h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My Niece, (from scotland), is visiting Portland as we speak, and e-mailed me to say that the weather is in the 80s just now. I told her to get out of the rays, and check out the mall(s). Is there anywhere else I should tell her to visit / see etc ???

Breweries (if she's over 21). Portland has tons of local microbreweries, with tons of varieties of beer. Henry Weinhard's is a good first stop.

She is and she thanks you....Hic !

Glad to be of service. I visited there myself for a week a couple of years ago. I had a wonderful time, or so my friends tell me...

Now she's in Canada, but will be back in Portland to see in the new Millenium. Any events I should be telling her about ???

Can't help you there, I'm afraid. I'd only ever spent a week in Portland, and I live many miles down the coast.

Who'da thought a simple suggestion to a fellow hitchhiker would have earned me a researcher credit?

*Note to self: try to be nice a little more often*

Now if only I could get credit for an entire article....

Well, the big Millenium party is going to be in Pioneer Courthouse Square. What is Pioneer Courthouse Square? Hmmm, this deserves to be in the guide!
Pioneer Courthouse Square is a one square block brick open area built in the 1980's from what used to be a parking lot. It is in the center of downtown Portland, and is sometimes called "Portland's Living Room" as it is a busy gathering place for people from all walks of life. During the Summer, there are regular concerts (one business sponsors a weekly lunchtime concert during the Summer months,) and other activities. During the winter, a large (20+ meter) Christmas tree and large menorah are raised to celebrate the holidays.
Pioneer Courthouse Square is named for the Pioneer Courthouse, which is across the street. It is the oldest courthouse in Oregon, dating back to the late 1800's. The Square is built on the site of Oregon's first public schoolhouse, which was demolished in the early twentieth century, and was a parking structure before the Portland City Council chose to make it a gathering place.

Pioneer Courthouse Square is also home to the Umbrella Man. It's a bronze statue of a man carrying an umbrella, running for the bus. Very realistic--once twice when i've been there, and it was crowded, i bumped into the statue and said "oh, excuse me" before i realized what it was....