PORTLAND, OREGON
Saturday night need a shot of fun? Date night need a boost?
Part of what makes Portland such a great place is its variety of neighborhoods and activities. 10ClosestFriends hosts evenings of fun, food, and drinks in specific neighborhoods that have historic significance and some outstanding places to visit. Experience it for yourself with one of our Nights on the Town.
Chinatown Takeover
Old Town Chinatown was once the heart of a very important and vibrant community in Portland, but over the years, the Asian community slowly moved or has been moved out of the city core to the Jade District on the east side of town. In spite of this decline, the original Chinatown still offers some of the best authentic food in the Northwest along with plenty of unique and interesting cultural highlights.
We will get to know the neighborhood through visits to three establishments that offer some of the best food and drink in the area while having some good old-fashioned fun.
To kick off our Chinatown Takeover, we will gather at our first location for cocktails and appetizers. Our first stop offers some history and ambience as well as a great selection of specialty drinks and delicious small bites.
After our pre-function, we'll walk together through Old Chinatown to a hidden culinary gem for dinner. You won’t find your favorites from Panda Express here. This is a truly authentic experience for a native Chinese audience served “family style” at big round tables with a lazy Susan in the middle. We have worked out some vegetarian options, but have limitations on being able to accommodate other food challenges.
After dinner, we enjoy a short walk to our final scheduled destination for good music, good fun, and sweet treats. Then who knows what might happen? Our Chinatown Takeover is scheduled as a 3-hour evening from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm, but people often like to keep going, because once the fun starts it’s hard to stop and we always have ideas for one or two more places to experience.
Albina Beat
Once upon a time, Albina was its own city, the heart of a thriving African American community. Time passed, things changed, and Albina was incorporated into Portland, later falling into disrepair for years. As locals who grew up in the area, we know firsthand how depressed it was during the late '70s, '80s, and early '90s. Then things changed again, when the neighborhood became the target of urban redevelopment, aka gentrification. Despite the implications of gentrification, the result hasn't been all bad. Many of the problems with crime and drugs have been overcome and the name Albina no longer carries the stigma it once did. And for those who know how to find them, the area offers a number of gems off the beaten path to eat and drink. Discover the heart of the old neighborhood through this unique Albina Beat Experience.
Custom Local Tours
As native Portlanders, we can create a custom evening out for you and your group. We will work with you to discover what you're interested in and what you want to see, then we’ll work our magic and captivate you with a great night out.
PENDING EXPERIENCES
Rooftop Bar Hop (seasonal)
PDX Dive Bar Crawl
Camping (seasonal)