On the Road with Contributing Editor Gina Smith – Portland, Oregon

Really, it’s the pink typewriter I still think about most. It was just one of those things I would’ve/could’ve/should’ve bought on my spree through vintage shops in Portland, Oregon this October. Practicality, budget and bag space should not win every time.

So leave the pragmatism at home or in the other room when you visit Shop Vintage Portland . But be sure you have plenty of the other two: cash and carry-on space (which also translates to cash with airline baggage fees these days).

The vintage pink Smith-Corona was spied in Office PDX on Alberta Street, in the display case at the register. Alberta Street is the magnificent mile of vintage and art in Portland, and OFFICEPDX is an award-winning design store, art gallery and design studio created by designers for designers and admirers. They carry Pina Zangaro Portfolio Books, Designer Presentation Tools, Laptop Bags, Paper Goods, Furniture, Art and Graphic Design elements. Office holds monthly free art and design events also. 

There was orgiastic swooning when this writer, J-school grad, former newshound and ink-stained wretch spied the girly ma’quina de escribir in the case. My shopping girls came running to see what was wrong with me. Encouraged to buy by clerk and cohort alike, I protested and resisted. Still, I knew it was so me that I should find a way to have it. But here I sit, two months later, bereft. Don’t let that happen to you on your vintage jaunts. Pink typewriters don’t come along every day.

To distract myself from the machine that wanted to possess me, we proceeded up and down Alberta Street, hitting not only a head shop for hippie duds from our first youth (am I the only one who had to surpass age 40 to know what a head shop even is?) but also shops with names like Collage, Swoon , Imp, Bolt, Tumbleweed,  Frock and Flutter

Collage’s two locations are run by the energizer bunny better known as Maria Raleigh. You can find every art supply known to man or woman and tons of funky stuff just waiting to be altered, re-purposed or, wait for it, collaged.

I was still on a pink tear on Fremont Street in Beaumont Village,  finding a fluttery-sleeved sand pink T, a  Sigrid Olsen boiled wool jacket also off-pink with a collar full of fuzzy yarn loop and another butterfly-sleeved slinky top in pink and black  at Full Circle, which specializes in women’s natural fiber resale clothing and contemporary and vintage curios. Full Circle is next door to Saavy (sic), where you’ll find eclectic home goods and gifts.

Looking for more vintage treasures to re-purpose, we spent literally hours in Monticello , Stars and Rerun. Stars and Stars and Splendid 7027 and 7030 SW Milwaukie (correct spelling) Ave., includes 175 dealers and really does require a full day to see. However, nearby are Coco and Toulouse Go Shopping at 7080 SE 16th Ave., which has been featured in Lucky magazine, and Madison Park Antiques, 7805 SE 13th Ave., situated in a Victorian mansion and full of antiques and funky vintage finds.

Likewise, Monticello, 8600 SE Stark Ave. in the Montavilla district of Portland, commands a separate day really, unless like us, your time is limited and you have no other choice. Comfortable shoes and provisions are a must for this power-vintage walk.

 

(Cass to your left, Gina Smith to your right at Rerun)

Rerun, 707 NE Fremont St., sucked me in with its garage sale-like appeal: the goods were flowing out the door and onto the parking lot. A rack of crazy vintage prom dresses outside invited even the shy to hold them up for fond memories or to laugh at their mothers’ former tastes. Rerun was early in the day, so I forgot one of the first rules of vintage scouting: pace yourself (and your wallet). I scooped up The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics for $6, a gorgeous full-color paperback coffee table tome I later witnessed on ebay for upwards of $50. 

Added to John, Paul, Ringo and George (I may have been only about four when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan show, but I screamed with the best of them) were a vintage Jello mold, a porcelain doll head (one of my usual collectibles), satin baby shoes, an old brass sprinkler head with human facial features and a glass baby bottle.

Crazy, one-of-a-kind knee socks were had at Frock, which carries unique indie clothing lines as well as handmade jewelry and vintage goods; same for Swoon, Imp and the rest. 

Moving on to the two- and three-word named stores, like Poppy and Ivy  and Red Bird , we found cutesy new and vintage paper goods, stationery, and ornaments Nearly everything sold in Redbird is designed and created by owners Paul Evans and Melissa Rau who started in late 2004, first by wholesaling their unique card line, then maintaining a booth at Portland’s Saturday Market.

At some point even our purse provisions of bottled water and energy bars ran out, and we found ourselves nearly fainting into the chairs at Pizzicato’s, a Portland pizza chain with a distinctively un-chained feel. The lunch specials of not-your-ordinary-flavors slice, drink and salad refreshed us enough to take off again until, one by one, the stores started closing for the evening. And although after lunch we swore we were so full we’d never eat again, of course we did, this time at Lovely Hula Hands, 4057 N Mississippi Ave., where the wine and gourmet comfort food on a typically-rainy Portland day lulled us into a pre-sweet dreams mood, with just enough energy left to drive back to our rooms to stare at our treasures.

I know we missed a bunch of stops, including the massive new Goodwill downtown at SW 10th and Taylor, as well as the sewing thrift Knittin’ Kitten, Savvy, Full Circle Resale, Close Knit, The Modern Hippie at 4912 SE Division, and Bella Stella, a baby and children’s resale at 2635 NE Broadway.

That’s why you really must map out your trip and your days at this great site Shop Vinatge Portland. That way you’ll know if you should go straight for the pink typewriter. Trust me, it’s still there. And for only $295 you can get it for me. Remember, you would’ve/could’ve/should’ve.

– Contributing Editor Gina Smith aka Lilly*s of London*ish,
started making jewelry about six years ago and has since tied this in
with a love of vintage finds, Blythe, crochet and altered art in her
etsy shop.
Growing up in an antiquing family gives her a background and
appreciation for all things vintage, especially dinnerware, jewelry and
Americana advertising prints and products

{All contributed content Gina Smith © Lilly*s of London*ish}