By Greg Spies

1. Walking/Biking Into Work

When I was kid we lived out in the country, about a 20 minute drive from school.  So when the day would end, I’d have to run to catch a bus while my local friends would socialize out front and slowly meander back to their homes.  As silly as it seems, I dreamed of an adult life where I would bike to work and would never have to commute back and forth again.  However, back east that didn’t seem like an option. My father had a 45 minute commute to work each day and I know folks who live in Connecticut who drive almost two hours to work in NYC and back. The first time I rode down beneath the Burnside Bridge, along the stretch of floating walkway on the Willamette on my 10 minute ride to work, I knew I had found my place.

I sold my car more than a year ago and have never looked back.  Most days I walk to work because I enjoy the 20 minutes of quiet contemplation prior to starting my workday.  I take a slightly different route each day, decided typically on impulse and hardly a day passes that I don’t come across something unique on my way in.  Whereas sitting in my car blaring the stereo, or cramped on the morning bus with my iPod pumping, separated me from the city on my way into work – I am always very present on my walk, noticing new shops, bumping into colleagues and friends, or even just exchanging a pleasant glance with a passer-by.  It’s typically the highlight of my day.

2. My Awesome Studio/Building/Area

I’ve worked in a variety of places around Portland and beyond.  From incubators to cubicles – windowless rooms to coffee-shops, I’ve probably tried them all.  But I’ve never felt more at home and productive then at 431 NW Flanders.

First off, the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood (which I like to refer to as The Interactive District) is alive with all sorts of energy.  The combination of art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, architecture firms, web development studios and the Chinese Gardens makes this a creative’s dream.  Anytime I’m at a loss for inspiration, a quick walk around the neighborhood is always enough to get me back on track. I’ve also had the great honor to work with Central City Concern the past two years – and so every day I can see the progress they are making on the great challenges facing our community.  I pass by the amazing residences they’ve cleaned up and improved, and run into people who have made it through their programs and I’m inspired by the potential for change - both within humans and a city.

As for the building itself – could you ask for anything better?  High ceilings, great views of downtown, all sorts of insanely talented folks (and their crazy dogs) working together in one place.  I started out working in the corner of the basement when the first floor was occupied by Livengood/Nowack.  I now share a suite on the 2nd floor with my partner in crime, Pail Design.

Plus our landlord Steve Bloch is about as great as they get – not to mention a spectacular photographer.  All in all – the perfect spot to work.

3. The Carts

SERIOUSLY… how awesome are the carts?  An endless variety of cheap, delicious eats all located in a few central spots.  A stroll along the promenade takes you from India to Mexico, from Thailand to Philly – and a few places I didn’t even know existed. Go there with a group and everyone gets what they want – and can meet back up to share in the delights.

I have NEVER gone to the carts and not run into someone I know – it’s the grand dining hall of downtown Portland whether rain or shine (although of course we all prefer it in the sun).  While Portland certainly has no shortage of great restaurants – when it comes to lunchtime – nothing beats the carts. I considered listing my personal favorites – but I honestly don’t have one.  It’s the pure variety that makes this spot so special. While my passion for cheese steaks and Pad Thai typically dominate my lunch choices when not at the carts – something about this spot always pushes me to try something new.  Rarely am I disappointed.

4. A Creative and Cooperative Culture

I’m not a competitive person. Sure I want to do well, but not at the expense of others. I’d rather work in conjunction with others, using all our best talents and ideas together.  No other place I’ve been shares that passion more than Portland, Oregon.

In any other city, other web development studios like Metal Toad Media, eROI, Rose Coloured Glasses or Enact Development might be seen as “the competition“.  In PDX they are collaborators, partners, resources and inspiration.  I can send my clients to them when the work requires it – and vice versa.  I’m excited to see the work they produce and eager to assist or utilize their talents when the opportunity arises.

This culture of shared success is nurtured and reinforced by an almost endless collection of networking events, meet-ups, Tweet-ups, creative conferences and social gatherings (see #5).  Because Portland is smaller than most major cities, it didn’t take long to recognize faces and create meaningful partnerships with other talented creatives.  Folks who offer the same services as you are quick to introduce you to those they know and connecting the dots between talent and business is almost a past-time of sorts.

Never has this been truer than in the past year, as a rough economy has forced some to close their doors and other to create new doors to open.  I’ve been amazed to see where folks have ended up – the new partnerships that have formed – and the general spirit of community within the creative culture of Portland.  Challenges become opportunities in an instant: new ideas form – creative events emerge – and a community that works together only grows stronger through adversity.

5. Proximity to Great Bars For Happy Hour

When the work-day is done, it’s time for a cold beer.  Originally from NY, the choices afforded me there were the corporate suds of Bud, Miller, Coors or worse, the light versions of all three.  In Portland that is most certainly not the case.  Within a mile of my studio are more bars, microbreweries, wine bistros, cocktail lounges, saloons, taprooms and taverns then I could ever possibly list, let alone visit.

Portland has a distinct happy hour culture.  Walk the streets from 4pm on and you’ll see bars bustling with activity.  Cheap eats, delicious IPAs and eclectic atmospheres hell-bent on keeping Portland weird and beer’d put you in the unique position of not deciding whether to have a pint, but rather, which locale to drink it in. In the summer we search out patios, in the winter we escape from the rain in a comfy booth. We sit at long tables where conversations with strangers inevitably ensue over mouth-watering cocktails.  Whether it’s networking at dMob or $5 Aviation cocktails at Recession Proof Mixology events – the bars are where it’s happening in PDX and the perfect place to end your work day.

Filed under: Networking, Portland by gspies
No Comments »