LOCATION PROFILE

Veganopolis

(503) 226-3400

412 SW 4th Ave.

www.veganopolis.com

Neighborhood: Downtown

Portland was dubbed “Stumptown” in the 1850s as clear-cutting made way for rapid growth and left behind only stumps. (read more) Now, the joke goes, the name riffs off the size of our skyscrapers (the tallest, Wells Fargo Center at 1300 SW 5th Ave., is just 546 feet). Downtown may not have reached epic heights, but on the upside, it remains a living, breathing neighborhood as well as a nexus of political and financial power. Where else in town can you find an uptight lawyer, a Prada-wearing shopper on her way to Pioneer Place (700 SW 5th Ave.) and a street kid with a spiked mohawk, all standing at the same burrito cart? Downtown centers on Pioneer Courthouse Square (Southwest 6th Avenue and Morrison Street), an urban tabula rasa hosting everything from brew festivals to peace marches. Downtown’s architecture ranges from the triumph of the classical Multnomah County Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave., 988-1523) to the tragedy of the postmodern Portland Building (1120 SW 5th Ave.), whose saving grace is the gargantuan bronze Portlandia statue out front. Follow the South Park Blocks past the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave., 226-2811) to Portland State University (1825 SW Broadway), where hungover students collide with shoppers at Portland Farmers Market (Southwest Park Avenue between Harrison and Montgomery streets) every Saturday. At Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park (Southwest Naito Parkway between Southwest Harrison and Northwest Glisan streets), inline skaters and recumbent cyclists blow past pot dealers and flocks of Canada geese, while the blocks just west of the Burnside Bridge house the core of the city’s live music scene as well as the pioneering strip bar Mary’s Club (129 SW Broadway, 227-3023). —James Pitkin.

Also in Downtown neighborhood:

Heathman Restaurant and Bar Food
Portland Farmers Market Food
Ben & Jerry's Food
Artists Repertory Theatre Stage
The Winningstad Theatre Stage
West End Theater Stage
Oregon Children's Theatre Young Professionals Studio Theatre Stage
Portland Actors Conservatory Stage
The Firehouse Theatre Stage
Veganopolis Outdoors
Pine Street Bistro Live Music
Aura Live Music
Candlelight Cafe and Bar Live Music
The Cheerful Tortoise Live Music
Dante's Live Music

Featured in Cheap Eats 2007

Ground zero for downtown vegan power lunches. With local art on the walls and local produce on the plates Veganopolis excels at original sandwiches like the Canadian ($5.95) and its unparalleled Mediterranean ($6.95) complete with cashew ricotta both with choice of chips or slaw. Some swear by the rotating dishes on the breakfast or lunch buffets ($6.95 a pound weekdays) but it's a hit-or-miss affair. Oh in-house baked vegan chocolate-chip cookies ($1.65) and pastries too. Occasionally understaffed but rarely outdone. (SMB)