Sellwood Neighborhood, Portland, Oregon

Portland is made up of numerous neighborhoods, each with their own vibe and style. Sellwood is located in Southeast Portland. It is bordered by Willamette River, Brooklyn, and Eastmoreland neighborhoods. The style of this neighborhood is older. It has a connotation of being "back in the good old days.'' There are numerous shops and locally owned businesses in Sellwood and Moreland.

Friends and families can walk through the area, speaking with neighbors and enjoying the feel of the area. Moreland, which is a section of the Sellwood metro area is known more for the hustle and bustle of commerce. It is a busier area to visit, while Sellwood offers more community.

The homes in Sellwood are going to be older with Victorian styling, cottages, and Craftsman bungalows. The streets are still lined with mature trees adding ambience to the area. Couples are often seen pushing strollers, walking dogs and heading to the attractions of the area. Sellwood is particularly known for their antique shops.

Sellwood is more than a community with older homes. Families often take their children to the carousel at the historic amusement park. Other attractions include cooking classes from a celebrity chef, and hiking through the wildlife refuge in Portland. Still, Sellwood is most known for the antique shops in which you have 100 year old quilts, boxes of vintage postcards, Beatles and Bakelite bracelets, and much more. The Antique Mall is huge. It is the main antique shop, but there is also the Raven. This place offers 19th century British army uniforms and much more.

From the antique shops it is possible to visit the boutiques and specialty stores. Satin and Old Lace have new Victorian lamp shades, and everything a tourist needs to create their own. The Columbia Sportswear Factory outlet has floor to ceiling hiking shorts, fishing equipment, Hawaiian shirts, and plenty of outdoor gear.

The Jealous Gardener is a locally owned business with birdhouses in a whimsical fashion. All materials used for these bird houses have been salvaged. Sellwood history has the small area of Portland as its own municipality during the 1800's. It did become swallowed by Portland as the city began to expand for commerce, but Sellwood still offers that small town feeling and Lawrence Welk could still draw a crowd.

Other districts of Portland offer more modernity. But Sellwood is all about sundaes in the park, civic events, and galleries. Gallery 7126 is a combination art gallery and espresso bar. It has a Moorish style Masonic lodge to house the varying art. Moorish styling exists in several parts of Sellwood with the Moreland Theater, which was a first run movie house in the 1920's. It still has the Arabian Nights decor it was built with. Live music at coffee houses, in the park, and at small bars welcome residents and visitors. Sellwood is not going to have high rises, large hotels, or night clubs. It is a place for gourmet dining and homemade dishes found in "grandma's kitchen.''