Check out the Hawthorne district for interesting restaurants, bookstores and people. Nice neighborhoods in the NW area too, restaurant row is on NW 21st, Wildwood is a winner. NW 23rd has nice shops and restaurants. Portland has a great downtown, walkable and good tram service. They have done some good planning, unlike Seattle.
SW Portland is nice too. I really like the Sellwood area for antiques. We go to Portland once a year to shop for books (Powells) and look for new lighting fixtures (rejuvenation hardware 1100 se grand).
Have fun, its always warmer and dryer in portland than seattle.
lala