Walk Old Portland With Ramona Quimby

Now you can get a guidebook to Beverly Cleary's Portland.

It doesn't get more Old Portland than Ramona Quimby. From 1955 to 1999, no other book reassured Portland's relevance for young readers more than the adventures of Ramona, Henry and Beezus in Northeast Portland.

Since 2009, author and walking expert Laura O. Foster has led Walking with Ramona tours through the neighborhood that makes up Ramona's world. Foster also wrote Portland Hill Walks and Portland Stairs Book.

Now, you don't have to feel like a Segway tourist and can instead take yourself on the tour. Walking with Ramona: Exploring Beverly Cleary's Portland is an 128-page book that takes you through a 3.2 mile walk or bike ride through Northeast Portland and the Hollywood District, with history and photos. Stops along the way include Beverly Cleary's house at NE 37th and Klickitat, the Hollywood Theater and horse rings (talk about gentrification).

Microcosm, publisher of the This Is Portland guide and The Zinester's Guide to Portland, set up a Kickstarter to raise money to publish the guide, which is already completed. In just five days, the project has received $1,754 of their $6,000 goal and has 24 days to go. And it's growing every minute.

Cleary, who now lives in California, turns 100 on April 12th, the goal date for the release. But if the project receives $10,000 before the end of the month, it will immediately go to print. Happy birthday, Bev!

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