Reed Portland, OR

Simeon and Amanda Reed, a couple of the area's earliest residents, gave the neighborhood its name. In his will, Simeon left half of his estate to the brand new Reed College, allowing the institution to establish itself as a principal center for learning in southeast Portland.

While many Portland neighborhoods saw a mid-20th century flight of their citizens to the suburbs, Reed flourished during that time. Today, new development replaces some of the period architecture, but many locals lobby for Reed's designation as a historical district in an effort to protect the 1950s ranches and bungalows, which are unique among Portland's foursquares and Victorian-style homes.

Neighborhood residents enjoy access to the many arts and cultural events at Reed College. The school opens its galleries to the public for shows featuring both student artists and traveling exhibits. Locals may also attend lectures and stage productions of theatre and dance.

Since Reed contains mostly homes, locals usually head to nearby neighborhoods to eat. You can find a couple of good food stands near Reed's Gigantic Brewing Company at the corner of 26th and Steele. Once you tire of burgers and tacos, though, you can venture out to Woodstock and Creston-Kenilworth for top-notch meals.

Walk a few blocks north to the corner of Gladstone and 39th (the street signs say "Cesar E. Chavez" now, but locals still call it 39th), and grab a seat at Shut Up and Eat. This tiny local favorite packs big flavors into its giant sandwiches, served on fresh bread delivered daily from Portland's own Pearl Bakery. Order the Broad Street Bomber, Shut Up and Eat's take on a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.

For a traditional family-style breakfast, try the friendly Mehri's Bakery & Deli at 52nd and Bybee. Mehri makes melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon French toast topped with a caramel pecan sauce. If you dine in for lunch, order the French dip and see if you can detect the secret ingredient that sets it apart as the best around. Buy a few pastries from the case before you leave, too -- you'll thank yourself later.

Gigantic Brewing Company represents the entirety of Reed's bar scene. Though it lies hidden in the neglected industrial edge of the neighborhood, Gigantic remains a favorite among Portland's 80-plus metro-area breweries. Order their flagship IPA and, if the sun peaks out, grab a seat outside on the patio.

If you prefer a different bar experience, Gladstone houses several good spots near 29th. C Bar offers more variety with its 20 rotating taps and full bar. Locals love the food menu too, especially the poutine. Have a beer and a snack, then head to the pinball room, where you can choose from the bar's selection of 15 pinball machines.

Reed, being a mostly residential neighborhood, caters less to pedestrians than to cyclists and drivers. Since the neighborhood takes up so little space on the map, walkers can get out of Reed and to more urban neighborhoods without much trouble. Still, the area offers little apart from views of trees and picturesque homes to the resident who would prefer not to leave the neighborhood.

Bike lanes and shared roads, though, make cycling convenient. The area is uncharacteristically flat for Portland, and it lies right across the Willamette River from downtown, so many residents opt to commute by bike.

Drivers usually have little trouble finding unmetered street parking, since Reed lacks businesses that would attract heavy traffic. High housing density means that many residents use on-street parking. If you need to drive to another area of Portland, Interstate 5 sits just a 10-minute drive from the neighborhood. Taxis don't drive around looking for riders, so if you need a ride, call Radio Cab or Broadway Cab. You can also reserve a ride using Uber.

Four TriMet bus lines serve the area. To get downtown, take line 17 or 19. Line 75 stops at the Hollywood Transit Center, where you can connect to four TriMet's MAX light rail lines. The MAX orange line route passes within walking distance of Reed as well.

The Portland area houses more than 300 parks and green spaces, so wherever you live, you never have to travel far to find outdoor fun. All the residential dwellings in Reed leave little room for a park within the neighborhood borders, but those in search of a trail or playground need only to cross a street.

Kenilworth Park, named after Sir Walter Scott's 19th-century romance novel, "Kenilworth," rests just across Holgate from the Reed neighborhood. Take the family to this free park, where the little ones can play at the ADA-accessible playground. Sports lovers can take advantage of the softball, tennis and volleyball facilities, while patrons who would prefer to take in the scenery can hike the nature trails. Prepare to see lots of dogs at Kenilworth, which has a lots of space perfect for a game of fetch.

Take a walk through the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, also right outside of Reed. Originally a test garden for the American Rhododendron Society, this park still provides amazing views of running creeks and blooming flowers. Admission costs $4, except on Wednesdays, when you can take in the views for free. Crystal Springs hosts two annual sales, one in April and the other in May, allowing you to take the charm home with you.

The cost of living in Reed runs higher than the Portland average. Residents pay a median rental price of $1,128 for a one-bedroom apartment. A pint of beer costs about $4 at the neighborhood pub, and ff you need to get to the city center on public transit, buy a $5 TriMet day pass, which is valid for all bus, light rail and streetcar rides. Those who prefer to drive their own car will pay about 9 percent more per gallon of gas than the national average.

Locals to the residential Reed neighborhood find the best shopping in neighboring Woodstock and Sellwood-Moreland neighborhoods, where vintage and home decor specialty shops abound.

For fun boutique shopping, head to Coco and Toulouse Go Shopping in Sellwood-Moreland. This shop sells cards and other paper gifts alongside jewelry and statement accessories. Check out the European-inspired skin care products.

Rack up some great vintage finds at Red Fox Vintage at Woodstock and 46th, just a few blocks east of Reed. Red Fox stocks clothes for men and women of all ages, furniture, houseware, kitchenware and art, all at prices that don't break the bank. Locals vouch for the friendly service as well.

Reed residents have easy access to half a dozen chain supermarkets, the closest being Trader Joe's. Shoppers seeking food sourced closer to home can travel to the People's Food Co-Op at Tibbetts and 21st in the nearby Hosford-Abernathy neighborhood. Members can buy fresh, organic produce and natural soaps and household products. The co-op also hosts a weekly farmers' market, where about a dozen local vendors sell produce and dairy.