My plan is to spend two or three weeks in Portland at the end of the summer or beginning of fall, first exploring the neighborhoods and narrowing it down to some favorites, and then tramping around each neighborhood on foot, cell phone in hand to call likely-looking places that have For Rent signs out. That's how I found my unadvertised, owner-occupied building with rents below the norm for this part of Minneapolis.
When I lived in Portland, I subscribed to the Oregon Symphony, the Oregon Ballet, the Portland Opera, and Artists' Repertory Theater as well as practically camping out at the Portland Film Festival, so good access to downtown is a must, along with interesting hangouts in the neighborhood. King's Hill was ideal in that regard, but maybe too pricey now.
One reason I'm unhappy here is that even though the Twin Cities are full of cultural institutions, they're far apart and accessible only by driving, and as I mentioned above, I hate to drive. The Minnesota Opera, for example, is in downtown St. Paul, which is about as far as you can get from my apartment (in the southwest corner of Minneapolis) and still be in the city.
I have no interest in going past E. 82nd, either. Things start to get spread out and car-oriented and suburban-looking, aside from any concerns about crime. (I used to take the bus down E. 82nd from Hawthorne when I needed to go to the Kaiser Clinic at Clackamas.)
Anything decent out west along the MAX line? Or is that all suburban-y, too?
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