Who we are
CityBird’s husband and wife team, Robin and Niko Ruiz, hatched the idea for CityBird, while they were at an Airbnb in Merida Yucatan. Their trip included a few near-travel-disasters: a rental car scam, a restaurant-seating hustler, a tipping extortion racket and a Spanish restaurant that didn’t serve any bread with the olive oil plate. It also included some amazing spontaneous experiences with locals: a meal cooked over an outdoor fire by a Mayan family next to a cenote, and a night of dancing with new friends made at an outdoor dance club
On their last day in Mexico, Robin turned to Niko and asked “What if there was a way to help visitors to our city have more of the amazing and authentic and less of the scary and disappointing?” That question rapidly lead to planning a specialized service that would combine the ease and professionalism of a five star hotel concierge service, with the warmth of a personal host - to travelers who want to go off the beaten path and make real local connections.
On their last day in Mexico Robin turned to Niko and asked “What if there was a way to help visitors to our city have more of the amazing and authentic and less of the scary and disappointing?” That question rapidly led to planning a specialized service that would combine the ease and professionalism of a five star hotel concierge service, with the warmth of a personal host, to travelers who want to go off the beaten path and make real local connections.
Our mission is simple - we want you to feel just as at-home on your visit to Portland as we do. That means helping you craft a trip that fits you, from the neighborhood you stay and the activities you choose, to the shops that you visit.
Robin
Robin “City Bird” Ruiz is a career administrative professional, former armature martial artist, current parent and lifelong Portlander.
Robin has trained for this role her entire life.
Her parents met on the stage of Portland’s Washington High School's Auditorium, more than 30 years before the space was repurposed into Revolution Hall
When she was two years old, her grandmother brought her to meet The Icon Darcelle XV and her destiny as a daughter of the city was sealed with a queenly kiss.
She was voted Most organized girl of by her fellow Binsmead Middle School Class of 1996.
She was team captain of the for the year 2000 Rose Festival Dragon Boat Tournment High School Champions
Robin has been working with administrative technologies for close to 20 years. From assisting executives at a fortune 500 tech company, to supporting a Black Economic Equity and Housing Organization and Major Art Institution; she’s seen the administrative world inside and out, but now all she wants to do is bring The Authentic Portland to life for visitors from near and far.
While Robin has traveled to far-off destinations, and spent short stints outside of Oregon, she’s never called any place home except for Portland.
When Robin isn’t crafting experiences, she’s exploring the town on-foot and by bike with her friends and family or planning her next globe-trotting adventure.
Niko
Niko Ruiz is the man who makes our technical solutions work. Raised in Santa Cruz California Niko was attracted to Portland’s outdoor recreation, lively food and bar scene and stratified housing market during his early 20’s and he hasn’t left since. Software engineer by day, ladies man by night; Niko is happiest when he gets to close out a long day of coding with a Timbers match followed by drinks and dancing in one of his favorite Portland spots.
