AAA--The American Automobile Association (tel. 800/222-4357; www.aaa.com) has a local Portland office at 600 SW Market St. (tel. 503/222-6734), which offers free city maps to members.
American Express--The American Express Travel Service Office, 1100 SW Sixth Ave. (tel. 503/226-2961), at the corner of Sixth and Main, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. You can cash American Express traveler's checks and exchange the major foreign currencies here. For card member services, phone tel. 800/528-4800. Call tel. 800/AXP-TRIP or go online to www.americanexpress.com for other city locations or general information.
Area Codes--The Portland metro area has two area codes--503 and 971--and consequently it is necessary to dial all 10 digits of a telephone number, even when making local calls.
Babysitters--If your hotel doesn't offer babysitting services, call Northwest Nannies (tel. 503/245-5288).
Business Hours--Banks are generally open weekdays from 9am to 5pm, with later hours on Friday; some have Saturday morning hours. Offices are generally open weekdays from 9am to 5 or 6pm. Stores typically open Monday through Friday between 9 and 10am and close between 5 and 6pm. Department stores tend to stay open later (until between 7-9pm), as do stores in malls. Bars stay open until 1 or 2am; dance clubs often stay open much later.
Dentist--If you need a dentist while you're in Portland, contact Oregon Dental Referral (tel. 800/800-1705) or the Multnomah Dental Society (tel. 503/223-4731) for a referral.
Doctor--If you need a physician referral while in Portland, contact the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland (tel. 503/222-0156). The Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd. (tel. 503/494-8311), has a drop-in clinic.
Emergencies--For police, fire, or medical emergencies, phone tel. 911.
Eyeglass Repair--Check out Binyon's Eyeworld Downtown, 803 SW Morrison St. (tel. 503/226-6688).
Hospitals--Three conveniently located area hospitals include Legacy Good Samaritan, 1015 NW 22nd Ave. (tel. 503/413-7711); Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan St. (tel. 503/215-1111); and the Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd. (tel. 503/494-8311), which is just southwest of the city center and has a drop-in clinic.
Hot Lines--The Portland Center for the Performing Arts Event Information Line is tel. 503/796-9293. The Oregonian's Inside Line (tel. 503/225-5555), operated by Portland's daily newspaper, provides information on everything from concerts and festivals to sports and the weather.
Internet Access--If you need to check e-mail while you're in Portland, first check with your hotel. Otherwise, visit a Kinko's. There's one downtown at 221 SW Alder St. (tel. 503/224-6550) and in Northwest at 950 NW 23rd Ave. tel. 503/222-4133). You can also try the Multnomah County Library, 801 SW 10th Ave. (tel. 503/988-5123), which is Portland's main library and offers online services.
Liquor Laws--The legal minimum drinking age in Oregon is 21. Aside from on-premise sales of cocktails in bars and restaurants, hard liquor can only be purchased in liquor stores. Beer and wine are available in convenience stores and grocery stores. Brewpubs tend to sell only beer and wine, but some also have licenses to sell hard liquor.
Newspapers & Magazines--Portland's morning daily newspaper is The Oregonian. For arts and entertainment information and listings, consult the "A&E" section of the Friday Oregonian or pick up a free copy of Willamette Week at Powell's Books and other bookstores, convenience stores, or cafes.
Pharmacies--Convenient to most downtown hotels, Central Drug, 538 SW Fourth Ave. (tel. 503/226-2222), is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
Photographic Needs--Wolfcamera, 900 SW Fourth Ave. (tel. 503/224-6776) and 733 SW Alder (tel. 503/224-6775), offers 1-hour film processing. Camera World, 400 SW Sixth Ave. (tel. 503/205-5900), is the largest camera and video store in the city.
Police--To reach the police, call tel. 911.
Restrooms--There are public restrooms underneath Starbucks coffee shop in Pioneer Courthouse Square, in downtown shopping malls, and in hotel lobbies.
Safety--Because of its small size and progressive emphasis on keeping the downtown alive and growing, Portland is still a relatively safe city; in fact, strolling the downtown streets at night is a popular pastime. Take extra precautions, however, if you venture into the entertainment district along West Burnside Street or Chinatown at night. Certain neighborhoods in north and northeast Portland are the centers for much of the city's gang activity, so before visiting any place in this area, be sure to get very detailed directions so you don't get lost. If you plan to go hiking in Forest Park, don't leave anything valuable in your car. This holds true in the Skidmore Historic District (Old Town) as well.
Smoking--Although many of the restaurants listed in this book are smoke-free, there are also many Portland restaurants that allow smoking. At most high-end restaurants, the smoking area is usually in the bar/lounge, and although many restaurants have separate bar menus, most will serve you off the regular menu even if you are eating in the bar. There are very few non-smoking bars in Portland.
Taxes--Portland is a shopper's paradise--there's no sales tax. However, there is an 11.5% tax on hotel rooms within the city and a 12.5% tax on car rentals (plus an additional airport use fee if you pick up your rental car at the airport; this fee is usually an additional 11%). Outside the city, the room tax varies.
Time Zone--Portland is on Pacific time, 3 hours behind the East Coast. In the summer, daylight saving time is observed and clocks are set forward 1 hour.
Transit Info--For bus and MAX information, call the Tri-Met Customer Assistance Office (tel. 503/238-7433).
Weather--If it's summer, it's sunny; otherwise, there's a chance of rain. This almost always suffices, but for specifics, call Weatherline Forecast Service (tel. 503/243-7575) or the Portland Oregon Visitor Association's weather information hot line (tel. 503/275-9792). If you want to know how to pack before you arrive, check www.cnn.com/weather or www.weather.com.
