Portland - Oregon - includes related article

Sunset, August, 1994 by Steve Lorton, Bonnie Henderson

PARKS IN THE 'HOODS

For many Portlanders, the heart of the city's 10,000-acre park system isn't in one or two big parks, but in the green oases scattered among neighborhoods. Readers are especially sweet on these three.

Laurelhurst Park, at S.E. 39th Avenue and Stark Street. Bring the kids (and a bag of popcorn) to romp on the playground and feed the ducks in the pond.

Willamette Park, off S.W. Macadam Avenue. Launch a boat, toss a Frisbee, bat a softball, or just spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy the river views.

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, at S.E. 28th Avenue and Woodstock Boulevard. Visit in late spring for the blooms, in summer for the gracefully landscaped grounds, and in winter to watch wild birds on Crystal Springs Lake.

RAINY DAY PORTLAND

There's a reason why Portland is so green and mossy: it rains a lot. Even in August, a thick layer of clouds can roll in, the temperature drop, and a day-long drizzle begin. But Portlanders take it in stride. They know there are plenty of indoor retreats where they can while away on hour or several when the weather turns wet and gloomy. Here are three of the best.

Just look at the sparkling brass door handles on downtown buildings and you'll start to sense how much Portland loves and nurtures its history. And it's especially apparent in the Oregon History Center (1200 S.W. Park Avenue; 503/222-1741), the Oregon Historical Society's home on the east side of the South Park Blocks. Housed in a building that incorporates the 1922 Sovereign Hotel (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), the center has five floors of exhibit, library, and office space. At the entry on the park side of the building, you're greeted by two murals that run the height of the building; one depicts the Lewis and Clark party, the other the Oregon Trail.

Spend time with the permanent exhibits. In Land of Promise, Land of Plenty, you'll see how small the covered wagons were that carried settlers over the Oregon Trail. And look for the horse cruppers, a handsome piece of Nez Perce equestrian regalia made of hide with blue and red trade cloth and beads.

In addition to being a repository for historical records and objects, the center has changing exhibits, many exploring how various segments of the culture have affected Oregon history. Women, African Americans, Asians, and Jews have all been subjects of extensive shows. Others, such as the current exhibit, Home Front: Oregon in WW II, deal with the state's not-so-distant past.

The Oregon History Center is open 10 to 4:45 Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4:45 Sundays. Admission is $4.50, with discounts for seniors, students, and children.

No trip to Portland is complete without a pilgrimage to aptly named Powell's City of Books (1005 W. Burnside Street; 228-4651). It's a bibliophile's nirvana. Get a map at the main desk to guide you through the 43,000 square feet of rooms containing a half-million titles. The whole place is redolent of the scent of old paper, leather, and scholarly dust.