Kerns - Portland, OR Area Guide

Kerns acted as one of Portland's earliest apartment neighborhoods, mixing urban amenities with multifamily residences. Today, Kerns houses a tight-knit community and an abundance of culture. It exudes an artsy vibe, visible in the street murals and abundance of galleries and supply shops. Walk along 28th to see the arts center of Kerns.

The Laurelhurst Theater and Pub, operating since 1923, plays second-run films and classics. Enjoy food from the full menu with a local microbrew while you watch a movie on one of the theater's four screens.

Portland boasts more breweries than any other city in the world. Kerns proudly hosts several, including local favorite, Burnside Brewing Company. Each year in April, explore the area's finest new brews at the Buckman-Kerns Brewfest.

Kids and adults alike celebrate Greek culture at the annual Portland Greek Festival. Stop by to taste traditional food and shop the selection of handmade goods.

Kerns hosts some of the best restaurants in Portland. Drive down Burnside or 28th Avenue to find world class pizza and burgers alongside Cajun and international offerings. Nightlife destinations line Burnside and Sandy Boulevard. You can roll dinner and drinks into one, since Oregon law requires that all bars serve hot food. In Portland's competitive food and drink scene, bar proprietors sell some of Portland's best dishes.

Screen Door on Burnside serves Southern comfort food for brunch and dinner. For brunch, try the crunchy fried chicken over the sweet potato waffle. If you prefer to dine in for dinner, order the Screen Door plate with catfish, jambalaya and gumbo. Whether you go for brunch or dinner, though, arrive early — patrons start lining up at least half an hour before opening, and the line often wraps around the block by the time staff begins welcoming people inside.

For a Latin-themed dinner, head to Pambiche at 28th and Hoyt. Start with a pinosa a mimosa made with fresh pineapple juice — while you peruse the menu of Cuban dishes. Locals love the Plato Cubano, made with slow-roasted pork, garlic mojo yuca, beans and rice. Pambiche calls it a "typical Cuban plate."

For drinks, Kerns residents call Cardinal Club a "hidden gem." While tourists pile into Burnside's flashier clubs, this spot provides a quiet, comfortable atmosphere in which to enjoy a professionally mixed cocktail. Savor a Manhattan or a bar specialty mixed with liquors distilled in-house. The food menu features excellent options as well, including the not-to-be-missed grilled romaine.

Locals enjoy Kerns as one of Portland's most walkable neighborhoods. With over 150 restaurants, bars and coffee shops, the neighborhood allows quick walking access to dining and entertainment. The close proximity to downtown, designated shared roads and bike lanes allow cyclists to ride to work. While hills make much of Portland somewhat tricky to bike through, Kerns is uncharacteristically flat, making the roads even more pedestrian- and bike-friendly.

You don't need a car to travel within most of the neighborhood, but drivers can find unmetered street parking throughout Kerns. If you can't find a spot on the main streets, try driving a few blocks in either direction to find an empty place in the residential area. Interstates 5 and 84 both run through Kerns, providing quick access to other Portland neighborhoods.

Many Portland locals, though, eschew cars for bikes and public transit. Five TriMet bus lines, including Burnside's line 20 and Glisan's line 19, and one streetcar line operate in Kerns. You can take the bus downtown, where you can connect to any of Portland's four MAX light rail lines.

Since taxi drivers don't usually drive around looking for fares, you likely won't be able to hail a cab from the curb. If you need a ride, call Radio Cab or Broadway Cab. Despite city statutes prohibiting it, Uber began operating in Portland in December 2014 amid threats from local officials.

Buckman Field Park features an ADA-accessible playground for young children and sports fields for older kids. If you want to get your heart rate up, take to the trails for a great hike. You can also settle in for lunch with the family at the picnic area. Like all Portland parks, Buckman Field requires no admission fees.

A couple of blocks outside of Kerns, you can find Laurelhurst Park, a local favorite that draws visitors from all over southeast Portland. William S. Ladd, two-time Portland mayor who lent his name to popular residential area Ladd's Addition, once owned the land that now houses Laurelhurst Park, now a historical site. The playground and sports facilities keep kids entertained while older patrons can take in the scenery on the nature trail. Local residents enjoy the public art and the serene pond surrounded by trees. Take the dog along for a romp in one of the off-leash areas.

The cost of living in Kerns runs just slightly higher than the Portland average. Renters pay a median price of $1,375 for a one-bedroom apartment. To get to the city center, buy a $5 TriMet day pass, valid for rides on the bus, streetcar and MAX light rail. A pint at the neighborhood bar costs an average of $4, but don't forget to check out happy hours in the afternoon and around midnight, where you can get a microbrew for around $3. Drivers pay about 9 percent more per gallon of gas than the national average.

Vintage, art, and boutique specialty stores characterize the shopping scene in Kerns. Hit Burnside, 28th and Sandy for the best destinations.

From jewelry and accessories to clocks and journals, Redux sells something for everyone. The shop also acts as a gallery, hosting shows by local artists.

Popina's specializes in retro swimwear inspired by the conservative, yet fun and frisky bathing beauties of the 1950s, such as Jayne Mansfield and Rita Hayworth.

For groceries, locals who don't want to leave the neighborhood can check out Dashen International Groceries, a family-owned store specializing in South and Central American foods. Food Fight Grocery lies right outside of Kerns and caters to vegan shoppers. Get your pantry staples here, then head to Tails & Trotters, the butcher shop at 24th and Glisan.