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It's been 30 years since our first Best of Portland issue.
On Sept. 12, 1985, the very first Best of Portland item we ever printed was about a land-use hearings officer named George H. Fleerlageâwho is still a Portlander after all these years. We called him the best damn bureaucrat in the city, and we praised him for âplaying it straight.â
Even then, our mission was clear. âWith this issue,â we wrote, âWillamette Week kicks off what we hope will be an annual acknowledgement of the many small parts that, in their own individual way, add up to make a great city.â
That is still our goal today.
In our 2015 Best of Portland issue, alongside the countless other things we name "the best" throughout the year, we still aim to pick up the weird and unappreciated odds and ends of Portland city life that might not otherwise make their way into the newspaper: a pair of charming cyber squatters holding the Jeb Bush campaign hostage, a perfect loaf of bread, a way retired carpet that's way better than the one at the airport, or a party bus for old dogs.
But this year, we decided we'd also give our readers a say about the many things in this city they love best. And so we asked you to vote for your favorite pizza, band, veterinarian, hiking trails, and skatepark, among hundreds of other categories.
Nearly 18,000 of you heartily responded. The winners (and your good taste) are in evidence starting on page 44, with our own editor's picks humbly appended to some categories.
The DNA of our Best of Portland issue remains unchanged—we remain dedicated as ever to finding the best spot to breastfeed on public property, the best river-top catering service, and DIY weed sign.
But when it comes to finding amazing things in Portland, there are more than enough to go around.
Best People and Other Animals | Best Bytes | Best Bites | Best Sips and Puffs
Best Sounds | Best Sights | Best Words
Best Fun and Games | Bests of the Year | Readers' Poll
WWeek 2015
