You had me at "Put a Bird On It"

photo cred: oakposters.com

Most people have that place that they fantasize about traveling to.  For surfers, it might be Pipeline, Hawaii.  For the novelist, it could be a secluded getaway in the mountains.  For my mom, it's any and every HGTV Dream Home.  For me, it has always been New York City.  And while I still think about moving there after I graduate, I'm starting to consider the possibility that Portland might just be a better fit.  Really.  In no particular order, here's why.

1.  Voodoo donuts.  The magic is in the hole!!!  No, seriously.  That is their slogan, exclamation points and all.  I mean, how much more intrigue does one need?  Despite the fact that I don't even really love donuts, I am convinced that whatever Voodoo has to offer might be life changing.  Raised yeast doughnut with chocolate frosting, rice crispies, and peanut butter?  It's my food porn fantasy.

2.  Powell's City of Books.  If you know me, you know that I am a full-blown booknerd.  In other words, I like books more than you.  On more than one occasion, I have fallen for a man only to realize post-haze that he was entirely fictional.  Powell's City of Books is to me what the Harry Potter Theme Park is to wizards and weirdos.  It is the largest independent bookstore in the world.  That gets me excited.  Almost as excited as...

3.  Coffee.  People don't really seem to appreciate coffee in southern California.  Does anyone drink it black anymore?  Jeeeeez.  The place is littered with coffee wimps and Starbucks (which btw doesn't really count as legitimate coffee).  From what I have heard, the coffee culture in Portland is different.  It's special.  Appreciated.  Listen, I am a certified coffee addict.  My people are in Portland.

4.  Weirdos.  I miss the people-watching that came so naturally in San Francisco.  Simply walking from Powell Street down to Market was an entertaining experience.  On my daily walk to school, I would pass a juggler, a handful of flirtatious homeless men, and a street "performer."  But I want more.  If Portland is anything like IFC's Portlandia (and from what I hear, it really is), then I am ready.  I would love nothing more than to sit my bum at an outdoor coffee shop and pretend to read while watching all the Fred Armisen's walk by.

5.  This quiz on Buzzfeed told me so.  AND Portland was recently named Best City in America by the real-estate company Movoto.  Boom.

Is there a downtown district full of high-rises that I can get lost in?  Yes.
Are the people ridiculously more interesting than the suburbanites of OC?  That's what I hear.
Is Mt. Hood nearby if I want to fall on my ass snowboarding?  Yep.
Is it a hot spot for the indie bands I love so much?  For sure.
Are there, like, a LOT of bridges?  Absofreakinlutely.
Alright, that settles it.  I'm in love with a city I've never been.
 I wanna be...where the hipsters are. *read in Little Mermaid song voice*

xx,

E