This sizable slice of Southeast Portland contains several smaller pieces that each have their own flavor, such as Ladd’s Addition, Clinton and Division streets, part of the Central Eastside, and industrial sites along the Willamette River. Although Hosford-Abernethy sounds like a pompous butler (at your service), its name actually comes from two schools: Hosford Middle School and Abernethy Elementary School.
Why You Should Visit This Week: Choo Choo
Hosford-Abernethy’s history is rooted in the railroad industry, so it’s a fitting home for the Oregon Rail Heritage Center and its mission to preserve historic locomotives and other relics of Pacific Northwest transportation, including a 102-foot turntable used to redirect steam engines.
It all comes to life on the nonprofit’s weekend train rides, which are offered Saturday and Sunday, now until Oct. 11. With your ticket, you’ll enjoy passage along the waterfront to Oaks Park and back, soaking in views of the skyline and wildlife from open-air or air-conditioned cars. Departures happen on the hour from 1 to 4 p.m. and once you return, you can browse the exhibits and artifacts.
Food & Drink: Elevated Eats and Frozen Treats
By now, tummies might be grumbling, so cross the street for a beer and slice of wood-fired pizza — made with red sauce, white sauce, or garlic oil — in the vintage caboose at Mt. Hood Brewing Co.’s Tilikum Station. Now let’s track down the other top spots at high speed — GO!
- 🌭 Third Coast Hot Dogs goes big with Texas-style beef franks — the H-Town comes with red salsa, fried shallots, pepperoncini, and teriyaki sauce — inside a working motorcycle shop. Grab a drink at Grey Horse Saloon while you’re there.
- 🥪 Searching for sandwiches? Ninth and Fitzwater has Italian-style hoagies and The Baker’s Mark has cold and hot subs made on signature Dutch crunch bread. Both are delicious (especially The Godfather).
- 🍊 This upstairs restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes with a local twist. There’s a reason why the wine-forward restaurant L’Orange landed on The New York Times’ radar.
- 🥘 Akadi transports you to a better place with West African cuisine; try a bit of everything, from the wings to the jollof rice, for a memorable family-style meal.
- 🍦 Keep it cool this summer with plant-based paletas and vegan soft serve at Ice Queen.
Fun & Games: Below Deck and Belly Laughs
For many, OMSI is a well-trodden path. Perhaps less explored is the USS Blueback, the U.S. Navy’s last active duty diesel-electric submarine, which is docked at the museum and open to tours Tuesday-Sunday.
When the biggest names in the stand-up scene come to town, Helium Comedy Club is more than likely where they’re at (James Austin Johnson and Michael Che of “SNL” fame have shows this month).
Maybe you’re meant to take the stage? Well, karaoke is on the cards at Baby Ketten Club, or if you like tunes with more twang, The Showdown teaches two-step and line dancing.
Did we miss something in Hosford-Abernethy? Send us a line to share your recs.
