Alberta Arts District, Northeast Portland

Part of northeastern Portland's up-and-coming Concordia area, which underwent a major renaissance beginning in the mid- to late '90s, the Alberta Arts District contains a bounty of gay-friendly restaurants surrounded by attractive and historic residential blocks. The main drag is Alberta Street, from about N.E. 12th to N.E. 33rd streets. Restaurants like Helser's, Fuel Cafe, Thai Noon, Caio Vitto, and lesbian-popular Cafe Zaytoon, plus great shopping in the form of Guardino art gallery, PedX shoes, and Frock vintage duds. Monthly Last Thursday celebrations are a fun time to visit.