ManAboutWorld’s contributor, Stephen Massey (aka DJ GRIND) is based in Portland, Oregon. He oversees major communications for non-profit clients. He’s also one hell of a DJ and music producer, DJ’ing at major gay events and music festivals and formulating remixes for a who’s who in music: Kylie Minogue, and Ariana Grande, Enrique Iglesias, Demi Lovato, Cher, & more. His boyfriend, Tim Healea, is head baker and owner at Little T American Baker. This DJ knows his way around the stage as well as Portland, Oregon.
DJ Grind told us the 6 things not to miss that’ll make a perfect, gay visit to Portland, Oregon.
1-Outdoor Spot: Portland is well-known for its many bridges, and there’s no better way to see them than from the water. In the summer, Tim and I love boating with our friends along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, and spending the afternoon sunbathing at one of the many beaches on nearby Sauvie Island or Rooster Rock State Park.
2-Breakfast: My partner, Tim Healea, is one of the country’s best artisan bread bakers. There’s no better place in Portland for breakfast than his bakery, Little T American Baker with a wide selection of hand-made pastries, savory breakfast sandwiches, and fresh-roast espresso drinks. Pick up a loaf of what Sunset Magazine describes as the “best baguette in Portland if not the entire West Coast.”
3-Cocktails: Some of the best cocktails in the city are shaken, stirred and poured at Kask — a “modern saloon” just steps from some of the city’s best dining and nightlife offerings. It’s a great spot for a pre-dinner or pre-theater cocktail or a nightcap.
4-Sunday Funday: Less than 40 minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon’s Willamette Valley offers some of the most beautiful and bountiful wine country in North America, with more than 300 wineries and tasting rooms to explore. The Willamette Valley is also a gateway to Oregon’s stunning Pacific Coast communities like Cannon Beach that make for a perfect weekend getaway.
5-Hidden Gem: On a warm afternoon, we love taking a picnic to Council Crest Park, the highest point in the city. It’s a quiet oasis high above the city, and it offers striking views of the most famous mountains and volcanoes in the Cascade Range, including Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson.
6-Hotel: The trendy, gay-friendly Ace Hotel in Portland’s dynamic West End neighborhood offers all the stylish furnishings and quirky amenities (typewriters and turntables in many of the rooms) that you’d expect in the self-proclaimed hipster capital of the U.S. Plus, it’s located in the heart of Portland’s burgeoning cultural, dining and shopping district.
ManAboutWorld travels to the beat of DJ GRIND. We highly recommend his uplifting, lyrical musical selections to help make the journey as satisfying as the destination. Subscribe on iTunes or Podomatic. For DJ GRIND music & upcoming events check his site: www.djgrind.net.
You can check out our unique digital-born gay travel magazine for savvy gay travelers by downloading the ManAboutWorldApp on the iTunes App Store or Google Play. We support iPads, Android tablets, iPhones and Android phones. There are a few free publications in all of the apps, and you can click here to register for a FREE three-month subscription. Go on, what are you waiting for!
This was originally published in ManAboutWorld. A version was also published in Towleroad’s new Travel section.
The LGBTQ Travel Expert. Educator. Speaker. Author. 