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"  Woman&amp;#039;s Day cleaning and organizing columnist Arianne Cohen, 29, had been thinking of leaving hectic, congested New York City for laid-back Portland, Oregon for a while. But after &amp;quot;the sofa incident&amp;quot; nearly two years ago, she knew it was time to go. &amp;quot;I just wanted to get a loveseat delivered to my apartment,&amp;quot; she says. Instead she got a $175 ticket when the delivery truck blocked traffic\u2014for 5 minutes! &amp;quot;It turned into a huge production, which things tend to be when you live in New York City.&amp;quot; So she packed up her stuff and headed west. &amp;quot;Portland is an easy place to live,&amp;quot; Arianne says. &amp;quot;Many people bike everywhere, even if they own cars.&amp;quot; And her list of favorite hangouts is growing almost as fast as her love for her adopted hometown.   1. For an amazing view of the city: Portland Aerial Tram &amp;quot;Commuters take it to and from work, but the tram is also a fun way for visitors to see downtown,&amp;quot; says Arianne. The tram runs every 6 to 10 minutes between the South Waterfront and Marquam Hill districts. For just $4 roundtrip (kids 6 and under ride free), you&amp;#039;ll get stunning panoramic views of Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and the Willamette River.   2. If you&amp;#039;re looking for tasty cheap eats: Tin Shed  &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s my favorite casual eatery in Portland,&amp;quot; says Arianne, who often goes during happy hour more for the food than the drinks. &amp;quot;Small plates are just $3 to $5 each from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. I love the Berry Garcia quesadilla.&amp;quot; When the weather warms up, there&amp;#039;s live music and movie showings on the patio.   3. Not your typical dinner and a movie: Kennedy School  &amp;quot;Driving up to this elementary school turned hotel/entertainment destination feels like going to a parent-teacher conference,&amp;quot; jokes Arianne. Kids&amp;#039; artwork lines the hallway walls. The cafeteria is now a restaurant. Classrooms have been transformed into hotel rooms\u2014with the chalkboards intact. The auditorium is now a movie theater. There&amp;#039;s even a pool-size hot tub. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s all fantastically trippy!&amp;quot;   4. Best place to relax: Breitenbush Hot Springs Set within a 154-acre wildlife sanctuary, this is the place to soak in natural hot springs, enjoy a massage, reflect in one of the meditation rooms and walk a stone labyrinth. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s relaxation, Oregon-style,&amp;quot; says Arianne, who typically follows her soaks with an outdoor nap surrounded by forest and the soothing sounds of the river. Day passes are $14.   5. When you want to indulge a sweet tooth: Tonalli&amp;#039;s Donuts &amp;amp;amp; Cream &amp;quot;You don&amp;#039;t come to this old-school doughnut shop on NE Alberta Street for ambiance,&amp;quot; says Arianne. &amp;quot;You come for sinfully good treats.&amp;quot; Crave doughnuts? Get a bear claw. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s bigger than your hand! And the layers of glaze are delicious.&amp;quot; If ice cream is your addiction, try &amp;quot;birthday cake&amp;quot;\u2014vanilla ice cream mixed with neon-colored candy bits. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s like eating kids&amp;#039; breakfast cereal in ice cream form.&amp;quot;   6. Cool place to hear live music: Crystal Ballroom  Opened in 1914 as a traditional dance hall, this charming space now showcases bands of all genres. &amp;quot;Watching a performance here is such an intimate experience,&amp;quot; says Arianne. &amp;quot;Since it&amp;#039;s standing-only on the main floor, come early to snag one of the few dozen seats in the balcony.&amp;quot; And talk about atmosphere: With elaborate murals, two multicolored period chandeliers and ornate moldings, the ballroom&amp;#039;s refurbished decor is almost as riveting as its shows.   7. For a true portland experience: Spend an afternoon at Powell&amp;#039;s City of Books  &amp;quot;Portland is a huge reading town,&amp;quot; says Arianne. No wonder this flagship indie bookstore, a Portland landmark, takes up an entire city block. It&amp;#039;s so big that store maps are available at the front desk. Inside you&amp;#039;ll find four floors filled with roughly a million books. &amp;quot;You can lose yourself browsing here,&amp;quot; says Arianne. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s a funky, home-grown kind of hangout where people sit anywhere\u2014in a corner, on the floor\u2014and read for hours.&amp;quot;   8. A Cool Neighborhood to Check Out: Hawthorne  You may think you&amp;#039;ve been transported back to the &amp;#039;60s after spending some time in this low-key, bohemian community. &amp;quot;Hawthorne was the center of hippiedom years ago, and it has the same vibe today,&amp;quot; says Arianne. Wander down Hawthorne Boulevard between 30th and 40th Avenues and browse the thrift stores, vintage clothing boutiques, eclectic record shops and more. Then stop at one of the many funky coffeehouses for a cup of Stumptown coffee, an independent roast made in Portland and a local favorite.   9. Best Place to Shop: Portland Saturday Market Whatever you&amp;#039;re looking for, you&amp;#039;re bound to find it at this huge outdoor market and crafts fair located in Waterfront Park in historic Old Town. In operation since 1974, it&amp;#039;s the largest open-air crafts market in continuous operation in the U.S. &amp;quot;Every Saturday and Sunday from March 6 to December 24, more than 300 local artisans come here to sell handmade items at really low prices,&amp;quot; says Arianne. &amp;quot;You&amp;#039;ll find pottery, knitwear, jewelry, candles, sculptures, even stuff for your pet. And the food!&amp;quot; Take your pick from dozens of food booths serving everything from pizza and BBQ to pierogies and spring rolls. There&amp;#039;s also live music and kids&amp;#039; activities such as crafts, juggling and a puppet theatre. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/travel-tips/tips/a5227/a-womans-day-in-portland-oregon-112314/>