Key Advice for Portland State University's New and Incoming Students (Portland, OR)
Portland State University, being firmly situated in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon, holds an entire spectrum of experiences and possibilities uncommon to any other college or university. It is spread across several dozen city blocks in Portland, but it is still condensed enough to give a student the comfort of not having to commute long distances, as is the case with community colleges or other institutions. This is one of Portland State University's greatest attributes, one that an incoming student would certainly do well to take advantage of. It isn't the school's only positive trait, nor is the school without its drawbacks, but understanding the environment ahead of time will help you to transition well and get the most out of Portland State University's potential as well as its advantageous location.
Where to Eat
For almost any student, food is important. Whether you live on campus or commute, you're eventually going to find yourself in a situation where cooking your own food isn't a possibility. This is where Portland State University's particular location, nestled opportunistically within the business-saturated southwest district, presents an almost endless array of eateries from which to choose.
In the four years I spent attending PSU (Portland State University), there were countless times where I would find myself in the seemingly inevitable predicament of not having enough time to go home between classes, but having too much time to comfortably stay downtown. This is an inescapable situation for full-time students or even part-time students. Fortunately, this is where one of Portland State University's strengths is a godsend.
Within the central "hub" of Portland State University's campus alone are over thirty eateries, ranging from coffee shops to fully equipped restaurants. Whether you only have time for a quick bite between classes, need a jolt of caffeine for that early morning foreign language immersion, or need to kill a chunk of time while waiting for your next class and want to kill your hunger along with it, there is a means to satisfy any end.
There are multiple Starbucks and chain-alternatives like Seattle's Best or Coffee People, if the coffee and café setting is your goal, but the place I checked in to on an almost daily basis was Chit Chat (at 1907 Southwest 6th Avenue). The location of this café is perfectly distanced from most of the main Portland State University buildings, so popping in for a quick drink or sandwich on the way to or from a class was and still is an easy choice. Offering the whole of the drink spectrum, from savory and carefully crafted coffee through soda to delicious variants of bubble tea, Chit Chat has the menu diversity to satisfy your needs and the furnished space to keep you for a while.
If I could recommend one thing here, it would be to stop in at Chit Chat when you find yourself in need of some food or something to drink. When I had too much time on my hands between classes, Chit Chat tended to be my solution. With couches, chairs, tables and desks, the comfy vibe makes a perfect spot to spend time studying or doing whatever you may have on your plate. Offering bagel sandwiches and other dishes along with their drinks, Chit Chat is an essential part of the Portland State University student's survival, and a wise choice on top of that. It is just nice to be able to sit in there with well-priced food and drinks without feeling rushed to move on. You can spend time there, and that is a major draw when so much of the world is set on the "gotta get, gotta go" mentality. Don't get me wrong, they get you what you want as quick as a fast food place, it is just nice to have the option of sitting and having somewhere to be.
If you prefer an old standby, though, Portland State University is certainly not without the fast food favorites. McDonald's has a prime location on 6th Avenue also, equally distanced from the main buildings of the campus, and Subway (a better choice in my honest opinion) has a couple spots, one of which is advantageously located inside the lobby of the Smith Memorial Student Union building - the core building of the PSU campus. When Chit Chat was too full for my liking, this Subway made my decision easy. It is close to everything, cheap, and left me feeling full but not guilty for eating it.
There is something for everyone on campus at Portland State University. If you like sushi, check Sushi Ichiban (aka Sushi Takahashi 2) at 2415 Southwest 5th Avenue. The prices are cheap without equal and the sushi is the freshest and most delicious on campus. It's easy to get full there, and it won't send your checking account into a vegetative state to do so.
The school does have its own food court and dining hall, also in the Smith Memorial Student Union building, as well as a wealth of food carts in the Park Blocks, but I never felt the need to visit either, as there was so much outside of these elements that I already enjoyed. I can tell you this, though: I certainly saw enough people crowding the food carts to know it was a popular option. Even without eating there, I can say the combination of Mediterranean and Indian food adds a pleasant aroma to the Park Blocks that, wafting along on a Sunny Spring afternoon, can't be beaten.
Recreation and Leisure
The Park Blocks, which run the length of the Portland State University campus north to south, are an amazing resource and offer blocks and blocks worth of grassy, leaf-canopied space. It is not uncommon to see sunny weather lead study-strained students to basking on the Park Blocks' grasses, or to see people playing various games there. The Park Blocks offer great recreation just on their own, but there are several attractions there that make for great ways to unwind and balance the academic workload.
Only a short walk down the Park Blocks from the Smith Memorial Student Union building is the Portland Art Museum. Already a reasonable price at $12.00 for general admission, Portland State University students only need to pay $9.00 to explore this great resource. Offering themed exhibitions in addition, the Portland Art Museum is always a fantastic way to wile an afternoon or evening. It is a shame if any Portland State University student should let their academic career pass without taking advantage of this museum that is literally minutes away on any given day of classes. Displaying paintings, drawings, sculptures and the whole lot, the Portland Art Museum is good for date nights as well as group leisure. Who doesn't love genuinely appreciating art, and if that isn't your thing, at least pretending to be pretentious and deep?
Another place that should not be missed is the Millar Library, found directly across the Park Blocks from Neuberger Hall. Built in a semicircle around a majestically looming tree, PSU's unique library is quite the sight. After four years of attendance, I still found myself enjoying time spent studying at the Millar Library. The nice thing about the library is that its outer courtyard facing the tree and the Park Blocks has fitting stone benches, so if the weather doesn't warrant studying indoors or you simply like reading outside while observing the passersby, the Millar Library provides opportunity for either. It is also a great place to meet with friends, as it is a very central and recognizable site on the Portland State University campus.
Without doubt, though, the newest addition to the possibilities of recreation and leisure at Portland State University is the Academic and Student Recreation Center. Located on Southwest 6th Avenue, only a block from the main string of classroom-buildings, the new Recreation Center touts various health and wellness-oriented features like a workout room, rock-climbing wall and a swimming pool. If exercise and physical exertion is your thing, then Portland State University's Academic and Student Recreation Center is one area any new students should definitely make use of. More than just a place of exercise, though, it is also planned to be a common forum and meeting place for students. With the issue of commuting and time-management impacting such a large number of Portland State University's students, having one building that is especially intended for the leisurely passing of time with friends and fellow students is a treasure.
Take Advantage of the City
Portland State University is so named because it is in downtown Portland. It can be easy to forget the significance of that with the diarian attendance of academia. Portland is a beloved city by so many for a reason, and when you are attending a school so opportunistically located as Portland State University, to not make use of your frequent proximity would be an awful mistake.
Powell's City of Books, located at 1005 West Burnside, is a short ride away on the Portland Streetcar, thus making it such a frequented stop by Portland State University students. I can't even begin to count the number of times I have gone there with no money and no intention of buying anything, but still left having had a wonderful time. It is called the City of Books for a reason, and walking through its catacumbal aisles, surrounded by what seems like a world's worth of books, is an event of its own reward.
Pioneer Square, about a mile down Broadway from the main bulk of the Portland State University campus, is another fantastic part of the city that I suggest spending some time at. About once a month there will be some event or cause for celebration going on in Pioneer Square, and with it being so close to Portland State University, there's little cause for missing them if you are looking for some evening entertainment after classes.
The city of Portland also proudly features its long-running Saturday Market and Farmers Market, both of which run every weekend, March through December, but it is the latter of the two that is held on the Portland State University campus itself. With a constant wealth of fresh, organic finds, if you as a new student were to get it in your head to prepare your own meals, this is where you would want to buy your ingredients. Of course, it makes more sense if you are living on campus, but still. Fresh produce practically brought to your dormitory or apartment door, you'd be hard-pressed to find fault with that deal.
The Saturday Market is equally noteworthy, but for crafts and products rather than organic produce. Capping off a strenuous week of study would usually find me wandering the Saturday Market, which used to be down by Skidmore Fountains solely but has since expanded to the Waterfront. Getting there is a simple MAX ride and once there, hours can be lost amidst the paintings, sculptures, performances and aromatic incense. Time couldn't be spent much better than getting out and participating in the very essence of Portland's particular culture, of which Portland State University is a valid contributor and part.
Commission
The greatest thing about Portland State University is its location. A student can start and finish their collegiate career with the exact same experiences, having gained nothing new in their time there. It's an unfortunate eventuality, but it does happen. So I encourage you, as a new student, to take part in the environment around you. Transcend the title of merely a student and participate in the living culture that is Portland. That would do Portland State University the greatest service. That would do you the greatest service.
Sources:
Chit Chat
PDX.edu - Campus Map
PDX.edu - Rec. Center
Portland Art Museum
Portland Farmers Market
Powells
Sushi Takahashi 2
