Northwest Portland encompasses much of Portland’s most famous terrain, stretching from the verdant natural splendor of Forest Park along its western borders to the shores of the Willamette River on its eastern edges, while boasting some of the city’s best shopping, dining, and architecture in between. Here you’ll find Nob Hill’s NW 23rd Avenue, dubbed by the local wags as “trendy-third” and home to a slew of popular restaurants and boutiques; the Pearl District, with its many art galleries and Powell’s Books; and Slabtown, the latest contender for Portland’s title of most hipster nabe. Simpsons fans might recognize many of the streets in Northwest’s Alphabet District, where the alphabetically ordered street names like Flanders and Lovejoy provided Portland-native Matt Groening with plenty of inspiration for his characters. Architecturally, Northwest Portland offers everything from historic Victorian homes and Craftsman bungalows to new construction condos and converted lofts.