( Sunset ) -- The old warehouses of Portland 's Pearl District are home to increasingly cool cultural diversions . Spend a weekend browsing the neighborhood 's art galleries , snack on a pumpkin-pie cupcake and enjoy dinner and a show . The Gerding Theater at the Armory has been transformed after its $ 36 million eco-renovation . Take it home . If prices in the Pearl 's posh galleries put a damper on your holiday gift giving , head to the Pacific Northwest College of Art for its annual student-art sale . Future famous artists sell surprisingly sophisticated gifts reflecting their fields of study : one-of-a-kind monotypes and screen-printed cards , jewelry with semiprecious stones , gorgeous oil paintings and thought-provoking metal sculptures . Catch a show . The once-vacant , castlelike Gerding Theater at the Armory has been transformed after its $ 36 million eco-renovation . For people-watching , sip wine in the loft overlooking the lobby , then settle in for Portland Center Stage 's one-man play `` R. Buckminster Fuller : The History ( and Mystery ) of the Universe . '' Sunset.com : Life in the Pearl . One-stop gallery hop . Who cares if it 's raining when you have the DeSoto Building/Museum of Contemporary Craft -- four fine art galleries and an innovative museum under one roof ? Hit the museum 's Holiday Shoppe ( December 3-January 4 ) for funky felt rings and handcrafted ornaments . Great Pearl eats . Wild rice-smoked duck breast is steps from the Gerding Theater at Ten 01 . Or try Isabel ; we like the brown rice and tofu bowl with peanut sauce . Then there 's 50 Plates , a casual bistro serving all-American classics . Sunset.com : Green in Portland . A twist on pumpkin pie . Warm up for T-Day with a luscious pumpkin pie cupcake filled with pumpkin cream at Cupcake Jones , a grab-and-go bakery . ( Then place your order for Thanksgiving dessert . ) WANT MORE ENTERTAINMENT ? ( Portland 's got it ) For budding theater buffs . Kids will eat up the juicy Oregon Children 's Theatre production of Roald Dahl 's classic `` James and the Giant Peach , '' while you 'll get a kick out of the high-flying special effects and dry humor . For small-stage premieres . See classics and local playwrights ' works on one of Artists Repertory Theatre 's two intimate stages . Get some comic relief during the hectic holidays with Marc Acito and C.S . Witcomb 's `` Holidazed , '' a humorous look at modern families coping with old-fashioned Christmas traditions . For indie-film fans . The Northwest Film Center presents themed series , retrospectives and annual film festivals . The Portland International Film Festival , held in February , features nearly 100 films from more than 30 countries . Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright 2004-2008 Sunset magazine . All rights reserved .
Check out Pacific Northwest College of Art 's annual student art sale . Settle in to watch a play at the renovated Gerding Theater at the Armory . Stop for dinner at 50 Plates , a casual bistro serving all-American classics .