Guidebook for Portland
Food Scene
Heart is well-known as one of the best coffee roasters in Portland. It is 3 blocks away on 22nd and Burnside and is a very posh coffee shop with hipsters galore and fancy pastries.
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Heart Coffee Roasters
2211 E Burnside StHeart is well-known as one of the best coffee roasters in Portland. It is 3 blocks away on 22nd and Burnside and is a very posh coffee shop with hipsters galore and fancy pastries.
This is my favourite restaurant in Portland. It is half bar/half restaurant. Owned by Kyle Webster, who is wed to the infamous Naomi Pomeroy of Beast fame (which is across the street), Expatriate is a cocktail bar with incredible SE Asian inspired food. If you get there from 17:00-18:00 you can have their Thai nachos, an incredible taste sensation that includes wonton chips and kaffir-lime cheese (It's also available after 22;00). They spin vinyl there, and their drink menu is a bit expensive (12-14$ a drink), but worth it. The tea-leaf salad is best in show, and even the french fries are fantastic. You will walk out lighter in the wallet, but will be so satisfied, it won't matter.
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Expatriate
5424 NE 30th AveThis is my favourite restaurant in Portland. It is half bar/half restaurant. Owned by Kyle Webster, who is wed to the infamous Naomi Pomeroy of Beast fame (which is across the street), Expatriate is a cocktail bar with incredible SE Asian inspired food. If you get there from 17:00-18:00 you can have their Thai nachos, an incredible taste sensation that includes wonton chips and kaffir-lime cheese (It's also available after 22;00). They spin vinyl there, and their drink menu is a bit expensive (12-14$ a drink), but worth it. The tea-leaf salad is best in show, and even the french fries are fantastic. You will walk out lighter in the wallet, but will be so satisfied, it won't matter.
Casa Del Matador is Kerns's best happy-hour spot. HH is from 4-6 and from 10-close; while HH is happening, you can get the grande nachos for $5. This will feed 3 people. Chips and salsa are free as well. They have top-shelf Tuesdays, where high-end tequilas are half off as well. Their shrimp tacos are $4 but delicious. I love the tamarind margarita, as it has a Thai overtone to it.
The environs are fancy and southwestern inspired, with a lot of metal art. There is outdoor seating in the summer, so it is dog-friendly as well. There's a fire pit in the middle and a lot of cool booths created with intricate wooden designs.
Their beer tap-list is lacking, but you're here for the cheap eats.
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The Matador
1438 NW 23rd AveCasa Del Matador is Kerns's best happy-hour spot. HH is from 4-6 and from 10-close; while HH is happening, you can get the grande nachos for $5. This will feed 3 people. Chips and salsa are free as well. They have top-shelf Tuesdays, where high-end tequilas are half off as well. Their shrimp tacos are $4 but delicious. I love the tamarind margarita, as it has a Thai overtone to it.
The environs are fancy and southwestern inspired, with a lot of metal art. There is outdoor seating in the summer, so it is dog-friendly as well. There's a fire pit in the middle and a lot of cool booths created with intricate wooden designs.
Their beer tap-list is lacking, but you're here for the cheap eats.
Screen Door opened its doors as I moved into Casa Stella. I used to sit at the bar with friends before it caught on.
It caught on.
For years, it was open for brunch on the weekends; the wait was easily 2 hours for a party of four. Now, they're open 7 days a week, so you can sneak in for lunch or brunch on a Tuesday or Wednesday and have the best fried chicken and waffles of your life.
The rest of the menu is also stellar: the owners are from the culinary paradise of Lafayette, Louisiana, and the menu reflects their skill and the best of a Southern menu.
Go here. Just not on the weekends.
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Screen Door
2337 E Burnside StScreen Door opened its doors as I moved into Casa Stella. I used to sit at the bar with friends before it caught on.
It caught on.
For years, it was open for brunch on the weekends; the wait was easily 2 hours for a party of four. Now, they're open 7 days a week, so you can sneak in for lunch or brunch on a Tuesday or Wednesday and have the best fried chicken and waffles of your life.
The rest of the menu is also stellar: the owners are from the culinary paradise of Lafayette, Louisiana, and the menu reflects their skill and the best of a Southern menu.
Go here. Just not on the weekends.
Next door to Screen Door is an underground coffee shop inspired by SE Asia. Here you can get a Vietnamese coffee or an Indonesian coffee. The spices are different; the flavours are magnificent, and in my opinion, this is the most interesting coffee shop in town.
If you want to work, it is a quiet place with few distractions as well. Free wi-fi, too.
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Kopi Coffee House
2327 E Burnside StNext door to Screen Door is an underground coffee shop inspired by SE Asia. Here you can get a Vietnamese coffee or an Indonesian coffee. The spices are different; the flavours are magnificent, and in my opinion, this is the most interesting coffee shop in town.
If you want to work, it is a quiet place with few distractions as well. Free wi-fi, too.
There is nowhere else you can get a jelly-filled doughnut shaped like a voodoo doll with a pretzel sticking out of its heart.
This place is an icon, and the neighbourhood version has shorter lines than the downtown version. This is a must-see.
In my opinion, the doughnuts aren't all that good, but you're there to be seen and to take Instagram photos, not get an amazing meal, right?
This location is also open 24 hours, so you can show up drunk and fit in with everyone else with compromised judgement. I used to play pinball there. I'm not sure if that's still a thing.
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Voodoo Doughnut - Davis
1501 NE Davis StThere is nowhere else you can get a jelly-filled doughnut shaped like a voodoo doll with a pretzel sticking out of its heart.
This place is an icon, and the neighbourhood version has shorter lines than the downtown version. This is a must-see.
In my opinion, the doughnuts aren't all that good, but you're there to be seen and to take Instagram photos, not get an amazing meal, right?
This location is also open 24 hours, so you can show up drunk and fit in with everyone else with compromised judgement. I used to play pinball there. I'm not sure if that's still a thing.
I love Sichuanese food, and this place is simply the bomb. Worth the drive, order the Sichuan fried fish, the dumplings, or the hand-shaved noodles. The menu is humongous; I have no idea how they manage to win on 95% of what they put out.
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Szechuan Chef
7007 South Macadam AvenueI love Sichuanese food, and this place is simply the bomb. Worth the drive, order the Sichuan fried fish, the dumplings, or the hand-shaved noodles. The menu is humongous; I have no idea how they manage to win on 95% of what they put out.
You have to see this place: it is Old Portland for real. Situated in an industrial area under a bridge, the Montage is the late night Mecca. You can get killer Louisiana-style fare until 5 am. Leave some leftovers and have them sculpt you a foil animal. The drinks are decent, too, if you're there before 2am.
It opens at 16:00, so you can head for dinner if you want too. The caesar salad is good, but you really want to have the gator bites, the frog legs, and the legit andouille. The mac and cheese is classic. And oyster or mussel shooters are THE way to start your meal.
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Le Bistro Montage
301 SE Morrison StYou have to see this place: it is Old Portland for real. Situated in an industrial area under a bridge, the Montage is the late night Mecca. You can get killer Louisiana-style fare until 5 am. Leave some leftovers and have them sculpt you a foil animal. The drinks are decent, too, if you're there before 2am.
It opens at 16:00, so you can head for dinner if you want too. The caesar salad is good, but you really want to have the gator bites, the frog legs, and the legit andouille. The mac and cheese is classic. And oyster or mussel shooters are THE way to start your meal.
Drunks and vegans need pizza at 3 am. This is where they get it. Remember: nothing good happens after 3am. Go home. You're drunk.
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Sizzle Pie Central Eastside
624 E Burnside StDrunks and vegans need pizza at 3 am. This is where they get it. Remember: nothing good happens after 3am. Go home. You're drunk.
Peruvian, vegan, expensive, delicious. They have a great selection of drinks and specialise in Peruvian brandy. Family run, great service, and a really great atmosphere with lots of art.
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Epif
404 NE 28th AvePeruvian, vegan, expensive, delicious. They have a great selection of drinks and specialise in Peruvian brandy. Family run, great service, and a really great atmosphere with lots of art.
Americanised Chinese food taken to the next level.
It's not authentic. But it is damned good. And they do all the right things: fresh ingredients, hand-pulled noodles daily, amazing dumplings.
Get the dry-fried anything, the Shandong chicken, the Mongolian beef, the green beans; the tan tan or gwai wer noodles are fantastic.
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Shandong Restaurant
3724 NE BroadwayAmericanised Chinese food taken to the next level.
It's not authentic. But it is damned good. And they do all the right things: fresh ingredients, hand-pulled noodles daily, amazing dumplings.
Get the dry-fried anything, the Shandong chicken, the Mongolian beef, the green beans; the tan tan or gwai wer noodles are fantastic.
Underrated local place for small plates with a Cajun spin on it. Good beer list, decent drinks. Super easy to get to from Stella and they have outdoor seating.
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Tapalaya
28 NE 28th AveUnderrated local place for small plates with a Cajun spin on it. Good beer list, decent drinks. Super easy to get to from Stella and they have outdoor seating.
Holy what this place is good. While it isn't cheap, this is a great place for a vodka flight blowout and all of the fish. The kitschy, cold-war decorations liven up the already packed and lively space. The servers know you're not super familiar with Russian food and help you along.
This place is great for small groups of people to share food. Their happy hour is fun and weird. It is Willamette Week's 2014 Restaurant of the Year. Go. Do it. Spend. Drink. And get the bison grass vodka, whatever you do.
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Kachka
960 SE 11th AveHoly what this place is good. While it isn't cheap, this is a great place for a vodka flight blowout and all of the fish. The kitschy, cold-war decorations liven up the already packed and lively space. The servers know you're not super familiar with Russian food and help you along.
This place is great for small groups of people to share food. Their happy hour is fun and weird. It is Willamette Week's 2014 Restaurant of the Year. Go. Do it. Spend. Drink. And get the bison grass vodka, whatever you do.
Acadia is a sleeper. Cajun-inspired food, high-end digs, and a great drink list, this understated eatery has been wowing me since 2003.
The menu changes seasonally and the staff are always attentive and cool.
This is a fantastic place for a glass of wine and a quiet dining experience. It's the opposite experience of Montage, with similar food (only this is way better).
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Acadia
1303 NE Fremont StAcadia is a sleeper. Cajun-inspired food, high-end digs, and a great drink list, this understated eatery has been wowing me since 2003.
The menu changes seasonally and the staff are always attentive and cool.
This is a fantastic place for a glass of wine and a quiet dining experience. It's the opposite experience of Montage, with similar food (only this is way better).
This is the best BBQ place that I've been to. And I've been to Texas.
The Frito Pie is incredibly good, despite what it looks like. On Tuesday, they have a special for ribs. The smoked chicken is great as well.
I highly recommend checking this place out. It is worth the trip.
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Podnah's BBQ
1625 NE Killingsworth StThis is the best BBQ place that I've been to. And I've been to Texas.
The Frito Pie is incredibly good, despite what it looks like. On Tuesday, they have a special for ribs. The smoked chicken is great as well.
I highly recommend checking this place out. It is worth the trip.
I keep going here for breakfast. This is walking distance to Stella and I adore the weird, Northwestern decoration and the variety of sauces. The menu changes often, and they have vegetarian and fish options. It is rarely busy for lunch or breakfast, and is just delicious.
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Smokehouse Tavern
1401 Southeast Morrison StreetI keep going here for breakfast. This is walking distance to Stella and I adore the weird, Northwestern decoration and the variety of sauces. The menu changes often, and they have vegetarian and fish options. It is rarely busy for lunch or breakfast, and is just delicious.
Peter is the owner and remembers his customers by name. This is a very inexpensive place and they make their own enjara bread daily. This is a great place to share a meal and have some mead.
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Bete-Lukas | Ethiopian Restaurant
2504 SE 50th AvePeter is the owner and remembers his customers by name. This is a very inexpensive place and they make their own enjara bread daily. This is a great place to share a meal and have some mead.
Cuban is an uncommonly good cuisine. They make their own desserts here. It is very close to walk here, but there is usually a wait. There is outdoor seating year round. I recommend the Ropa Vieja (beef) and the empanadas.
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Pambiche
2811 NE Glisan StCuban is an uncommonly good cuisine. They make their own desserts here. It is very close to walk here, but there is usually a wait. There is outdoor seating year round. I recommend the Ropa Vieja (beef) and the empanadas.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cardinal Club is a local bar with fairly cheap drinks and good food. It's a great place for locals and is rarely too crowded. It has outdoor seating in the summer and a dim interior and candles.
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Cardinal Club
18 NE 28th AveCardinal Club is a local bar with fairly cheap drinks and good food. It's a great place for locals and is rarely too crowded. It has outdoor seating in the summer and a dim interior and candles.
Stammtisch is a local gastropub, featuring German food and beer. It's one of the few places you can get a 1L stein of Köstrizer Schwarzbier or a Barock Dunkel (my recommendation). There is outdoor seating, and their spaetzle and bretzels make great appetisers. My favourite dish is the schnitzel, a breaded pork cutlet. This is hearty food that is great in the dark months in Portland. It's also a good place for a football match, as they play Portland Timbers games as well as other sports on the television.
The staff is helpful and super knowledgeable.
This was voted the best restaurant of 2016 by the Oregonian and the best bar of the year by Willamette Week in 2015.
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Stammtisch
401 NE 28th AveStammtisch is a local gastropub, featuring German food and beer. It's one of the few places you can get a 1L stein of Köstrizer Schwarzbier or a Barock Dunkel (my recommendation). There is outdoor seating, and their spaetzle and bretzels make great appetisers. My favourite dish is the schnitzel, a breaded pork cutlet. This is hearty food that is great in the dark months in Portland. It's also a good place for a football match, as they play Portland Timbers games as well as other sports on the television.
The staff is helpful and super knowledgeable.
This was voted the best restaurant of 2016 by the Oregonian and the best bar of the year by Willamette Week in 2015.
The Sandy Hut used to be a hellish place with crappy food and hipster decorations of luchadores. It used to be referred to as the Handy Slut.
It was bought in 2015 and remodelled; they sand blasted the paint off the glass cubes, which let in a gorgeous western sun during happy hour. There are about 6 taps of local beer and a full drink menu.
The food is shockingly good, and the decor has been updated to the more period environs of when the 'Hut started up in the 20s.
Best dive bar in the neighbourhood.
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Sandy Hut
1430 NE Sandy BlvdThe Sandy Hut used to be a hellish place with crappy food and hipster decorations of luchadores. It used to be referred to as the Handy Slut.
It was bought in 2015 and remodelled; they sand blasted the paint off the glass cubes, which let in a gorgeous western sun during happy hour. There are about 6 taps of local beer and a full drink menu.
The food is shockingly good, and the decor has been updated to the more period environs of when the 'Hut started up in the 20s.
Best dive bar in the neighbourhood.
Live music, DJs, goths, gays, metalheads, industrial music, 80s, punk. It is an alternative culture mecca. If you're into top 40, avoid it. If you wear all black and have tattoos, you'll be at home. This is my second home.
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The Coffin Club (previously known as Lovecraft Bar)
421 SE Grand AveLive music, DJs, goths, gays, metalheads, industrial music, 80s, punk. It is an alternative culture mecca. If you're into top 40, avoid it. If you wear all black and have tattoos, you'll be at home. This is my second home.
Bar and music venue. Mid sized. Specialises in DJs and electronic music. Walking distance. Check it out!
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Holocene
1001 SE Morrison StBar and music venue. Mid sized. Specialises in DJs and electronic music. Walking distance. Check it out!
Dive bar in the 'nightlife crescent' of SE Portland. You can walk here in 20 minutes. It's got a lot of outdoor seating, a decent vibe, and inexpensive beer. You will see a cross-section of Portland here, from gutter punks to metalheads to hipsters to mods.
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Star Bar
639 SE Morrison StDive bar in the 'nightlife crescent' of SE Portland. You can walk here in 20 minutes. It's got a lot of outdoor seating, a decent vibe, and inexpensive beer. You will see a cross-section of Portland here, from gutter punks to metalheads to hipsters to mods.
Cocktails taken to the next level. Expert-level bartenders in a classy, horseshoe-shaped bar. It tends to be loud, but that is because there are a lot of people sipping on amazing cocktails.
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Angel Face
14 NE 28th AveCocktails taken to the next level. Expert-level bartenders in a classy, horseshoe-shaped bar. It tends to be loud, but that is because there are a lot of people sipping on amazing cocktails.
Sightseeing
The Lan Su (兰苏) Chinese Gardens were installed around 2000 in a gritty part of town (Old town). This is a 30 minute walk from Stella; the area is still gritty, but pretty safe regardless. In Chinese, Portland is 'bo te LAN; our sister city is SUzhou. Thus: Lan-su.
The grounds are immaculate and the entire garden was imported from Suzhou including the roof-tiles and many of the building materials.
This is a seasonal destination, but it has value every season of the year. Different things bloom at every point in the year.
The teahouse is a place to slow down and cherish the moment. Don't be in a rush; you will just make yourself angry. Chill and embrace the serenity. You're on vacation.
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Kineski vrt Lan Su
239 NW Everett StThe Lan Su (兰苏) Chinese Gardens were installed around 2000 in a gritty part of town (Old town). This is a 30 minute walk from Stella; the area is still gritty, but pretty safe regardless. In Chinese, Portland is 'bo te LAN; our sister city is SUzhou. Thus: Lan-su.
The grounds are immaculate and the entire garden was imported from Suzhou including the roof-tiles and many of the building materials.
This is a seasonal destination, but it has value every season of the year. Different things bloom at every point in the year.
The teahouse is a place to slow down and cherish the moment. Don't be in a rush; you will just make yourself angry. Chill and embrace the serenity. You're on vacation.
Ladd was a mayor of Portland and owned a farm. In 1891 (when the city of East Portland was merged into Portland) Ladd subdivided the land for residential use. Rather than follow the standard orthogonal grid of the surrounding area, Ladd, inspired by the L'Enfant Plan for Washington, D.C., created a diagonal "wagon wheel" arrangement, including four small diamond-shaped rose gardens and a central traffic circle surrounding a park. The houses are gorgeous early-20th-century behemoths and the main streets are lined with elms.
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Ladd's Addition
Ladd was a mayor of Portland and owned a farm. In 1891 (when the city of East Portland was merged into Portland) Ladd subdivided the land for residential use. Rather than follow the standard orthogonal grid of the surrounding area, Ladd, inspired by the L'Enfant Plan for Washington, D.C., created a diagonal "wagon wheel" arrangement, including four small diamond-shaped rose gardens and a central traffic circle surrounding a park. The houses are gorgeous early-20th-century behemoths and the main streets are lined with elms.
Arts & Culture
OMSI
1945 SE Water AveScience!
Parks & Nature
A must-see. This has a great view of the city. The roses are in season from about May until about October. Don't forget to see the Shakespeare section!
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Međunarodni vrt ruža za testiranje
400 SW Kingston AveA must-see. This has a great view of the city. The roses are in season from about May until about October. Don't forget to see the Shakespeare section!
My favourite trailhead. Begin under a bridge and go from industrial urban to the tranquility of Washington park in 2 minutes flat. Start here and weave your way all the way up to the Zoo if you like! On the way, you will pass the Audubon Society and Pittock Mansion! Don't forget to get a shot of yourself in the Witch House. You'll know it when you see it...
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Lower Macleay Trail
Lower Macleay TrailMy favourite trailhead. Begin under a bridge and go from industrial urban to the tranquility of Washington park in 2 minutes flat. Start here and weave your way all the way up to the Zoo if you like! On the way, you will pass the Audubon Society and Pittock Mansion! Don't forget to get a shot of yourself in the Witch House. You'll know it when you see it...
Lower Macleay Park
2960 NW Upshur StBest place to start the Lower Macleay trail.
Entertainment & Activities
See the bats! Take the MAX there as well to save on parking and getting lost. Beware: there are a LOT of kids there. Like, all the time.
We have one zoo. It could be worst.
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Oregon Zoo
4001 SW Canyon RdSee the bats! Take the MAX there as well to save on parking and getting lost. Beware: there are a LOT of kids there. Like, all the time.
We have one zoo. It could be worst.
Closest theatre-pub to Stella. $5 beer, cheap, but good, pizza from across the street. It's a super awesome locals second-run theatre. Live like the locals and experience craft beer with your movie. Great when it's hot. Or rainy. It's about $4 to get in.
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Laurelhurst Theatre
2735 E Burnside StClosest theatre-pub to Stella. $5 beer, cheap, but good, pizza from across the street. It's a super awesome locals second-run theatre. Live like the locals and experience craft beer with your movie. Great when it's hot. Or rainy. It's about $4 to get in.
Family-run, old-school theatre that does first-run flicks. A 15 minute walk and it is across the street from Blackbird Pizza, where I like to get a drink and shoot some pinball. They have beer and popcorn available, and it isn't overpriced, like Regal. Tuesdays have 5$ night, but it is usually 7.50$ anyway, so is cheap however you look at it.
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Cinemagic
2021 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardFamily-run, old-school theatre that does first-run flicks. A 15 minute walk and it is across the street from Blackbird Pizza, where I like to get a drink and shoot some pinball. They have beer and popcorn available, and it isn't overpriced, like Regal. Tuesdays have 5$ night, but it is usually 7.50$ anyway, so is cheap however you look at it.
Shopping
Antique mall with clothes, glasses, hats, cars, furniture--it's a lot of stuff.
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Hollywood Vintage
2757 Northeast Pacific StreetAntique mall with clothes, glasses, hats, cars, furniture--it's a lot of stuff.
Vintage goods on the edge of Ladd's Addition. Great place to find old stuff.
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Magpie
1960 Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardVintage goods on the edge of Ladd's Addition. Great place to find old stuff.