That new energy includes adding a thick slice of local hipsterdom to the dozens of returning vendors and full menu of steaming food stands.

BBC: Roll up for Vancouver??s revamped night market

Starting July 26, the annual Oregon Brewers Festival will serve up more than 80 different craft beers from around the U.S. The ease of living on the cheap and chill can make the town feel smug at times, ripe for the satire of "Portlandia, " which has made the place a poster town for hipsterdom.

WSJ: Insider's Travel Guide to Portland, Oregon | Journal Concierge