Dave Knows Portland

Archives for May 2009

Memorial Day Weekend 2009: Timbers twice face Puerto Rico

by 2 Comments

TimbersThe Timbers fly to Puerto Rico this weekend to play a couple matches against the Puerto Rico Islanders.

The first match starts at 5pm Friday, May 23. Then on Sunday, May 24, the teams play again. Match starts at 4pm.

Both matches will be broadcast on USLLive. If your internet sucks like mine, and/or you enjoy the company of other fans whilst cheering on the Mighty Mighty Timbers, then you’ll be happy to know the following local venues will be showing the game.

Meanwhile the Timbers U-23 team take on the Seattle Wolves Wednesday, May 20th in Tukwila, Washington in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier. Game starts at 7pm at the Starfire Complex (6840 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila, WA 98188).

And on Saturday, May 23 at 7:05pm the team face the Tacoma Tide in another qualifier. This match will be at Curtis High School (8425 40th St. W, University Place, WA 98466).

For more information, changed venues, and new venues visit this thread on the Soccer City USA Message Board.

A visit to Sam Hill’s Stonehenge

by 3 Comments

Thursday we cheered on the Timbers. Friday we spent some time at the Hall of Records‘ wax broker riot. And Saturday we merely spent a couple hours at the Alberta Art Hop (after helping some friends move and before the obligatory sunny Saturday beer with friends at Amnesia). By Sunday morning we were determined to do one of two things: either stay home and relax, or jump in Heather’s Saabaru and carom through the Columbia River Gorge. What do you think we did? Yup.

Heather and I have made several [1, 2, 3] trips to the Gorge since she moved to Portland, but our adventures never took us further east than Hood River. We decided to throw the net a little wider this time.

We left Portland around 10am and didn’t even stop in Hood River. We were on our way to Maryhill, Washington. Maryhill is a small farming community about 100 miles from Portland. On a bluff overlooking the town, the Columbia River, Biggs Junction, and the Sam Hill Memorial Bridge stands Sam Hill‘s Stonehenge, a full sized replica of the original. He built his stonehenge as a memorial to the first World War war dead from Klickitat County.

yellowflowersstonehenge

[Read more…]

Wall Street Journal examines Portland’s youth magnetism

by 5 Comments

wsj051709A disproportionate number of people moving to Portland in recent years have been college educated 25-39 year olds. Between 1990 and 2007 the fraction of Oregon workers with college degrees rose from 19.5% (below the national average of 21.3%) to 28.3% (above the national average of 27.5%).

And there aren’t enough bicycle repair, coffee shop, and unicorn wrangling jobs in town for all of them.

But in today’s Wall Street Journal article ‘Youth Magnet’ Cities Hit Midlife Crisis, it’s difficult to tell if Portland is being lauded or scolded for this state of affairs.

This drizzly city along the Willamette River has for years been among the most popular urban magnets for college graduates looking to start their careers in a small city of like-minded folks. Now the jobs are drying up, but the people are still coming. The influx of new residents is part of the reason the unemployment rate in the Portland metropolitan area has more than doubled to 11.8% over the past year, and is now above the national average of 8.9%.

A slideshow also accompanies the article. It includes the obligatory photos of parked bicycles, Stumptown Coffee, Voodoo Doughnut, the Made in Oregon sign, and the Pearl District.

May 17: Norwegian Constitution Day Celebration and Parade

by Leave a Comment

2013 Details Here!

17may2009I’m glad I checked out Around The Sun this morning, as earlier this week when I compiled my list of weekend activities I had completely forgotten about Sunday’s Norwegian Constitution Day celebration and parade.

Norway’s most important holiday, “Syttende Mai” (set-na-my), Constitution Day, will be celebrated on Sunday, May 17th right here in Portland, sponsored by Sons of Norway Grieg Lodge at the historic Norse Hall. The holiday marks the adoption of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814, and Norway’s peaceful separation from Sweden in 1905.

Join Sons of Norway Grieg Lodge and the Norwegian community for authentic festivities including a flag parade with marchers in traditional costumes, the Benson High School marching band, even Norwegian Fjord horses decked out for the occasion! Also enjoy a variety of Scandinavian foods, music and activities for kids. Plus, enter to win a roundtrip for two to Scandinavia courtesy of SAS (Scandinavian Airlines), and other wonderful prizes. Admission is free.

The Norse Hall is located at 11th and NE Couch.

Doors open at 1pm doors open; Parade begins at 3pm.

Complete details available here (pdf).