Travel and Places

10 signs you know you are in Portland

You spot more “Keep Portland Weird” stickers than actual license plates on cars.

The barista gives you a lecture on the ethical sourcing of coffee beans when all you asked for was a latte.

It’s sunny outside, but everyone’s still wearing their rain jackets “just in case.”

The line for the artisanal, gluten-free, vegan doughnut shop is longer than the wait time at the local DMV.

You overhear someone complaining that their backyard chickens are just “so mainstream now.”

The local park has more dogs attending yoga classes than children on the playground.

You see more people documenting their food for Instagram than actually eating it.

The “locally sourced” and “organic” labels on products in the grocery store aren’t just suggestions, they’re prerequisites.

You can’t walk a block without passing three craft breweries, but good luck finding a major chain restaurant.

The most heated debate you overhear is not about politics, but whether Voodoo Doughnut or Blue Star Donuts is the true Portland classic.

Joe Ditzel

Joe Ditzel is a keynote speaker, humor writer, and really bad golfer. You can reach him via email at [email protected] as well as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.