to Portland by UFO back in the '60s. Rather than going to the trouble and expense of getting everything back to the Big Apple, Kornblatt's just stayed put, which is a good thing for all of us.
I swear that some of the wait people must commute everyday from the Brooklyn to Kornblatt's. One time I asked a waiter for advice about some Portland attractions, so he called for the patrons' attention and solcited suggestions from the locals. That sort of thing never happens in a Dennys.
On a nice day the small tables on the sidewalk are great for people-watching, but since the sidewalks are narrow you are really in the midst of the street life...
NW 23rd is part Sausalito, part Carmel, part any other trendy town you can think of, for better or worse. Fortunately, there is still enough diversity and characters to give the street life. How long that lasts is anybody's guess, as real estate continues to go up in Northwest. So Get It While You Can. I mean the experience, not real estate.
Also on NW 23rd is a GREAT store called Music Millenium
http://www.musicmillennium.com/ Zillions of recordings (maybe every box set every released...) and the place sponsors free shows by musicians right in the store. A lot of folks putting on concerts in Portland stop by at MM. The best (and basically only) seats are those in the little "living room" right in front of the stage, which is maybe a foot high.
Mayo
Author of "Portland Through The Trapdoor"