~~~~~
Amazements of
the Left Coast
with
Carolan Gladden
~~~~~
More Portland Amazements
Music -- so much good music of so many kinds, sampled above with the Portland-esque "Morning Show" from Tom Grant's very first album in 1983. And Tom's still a local who performs in the area when not on tour. http://www.tomgrant.com/
Then there's jazz jam sessions hosted all over the place by intrepid Poirtland drummer Ron Steen. Check the schedule: http://ronsteenjazz.blogspot.com/
And perhaps the most historic, strange and wonderful music venue is the White Eagle Cafe.
A long-ago brothel on North Russell, today it offers tasty bar food, great sounds of all kind and upstairs rooms for the daring. Check it out, along with all the other wild and crazy McMenamin's venues:
The Hat Museum in a historic house in Ladd's Addition boasts 900 hats and intriguing displays. thehatmuseum.com
Stark's on NE Grand has the only vacuum cleaner museum maybe anywhere. thevacuummuseum.php
Rice Museum -- a 20 minute drive west of downtown but worth it for any fan of amazing rocks and minerals. ricenwmuseum.org
And do not forget the oldest, strangest sight ever -- THE BOMBER!
Not exactly a museum but what a story (see at right).
Art Lacy with his Bomber.
Then there's jazz jam sessions hosted all over the place by intrepid Poirtland drummer Ron Steen. Check the schedule: http://ronsteenjazz.blogspot.com/
And perhaps the most historic, strange and wonderful music venue is the White Eagle Cafe.
A long-ago brothel on North Russell, today it offers tasty bar food, great sounds of all kind and upstairs rooms for the daring. Check it out, along with all the other wild and crazy McMenamin's venues:
http://www.mcmenamins.com/469-white-eagle-saloon-home
Museums -- Way too many museums to list but my choice of most unusual or enchanting are:The Hat Museum in a historic house in Ladd's Addition boasts 900 hats and intriguing displays. thehatmuseum.com
Stark's on NE Grand has the only vacuum cleaner museum maybe anywhere. thevacuummuseum.php
Rice Museum -- a 20 minute drive west of downtown but worth it for any fan of amazing rocks and minerals. ricenwmuseum.org
And do not forget the oldest, strangest sight ever -- THE BOMBER!
Not exactly a museum but what a story (see at right).
Art Lacy with his Bomber.
Bridges -- 10 very different vehicular and pedestrian bridges span the Willamette:
Hawthorne, 1910
Seel, 1912
Broadway, 1913
Sellwood, 1925
Ross Island, 1926
Brnside, 1926
St. Johns, 1931
Morrison, 1958
Marquam, 1966
Fremont, 1973
Steel Bridge and skyline from the east side.
Hawthorne, 1910
Seel, 1912
Broadway, 1913
Sellwood, 1925
Ross Island, 1926
Brnside, 1926
St. Johns, 1931
Morrison, 1958
Marquam, 1966
Fremont, 1973
Steel Bridge and skyline from the east side.
Jake's Famous Crawfish - a classy uptown landmark since 1892.
Caro Amico -- the funky place on SW Barbur dates to 1948 and may have been introduced pizza to my town.
Rose's -- in NW and still the tastiest kosher deli -- oops, too soon gone!
Jolly Roger -- downhome SE area diner with great fish and chips, cheap.
Veritable Quandary -- since the irrepressible '60s a hip place in lower downtown.
Old Spaghetti Factory -- the chain begun right in Portland by Guss Dussin, a man of Greek origin (which is why all OSF's sport spaghetti with mizritha cheese on the menu -- a dish to die for!)
The Bomber -- Burgers and everything at 3515 SE McLoughlin Blvd.
http://www.thebomber.com
Fountains -- Around the city are as many as 25 unique public fountains. Most popular are Ira's Fountain, opposite the Civic Auditorium at 3rd and Market and Salmon Street Springs near the Visitors Center in Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
My favorite is the restfully stairstepped, cascading Lovejoy Fountain along the walk in Portland Center, off 4th and Lincoln.
And then of course there's Skidmore Fountain, the oldest work of public art, near 1st and Pine in Old Town.
In his will Stephen Skidmore decreed a fountain for "horses, men and dogs" to drink from.
My favorite is the restfully stairstepped, cascading Lovejoy Fountain along the walk in Portland Center, off 4th and Lincoln.
And then of course there's Skidmore Fountain, the oldest work of public art, near 1st and Pine in Old Town.
In his will Stephen Skidmore decreed a fountain for "horses, men and dogs" to drink from.Powell's Books is now recognized as the largest independent bookstore in the world. Wander the several floors at the big store on NW Burnside, visit the specialized stores or buy both new and used books online. (I remember the days without computers when they had no idea what books were on their shelves.) Read more: wiki/Powells.com
Rain -- Ok, so there's a lot of rain. But as I have written:
The Bomber is a for-real B-17 WW II "Flying Fortress" flown to the area in 1947 by Art Lacey, who for years sheltered a drive-in and 40-pump gas station under her 100-ft wingspan.
Today the restaurant and catering services are still family owned.
Rain -- Ok, so there's a lot of rain. But as I have written:
"A civilized sort of rainfall, intermittent, light, misty. A rain for walking
and talking. A rain for lovers, for lovers of rain." And the rain makes for good humor:
People in
Portlanders love the roar of an approaching storm. Thre's nothing like the sound
of a million opening umbrellas.
_________
The Bomber is a for-real B-17 WW II "Flying Fortress" flown to the area in 1947 by Art Lacey, who for years sheltered a drive-in and 40-pump gas station under her 100-ft wingspan.
Today the restaurant and catering services are still family owned.
