This is also the town where I was able to come out without fear of a beat down. Having moved there from the East Coast I quickly learned the joys of coffee, micro beer and salmon. Life was good and to escape the rainy drudgery people complained about just took a tank of gas and a quick glance at Doppler Radar. I initially lived off NW 23rd before relocating to larger digs on the other side of the Willamette River in close proximity to the Rose Quarter. Gus Van Sant had a house overlooking downtown and daily sightings of extras from 'My Own Private Idaho' or 'Drugstore Cowboy' made you feel cool. Thrift stores were full of vintage Pendleton wool shirts for a buck and Starbucks was second choice to Coffee People. We were far enough from Seattle to be safely tucked away from grunge saturation and close enough to San Francisco to be progressively driven. It was the perfect home to have with little money, an open mind and an artistic heart. Living in Portland, Oregon during the 1990's was the right place at the right time.
