The queen of the many funky and gay-sensible neighborhoods on Portland's slightly sprawling East Side, Hawthorne has been groovy since the first epoch in human history that the word "groovy" came into vogue (i.e., the 1960s). It's long had a reputation as the center of Portland's lesbian scene, which is sort of true - there are many lesbian-owned homes and -frequented businesses here, but Hawthorne is quite popular with anyone who has an alternative, progressive bent, and many parts of Portland (especially on the East Side) have a discernible lesbian presence.
The neighborhood's spine, Hawthorne Boulevard is fairly interesting, but for a few dull pockets, for about 45 blocks, from roughly S.E. 10th Avenue clear out to Mt. Tabor Park, at S.E. 55th Avenue. It's also near and parallel to some other engaging East Side commercial strips, such as Belmont to the north, and Division/Clinton to the south. Among the many popular businesses in the neighborhood worth checking out include the lesbian club The Egyptian Room (it's on nearby Division Street but very close), the Bagdad Pub and Bagdad Theater, Bread and Ink Cafe, Cup and Saucer, Vincente's Pizza, and the Hawthorne branch of Powell's Books (which is pictured here along the street).