DISQUS

Thanks for the writeup on Portland. I visit these locations every weekend searching for fun stuff. The Rebuilding Center is the true gem. You can easily find lumber for a project or siding for your 1890's bungalow or a window sash that matches your 1940's Tudor. I recently recycled some tongue and groove cedar into a garden structure to grow squash.

Happy Birthday Youngin!

@Brian - Is that true or are you being snarky. If that is true, we should find said statue and have the city put it in Pioneer Square or something.

I'm concerned about your stalker. He may be someone who will go through with his fantasy. Be sure to keep the mace and baseball bat at hand and make sure the lingerie models next door know karate so they can come to your aid if need be.

or, just look menacingly at every douche who walks in the door.

YAY! Welcome all, we're enjoying your writing.

Geoff, you make a good point. A city without a daily newspaper. I hadn't thought of that with my vitriol. It would be a strange world without the newspaper sitting there at the dentist office or when you're getting new tires. While I don't buy the paper, there is something about seeing the yellow dispensers every morning that is routine.

I can understand people's frustrations with one-way streets and 3 lane freeways cutting down to 2 with an exit only lane, but I don't know what you all mean by user traps? Throw out some examples.

And please don't use the obvious ones like 5 corners by Ladd's Edition or the Burnside/Sandy interchange. There are those challenges in every city. Heck, I was in Philly last weekend and they barely have street signs, so we're ahead of them on that front.

Give examples. I want to know so I can have people avoid the challenges.

That is so funny. I try to only stay on the East Side and downtown because that to me seems more easy to navigate. 99% of the east side out to 122nd is mostly grid. Yeah, you do have Laurelhurst and Ladd's Edition and Sellwood, but that is nothing compared to how twisty and turny it is past the west hills.

On the west side they have multiple names for each road and highway. I guess it depends on where you learned to drive.

For new Portlanders, if you're in NW downtown, remember, the streets go alphabetically.

I chose to spend 16 hrs in the air for 2 days with my love. I think that was a good choice.

Well done Wordcamp.

If you want some great wool blankets, don't shell out for Pendleton (unless you have the extra cash) - head on over to Andy and Bax and pick up some Austrian or South African army wool blankets. I got one about 15 years ago. Don't use it too much anymore, but it is still in good condition and I think it was under $10 then.

@Talea - You know one thing I just remembered? Since they do bring out all this stuff so early, it is usually set to 40-60% off by the Friday after Turkey day if you are out shopping. We usually hit the stores the following weekend to stock up for the following year.

I agree though, way way to early.

Have you tried this place?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2867777467_...

Jason,
Thanks for the comments. Ok, so if we're videotaping, say it loud enough for the audio to pick up that your video taping. That way, it doesn't matter if the cop heard or not because it was recorded.

I love Ameriker.

I would actually recommend the Tram. Great views and a fun ride. Also, from there you could take advantage of the streetcar back into downtown.

I want to suggest Peninsula Park rose test garden, but I think it may be under construction.

If the day is clear, Rocky Butte is my fave - out where I205 and I84 converge is a hill with a fortress atop. Great views of the mountains and such.

Sauvies Island - great for a nice country drive or to check out the corn maze.

Pittock mansion in the west hills off Burnside - another great view and you may be able to take a tour. Former Oregonian publisher's home.

Walk the waterfront loop - East side esplanade and west side Waterfront park. Maybe grab some food from one of the great carts downtown and then go for a nice walk.

Have fun.

@Jason McArthur - There isn't enough information in the Beaverton article for me to know if these are similar. When I read it, it implies the cell phone used was not visible and the people being recorded truly didn't know they were being recorded. With the incident this past week, the video camera was in the officers face and the officer looked at it repeatedly.

Wow.

Wow...

I couldn't even make out the song.

But you know, I wouldn't ask him to leave the Alibi if he were there.

Well done sir!

I've seen this on the freeway in traffic @ 70mph. Freaks me out.

I don't even try to take camera phone photos while driving I'm so paranoid of crashing or hitting something.

Coming from work, so no kilt sorry.

I'll be there with bells on.

@Talea - I think you will be hard pressed to find too many metal construction vehicles. I love those and have shopped everywhere to no avail. I think it may be a safety issue thing.

You could always hit the Antique stores and get them a vintage one.

What about Finnegan's? I love that place.

Interesting. I love the term LoBu as much as I love NoPo. I didn't think it extended any further than the Burnside/Sandy interchange though. It was coined by those opening places in the area around Doug Fir Lounge.

Gotta try those fries.

Dang, I wanted to try that place. Too bad.

All, thank you for your the great conversation here. Some excellent points being made by all.

@Cam - So Cam, what do you propose as a solution? Should we go back to the 80's when there was an Albertson's across from a Safeway down the street from a Thriftway all trying to win by going 24hrs? In the end you still end up with 1 corporate store telling you what you can and can't eat?

I shop at New Seasons and I shop sometimes at Fred Meyer's. My question to you - why do I need the choice of 20 brands of Garbanzo beans? I guess it is personal choice.

What I love about having New Seasons close is that it allows me to shop fresh. I have always had this image that my neighborhood would support the ability to take a walk and pickup my bread, pickup my produce, pickup my meat and other items and head home. Maybe do that on a daily basis. I know that isn't the most efficient method and probably costs more, but it also doesn't involve the car trip to the store and the $100 price tag. I love that New Seasons actually has staff in the bakery, the cheese area, the meat counter, the produce counter. Got to Safeway or Freddy's and see if there is a butcher there to cut you something special. Nope.

But again, this isn't about me. Cam, what would you like to see?