Creston-Kenilworth - Portland, OR Area Guide

According to Portland Parks and Recreation, the Kenilworth neighborhood is named after Sir Walter Scott's 1821 novel, "Kenilworth." Characters from the romantic Elizabethan novel are honored as street names within the neighborhood, as well as names from other Scott novels. The land which is now Creston-Kenilworth was owned by a Methodist minister named Clinton Kelly, who settled in the area in 1848. Nine acres were purchased from him by the Portland Park board in 1909 which was developed into Kenilworth park. There are no museums or cultural centers in the neighborhood, however there is an community institution called the Dougy Center which provides activities and counselling for children and young adults who have experienced the loss of a close loved one. Annual events in the neighborhood include the National Night Out, a block party designed to introduce neighbors to each other, as well as neighborhood cleanup events.

This great SE neighborhood is mostly residential, but that doesn't mean you can't get some tasty eats while staying local. The overall culinary theme in Creston-Kenilworth leans toward pubs and bar-and-grills, with comfort food reigning supreme in most restaurants. This is the norm, not the rule, however, with Filipino, Japanese and Mexican restaurants serving up fresh offerings as well. Local favorite Shut Up and Eat is an ironically pleasant and laid back sandwich shop with some gargantuan servings. For lumberjack types, try the Broadstreet Bomber, a titanic-sized cheese steak oozing with melted cheese and overflowing with one-half a pound of beef SUAE also carries local bottles from local brewery Gigantic and other artisan outfits and provides catering services. If you happen to fall on the opposite side of the dining spectrum, visit Yoko's Japanese Restaurant for tastefully prepared sushi and other Japanese specialties. Regal visitors will want to sample the Emperor Roll with spicy tuna tempura, a favorite with regulars. Take note however, the restaurant is quite small and fills up quickly with sushi devotees during peak hours. Nonetheless, the enticing sushi and sake options are worth waiting for. For entertainment options, look no further than the historic Aladdin Theater, which opened in the 1920s as a house of vaudeville. These days the theater is host to some stellar musical acts from Portland and beyond, as well as comedy acts and more. For hand-craft beer, check out the very popular Hopworks Urban Brewery. Hopworks creates tasty seasonal and year-round organic beers in their 20-barrel on-site brewery.

Creston-Kenilworth's central location provides easy access to areas like Hawthorne, Reed College and Downtown. The area is bisected by a main thoroughfare, Cesar Chavez Avenue, also known as 39th Avenue, which delivers access to all the main SE neighborhoods continuing into NE Portland. New residents will also appreciate the access to Powell Boulevard, another main thoroughfare going east and west. Powell turns into highway 26 outside Portland, meandering majestically east to Mount Hood and the Cascade range, and winding west through the Coast range to the picturesque Oregon coast. Public parking is available and free thanks to the residential nature of the area. Those looking to hail a cab will have to call a local service, or boost the sharing economy by taking rides with locals via Uber. Creston Kenilworth achieved a walk score of 76 out of 100, making it above average for walkability within Portland. Walk scores are designated by walkscore.com, and are based on the proximity of key amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants and parks. The neighborhood is also above average in providing bike lanes, which has created more awareness and thus more safety regarding bikers in the roadways.

This great neighborhood boasts two appealing parks in a small area. The namesake parks, Creston and Kenilworth are appealing for different reasons. These are great family parks which are free of cost and very kid friendly. Creston park is the site of a community pool, a water feature/fountain for kids, and is more oriented toward sports and family leisure. Creston pool is the place to be during the hot summer months. They offer free swim, lessons for kids and adults, and a junior lifeguard program. Drop-in visits are $4 for adults, $3 for kids, but season passes are available as well. Kenilworth is covered in beautiful old trees, creating a lovely sanctuary. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed. From the park there is a great view of downtown Portland, but this view is obscured in the spring and summer months by towering trees in full bloom. There are no annual events in these parks, making them a tranquil destination all year round for families. Exercise opportunities can be found running or hiking the trails that snake through Kenilworth park, or during lap swim hours at Creston Pool.

Cost of living in the neighborhood is higher than average for Portland, but still quite affordable, especially if the option of shared housing is considered. The average rent for the area is around $900-1200 for a 1-bedroom apartment, but this can increase depending on location and amenities. Public transportation on Trimet's bus system takes residents anywhere in the metro region for $2.50, including downtown. On average, a beer costs between $3-5, less for a can of Pabst or similar quality. Gas prices stand at about 5 percent higher than the national average, but are slightly less than the Portland average.

Creston-Kenilworth is not known for shopping, but there are several specialty shops selling items from high-end instruments to organic chickenfeed. Most of the businesses are clustered near Powell or Foster road. Creston-Kenilworth is home to two very special symphonic suppliers, David Kerr Violin Shop and Pete's Upright Bass Shop, both amazing resources for instrument repair, accessories and sales. David Kerr offers an instrument rental program for budding young musicians or anyone looking for a new hobby while Pete showcases his vintage basses and provides repair expertise. Naomi's Organic Farm Supply is one-stop shopping for everything related to gardening, urban farming and animal husbandry focused on providing organic and high quality products. The store hosts workshops on diverse topics such as keeping goats, cover crops to growing amazing garlic. More than just a farm supply, Naomi's is a community center of sorts who those who embrace the growing movement of urban farming. If you lack the requisite green thumb, Trader Joe's is a real convenience here in the neighborhood with a wide variety of conventional and specialty grocery items and a great wine selection. Other grocery options include Natural Mart, a small health food store, and Safeway. If you prefer farmers markets in Creston-Kenilworth, the nearby Buckman neighborhood has got you covered.