Gateway - Portland, OR

Hazelwood was first conceived in 1854 when the southern Clackamas County approved the construction of old Baseline Road, which is now the major roadway Stark Street. Some of the stone markers for the road can still be seen today. The majority of the neighborhood was finished in the mid-1900s, starting with the Hazelwood section of Interstate 205 in 1951 until the rest of the neighborhood was mostly finished in 1991. It has continued to grow with the assistance of the Hazelwood Neighborhood Association.

The Portland Metro Arts in Hazelwood provides a taste of the art and culture available in Portland. The nonprofit arts organization hosts full-length ballets and other dance performances as part of the Metro Dancers dance company, as well as family-oriented community theater productions of traditional stories with a twist.

Chain and local restaurants both call Hazelwood home, offering excellent food that the city of Portland is known for.

A twist on fast food, the Pacific Northwest local chain Burgerville serves decadent food made with local and fresh ingredients at fast food prices. Their menu always includes seasonal items, from new milkshakes and sandwiches to onion rings, depending on when you visit. Their permanent menu features hand-mixed milkshakes and the delectable "Tillamook Cheeseburger," solid choices for someone on the go.

For a more sophisticated palate, the Ringside Steakhouse Eastside location offers premium cuts of steak with classic sides of mashed potatoes or herb quinoa. While steak is their specialty, the restaurant has something for everyone with a surf and turf and "Smoked Chicken Tortelloni" also on the menu. Also the perfect place to start happy hour, before heading into downtown Portland for more nightlife.

Portland Seafood Company achieves a similar atmosphere on the other side of Hazelwood. The restaurant serves as one of the best locations for a night out in the Hazelwood area before hitting the town or a concert in downtown Portland, with happy hour cocktail and appetizers specials favored by locals. For a dinner dish, the "Alaskan Snow Crab Bucket" comes seafood and andouille sausage and has become a major crowd pleaser — a must try if visiting this restaurant.

The quiet, residential areas make strolling and biking leisurely on the scenic tree-lined streets. To get downtown or to the shopping centers, take a ride on a bus or MAX train via Portland TriMet public transportation. Multiple buses and the MAX Blue Line lead to the Gateway Transit Center, which provides connections to all other major transportation in the city as well as access to the shopping center there.

Interstate 205 runs at the Western border of Hazelwood, giving access to Clackamas Town Center in the South and Vancouver, WA in the North for shopping and restaurants. The main roads of Stark, Burnside, Glisan and Halsey run through all of Eastern Portland providing travel through Hazelwood and to Gresham or downtown Portland. Interstate 84 lies just North of Hazelwood, intersecting with Interstate 205 for travel to the outskirts of Portland and Gresham.

There are many parks in the Hazelwood neighborhood that help cement its status as a green oasis, and some to suit every need whether exercise or leisure. Ventura Park offers large, scenic fields over more than seven acres for relaxing or picnics. A large playground provides a place for kids to play and the city's first pumptrack for bicycling. With public art and a large parking lot, it creates a perfect space for enjoying the outdoors within a large city.

Glendoveer Golf Course provides a more athletic experience with beautiful scenery. While there is a golf course with driving range and indoor tennis courts for renting, the outer edge of the course houses a public, two-mile long fitness trail perfect for jogging, power walking, or just strolling with a friend to enjoy the view. The fitness trail does not serve as the location for many events, but the golf course itself annually presents a Halloween "Haunted Forest" indoor attraction for children. Dogs and bikes are not allowed, but the trail serves as the perfect escape from urban hustle and bustle, so it has become a must visit for the Hazelwood neighborhood.

Renting is in higher demand, so the rates run a little higher than the Portland average but still within a very reasonable range, with one-bedroom apartments available around $680 per month.

The cost of gas sits around 10 percent above the national average, and a pint at a local restaurant costs about $5. A TriMet ticket will cost $2.50 for two hours, easily getting you to downtown Portland or the city center.

Finding something to satisfy your shopping needs is not hard to do in the Hazelwood neighborhood. Mall 205 and Gateway Shopping Center provide large department style stores like Target, Fred Meyer and Kohl's. For grocery shopping, Safeway and Walgreens provide added options. Shopping and then grabbing a bite to eat at these centers makes for an easy and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. If looking for a farmer's market, you'll find one just south of Hazelwood in the Montavilla area open in the summer and autumn months.

For more specialty stores, Habitat for Humanity's ReStore location supplies home furnishings that are new, pre-owned or reclaimed, with proceeds going toward building new, affordable homes in the Portland area. They help recycle materials into the new homes or into the ReStore, where homeowners can also buy supplies for their own home construction projects.

Music lovers must visit Portland Music Company in the Hazelwood neighborhood. Established in 1927, this store has been trailblazing its way into its home as a Portland icon. It was the first store to provide music rentals to Oregon school children to encourage musical education, and during the Second World War the Portland Music Company turned into the Portland Music and Theatrical Bureau, offering much needed entertainment. The store has continued to thrive, and it is now the best place in Portland to go for sheet music, musical instruments, and even music lessons.