Both the Red and Blue light-rail lines stop by there. Right near the Burnside Bridge on the map.

They even have their own website. Everything you would expect from a prosperous local weekend market/flea market. Music and food are naturally available there.

Lots of creative arts & crafts. Items made from cutlery, artistic daily items with unusual materials, pottery, leather, Oriental arts & crafts, fortune-telling, etc. I think my ex-landlady, who is into arts & crafts, would love to visit there, too!

I bought two nice metal hairpins, only as I cannot carry too much with me.

The stalls are split by the rail line/train stop--walk across it with care.

The inside hasn't been modernized much. The floors are squeaky wooden planks and the interior walls are old exposed bricks. As well as stairs, there is an elevator for second floor access.

One store sells only clothing, food and other items from Australia and is called, what else? - the Australia Shop. If you're a fan of Marmite, the vegetable paste spread that Aussies are so fond of, you'll find it here. This is also the place to buy trendy Blundstone boots.

The small cafe just inside the entrance of the building does a booming business. It's open for breakfast and lunch and serves scones, muffins, bagels, sandwiches and on weekdays, soup. We tried the crumb cakes which were very moist and delicious. This is also the place for tea, espresso, Italian sodas and my niece's favourite, tangy strawberry lemonade. Prices seemed to be less than outside at the market.

If you leave through the back of the building, you're right into the market chaos but if you're still hungry stop, at Limey's. The owner is from England, hence the name. He sells take away pastries, sausage rolls, Scotch eggs (deep fried, crumb coated, shelled, hard boiled eggs), shortbread cookies and very rich and very large slices of cheesecake with fruit topping.

Most of Skidmore's stores sell clothes, mainly cottons made in Asia and the prices are very reasonable. Herbs, new age books and oriental gifts and ornaments are also available.

If you can tear yourself away from shopping and eating at the Skidmore Building, head outside to the Market for lots more of the same. You'll find stalls selling fish and chips, burgers, falafaels, fudge, Mexican food, etc. as well as what seems like hundreds of stalls where artisans sell everything from handmade jewellery to candles. You can even find artists who'll draw your portrait while you wait.

This is also a great place to watch the entertaining buskers. I was especially impressed with a woman who played the sax (and very well I might add) while expertly keeping her hula hoop in motion. Elvis was here too...taking a break from the Church of Elvis, I guess. The Skidmore building is open seven days a week but the Market only operates on Saturday and Sunday.

Located just inside of Fareless Square on the MAX line (get off at the McCaulay Fountain stop, I believe), this small local festival grew from just a few vendors in the '80's to a huge, two-lot affair that includes local artisans selling wares to local cuisine of various styles, to performing local musicians. Clowns and fairies wander freely through the milling crowds, entertaining and sprinkling fairie dust. It's another world.

Offerings include bizarre items, like glasses made from old silverware, to clothing, soaps, and hot sauce. Tarot readers will divine your fortune, while in the next tent, a young man peddles his handcrafted silver jewelry. You can eat an elephant ear, get a funnel cake, or indulge in middle eastern cooking while watching a guitar-playing duo on stage. If it's made in Portland, you can find it here.

There is no cost of admission, other than the parking costs if you drive yourself, which are around $8 USD, depending on where you park. Parking -is- at a premium, thanks to the culture that has sprung up around the Market, drawing large numbers of repeat visitors weekly. It takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from the morning hours to the late afternoon/early evening, from the first weekend in March to Christmas Eve.

Only several blocks from Powell's, don't plan on walking to both unless you have boundless energy. It makes for a long day. A satisfying one, but much longer than you'd expect.

Don't miss Saturday Market. It's a Portland tradition -- for good reason.