Teenagers can be hard to shop for; sometimes they’re never happy! But unique gifts for teenagers are easily available in Portland, Oregon, known for its unofficial slogan, "Keep Portland Weird."
Typical teenagers (especially girls) often enjoy clothing as a gift – as long as it’s the kind of clothing they like. Forever 21 is a clothing store that is likely to fulfill a trendy teenager’s wishes. Forever 21 is conveniently located in the major malls around Portland, including Lloyd Center, Vancouver Mall, Pioneer Place and Clackamas Town Center (for hours and contact information for each location, visit their website at www.forever21.com). Items available range from basic t-shirts, like a simple long-sleeved ribbed tee, to dresses fit for an evening on the town, like a jeweled satin dress. Gift cards are available if you don’t want to take a chance on buying the wrong thing.
For unique and locally made accessories, try Queen Bee Creations at 1847 E. Burnside St, #103. Queen Bee makes handmade, one of a kind bags, wallets and other accessories from recycled materials (including wool scraps and recycled advertising banners) and non-leather vinyl. All of their products are made in Portland, with an emphasis on sustainability and fair employment practices. Teens might enjoy a Re-Wool Satchel, available with different appliqué decorations, or a Wonder Boy wallet in non-leather vinyl. Queen Bee’s studio is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m.; their products are also available at many retail stores in the area. Contact Queen Bee for more information at 503-232-1755.
For the aspiring world traveler, great gifts can be found at Taste of Europe, 1739 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Taste of Europe is a family-owned business selling a wide variety of European food items that are not widely available in the U.S., including delicious Kras chocolates from Croatia and authentic Haribo Gummis from Germany. Taste of Europe is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Contact Taste of Europe at 503-238-3693 for more information.
If the teen in your life loves the outdoors, Joe’s is the place to go. Joe’s (formerly G.I. Joe’s) is a local chain specializing in outdoor and sports equipment. Joe’s has several locations around Portland (check their Store Locator for store locations and hours). Perhaps your teenager would enjoy a handheld GPS for geocaching, or a hydration pack for cycling. The gift card is an option here, too, for the teen who might want a pair of hiking boots or a well-fitting backpack.
For the ultimate in unique gifts, visit Portland Saturday Market. This outdoor market is located under and near the Burnside Bridge between SW Naito Parkway and SW First Avenue. Saturday Market includes a huge array of vendors; you can find handmade and hand-decorated clothing and accessories, visual art pieces for decorating a bedroom, and other types of arts and crafts. Your teen might enjoy handmade vegetable glycerin soap from Dirtyface Soap Company, or a hand-bound journal from Touch the Sky. All of the vendors are actual artisans; these are not vendors just renting a table to sell mainstream commercial items. If you’re overwhelmed by the variety, even Saturday Market sells gift certificates at its information booth; the recipient can use the certificate at any booth in Saturday Market. Saturday Market is open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from the first weekend in March through December 24. The market is also open for the Festival of the Last Minute every day from December 18-24. For more information, call (503) 222-6072.
The teenager in your life is sure to enjoy the time and effort you put in to finding a unique gift that they will truly enjoy. Fortunately for you, Portland is a great place to do this!
