Dave Knows Portland

Archives for September 2007

Denver likes our trees

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The DenverInfill blogger spent some time in Portland recently taking photos and observing the city through his urban planning-colored glasses.

In Downtown Portland Perspectives, Part 1 he comments on Portland’s “manageable, intimate pedestrian environment” and credits part of that to our narrow streets, in comparison to other Western U.S. cities. I noticed this on recent trips to Salt Lake City and Denver: mile-wide (I exaggerate a bit) streets running through the downtowns. These may serve automobiles better than our 3-lane wide Broadway, but pedestrians feel insignificant and crossing the street is daunting (in SLC there are, seriously, short red flags for pedestrians to wave as they attempt to cross the street; you pick one up from a basket by the crosswalk on one side and deposit it in the basket on the other . . . if you make it!). Portlanders can thank the original platters of the city for the short blocks and narrow streets.

Downtown Portland Perspectives, Part 2 brings up something I think most Portlanders take for granted:

Trees. They are such a critical element in a downtown streetscape, given all the concrete, asphalt, brick, and other hard and heat-radiating surfaces found in urban centers. . . .
In Portland, Oregon, most streets in the Downtown area are lined with a generous dose of leafy cover. It made a huge difference in enjoying the two days–hot and sunny days–I recently spent wandering around their Downtown.

Trees are mentioned frequently in the Part 1 comments. Check out the blog posts to see what the commenters notice from the photos.

Timbers pre-playoff coverage roundup

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TimbersThe first match is tonight and the print media has taken some time out of their busy Blazers/Oden schedule to write a little about the Timbers. Much of the coverage lauds Wicks and his defensive cohorts:

Portland Tribune – Goalie counts his four blessings

“The best back four I’ve ever had,” Wicks says. “They work hard the full 90 minutes, and every once in a while a shot comes in and I do my part to play up to their level.”

The Oregonian – Wilkinson’s future costs Timbers coach for game

Instead of guiding the Portland Timbers through their first playoff game tonight in Vancouver, B.C., coach Gavin Wilkinson expects to watch the match online as a spectator, holed up alone in his home office in Gresham.

The Columbian – Timbers develop into playoff team this year

 “The old saying goes: ‘Defense wins championships,’ ” said veteran midfielder Andrew Gregor. “We’re going to stick with that, play hard for each other. I’m very confident we can get the job done.”

The Vancouver Sun – Wicks playing for keeps

It wouldn’t be fair to the Vancouver Whitecaps to say they let the best goalkeeper in the United Soccer League’s First Division get away. But it is fair to say Josh Wicks might come back to haunt them.

The Province – Bid to defend USL title begins in earnest

A key for Vancouver will be solving Portland goalkeeper Josh Wicks, the USLFD goals-against leader who stoned Caps Tony Donatelli and Dave Morris on Sunday.

With a Flourish: Second Thursday Social on Mississippi Avenue

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Mississippi AvenueEvery second Thursday of the month North Mississippi Avenue, between Fremont and Skidmore, hosts a social showcasing the diverse local businesses and talent along the avenue. The event runs from about 6pm until 10pm.

This particular social (September 13th) features Flourish, a fashion show exhibiting items from Phlox, Gypsy Chic, Sameunderneath, Pin Me Apparel, Blue, Amalee and Black Wagon. The show will be at the corner of Mississippi and Beech, right next to Amnesia Brewing. A silent auction and raffle begins at 6pm and the fashion show starts at 7pm. A mere $2 is the suggested donation. Proceeds benefit the Historic Mississippi Business Association and Albina Youth Opportunity School.

The MeadowThe Meadow (3731 N. Mississippi Ave), a local purveyor of gourmet salts, chocolates, flowers, wine, amongst other things, maintains a neighborhood visitors guide with more details about the social and area businesses. Also, like any self respecting neighborhood, Mississippi Avenue has a MySpace page.

I’ll be attending my first Second Thursday Social this month, as I’ve recently moved into the neighborhood and I figure I ought to know of what I blog, so see you there!

My thoughts on Oden’s knee

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UPDATE: Well, we’ve learned the news is worse than hoped, but there’s a chance he’ll recover as well as Stoudemire and Randolph have from microfracture surgery. In any case the Blazers have good young team going into the new season even without Oden. I’ll enjoy watching Aldridge become a star this year, and I will not be canceling my season tickets!

BlazersFirst off, all I know about Oden’s knee I learned at the Blazers Blog. I don’t want to have to read an entire Canzano column and thanks to Blazers Blog I don’t have to . . .

My quick take is that all the hullabaloo over Oden’s arthroscopic knee surgery is a tempest in a teapot. The procedure is relatively common amongst athletes. Nagging injuries, though frustrating to players and fans, are especially common amongst 7 footers. Bowie-style multiple breakages or Walton-esque chronic, and mysterious, foot problems are the ones I would worry about. Oden has a long, possibly great, career in front of him; it’s unrealistic to expect it to be injury-free. He’s a young, smart, strong, and athletic 7 footer. The Blazers literally and figuratively won the lottery. Wake me up when the season starts.

September 15-16: What to do between the Timbers matches?

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The Timbers play Friday and Sunday, so you’ll need to find something to fill the gap. Here are some ideas:

Saturday

Alberta Street FairThe 10th annual Alberta Street Fair is Saturday. There will be multiple stages for music, food vendors, arts and crafts, and of course a parade (at 2:30pm). This is the big daddy of Portland street fairs, so it’s fitting that almost 20 blocks will be carfree!

Kruger's KermesseKruger’s Kermesse Farm Crit is another carfree activity this weekend (though getting to Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie Island might be a bit challenging sans automobile). Besides the bike race there will be a beer garden, food, and live music. I’m hoping for a bit of rain to make the race more interesting!

Saturday-Sunday

Under the Autumn Moon FestivalThe Old Town/Chinatown Business Association invites us to the Under the Autumn Moon Festival. I’ll let them explain it to you:

Historically, Old Town/Chinatown was home to many diverse communities including Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Jewish and Scandinavian. This annual celebration incorporates these many cultures, reveling in the rich cultural and historical significance of this vibrant neighborhood.

The timing of Under the Autumn Moon coincides with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival-one of the most celebrated Chinese holidays. Similar to harvest festivals celebrated by many cultures around the world, the Mid-Autumn Moon festival has been held throughout Asia for well over 1,000 years and has become a time to reflect upon the bounty of the summer harvest among other things.

The heart of the festivities take place on our festival center streets on NW Davis and Flanders between the NW 3rd and 4th Avenues. Open air markets, multi-cultural music and dance, fireworks, a spectacular mid-Autumn parade, an international food area and craft activities among other things will highlight the history and culture of this area.