My South Waterfront

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Gift Guide: Unique Portland Gifts Inspired by the South Waterfront

Looking for a Portland gift with local character? From Portland Aerial Tram art and Tilikum Crossing prints to personalized maps and illustrations, we've rounded up some unique South Waterfront-inspired gifts for neighbors, OHSU employees, and anyone who loves this distinctive corner of Portland.

Here are a few of our favorite South Waterfront-inspired gifts and art finds.

1. Portland Aerial Tram Products

For South Waterfront memorabilia, it is hard to beat the Portland Aerial Tram.

The tram cars climbing between South Waterfront and Marquam Hill have become one of the neighborhood's defining sights. Artwork featuring the tram is especially spot on for someone who lived or worked here.

Look for art that includes not only the tram but the South Waterfront towers, OHSU or Willamette River in the background.

The Tram Store - for your official Tram shirts, hats, mugs and even a backpack

https://www.gobytram.com/shop/pnni4v98m523rvkjgd7pof541hqnc8

Portland Aerial Tram Magnetic Mini Framed Signed Print by Lil' Planets

This one is so unique! From local company Lil' Planets, this is a mini magnetic framed 360º print of the Portland Aerial Tram gliding above the city.

https://lilplanets.com/products/portland-aerial-tram-2025-magnetic-mini-framed-signed-print

Custom Tram Art on Etsy:

Portland Illustration Art Print

Hand Drawn Portland Oregon Souvenir

2. Tilikum Crossing Art

Tilikum Crossing was born in 2015, connecting the South Waterfront area with the Central Eastside. It is unique in that is a "no car bridge", designed to only allow access to transit vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

Etsy has a lot of fun items, from photography and architectural illustrations to colorful interpretations of the bridge.

Sweet Bonny Etsy Shop - this one has a fun and quirky style that reps Portland well

Lucid Portland II

Wooden Bridge Ornament

Monochrome Print: Tilikum Crossing in Black and White

Portland Oregon Bridges - Color Bridge Art Prints

3. A Miniature Tilikum Crossing

Here's something a little different: a model of the bridge itself.

Laser Cut Model Kit of Tilikum Crossing

This miniature architectural version of Tilikum Crossing turns one of South Waterfront's most familiar landmarks into something you can put on a desk or bookshelf.

etsy.com

4. Custom Map of the South Waterfront

One of our favorite ideas is a custom Portland map centered specifically on South Waterfront.

Love this one! --> Custom Wooden City Map

You can pick your city and even request the map be centered on a particular address! Mark a particular condo building, first apartment, favorite park or another meaningful address.

5. Tilikum Crossing Pillow

Cuddle up with this cute pillow! -Tilikum Crossing Pillow Portland Oregon

zazzle.com

And finally, how about a practical tote? - Portland Tilikum Crossing #1 Tote Bag

Finding South Waterfront Gifts

We keep looking for interesting South Waterfront Portland gifts, art and memorabilia, and we'll update this guide as we find more.

Have you found a great piece you love? We'd love to see it!

Grimm Lookback: When Halloween Came to Portland in “La Llorona”

Looking to get into the Halloween spirit? One Grimm episode to rewatch in October is “La Llorona”.

Season 2, Episode 9 originally aired on October 26, 2012, just a few days before Halloween. “La Llorona” takes place right in the middle of Halloween night in Portland, complete with trick-or-treaters, dark parks, and a genuinely creepy ghost story.

Grimm "La Llorona" Intro

More than a decade later, it remains one of the best episodes for seeing how effectively Grimm used Portland itself to create the mood of the show.

A Portland Halloween Story

The episode begins with the disappearance of a young boy near the river.

Nick and Hank eventually discover that the child’s disappearance resembles others tied to the legend of La Llorona—the Weeping Woman, a centuries-old Latin American ghost story about a woman associated with the loss and drowning of children.

La Llorona Paste Magazine 2022

Detective Valentina Espinosa arrives from Albuquerque after following similar cases, including her own nephew's, and the investigation sends Nick across Portland in search of the missing children.

Cathedral Park and the St. Johns Bridge

The episode's frightening opening sequence was filmed at Cathedral Park beneath the St. Johns Bridge.

St. John's Bridge on nbc.com/grimm

It is one of those locations where Grimm barely had to do anything to make Portland cinematic. The gothic arches of the bridge, the river and the wooded edges of the park already look like they belong in a fairy tale, a very dark fairy tale.

When I originally covered the episode in 2012, I called it one of the show's most horrifying opening scenes. Watching it again in 2026, that still holds.

The St. Johns Bridge appeared repeatedly throughout Grimm, but “La Llorona” may be one of its most memorable appearances.

Grimm filming under the bridge 2014 - courtesy S. Filler

Halloween on Sauvie Island

The second child disappears from a Halloween gathering supposedly taking place at “Sauvie Island State Park.” Children in costumes wandering through the dark woods made for an appropriately unsettling Halloween scene.

One small Portland detail spotted by the locals: There is no Sauvie Island State Park. There is, of course, Sauvie Island and the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area. But Grimm created its own version for the episode.

Kelly Point Park Becomes La Llorona's World

The climax brings us to Kelly Point Park, at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.

The Grimm production crew did considerable work there. A portion of La Llorona's house was constructed for the scenes, including set pieces made from foam.

Back in 2012, we were lucky enough to have photos from the filming showing the temporary house, dock and production work at Kelly Point.

La Casa de La Llorona 2014 - courtesy S. Filler

It's something we saw repeatedly while following Grimm: a familiar Portland location transformed just enough to become it feel slightly unreal.

But while Nick is dealing with one of the darker cases of the season, Monroe is having a very different Halloween.

And Then There Was Monroe's House

One of the pleasures of going back to this episode is remembering just how committed Monroe is to Halloween.

His house is covered in decorations. He has trick-or-treaters coming to the door. Nick contributes a medieval-looking weapon to the display. And Monroe happily explains that Halloween has some particularly deep roots for the Wesen world.

The production crew went all out decorating the exterior for Halloween, filling the yard and house with the kind of elaborate display that seems completely believable for Monroe.

Halloween at Monroe's House 2014 - courtesy S. Filler

There is even a great little Monroe subplot involving neighborhood bullies stealing a girl's Halloween candy. As anyone familiar with Monroe might expect, that situation does not end particularly well for the bullies.

It's funny, warm and slightly menacing all at once, just like Monroe.

Looking Back From 2026

When “La Llorona” aired on October 26, 2012, Grimm was only in its second season.

At the time, we were following the filming week by week, figuring out which Portland park was supposed to be somewhere else, spotting houses and bridges, and occasionally getting photos of the crew working around town.

Fourteen years later, it's fun to look back on those old filming locations. The show continues to have a following as well as new fans who are now finding it on streaming services.

So this Halloween, if you're looking for a Grimm episode to revisit, start with Season 2, Episode 9: “La Llorona.”

Then see how many Portland locations you recognize.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Grimm Cast Reunion at Comic-Con 2026

Did you catch it? The cast of Grimm recently reunited for a special 15th-anniversary panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.

10 years after their last Comic-Con appearance, the cast reunited to share stories and reflect on the memories of this Portland-based TV series. The panel was part of NBC’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

Grimm @ Comic Con via sdccblog.com/

Coverage:

How about a reboot?

Hopes and dreams and rumors of a reboot or "continuation" continue and have intensified this past year, and maybe built up some steam after the reunion experience. "They explained that a 10-year time gap wasn't that much if something were to be greenlit this year and primed for a 2027 release. However, an actual continuation remains unconfirmed."

Monday, July 13, 2026

Coming soon! E-Bike Guinness World Records Attempt

Next week, Portlanders will attempt to make history by breaking the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest electric bicycle party and ride!

July 19, 2026 @ 8:30 am to– 11:00 am

PBOT has all the information and how to register here:

For South Waterfronters, the ride comes right by your front door:

www.portland.gov/transportation/bike-share/events/2026/7/19/e-bike-guinness-world-records-attempt

Monday, June 22, 2026

Houses of Worship Featured in Grimm Filming Locations

One of the things that gave Grimm its distinct atmosphere was how it used real locations across Portland. While many scenes took place on residential streets and in industrial areas, a number of episodes also made use of churches and other houses of worship.

These locations added depth to the storytelling and further reflected the variety of architecture found throughout Portland.

Churches and Religious Settings in Grimm

Throughout the series, churches were used in a range of ways, as sites of confrontation or revelation, backdrops for key character moments or atmospheric exterior shots.

In many cases, the buildings themselves were not identified on screen, but their architectural details, such as stone exteriors, stained glass, older wood interiors, helped set the tone. Several recognizable churches and historic religious buildings around Portland have been associated with filming for Grimm.

Here are my Top 5 Portland Churches and Synagogues in Grimm:

1. First Presbyterian Church (Downtown Portland)

This distinctive Gothic Revival style church site in the downtown core and is well-known for its detailed stonework and tall spire. Its scale and architecture align closely with locations used for formal or dramatic scenes.

First Presbyterian is seen in Episode 11. The gorgeous interior includes stained glass, dark wood, and carved banisters.

First Presbyterian interior on nbc.com/grimm

First Presbyterian Church, 12th & Alder

It was seen again in Episode 205. Our original review of this episode includes photos shot during filming.

photo courtesy S. Filler

2. St. James Lutheran Church (SW Park Ave)

A historic downtown church with a distinctive Gothic exterior, its architecture fits the darker, atmospheric tone used in the series.

St. James is seen in Episode 306, and is on the list of National Register of Historical Places.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James_Lutheran_Church_(Portland,_Oregon)

3. Congregation Beth Israel (NW Flanders St)

One of the oldest Jewish congregations in the region, Congregation Beth Israel is located in Northwest Portland and has a very recognizable exterior.

This unique building was a standout, playing a starring role in Episode 404.

Congregation Beth Israel on wikipedia.org

4. Atkinson Memorial Church, Oregon City

Seen in Episode 215, Atkinson Memorial AKA First Congregational Church of Oregon City has a distinctive design and pink exterior. It is now the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls.

A bystander grabbed this shot during filming in 2012:

Photo courtesy instagram.com/kariden/

Atkinson Memorial Church on wikipedia.org

The building is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

5. Portland Bahai Center

In the filming of Grimm, the Bahai Center did not play a spiritual or religious role but a legal one. It supported the storyline as the interior law offices in Episode 8 "Game Ogre".

Cameos:

We get a brief cameo of St. Andrew Catholic Church at NE 8th Ave in Episode 221 .

Visiting Today

If you are visiting a religious filming location used in Grimm, it’s worth remembering that these are active places of worship. Be respectful of the space, avoid interrupting services or private events, and view from public areas unless permission is given.

Part of the Broader Portland Landscape

While churches and houses of worship may not be the most widely discussed Grimm filming locations, they provide thoughtful backdrop to the story line and are part of the broader mix of settings that gave the show its grounded, real-world feel.

Combined with residential streets, parks, and commercial areas, these religious locations helped create the layered version of Portland seen throughout the series.