Get To Know Portland's Woodlawn Neighborhood and Beyond

Leah Benson’s now-shuttered shop Gladys Bikes was a beloved spot in Portland when it was open. So we asked Benson, who recently also offered some of her best bike-buying advice, to share her favorite places in Portland — the locations that make this city her home:

Woodlawn Park

“I am lucky enough to live right by the park, which is one of the most incredible parks in Portland. It's the perfect place for movies in the park. It's also a really great space for birding, if you're into that type of thing.”

Woodlawn Coffee and Pastry

“Woodlawn Coffee and Pastry is like my main girlfriend. I've been going for over 10 years now. I love just ordering a mug of coffee and hanging out there and seeing everyone from the neighborhood come.

“They have great pastries. Specifically, they have this blueberry cornmeal muffin that I don't think the recipe has changed in the entire time I've gone there and I love that.

“The other thing I like about it is the staff. I am officially no longer young and cool, and the staff there definitely is and they are currently playing my version of oldies these days. I went in the other day, and they had on John Mayer. They were talking about him like he was cool and they were like ‘My mom was really into him before.’ I'm like, ‘Oh shit I'm that person now,’ and I love it.”

Hollywood Theatre

“I had a friend that was… showing Superman cartoons and doing live instrumentation and voice acting for them… I fell in love with the Superman orchestra. I'm like, ‘How is this even a thing?’ It's so cool. And while that's not something that the Hollywood does anymore, you just can see things there that you can't find anywhere else in this city or this country.

“I love going to Kung Fu Theater on Tuesdays. I love queer horror, all of the weird little things that they do, and also that seemingly this entire city loves them.

“When you go in there, the staff acts like you're their best friend, which I just love. There is nothing better than being a regular in this world.”

‘Anything That Is on Top of a Hill’

“I always want to go to and ride my bike to Rocky Butte, Pittock Mansion, Tabor, Council Crest. I love the hills here. I don't care about views of mountains, but I really like riding up the hill.”

What places make Portland feel like home to you? Please email me.