From the mid-1980s through the 1990s, the elements that would define Portland as a magical city were coming together.
Known for its local restaurants and craft beer as well as its national prominence in advertising and athletic wear, Portland invited and embraced creativity in all its forms. Now you can look back on a time when Portland became Sneakertown, Beervana, a foodie city, an urban living exemplar, a creative oasis, and a place where anything seemed possible.
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Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Broadway Books
What they’re saying about Portland Renaissance
“How does one divine the origins of a fairy tale? In Portland Renaissance Barry Locke does just that. The ideas, personalities, challenges and triumphs of Portland through the ’80s and ’90s are engagingly chronicled and woven into a wonderful urban tale of that remarkable era. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on” rings true throughout these pages. Read this book and celebrate Portland!”
–Greg Higgins, award-winning chef and co-owner of Higgins restaurant
“Barry Locke gets to the heart of what makes modern Portland – with all of its quirks and warts – the jewel that it is. Speaking to dozens of the folks who crafted (or, like me, closely observed) the city's emergence, he provides an invaluable, firsthand, you-are-there account of how a band of misfits, pioneers, and dreamers created a haven that has become a fascination for the whole world.”
–Shawn Levy, best-selling author of The Castle on Sunset and Paul Newman: A Life, and former film critic for The Oregonian
“Oh boy, does this book ever take me back to Portland’s halcyon-hellbent-on-creative days. I’m surprised anything could get me back there, shock therapy notwithstanding, but this book gets close. If shock therapy isn’t your thing, read this book.”
–Jim Riswold, advertising legend, artist, and author
About the author
In 40 years as a professional writer, Barry Locke has traveled from the Taj Mahal to the Berlin Wall. He has written for newspapers, magazines, and websites. He has worked in marketing communications, employee communications, and advertising. He knows how to tell a story.
In his first book, Portland Renaissance, Barry captures the stories that elevated Portland from the mid-1980s through the 1990s, sharing insights and anecdotes from those who played prominent roles, and examining the conditions that led to the city’s resurgence.
Barry lives with his wife, Kim, in Portland, where every day is just a little better when their two grown sons remember to call home.