Search Alberta Arts District
Stroll Alberta's main street to discover local art, live music and a wide range of bars and restaurants.
Alberta Street is bursting with things to do any day of the year. If you’re having difficulty narrowing down where to go, use this guide to plan a perfect day filled with food, drink and local culture in Northeast Portland’s Alberta Arts District.
Learn More About Alberta Street
Where are the best places to eat on Alberta Street?
What are some quintessentially Portland things to do on Alberta Street?
- Choose from inventive ice cream at hyper-popular Salt & Straw
- Look for Mike Bennett’s yard zoo
- Browse tiny (and regular-sized) survival and camping tools at Cord
- See a show at The Alberta Rose Theater or Alberta Street Pub
What’s the history of Alberta Street?
What other neighborhoods are near Alberta Arts District?
Where to Eat and Drink on Alberta Street
Wake up with a cup of direct trade coffee at hip local roaster Case Study Coffee, which serves seasonal java in an inviting café filled with warm wood beams, leafy potted plants, and ample natural light.
Case Study shares a patio with one of Portland’s most popular (and most dog-friendly) brunch destinations, Tin Shed. Chow down on the “Everything Nice,” a sampler platter piled with potato cakes, sausage, French toast, and scrambled eggs or a hearty breakfast bowl.
When lunchtime rolls around, kick back with a mason jar of boozy peach lemonade at the Bye and Bye, a vegan restaurant and watering hole where locals chow down on bowls of brown rice, Brussels sprouts, and barbecue tofu on a sun-dappled patio.
Comfort Food on Alberta
Enjoy elevated Spanish tapas at Urdaneta. Served in a casual environment, the visually striking plates play host to bold flavors. Each dish is complementary to the house craft cocktails, Spanish wines and sherries. Dining at Urdaneta is meant to be an experience. The open kitchen and dining areas help make eating dinner and dessert at the restaurant a communal affair. While the menu is always changing, seafood and meat dishes share space with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Chef for the recently shuttered Beast restaurant (and 2014 James Beard Award-winner) Naomi Pomeroy’s latest venture, Expatriate, offers a diverse array of culture-bridging and Burmese-inspired fare. Vinyl beats and vintage film projections set the vibe for meticulous cocktails from Pomeroy’s husband Kyle Linden Webster, and drinking snacks like Chinese-sausage corn dogs complement the standout libations.
Don’t let the name fool you; the Bollywood Theater doesn’t charge admission. Feast on Indian small plates of street food such as lamb samosas, pork vindaloo, or fried sweet and sour cauliflower while watching a Bollywood movie projected on the wall.
Get an education in saké at Zilla Saké House, where the 70+ varieties of saké include offerings from SakéOne, located in Forest Grove, west of Portland. Let the experienced staff pour you a flight; they can also recommend the best pairings from the sushi menu.
Alberta Sipping Spots
Get a taste of Alberta at these recommended watering holes.
Alberta Street Art and Murals
In addition to dedicated gallery spaces like Alberta Street Gallery, murals and galleries of all sizes line Alberta Street. Monograph Bookwerks focuses on art books, but it’s also a stylish gallery with prints, paintings and midcentury ceramics. At Flight 64 you can see art by local printmakers, or attend a workshop.
Guardino Gallery — one of the founders of the Last Thursday art/street fair — specializes in contemporary Northwest art and highlights fine crafts in its gift shop. Enjoy all kinds of art with several galleries on the street, like Nucleus or Antler, both showcasing contemporary art and handmade craft, or the local artist collective and gallery, Alberta Street Gallery.
Alberta Main Street recently collaborated with local Black artists and storytellers to teach visitors about the neighborhood’s history. Look for Black Heritage Markers on the sidewalk between 11th Avenue and 24th Avenue.
Live Events on Alberta
When summertime arrives, Alberta welcomes back its iconic monthly street fair, Last Thursday. The traditionally more artist-based neighborhood’s response to the Pearl District’s more upscale First Thursday. During the Last Thursday art walk, more than 150 local vendors, artists, and musicians line Alberta Street, which is closed to vehicle traffic.
Anchoring the neighborhood’s east end, the Alberta Rose Theatre offers live music, comedy nights, art house films, and other events year-round, meaning there’s never a bad time to stop in.
Alberta Street Pub hosts live music almost every day of the week, with multiple acts throughout the day during weekends. The massive outdoor patio is a great place to hang out with friends and family or simply soak it all in.
The Alberta Street Fair, held in August, features live music on multiple stages, more than 150 local vendors, kids’ activities, a beer garden and more.
Alberta Shopping
With its many boutiques, galleries and indie shops, Alberta Street is made for leisurely shopping strolls.
For casual but beautiful locally-made fashion, pop next door to Tumbleweed for a selection of dresses and accessories by indie designers. Frock offers an eclectic mix of vintage and locally designed fashions and accessories.
Underneath it all, nothing beats a bra that fits perfectly. Portland ladies sing the praises of The Pencil Test, a friendly shop whose small stock is almost guaranteed to include the best-fitting bra you’ve ever worn.
Fashion for Any Body
Shopping for Kids
At Grasshopper you’ll find organic, American-made children’s clothing and non-toxic toys. For families, Green Bean Books makes a great rainy-day escape thanks to colorful walls, plush couches, weekly storytimes and frequent author readings.
Get Crafty
Feeling inspired? Stop by Collage to fulfill your creative urge. The well-stocked art supply store has everything you need for drawing, painting, jewelry-making, stamping, mixed-media or card-making.
Close-Knit sells yarn, knitting and crochet supplies and offers online classes for beginning and intermediate sweater makers. Browse their extensive yard selection online before you visit, or ask their friendly staff for recommendations.
Aspiring to join Portland’s numerous successful Project Runway contestants — or just wanting to sew yourself some new duds? Visit Modern Domestic for sewing classes and open sewing hours on their fleet of Bernina machines; a few blocks east, you’ll find a wide range of materials at Bolt Fabric Boutique. Next door to Bolt, yarn shop Close-Knit wins fans with its inspiring sample projects, great yarn selection and friendly staff.
Self Care Shopping and Soaks
Blendily is a handmade skincare kitchen where you can watch owner Ivy Chuang craft all-natural skincare, bath products and herbal remedies with fresh, organic wild ingredients. Indulge in the “Glow Up” facial steam for some sweet-smelling self-care. For added relaxation, head to the outdoor soaking pool at nearby McMenamins Kennedy School.
More Alberta Arts Events
Get to know the Alberta Arts neighborhood at these upcoming events.
The Gift Show
One-of-a-kind gifts made by artists for a special someone. Opening Friday, November 24 and continuing through the Holidays with a special event on Saturday, December 9 with Live Music and Refreshments.
White Album Xmas
White Album Christmas has become a tradition — a way to keep Portland weird during the holiday season. The Nowhere Band (a full 15-piece Beatles orchestra) plays the White Album note for note, while the jugglers, aerialists, clowns and acrobats of the Rose City Circus present feats of remarkable strength, focus and dexterity. Guaranteed to…
Portland Revels Presents: Emerald Odyssey
The Portland Revels returns for the 29th year to celebrate the season with its latest Midwinter Revels performance: Emerald Odyssey. It’s a stormy evening in Kinvarra when an out-of-town stranger walks into Móirín’s pub and interrupts the community’s celebration of the Winter Solstice. Móirín decides that with enough Irish singing, dancing, and storytelling, they can…
It's a Tony Starlight Christmas
"It's a Tony Starlight Christmas" has been a Portland holiday tradition for the last fifteen years, and this December, it is being performed exclusively on the stage of Alberta Rose Theatre. Tony's Christmas show is a throwback to classic television variety shows when legends like Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, and Frank Sinatra sang…
Ring-A-Ding-Ding Radio Winter Concert
Enjoy a fun twist on a PHAME winter tradition with the first annual Ring-A-Ding-Ding Radio Winter Concert. Take a joyful trip to yesteryear with performances by PHAME’s music ensembles, soloists and small groups, as well as comedy and dance.
A Burly Carol
Warm yourself from winter's chill with the most sexy of holiday ghost tales that ever was told as Lacy Productions and The Alberta Rose Theater presents… A Burly Carol: A Burlesque Tale Inspired by "A Christmas Carol". Advance discounted tickets are now AVAILABLE. Purchase today. Lacy Productions SELL OUT early. Don't be a humbug… get…
The Elvises of Frostländ
During the historic pandemic of 2020, the members of 3 Leg Torso were recruited by a large, mysterious man to travel to Frostländ and become elves in his toy workshop, which actually turned out to be a small cabin in the woods with no heat, frozen water pipes, and a tiny room full of tools…
The Amazing Bubble Man
Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences worldwide for nearly 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. He is a favorite at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he has enjoyed eleven years of sell-out success. Louis explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding…
Queer Eye for the Magi
Experience some of Portland’s best queer entertainers as they take to the stage to celebrate and commiserate the holidays together. Dru Rutledge and Jimmy Wilcox reunited with their undeniable chemistry, impeccable voices, and holiday hijinks. They are thrilled to share the stage with the sensational drag pianist Saint Syndrome, the lowest bass with the smallest…
The Grand Exhale NYE Gala
The Alberta Abbey is excited to announce that Nik West will be headlining the Alberta Abbey’s New Year's Eve 2024 Celebration. Take a big exhale, and bring in 2024 with style. Expect to dress your best: funky, fancy and fabulous. New projection mapping, funky lights and DJs TAKIMBA and SUNSEI. Dancing, room to mingle, and…
DAPPERLESQUE: A Gender Bending Burlesque Cabaret
Dare to be different. Dare to be desirous. Dare to be DAPPER. And a DAPPER NEW YEAR. Experience a stylishly seductive, decidedly debonair gender-bending medley of burlesque and drag as Lacy Productions and The Alberta Rose Theatre present DAPPERLESQUE: A Gender Bending Burlesque Cabaret. Bringing you the most smartly-dressed, dashingly sultry, and dare we say,…
Sunny War and Chris Pierce
“I feel like there are two sides of me,” says the Nashville-based singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso, Sunny War. “One of them is very self-destructive, and the other is trying to work with that other half to keep things balanced.” That’s the central conflict on her fourth album, the eclectic and innovative Anarchist Gospel, which documents…
Science on Tap
Within Reach: The Fight to Finish Cancer Within Reach takes you behind the scenes of an immunotherapy clinical trial at Providence Cancer Institute, where doctors and scientists race against the clock to develop gene-engineered T cells for patients who have exhausted all other forms of treatment. Watch as researchers make international headlines for a breakthrough…
May Erlewine
May Erlewine brings her songs Westward with solo performances along the coast and in Colorado. Join an intimate evening of music and togetherness. Bring those near and dear, come as you are and sing along. One of the Midwest’s most prolific and passionate songwriters, May continues to share her gift for writing songs of substance…
Booklover's Burlesque – Erotica Edition
Booklover’s Burlesque is the world’s sexiest literary salon, which matches titillating, inspiring, and empowering book readings with burlesque, boylesque, and draglesque performances all in one show. A Booklover's Burlesque special edition at The Alberta Rose Theatre just in time for the sexiest season of the year. Professional readers, actors, and/or local authors and writers read…
Jarrod Lawson
Alberta Rose Theatre proudly presents acclaimed singer, pianist and songwriter Jarrod Lawson. A Portland native Lawson has spent the last few years living and working out of Nashville. Long a best-kept secret of the Northwest’s music scene, Jarrod exploded internationally with his eponymous debut in 2014. He has been spreading his message of positivity worldwide…
Science On Tap
Most of us humans can retreat to the safety of a building or a well-stocked pantry to wait out storms, smoke, or heat waves…but what do all the birds do? Do they also seek shelter? Do they leave? How long can they wait before they must go to find food? Such decisions can literally mean…
Albina Soul Revue
The Albina Soul Revue highlights the legacy of soul music in Portland’s Albina district. The event features elders from this lost era in Portland’s music history performing in concert with support from a new generation of our city’s jazz musicians. All original selections of Albina’s 1960s and 1970s music will be performed. Through the preservation…
Mary Halvorson & Tomas Fujiwara Duo with special guest Ryan Meagher
Drummer Tomas Fujiwara and guitarist Mary Halvorson have been collaborating for eighteen years. They met in New York City in the early 2000s and first started playing together in cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum's sextet. Since then, they have become each other's most frequent collaborators, working together on various projects led by Michael Formanek, Adam O'Farrill,…
Coco Montoya
An indefatigable road warrior, Coco Montoya tours virtually nonstop, bringing audiences to their feet from New York to New Orleans to Chicago to San Francisco. Across the globe, he’s performed in countries including Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, England, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Italy, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic and Canada. With the dynamic…
Consider This With Father Greg Boyle
Join Oregon Humanities for a conversation about community, belonging, and ending violence with Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention, rehab, and reentry program based in Los Angeles. Father Boyle is a Jesuit priest who served as a pastor in Boyle Heights during the wave of gang-related violence that began in the…
Kevin Burke with Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary
Right on time for St. Patrick’s Day, Alberta Rose Theatre is proud to present Irish fiddle legend Kevin Burke with his special guests Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’Leary. One of the greatest fiddlers of this or any generation, Kevin Burke is known far and wide, a legend in traditional Irish music. His bow has driven…
Science on Tap
Can we change the minds of science deniers? Encounters with flat earthers, anti-vaxxers, coronavirus truthers, and others. “Climate change is a hoax — and so is coronavirus.” “Vaccines are bad for you.” These days, many of our fellow citizens reject scientific expertise and prefer ideology to facts. They are not merely uninformed — they are…
Consider This With Eli Saslow
Join Oregon Humanities for a conversation about poverty and addiction in America with Eli Saslow. Eli Saslow is a national reporter for the New York Times. His recent reporting has focused on homelessness, inequality, and opioid addiction in Arizona, California, and Oklahoma. He lives in Portland. This conversation will explore how intersecting crises of housing,…
Holly Near
Holly Near has been singing for a more equitable world for well over 50 creative years. She is an insightful storyteller through her music, committed to keeping the work rooted in contemporary activism. One of the most powerful, consistent, and outspoken singers of our time, her concerts elevate spirits and inspire activism. A skilled performer,…
Willy Porter
Some folks are lucky to find what they love to do at an early age and quietly settle in for the long haul, expanding and developing their work over the arc of a lifetime. Willy Porter is one of those artists. He has followed his own path to explore the sacred language that music truly…
Antonio Rey
Many flamenco aficionados consider Antonio Rey to be the heir apparent to Paco de Lucia’s throne. His career began at the age of ten. He was soon performing on international stages and winning prestigious awards for his incredible virtuosity, such as the Premio Nacional de Guitarra (also won by Paco de Lucia and Vicente Amigo),…
More to Explore
The Alberta Arts District is just the beginning of Portland's love for the arts and magic.
Monthly Art Walks in Portland
Explore Portland's art gallery scene with three regular art walks, held in different creative neighborhoods around town.
Portland’s “Mystic District”: Three Magical Shops in One City Block
Whether you’re curious about crystals, dreaming of divination decks or just seeking sweet-smelling soap, Portland’s Mystic District has the store for you.
Ways to Practice Self-Care in Portland
It’s okay to admit that you occasionally get stressed or down. Thankfully Portland's self-care offerings are deep; walk in over 200 parks, find time for yoga, sauna, soaking, and health-conscious food to practice self-care like a Portlander.
Illustration by Subin Yang
Northeast Portland Neighborhoods
Located east of Williams Ave. and north Burnside Street, Northeast Portland contains popular visitor destinations like the Alberta Arts District and The Grotto. Portland International Airport is in outer Northeast.
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