Stop and smell the roses in Northeast Portland’s Hollywood District, where there’s no end to the retro finds, oh-so-chic furniture, and quaint gifts for those who want to get away without leaving the city.

Driving down Sandy Blvd., you may get the feeling that this Northeast Portland neighborhood is one “hey” short of a heyday, but park and you’ll soon discover a quirky mix of shops worth exploring for a couple of hours. Shopowners who are small-town friendly and fun merchandise that often spans the globe make this “other” Hollywood a rising star on the shopping circuit.

Buy a custom-ordered frame for the new piece of artwork that you bought from the artist herself and then savor some chocolates with your new wine purchases…the perfect day in Oregon’s Wine Country!

From recycled flip-flops to wine tasting nirvana, spend an afternoon (or longer) enjoying the wares found in McMinnville—a shopper’s mecca!

Do you speed through McMinnville every time you drive to Yamhill County’s wine country or head for the coast on 99W? Next time, stop the car and explore downtown McMinnville. You’ll discover you’ve been missing a lot when you ignored that HISTORIC TOWN CENTER sign with the arrow pointing in the direction you weren’t going, but should’ve been! When you peruse the shops on pedestrian-friendly N.E. Third St., you’ll start empty-handed, but you’ll soon want several extra hands to carry all your goodies from wine and chocolate to artwork and, of course, that perfect piece of jewelry for your hard-to-shop-for sister!

First, B.L.T. yourself, and then continue on your S.E. Division St. trek to Old Portland Hardware & Architectural, Urban Flora, Langlitz Leathers, Tropical Salvage and Fleur de Lis.

From hand-designed furniture to TOHO seed beads and a stained-glass creation, continue your S.E. Division expedition in style with Ease, Beads at Dusti Creek, Longfellow’s Books & Periodicals, Larry’s Lighting Repair and David Schlicker Stained Glass Studio.

If the extent of your downtown Portland shopping is picking up your family’s pharmaceuticals at the drugstore nearest your office, duck into some of Portland’s most unique shops during your next long lunch. From Native American artifacts to Belgian linens to skull buttons from Germany, you’ll find great stuff from around the world without ever leaving the city.

All the pretty dresses, treats for taste buds and some of that Amsterdam vibe that everybody loves. Also, places to stay fueled to keep up your energy level while cruising around downtown.

If you’re up for an afternoon that will net you a great little summer dress and a chance to meet’n’greet a handful of chatty shop owners, head to this Northeast Portland enclave of bohemian boutiques. The gentrified blocks are filled with a mix of twentysomethings and young families, and great places in which to find a gardenialike paper-shaded chandelier or a vibrant bolt or two of Japanese fabric.