Pearl District

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Pearl District in Portland Oregon was nothing but bulldozers, cranes, and a dream. Only a decade later, this Portland neighborhood has become the ultimate spot for art, shopping, and real estate. Old factory buildings have become architectural wonders, transformed into artistic, modern-meets-industrial high-rise real estate for condominiums and lofts, blended in with the Pearl District's brand new modern constructions, built from the ground up and suitable for the five-star hotels that now speckle the neighborhood. It's hard to believe how what was once a factory area, situated between downtown and the NorthWest 23rd area of Portland, has been transformed into a thriving, polished neighborhood with locals adorned in designer clothes, sipping European style mini espressos and skimming art books from the Pearl's nearby Powell's bookstore, famous for its six-story high palace of new and used books. The Pearl District's streets are lined with small galleries and eccentric specialty shops that feature charms, trinkets, and art pieces from all over the world. Portland's street car runs through the Pearl District, starting from NW 23rd street and down through the Pearl and downtown Portland, up to Portland State University. Populated with new restaurants, this is the ideal neighborhood for people who have an appreciation for quality dining, with food prepared by well credentialed chefs. It's also the place for both locals and tourists who appreciate design, fashion, and overall aesthetic appeal, in a Portland neighborhood that seems encased by sparklingly polished glass with a sign that says "Do Not Touch."