We went to Portland a weekend or two ago, and I basically fell in love with the city.
I don't really know why, it just "felt" awesome, like there was a good vibe there or something.
I'd like to know more about it, so if anyone has personal knowledge (either first-hand or from friends there, it's ok, just let me know) about the city and area, I'd really like to know.
I already looked it up in Wikipedia, and following one of the links I found out about a tiny, tiny park in Portland...Mill Ends Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_Ends_Park).
QuoteMill Ends Park (sometimes mistakenly called Mill's End Park)[1] is a tiny urban park located in the median strip of SW Naito Parkway, approaching esplanade along the Willamette River near SW Taylor Street in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. The park is a small circle 2 ft (0.61 m) across, with a total area of 452 sq in (0.292 m2). It is the smallest park in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records, which first granted it this recognition in 1971.[2]
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(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F5%2F56%2FMill_Ends_Park_2007.jpg%2F220px-Mill_Ends_Park_2007.jpg&hash=48a725ed5564ce12cb794eb78691d17def9aefcf)
...
The small circle has featured many unusual items through the decades, including a swimming pool for butterflies—complete with diving board, a horseshoe, a fragment of the Journal building, and a miniature Ferris wheel which was delivered by a full size crane. On St. Patrick's Day, 2001, the park was visited by a tiny leprechaun leaning against his pot of gold and children's drawings of four-leaf clovers and leprechauns.[2] The park continues to be the site of St. Patrick's Day festivities. The events held here include concerts by Clan Macleay Pipe Band, picnics, and rose plantings by the Junior Rose Festival Court.[3]
It's exactly this kind of quirkiness that really gets my girlie going! It is so awesome that there are such characters *somewhere*!
On with the
Rave about Portland Party!
I actually love Portland, too. I've been there a few times since we have friends in Oregon. Northwest Oregon in general (as far as I know it) is a really cool place.
Last I went was for the M. C. Escher exhibit at the Portland Art Museum. Awesomeness.
And now you know why I love living here. I love OMSI (http://http//www.omsi.edu/) (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). Awhile back we had the Body Works Exhibition. That was amassing. And of course there is the USS Blueback.
Beth, Voodoo Doughnuts is an amazing place to grab good food. Downtown in general is good from the one time I was there. There are other good places as well that Ms. Obrien and the rest of the POrtland Contingent can let you in on.
Food Carts
Microbreweries
Clackamas Town Center
Lloyd Center
The Oregon Zoo
Darcelle's
And of course:
Madeline
Miharu Barbie
Felix
and ME! (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-3.gif&hash=f49e2f86761323f2abd9c33941920389dbb3b10f)
On the other hand there is the jobs, jobs, jobs deal, and they can be hard to come by (at least the ones that provide a decent standard of living) in Portland. The economy has been depressed there for a long time now, and shows little improvement. Everyone I know who left Portland left because they just could not support themselves there.
I love Portland! It's always been the goofy stepsister to Seattle and they don't mind at all ;)
Concerts at the Roseland! A rockin' New Year's Eve on the bouncing floor at the Crystal Ballroom, voodoo donuts mmmmm, uh..."Mary's Place" :angel:
It's just a great place for a weekend get away no matter where yer from :)
Portland's a great place to set aside your fears and just live.
When you set a burden down here, half the time by the time you remember where you left it, you'll find your burden has moved on and is having the time of its life.
Time is circular here and kind of bouncy.
Quote from: MadelineB on October 03, 2012, 03:00:24 AM
Portland's a great place to set aside your fears and just live.
When you set a burden down here, half the time by the time you remember where you left it, you'll find your burden has moved on and is having the time of its life.
Time is circular here and kind of bouncy.
So...you're saying it's like boobs?
Quote from: Beth Andrea on October 03, 2012, 07:33:13 AM
So...you're saying it's like boobs?
Well yes I suppose, I find that it is close to my heart, and when I am looking down, it perks me up.
Portland was a memorable city, probably the best one in the US, at least to me. I went there in October 2010.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi943.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad278%2Fbarbie_pictures%2FPortland%2F20101030_052.jpg&hash=5b02b27d16b5dabd57e977e7143becbe81236900)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi943.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad278%2Fbarbie_pictures%2FPortland%2FIMG_7709.jpg&hash=b3aa645073b3d5fbf6f764be9afdd0fd9dd5dc8b)
I purchased Tria laser system there. It was in the bag of the above photo. Tria has been really nice. I have fewer hairs in legs and armpits than my wife.
Barbie~~
I have read much about Portland and hope to visit. It seems to be a progressive city and acceppting of trans folks.
I live in NE Portland and love it. Unemployment/employment can be a bit of an issue, was underemplyed for a few years and am now back up where I should be. As far as general living goes I love it, live in the Alberta Arts district with my wife/partner and three teenage sons. Lots to do for all of us and our varying interests, tons of food options and a very accepting community.
Cheers,
Myles