Sorry, but your geeky cousin who moved to Portland a year ago is not the guide you should rely on to explain the complexities and humorous history of this city.

Instead, take a walking tour with John Doyle, who will colorfully describe the bridges, cemeteries and other landmarks to crowds gathered by Design Week Portland, April 6-13.

Tickets are $30. Email Doyle (johndoylerodmore@gmail.com) for student, senior, group and multiple ticket purchase discounts.

--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

John Doyle

Why does Doyle conduct these tours? "I love architectural history and to share what I learn," he says.

The former gallery lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York volunteers in Portland with the Architectural Heritage Center.

He frequents the Oregon Historical Society's research rooms to dig deeper into Portland's past, but he also relies on first-hand stories from people who have lived here.

"I love seeing the look on people's faces when I can tell they are fully engaged and having a great time" on the tour, he says, adding with a smile: "That definitely goes to the ham side of me."

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John Doyle

Here are the tours Doyle is conducting during Design Week Portland:

Hear about the historical forces that determined the architectural form and placement of the city's bridges during Walking Tour: Portland Bridges from 10 a.m.-noon on Sunday, April 7, and from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, April 12 ($30). Think about how these pathways over the Willamette River have shaped Portland's growth and continue to impact the urban environment.

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Oregon Historical Society

South Portland was home to a thriving immigrant community until buildings in Jewish, Italian and other communities were demolished in the 1960s as part of the Portland Center urban renewal project. Visualize what was lost during Walking Tour: South Portland: Design, Development, Displacement from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 7 ($30). This tour includes stops at the connected outdoor spaces that comprise Portland Open Sequence designed by Lawrence Halprin & Associates.

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John Doyle

In the middle of the 20th century, Portland leapt from architectural backwater to the forefront of international design. How did this happen? Find out during Walking Tour: Mid-Century Modern and Minimalism in Portland from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, April 12 ($30).

Portland was in the mainstream of American design until architects Pietro Belluschi, John Yeon and the firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill vaulted the city onto the world stage. This guided tour will survey this important and under appreciated aspect of the city.

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John Doyle

Explore one of Portland's most beautiful green spaces while learning the history of the first uniquely American art form, the landscape architecture of the 19th-century rural cemetery, during Walking Tour: Designing Death, River View Cemetery from 10 a.m.–noon on Saturday, April 13 ($30).

Founded in 1882 and located at the west end of the Sellwood bridge, River View Cemetery is the premier 19th century garden cemetery on the west coast. A veritable who's who of early Portland was buried here.

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John Doyle

The once independent city of Albina is now the epicenter of Portland-wide issues of displacement, demolition and gentrification. It is also home to some of Portland's most innovative and controversial new construction. Explores this nexus during Walking Tour of Albina: Design, Development, Displacement from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 ($30).

Founded in 1872 and primarily home to European immigrant communities, Albina transitioned into the heart of Portland's African American community especially after the Vanport flood of 1948. This walk will explore this rich and problematic history.

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Design Portland

The walking tours are part of Design Week Portland, which returns April 6-13 with more than 350 low-cost and free events in every corner of the city.

Whatever your interest is, there's a program, open house or gathering of like-minded fans.

You’ll learn from the world’s most respected thinkers and makers during talks and workshops on public spaces to branding cannabis and craft beer.

Tour the Oregon Zoo's new animal habitats as well as houses for humans.

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Design Portland

More on Design Week Portland: Run through this sampling of offerings -- from experiencing cutting-edge animation to shows on art and Vespa-inspired mod fashion --then register for your spot at designportland.org before the place fills up.

Or take in a free exhibit. The Portland Bureau of Transportation will display street furniture, sculptures and games entered in its Pop-Up Place design and build competition at Portland City Hall Atrium, 1221 SW Fourth Ave., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 9-12. The opening party is 6-8 p.m. April 8.

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Design Portland

Design Week Portland's opening party from 7 to 11 p.m. April 6 at Juniper NEXT is being staged by Kamp Grizzly along with Merit Badge, Garden Bar, Dirty Pretty, Cooper's Hall and Townshend's Distillery ($10, all ages)

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Eyelevel

There are other tempting events: Teams will come up with a pop-up space during the Retail Environment Design Workshop ($10), 4-6 p.m. April 11 at Eyelevel, a global brand firm on the fourth floor of the Clay Creative building at 1615 S.E. Third Ave.

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Stockpiler

If textiles and fiber arts are the center of your world, don't miss a discussion by local and regional artists 6-9 p.m. April 11 at The Hoxton hotel, 15 N.W. Fourth Ave., in historic Old Town Chinatown.

The discussion, about the value of textiles in fine art, home goods, fashion, and corporate and manufacturer collaborations, will be followed by a Textile Pop Up marketplace and silent auction with work by local and nationally recognized artists.

A portion of the proceeds from the silent auction with go to classes, demonstrations and events during Portland Textile Month in October.

The event ($20, includes appetizers) is produced by Stockpiler, a roaming gallery founded by photographer and weaver Christopher Dibble and artist and art craft and design agent Mariel Pitti, and hosted by The Hoxton, a new open-house concept hotel.

The Textiles in the Marketplace: Panel Discussion + Textile PopUp Event will take place in the hotel's Apartment suite.

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AIA Portland Homes Tour: Tour new and remodeled homes designed by some of Portland's top architects. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. You can tour the three-level Origami courtyard houses, some with a rentable, self-contained studio apartment, plus other new homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Tickets are $45, aiaoregon.org/events/2019homestour. Read more: 12 new homes unfold in North Portland's Origami courtyard complex: Design Week Portland (photos)

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Green Hammer

Tillamook Row tour hosted by Green Hammer Design Build: See one of Portland's first for-rent Zero Energy pocket communities. Read more

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Design Week

Designing with Purpose: Using design as a force for change: Jillian Wendt of Adidas and Hanna Ruth of HOPE International will have a discussion with Krista Carroll, CEO of Latitude, one of the nation's top retail branding design firms and a social enterprise that invests 50 percent of annual profits into nonprofit organizations to help make food, water, freedom, education, micro-finance and health accessible. The open house, discussion and workshop are from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 at Coopers Hall, 404 S.E. 6th Ave.

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Portland Fashion Institute

Portland Fashion Institute open house 4-7 p.m. April 10 (free) with demos, tours and experiences of the new building at 4225 N.E. Tillamook Street, next to PFI's main building in Portland'€™s Hollywood District. PFI is working with an advisory board from Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Nike and Shibui Knits to bring 3D and innovative design labs plus a retail space for boutiques and a design museum into the new space. The first floor of the building has been remade into a fabric store with everything from scissors and thread to silks and knits for apparel makers.

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Design Portland

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Design Portland

Breaking Borders: From Mexico to the World hosted by Industry: Through 15-minute talks, panel Q&A and an evening exhibition, four artists from Mexico will showcase their work and share their stories and input on how Mexican design is igniting a new perspective and breaking down borders physically and psychologically.

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Design Portland

A Nod to Mod: Moto-Inspired Fashion hosted by Portland Apparel Lab & Vespa Portland: Timeless Italian scooters inspire a performance art fashion show 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 12.

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Design Portland

Magnetic North maker space is hosting an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. April 11 to highlight a multitude of artists ranging from illustrators and designers, to furniture makers and screen printers, all inside a self-described "spunky and fresh hive of creativity!" They invite you to grab some beers with them and explore a hidden cultural hub.

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Celeste Noche/Portland in Color

Redesigning the Narrative hosted by Portland in Color: This talk and exhibit aims to disrupt the narrative of a homogenous Portland arts and media landscape by showcasing the work, voices, and experiences of the city's BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) creatives.

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Erika Lee Sears "Eucalyptus"/Design Portland

Breaking Borders: From Mexico to the World hosted by Industry: Through 15-minute talks, panel Q&A and an evening exhibition, four artists from Mexico will showcase their work and share their stories and input on how Mexican design is igniting a new perspective and breaking down borders physically and psychologically.

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Design Portland

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Design Portland

The Pressure Is Good for You, A Talk Show hosted by Adam Garcia: This year's theme is Feel, which will be explored through conversations about empathy, musical performances, comedy, live art and dance from 8 to 10 p.m. April 12 ($10).

[Photo taken during “The Pressure is Good for You” talk show during Design Week Portland 2018.]

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Design Portland

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Design Portland

Humans, AI & The Future of Transportation hosted by Particle Design: A panel of experts in AI and transportation technology will discuss the changing landscape of transportation in the design space, as AI becomes more perceptive, understanding and autonomous.

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Lindsay Jordan Kretchun "Vessel No 1"/Design Portland

Living Coral: A Group Exhibition hosted by One River School of Art Design: Portland Illustrators visually interpret Pantone Color of the Year for 2019, 16-1546 Living Coral, in a group exhibition aptly named "Living Color." In this collective show, each artist draws upon their own individual style to express the meaning of this color.

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Design Portland

She Built This City: The Women of PDX Design & Architecture hosted by Chown Hardware: A panel of influential women entrepreneurs in interior design and architecture will share wisdom, strength, and experiences spanning over three decades in Portland design. They will leave you with new insights into what it means to be a woman designer, from generation to generation.

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Design Portland

Matthias Kemeny Design Lecture Series presents Silas Munro A Proclamation in Type and Image Form 7-9 p.m. April 11 : Bridging education and practice, Silas Munro applies design to inspire people to better themselves and improve society. His studio, poly-mode helps organizations embrace cultural diversity and increase community involvement. In a series of contexts, design helps transform the lives of homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS, shapes containers for a Los Angeles artist advocating for women of color and vulnerable bodies in Italy, supports community access to art in Inglewood, and rewrites the legacy of 20th-century modernism by expanding design history to include the activist data visualization of W.E.B. Du Bois and his students of color.

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Design Portland

The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC), which in previous years has organized the Letterpress Print Fair, will host an Open House on April 11 as part of Design Week Portland.

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Designing your Story in AR/VR for Maximum Impact and Engagement hosted by Interaction Design Foundation: Frank Spillers explores the power and importance of storytelling in collaborative virtual environments with social VR/AR – and how to implement the best practices of critical decision making.

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Lisa Congdon "Be Here Now"/Design Portland

Living Coral: A Group Exhibition hosted by One River School of Art Design: Portland Illustrators visually interpret Pantone Color of the Year for 2019, 16-1546 Living Coral, in a group exhibition aptly named "Living Color." In this collective show, each artist draws upon their own individual style to express the meaning of this color.

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