Dave Knows Portland

Portland Pinball Map Conquers our Neighbors to the North

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Portland Pinball Map iPhone App Splash ScreenThe folks behind the Portland Pinball Map (and the highly recommended iPhone application) have expanded their horizons, with two new maps for our neighbors to the North:

Just like the Portland map, the new maps enables a user in Seattle and BC to:

  • Check your favorite locations for their latest line-up
  • Search for machines throughout town
  • Browse the machines in your region
  • Search for locations with four or more machines
  • Comment on a machine’s condition

Also like the Portland map, the BC and Seattle maps are maintained by locals. The BC map is maintained by the folks at the Vancouver Regional Pinball Association (VRPA), and the Seattle map is maintained by unaffiliated volunteers.

At this moment the BC map tracks a respectable 58 locations and 91 machines, and the Seattle map 82 locations and 153 machines (compared to the mature Portland map’s hearty 176 locations and 366 machines).

(There is no accompanying iPhone app for the new regions yet, but I imagine that’s only a matter of time.)

Biggest Trailblazers Fan in Elko, Nevada?

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My brother Steve and his family moved to Elko, Nevada a few years ago. But despite keepin’ it rural (as the tagline of his blog succinctly puts it), he has stayed true to his Portland roots in at least one way: he’s a huge Trailblazers fan.

As I’ve mentioned before, he secured a personalized license plate as soon as he moved to Nevada: BLZRFAN. Well recently he and his wife bought a second car, so of course they needed to get another personalized license plate declaring their allegiance:

Blazer Fans

Steve is also an entertaining (if infrequent) blogger at the confusingly named blog Dave Knows: Elko. And though he only started Twittering recently, he’s a natural; follow him at @ElkoSteve.

2009 Golden Spurtle: The Movie

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Golden SpurtleThe Golden Spurtle is the trophy awarded each year to the winner of the World Porridge Making Championship, held each year in Scotland. (The 17th annual, 2010 event takes place October 10th in the Scottish Highland village of Carrbridge, on World Porridge Day!).

The 2009 winner, as you may recall, was Matthew Cox of Oregon based Bob’s Red Mill. And until the next competition, you can visit the actual Golden Spurtle – it’s on display at Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Store (5000 SE International Way, Milwaukie, Oregon). Truly, it is a sight to behold!

Recently while perusing the recently revamped Golden Spurtle website, I found this short film (by Fergus Thom of Carrbridge Films) about the 2009 competition, which features competition footage and the awards ceremony:

New Site: Portland Soccer Bars

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Portland Soccer Bars ScreenshotPortland Soccer Bars is live!

Two of the most popular posts on Dave Knows Portland are Places to watch English (and world) soccer in Portland, and Italian Soccer Viewing in Portland. The inspiration for Portland Soccer Bars began with them.

With the Timbers season and the 2010 World Cup beginning soon, not to mention the Timbers’ “promotion” to MLS in 2011, new Portland area soccer fans will be coming out of the woodwork. And a lot of them won’t know where to watch matches. Portland Soccer Bars aims to help.

Currently each bar (and cafe and restaurant) listing is organized by name, quadrant, and type of establishment. The site is a work in progress though; more categories will be added (type of food? hours?).

I will update pages for sites as I get more or better information, so please, share your updates and opinions – comments are open on each bar’s listing, and there’s a form on the contact page to submit information about new venues. I imagine this summer, during World Cup, a lot of bars that don’t normally show soccer will be jumping on the bandwagon, if only for a few weeks. Portland Soccer Bars will keep track of them too.

Cheers!