Not sure what this is

No, I have not quite figured out what this is exactly. I can only imagine is will go with the new Green Line MAX. I did a test run of the MAX and it kind of weaves from side to side on 5th Avenue. I call it the drunken MAX.

Rational Exuberance

There are plans to add a 3-acre park next to the Encore. Right now, it is a mere brownfield. Too many plans and not enough money.

They did add a sculpture (temporary loan). I think it would have been better to wait until the park is in.

August

I don't get this blog uploading of pictures...I planned to put these in a certain order, but apparently, this web doesn't listen to me.

Anyway, I really liked the detail over the door of the Mason Building. The building was transformed awhile back into the Mark Wing of the Portland Art Museum (the contemporary and modern art wing). This has gold and the bottom look almost like whale tails.



















I kicked off August with a jump with Skydive Oregon in beautiful downtown Molalla. Such a parallel to Toastmasters. There is a lot of preparation and waiting around (and signing of papers saying if something goes horribly wrong, your loved ones have no right to sue), a quasi-training (if you follow the instructions of your instructor, things will be fine). Then there is a 10-minute ride to get up to the right altitude. Then you go! What a beautiful ride down...






We spent a busy Saturday going to the Street of Dreams in the Pearl District. This year, they showcased a few penthouses. Our favorite was the Benson arrangement at 937. We especially liked the layout, the hot tub, and the view. At Block 90, we really liked the outdoor entertaining options (fire pit, bar and grill). We did not care for the Encore (looked and felt too much like a hotel rather than a home) or the layout of the Waterfront Pearl (awkward corners), but we did like the water features that looked like they flowed right into the Willamette.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

When you live in a place for awhile, you tend to not notice the things you pass by every day. I never realized that certain elements of Pioneer Courthouse were there for a reason. The ironwork gate was crafted before 1900 and was part of the Portland Hotel before the hotel got torn down in 1950 to become...a parking lot...which then became the Square. The umbrella man is a sculpture called Allow Me by J. Seward Johnson. I always thought this sculpture was the real Mr. Portland. The umbrellas are useful when it rains while you are waiting for the MAX. The chess mat (with wallet and coffee cup) is atop a "toppled" column and you can usually find legions of chess players set up there. I am still looking for the weather machine and the horse sculpture. Too hot to look for those today. But we should add a sign. Michelle's House - 10 blocks.

Catching up on June and first part of July

Time runs away when I am not looking. During the last part of June, I got to see the World at Sea and the Flower Festival.

The cruise ship (The World) was docked in Portland for nearly a week, and curious passersby wandered toward this amazing city in the water. I was surprised it actually made it up the river. Wouldn’t it be great to spend some time just traveling this way? Aah…As for the Flower Festival, what can I say? Neat, impeccable rows. My style of garden, so much better than last year's. A feast for my ordered mind. Also, the Portland Pride Festival was a lot of fun. Here is Portland Taiko performing with a lot of audience participation. Joe wanted so badly to be picked to bang a drum, but he was too far away.

Fantatic Independence Day and Blues Festival. It is just not Portland without them.

Welcome to June 2009 & the Portland Rose Festival

Who am I kidding? I am just not interested in the Rose Festival this year. I must have been influenced by the community effects of the Matsuri festival in Tokyo, and am still disgruntled at how Portland is making no real effort in including its citizens in our own Rose Festival. Which is probably why I spent more time watching the dragon boat races than watching our parade. And I love a parade.

The New Green Line

The new Green Line for the MAX is almost done; they have started test runs of the actual MAX trains during this beautiful weather. Along the line at PSU are these sculptures. They look like sea creatures, but I'm not actually sure what they are. Some greenery lines the curbs to help catch water run-off. What a great idea!

Spring has sprung!

April already, can you believe it? The cherry blossoms have bloomed and gone with the downpour. We were blessed with a couple of warm days, then I must have turned into an Oregonian because I started to complain about the heat. Rain tomorrow, and I am looking forward to it! We went to Jodi's wedding in California, and at first I thought it would be neat to live in Sacramento because it was so green and pretty. Then noon happened and the sun was directly overhead. I am staying in Portland.

Who Says Portland is Depressed?

There is beauty in the fog that rolls in off of the Willamette in the morning...though this may contribute to some folk's impression that we are depressed in these parts. Seriously, though, Portland is a wonderful place to live. What makes it not so wonderful is that right now it is very difficult to find a job, especially if you have just lost one. Weather like this just adds to the down feeling. If you have a job, do everything you can to hold onto it! On the other hand, opportunities abound...the doors of creativity are always open.

The Strand & The Housing Market

It was a beautiful day in Portland, so Joe and I decided to check out some recent foreclosures. I know - what we do for fun. These condos were way out of our price range when they first went on the market, which is why we bought where we are currently. I suppose we should have rented until these became available...but the floor plan isn't quite right. And they are still slightly out of our price range. There is a nice garden and river view. The former "posh" restaurant might have been able to make a go of it if the food was actually good. Unfortunately, now there is just empty space, with amazing glass sculptures on display. Hopefully, there will be a reasonable restaurant in there some time soon. We need another place in Portland that serves food late at night when I am actually still awake and craving something delicious.

Oregon Statehood Day

Happy Valentine's Day to you Oregon! Happy 150th Birthday to you too. The State hasn't had a lot of $$ for PR, so I'm sure not many people are into this.

Chinese New Year 2009

Ohhh, I'm too lazy to post today. Who am I kidding? Go check out Joe's blog entry (link to the right titled "Joe's Grumblings" on Chinese New Year activities...we were at the same events, and he took pictures using my camera anyway. I loved the long string of firecrackers, that detour was totally worth it.

Happy New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy!

I didn't prepare for Chinese New Year like I usually do because I had it in my mind that everything started on February 7. Whoops - that was last year. Chinese New Year 2009 starts tomorrow. Portland got a light dusting of snow, but it melted quickly. Instead of cowering at home with the kotatsu table, I dragged Joe out in the cold for an Art Walk in Old Town/Chinatown, with an excursion to the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Historical Plaza. Joe hadn't been in the Chinese Garden since the time he got in for free when it first opened 8 years ago. We had to leave the tour early at the Plaza because I couldn't move (frozen). The docent was frozen, too.