Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in Portland: Including Vancouver, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Wilsonville Paperback – May 11, 2010

I ordered this book because I am planning on moving to Portland in the near future and I wanted to do some research on neighborhoods. This book is chock full of information. The sections describing neighborhoods have been really helpful when I've been browsing rentals on craigslist. Bryan Geon offers a realistic depiction of each neighborhood including it's history, economic standing, amenities, types of people living there, walkability and access to public transportation. A lot of the info is probably going to be more useful once I'm there but it's so great to have all of this in one place - like who to call for cable service, utilities, trash pick up days. Especially as I may not have internet access right away. Lots of helpful websites and phone numbers. I also love the section describing a year of events in Portland - it's a great overview to how much there is to do there. He also includes information about surrounding areas including parts of Southern Washington. I have a feeling I'm going to be dog earring many pages while I continue to plan my move and after I get settled in. Every city should have a Newcomers Handbook!

Thank heaven for this book, it saved us from moving to Portland. It does give a very thorough picture of the physical attributes of the city and a glimpse of the culture. The writers are earnest in their attempt to convey an accurate picture of the city, its uniqueness, and its upside.But one must look further when making a life choice. Beneath the ever present friendly flannel - mandatory for its citizens - lies a faux culture of acceptance and warm folksiness.Perhaps the best aspect of the book is what it doesn't cover (it is in most aspects quite complete - the authors are to be congratulated). Information regarding crime rate, depth of poverty surrounding the city, and the active drug pipeline can only be discovered through government documents. The exclusionary ultra conservative religious segments can only be felt by actually meeting the residents.If one makes enough money to insulate oneself from these things, enjoys them, or can ignore them, this is the place for you.

The 2nd Edition of THE NEWCOMER'S HANDBOOK FOR MOVING TO AND LIVING IN PORTLAND, OREGON is a great new book about Portland, Oregon, and its environs, covering everything you need to know about the area, including recreation, dining, nightlife, shopping, sightseeing, and neighborhoods. There's precious little about the City of Roses and its major suburbs (Beaverton, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Aloha, West Linn, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego) that's not covered here. In addition, the book covers areas that others miss such as West Haven, Raleigh Hills, West Slope, Cedar Mill, Garden Home, Bethany, North Plains, and Dunthorpe, as well as discussing the ins and outs of all of the major neighborhoods in the city itself from posh Hillside, Sylvan, Healy Heights, and Southwest Hills to low-rent Eliot. Overall, whether you're planning to move to Portland, or are simply interested in the West Coast in general, DO NOT PASS THIS BOOK UP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even a couple of years can make a difference in describing some neighborhoods, but this guide did help us get a little better acclimated to Portland before we moved. It takes time and experience to really get to know any place. But this guide is very thorough, going in depth to the history of each area and what types of culture is in each neighborhood. Portland is a larger city with a more small town feel, as each neighborhood has it's own "culture" and feel. This book is right to break each area into neighborhood descriptions to go more in depth.

This is both an awesome book as informational and a taste of tongue-in-cheek humor from a resident. Example: "Just don't call is Portland, or-eh-GONE. The state name is pronounced OR-uh-gun. Practice before you arrive." It gives a ton of resources on every possible subject from sports to housing options to culture to green living. It is amazing and comprehensive and an invaluable resource for anyone locating to the Greater Portland Area whether personal or for business.

My spouse and I are planning a move to Portland within the next year and this book is an incredible resource for all things Portland. Covering neighborhoods, activities, shopping, culture, education... just about everything needed to prepare for a move to this wonderful city. This will be an such a valuable guide to anyone making a move to Portland - whether you are already familiar with the city or not. Highly recommended!

We found the organization of the book very good. We visited some of the places outlined and were gratified that we had the book because in a couple of cases, we would not have gone otherwise.

Great book for someone moving to Portland, or even someone who has been there for years. Loved the sections on transportation, banking, shopping, etc. The information has really helped us plan our move there. And I plan to use it for many more years, as there are always new places to explore in Portland!