Centennial - Portland, OR

Originally a park of Portland's Gresham suburb, Centennial became its own neighborhood when it voted in 1976 to amend school districts to better serve its growing population. The neighborhood grows and residents push for more community involvement.

Locals looking for art and culture find it closer to the Portland city center. Neighboring areas welcome Centennial residents to their street festivals. One of the most popular northeast Portland destinations remains the Last Thursday street festival, occurring the last Thursday of the warmer months in the Alberta arts district. Patrons can peruse offerings by local artists at the many street booths or watch performers dance, play music or juggle fire and bright lights. Centennial residents can also visit downtown museums, such as the Portland Art Museum or the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Authentic Mexican fare and Chinese restaurants make up much of the dining scene in Centennial, but you can definitely find a good burger or pizza joint nestled amid the international spots. Head to Division Street, the neighborhood's central main drag, to find the best dining options.

For a quick Chinese or Japanese lunch, try 23 Ichi Teriyaki at Division and 162nd. The owners serve up generous portions, and if you choose to dine in, they throw in complimentary egg flower soup. Ask for a punch card so you can work your way to a free entrée.

The folks at the Bora Bora Taqueria truck take whole chickens, season and marinate them, then grill them to Mesquite-flavored perfection. You can get a whole or half chicken with sides, tortillas, beans and rice for a super-cheap price and craft your own dinner, or you can cut out the assembly and order a few chicken tacos. Ask for extra fresh-made salsa so you can take some home for later, but heat-sensitive diners beware because this salsa packs a punch.

If you want to enjoy a laid back weekend brunch, you can't beat Division Street Cafe. This cozy diner exudes a low key ambiance, and the service comes friendly, lacking the pretension present in many of the popular brunch spots closer to the city center. Locals love both the hash browns with onions and the fresh-baked biscuits.

Like Centennial's restaurants, the neighborhood's quiet lounges and dives also reside on the busy Division Street. Nightlife here works for people looking for a laid back spot to get a cheap drink. If you want a more exciting club scene or bars serving decent food, head west down Division to the more urban neighborhoods closer to the city center.

Try Pink Feather Restaurant & Lounge for a dark, lounge-y atmosphere, complete with purple velvet booths and a chance to meet the resident Elvis impersonator. Frequent the Saturday night karaoke sessions for your best chance to see him. Those in the know realize they should get dinner before you go.

Centennial lies a 10-minute drive from Interstate 205. Take 205 to Interstate 84 to get downtown. The neighborhood itself caters more to drivers than pedestrians, so most locals take a car or hop on a TriMet bus to reach their destinations. Most businesses have private parking lots, and unmetered street parking abounds right off the main streets.

Locals can get some places on foot, but walking isn't always convenient. Cyclists enjoy bike lanes and designated shared roads, but Centennial's distance from downtown makes the commute too long for most riders. Residents can cycle for trips within the neighborhood, but are careful of the heavy traffic traveling at high speeds down Division Street.

Three TriMet bus lines serve Centennial; the 20, 4 and 9 travel east and west on the neighborhood's main roads. Centennial's close proximity to the Gresham transit center allows easy access to the MAX light rail's blue line to the city center.

Usually, you can't hail a cab from the street. If you need a ride, call Radio Cab or Broadway Cab. You can also reserve a ride via Uber.

Portland houses over 300 parks and natural areas, and Centennial locals enjoy convenient access to some of the best. All Portland parks offer free admission, so make an afternoon of visiting one of the nearby options.

The 25-acre Parklane City Park, located at 155th and Main, features amenities for the whole family. Little ones love the ADA-accessible playground, while older kids and active adults can burn some energy on the basketball or volleyball courts, or the soccer fields. For a more low-key park adventure, head for the nature trails, where you can take in some of the natural Northwest beauty.

Those who love the outdoors can head right across the street from Centennial to Powell Butte Nature Park. Miles of trails take hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders through forest and meadowland, with breathtaking views of Mount Hood. With a little luck, you can spot deer, foxes, chipmunks and other wildlife that roam the park grounds.

Dogs love romping around at Powell Butte, but if you want a simpler outing for you and your canine buddy, try Cherry Park in the nearby Mill Park neighborhood. The off-leash area allows plenty of room to run around.

The cost of living in Centennial runs a little lower than the rest of Portland. Renters pay an average of $693.70 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. To get to the city center on public transit, you can take the bus or MAX light rail with one $5 day pass, also valid for the streetcars downtown. Expect to pay about $4 for a beer at the local bar. Drivers pay about 9 percent more per gallon of gas than the national average.

Centennial hosts a diverse variety of shopping options, from national chain grocery stores to boutiques and specialty shops. You can find most of the stores on Division, but a few good spots lie on Powell and Stark as well.

Scan Design Furniture, a small chain with six stores across Oregon and Washington, operates in Centennial at Stark and 148th. Ask the friendly, knowledgeable staff for guidance, or peruse the selection of Scandinavian and other European-styled pieces. Skip the expensive stores downtown, as Scan Design sells well-crafted furniture at great prices.

Local artists and jewelers frequent A Bead Source, a local boutique shop specializing in – you guessed it – beads. Stop at this shop for craft supplies and attentive customer service. Check out the extensive collection of precious stones and gems, Swarovski crystal and funky charms.

Most residents do their major grocery shopping at one of the area chains, such as Fred Meyer. If you prefer to give your money to small businesses, Centennial houses a few great international groceries. Pakse Market stocks mostly Asian foods but carries meat and produce as well. Try Supermercados Mexico for Hispanic foods and cuts of meat that aren't available at the bigger chains. For local produce, drive to the nearby Wilkes neighborhood, and visit Growers Outlet.