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Unlike most other places experiencing growth, though, some Portlanders maintain that a singular event catalyzed the change.
In that story from August,Willamette Weekalso conducted a survey about when Old Portland died.
Turns out, it was neither.
After hundreds of voters weighed in, the results came back.
Old Portland died on January 21, 2011 the dayPortlandiadebuted.
The shows popularity decreased over time, but it put its internet on the map.
It was looking for experimental projects that were, as its tagline says, Always On.
It also became rooted in the popular image of the city along the way.
Many Portland residents fall into that latter camp.
The bar sells old cassette tapes and serves $5 local microbrews on tap.
The audience stared at him.
She relocated to San Antonio two years ago after being priced out of Portland.
(In July 2016, aPortlandiacrew worker emailed her asking if she would donate her work again.
Especially to long-term Portlanders, it felt manufactured.
It brought people in who wanted to move here because of that.
Its just like that showPortlandia!
they chime in unison.
The band then sings, We wish youd never exploited this town.
In September 2016, the resentment percolating among Portlanders peaked.
I heard residents refer to the incident as both the brouhaha and the drama.
National publications picked up the story.
In localnewspaperinterviews, Brownstein and Armisen usually dismiss the idea thatPortlandialed to the citys change.
A year prior, Armisen told the paper he didnt think television has the power to transform a city.
I dont know if peoples perception of New Jersey was changed byThe Sopranos, he said.
Around the timePortlandiafirst aired, national attention to Portland was just beginning to increase.
Its also hard to resist.
The city topped numerous best of roundups and underwent substantial population growth.
A 2015 article intheGuardian,headlined Is hip Portland over?
The show increased tourism and our citys notoriety, he said.
The local press corps gathered around to ask questions.
Brownstein laughed and took a sip of water.
No, I dont, she replied, shaking her head.
What effect has the show had on the city?
There was momentary silence.
I have no idea, Armisen said, shrugging.
Its a show thats in conversation with the city, and a city thats in conversation with itself.
Youre going to have to find something else to talk about why Portlands changing.
Oh, its still changing, butPortlandias over.
