In the mid-20th century Boise was home to one of Portland’s largest Black communities, and in 2000 nearly half its residents were African American; by 2010 that share had fallen to about a quarter as development remade the area. Today it draws concertgoers, weekend brunch crowds and families headed to the historic parks just north and south of the avenue.
Updated November 2026
Where to eat and drink
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
Sisters Jane and Sarah Minnick have run this pizzeria since 2010, topping whole-grain sourdough crusts with greens, foraged flowers and wild mushrooms, and buying their produce only from Oregon farms. Finish with the house-made organic ice cream, made with Straus Dairy.
¿Por Qué No?
Willamette Week readers voted this taqueria Portland’s best for tacos, for Mexican food and for families, so the line is part of the deal. If it stretches down the sidewalk, ordering takeout is usually quicker.
Matt’s BBQ
Texas-style brisket, ribs, pulled pork and sausage come off an oak-fired offset smoker daily at this cart in the Prost! Marketplace pod, next door to the German beer bar Prost!. Popular cuts sell out, so pre-order if your heart is set on brisket.
Gravy
Gravy sticks to breakfast and lunch, served daily: fresh-baked biscuits with homemade gravy, corned beef hash, scrambles, oatmeal brûlée and challah French toast.
Eem
Over on N Williams, Eem bills itself as “Thai BBQ & vacation drinks”: curries served with Matt’s BBQ brisket and pork belly, a white curry, fried chicken and tiki-style cocktails. It’s open for lunch and dinner daily, and takes reservations only for groups of six or more.
Kate’s Ice Cream
Every scoop here is vegan and gluten-free, right down to the waffle cones, which makes it the easy dessert stop for a mixed group. VegNews named it the best vegan ice cream shop in America in 2024 and 2025.
Shops worth a wander
Paxton Gate
The Portland outpost of a Bay Area curiosity shop stocks taxidermy, preserved insects, shark teeth, crystals and tarot decks, alongside jewelry, plants and home goods.
Pistils Nursery
Houseplants and pottery fill this nursery, which also runs private workshops and offers interior plant and landscape design if you want help beyond picking a pothos.
Flutter
New and old things share the shelves in this small shop: candles, perfume and jewelry up front, plus books, tarot decks and clothing.
Things to do
Mississippi Studios
Touring indie acts play this self-described “musician’s music venue” most nights, with local showcases like the Local Love Letter series in between. Bar Bar, the venue’s own bar, opens at 11 a.m., so you can settle in well before doors.
Peninsula Park Rose Garden
Up N Albina at Ainsworth, the city acquired this garden in 1913, and it’s now Oregon’s oldest public rose garden. Its octagonal bandstand, a Portland Historic Landmark, still hosts summer concerts and weddings.
Dawson Park
Just south of Boise at N Stanton and Williams, this two-acre park served as an unofficial town square for Portland’s Black community from the late 1940s and as a starting point for civil rights marches. The gazebo’s onion dome was salvaged from the Hill Block Building, and boulders in the splash pad tell the park’s history.
Community
The ReBuilding Center
This nonprofit reuse store sells salvaged doors, sinks, cabinets and other building materials, takes donations of the same, and teaches sliding-scale repair and woodworking classes. Store volunteers apply online, attend an orientation and commit to about 10 hours a month for four months.
North Portland Library
The Multnomah County branch on N Killingsworth holds the library’s Black Pacific Northwest Collection. Volunteer openings across the library system are posted on its volunteer site, and new ones go up often.
Peninsula Park Community Center
The city-run community center in Peninsula Park offers drop-in Indoor Park and Baby Gym sessions for kids five and under, drop-in basketball and futsal, and classes for all ages, with discounts of up to 90 percent through Portland Parks’ Access Discount program.
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