Special Halloween Memories

My younger son's birthday is today. At PicMonkey, I have vampired and day-of-the-deaded and zombied him, in honor of his having been born on Halloween. Happy birthday, honey!

Oh, the original photo was taken on our mushroom hunting trip in 2008, eleven days after his birthday.

Rainy autumn in my neighborhood, No. 3

When I decided to take a short walk Sunday afternoon, I couldn't hear any rain from inside my apartment, nor could I see any falling when I looked out the window, so I walked from my front door and across the hallway to the building's side door in my Crocs and socks. All it took to hear the rain was to open that side door. Went right back to my apartment for my rain boots, pulled the hood on my raincoat up over my cloth hat and walked on outside into a shiny, colorful wonderland of autumn leaves.

Rainy autumn in my neighborhood, No. 2

Friday a week ago, the day that my brother arrived in Portland for his visit, we walked from the bus to the apartment; we'd had a full afternoon out and about in Portland, either on mass transit--MAX, bus, and Portland Streetcar--or on foot. As you can tell from the amount of water trapped at this corner, it had been raining hard earlier. In fact, the two of us got soaked walking from the Oregon Rail Heritage Center to the Portland Streetcar stop. Everywhere we went, we managed to avoid puddles in our path.

As we approached and I noticed this man engaged in a regularly occurring autumn activity here in Portland, I grabbed my camera from inside my raincoat and took a few photos. I didn't realize I had the bicycle in the shot until I had downloaded them to the iMac. Yea!



The bicyclist made it through the puddle, while the man with the rake diligently continued his work. We crossed the street out of view to the left where there was good drainage, avoiding our final puddle of the day.

Rainy autumn in my neighborhood, No. 1

Near my apartment this afternoon, water stands at the junction of a sloped driveway and a street. Brightly colored leaves float in the water until wet through and through--then they sink.

Mississippi State University! Go, Dawgs! Hail State!

There's a really big game today for the Mississippi State University football team and all of us True Maroon fans. The Dawgs play at Alabama. I shall be busy from 5:30 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m., Portland time--thank you, ESPN! I shall have my Mississippi State cowbell app at the ready. I'll play the fight song, "Hail State," on that same app and ring that virtual cowbell!

What results when an upper arm collides with a No Parking/Bus Goes Here sign?

I know that on Tuesday, October 16, as I trotted across the street to catch the homeward bound bus, I made a mistake.

I took this photo on Thursday as I waited to catch the bus at that same intersection.

Yes, I am the woman who solidly collided with the edge of the then upright sign. It happened as I attempted to hop up onto the curb so that I could walk a few feet to the bus. My left upper arm hit the edge of the sign so hard that I bounced right back onto the street, staying on my feet just fine. I adjusted my direction a little to the right, and then hopped onto the curb and walked to the waiting bus.

All of this had happened in full view of the bus driver, who asked as I stepped through the door, "Are you OK?" to which I replied, "Yes." Then I turned toward him so that he could see my upper arm straight on and asked, "Is there a hole in my sleeve?" "No," he replied. "Then I know that I'm OK. Thanks!" I said.

Just before we pulled away from the curb, I looked out the windshield and noticed that the top of the sign tilted to the right about 10 degrees, but I couldn't imagine that my running into it had caused that to happen; I vividly remembered feeling the length of the sign's edge when I hit it with my upper arm. However, after seeing what you see in the photo on Thursday, just two days after I had run into the sign, it appears that my hitting it so hard must have loosened the connection. I'll never know for sure.

Needless to say, I still have a bruise, but all of the soreness is gone. And, thankfully, on Wednesday, the company nurse managed quite professionally to give me my flu shot well away from the impact site.

Sunrise and sunset on October 17, 2012

Looking east on SE Hawthorne Blvd., near the intersection with SE Grand Avenue. I took this photo at 7:29 a.m.
 

Looking west from the top floor balcony at the Rose Garden Arena. I took this photo at 6:22 p.m. Notice the bit of blue to the left of the tallest antenna, down in the hillside?
 

Hiding in the sunset photo, it's Union Station. I cropped and altered the photo at PicMonkey so that you could see it, sort of.

Seen at Rose Garden Arena, October 17, 2012

My new seat as a sophomore season ticket holder affords me a great view of the action. I like it, sixth seat in from the aisle, front row, uppermost level, straight up from the right end of the Blazers' bench, facing the floor. Although according to the elevator, I'm on the 5th level up, prior to the pre-season home opener, I still managed with my zoom lens to get this photo of Portland Trail Blazers' legendary play-by-play announcer, Bill Schonely, and the Portland Trail Blazers' new head coach, Terry Stotts. It's obvious to me that they're glad to see each other and to be where they are in their lives.

About Mr. Bill Schonely, from Wikipedia: 

Bill Schonely (born June 1, 1929[1]), nicknamed "The Schonz", is an American sports broadcaster who was the first play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers. A native of Pennsylvania, he worked in radio in Louisiana and Seattle before settling in Portland, Oregon. In addition to his work for the Blazers, he has also been a sportscaster for Major League Baseball games, several minor league baseball teams, college sports, National Hockey League games, and junior ice hockey.
Portland Trail Blazers
Early years In April 1970, Schonely was approached by Blazers co-founder Harry Glickman, whom Schonely knew as a founder of the Portland Buckaroos. Schonely was the organization's sixth hire. Said Glickman in a 2008 interview: "The interview only lasted a few minutes; he opened his mouth and I knew I had the right guy." Schonely moved to Portland to start with the team on July 1, 1970. Schonely's first task was to assemble a radio network, starting with Portland's KOIN as the flagship, and Blazer games were carried on six stations the first year. Schonely was not as familiar with basketball as with other sports, and had to work hard to learn the game, attending every practice early on. Schonely called the play-by-play on 2,522 Blazers radio and television broadcasts, from Portland’s very first preseason outing (September 24, 1970) to the team's appearance in the 1998 NBA Playoffs (April 30, 1998). Schonely's announcing streak was interrupted only once, when he missed the first 25 games of the 1982–83 season for heart bypass surgery following a heart attack. In 2003, Schonely returned to the team to appear in radio and television segments and act as a team ambassador at charity and community events.
Return to the Blazers
In 2003, Schonely was rehired by the Trail Blazers' new management, a move aimed at reconnecting with Blazers fans disenchanted by the previous management and players' off-court troubles. Schonely's role included hosting pre-game segments, "Memorable Moments" on television and "Blazers Flashback" on radio, plus appearances in advertisements and at community events. Team president Steve Patterson called the move "smart business" and intended to honor the team's past. The move followed general manager Bob Whitsitt's resignation in May. Asked whether he would have responded had the call come from Whitsitt, Schonely said at the time, "Probably not." On October 14, 2009, at age 80, Schonely returned to the microphone for the second half of a "throwback" exhibition game held at Portland's Memorial Coliseum, where the Blazers played from 1970 until 1995. The occasion was billed as a one-quarter tribute, but radio announcer Brian Wheeler let Schonely call the remainder of the game. Schonely's Trail Blazers business card reads, "Ambassador".
Popularity
According to Oregon sportswriter Kerry Eggers, Schonely is considered by fans "the one constant link with Oregon's only major-league team." NBA trainer Ron Culp said of Schonely in 1990, "Bill Schonely is the symbol of the love affair the fans have with the Trail Blazers. ... He's part of their immediate family. Everything else with the Blazers have changed over the past 20 years, but you just don't mess with the Schonz." Schonely is often compared to legendary announcers Chick Hearn and Johnny Most, of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, respectively. At Schonely's induction to the 2002 Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, former Blazers center Bill Walton said: "Bill Schonely is as important to sports in the Northwest as Chick Hearn was to sports in Southern California. There are very few people in the history of Western Civilization who have had that kind of an impact." Walton also said: "Bill Schonely is the most important figure in the history of Oregon sports, with all due respect to Phil Knight and Maurice Lucas. Bill Schonely is the man who convinced people that sports are worthwhile." A restaurant in the Rose Garden is named in his honor, the Pyramid Taproom at Schonely's Place. The Trail Blazers organization retired Schonely's microphone on November 3, 2003. The 1992 Public Enemy album, Greatest Misses features the voice of Schonely calling Trail Blazer games on the track "Air Hoodlum."
Signature phrases
Schonely coined or popularized numerous phrases and sayings during his radio career with the Blazers, which have become synonymous with the Blazermania phenomenon in Oregon, including "Rip City," "Bingo Bango Bongo," "Climb the golden ladder," "Lickety brindle up the middle" and "You've got to make your free throws." Schonely's best-known phrase, "Rip City", debuted in a game against the Lakers in 1970. The Blazers had fallen behind by a significant margin, yet rallied back to a two-point deficit. When a long jump shot by guard Jim Barnett tied the game, Schonely blurted out, "Rip City! All right!" an exhortation for which Schonely had no literal explanation. The Blazers lost 136–114 but the phrase stuck, became synonymous with Blazers basketball and even became a nickname for Portland itself. Schonely is also known for the opening line of each broadcast, "Good evening basketball fans, wherever you may be..." delivered in some variation since the beginning of his professional sportscasting career in Baton Rouge.

About Coach Stotts, from Wikipedia:

Terry Stotts (born November 25, 1957) is an American retired professional basketball forward and current head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. His most recent head coaching job was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Stotts was fired by the Milwaukee Bucks on March 14, 2007. Before becoming the head coach of the Bucks, Stotts was an assistant for the Golden State Warriors, head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, and an assistant coach of the Seattle SuperSonics. Stotts played in Europe for a few years before becoming a SuperSonics assistant coach. He also was the star player for George Karl's CBA team, the Montana Golden Nuggets, in the early 1980s. The Dallas Mavericks hired Stotts as an assistant coach in September 2008. The Portland Trail Blazers hired Stotts as their head coach on August 7, 2012. The announcement was made by General Manager Neil Olshey. Stotts became the 14th head coach in Trail Blazers history. At the time, his NBA coaching record was 115–168. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Stotts grew up in Illinois, Wisconsin, Guam, and Indiana and graduated from Bloomington High School North at Bloomington, Indiana in 1976. Stotts started all his four seasons with the University of Oklahoma Sooners basketball team and was an Academic All-American selection in his junior and senior seasons and an All-Big Eight Conference selection in his senior season. He graduated from Oklahoma in 1980 with a B.S. in zoology and a Master's in Business Administration from Oklahoma in 1988 on a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA.

Seen in my neighborhood, September 29, 2012

Look at this gorgeous blue sky over the Albertina Kerr building, in my neighborhood. What more could one want--sunshine, blue skies, and sidewalks!

From their Web site, the About info: Every day, Albertina Kerr helps children, adults and families in Oregon with mental health challenges and developmental disabilities, empowering them to lead fuller, self-determined lives. Those who support us, whether employees, volunteers or donors, experience the joy of giving back to their community, knowing that more smiles grace more faces on more days because of their efforts. When we work together, we create something incredible. We create a community that's balanced and complete. We find what's truly wonderful in all of us.

Seen on the street, September 30, 2012

A Hudson parked at the curb beside a restaurant called 24th and Meatballs--at the intersection of NE 24th and NE Glisan.

I learned several things yesterday ...

... at my drum lesson with Greg Odell, founder of The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers.

Here we go, in no particular order. My left wrist doesn't move like my right one--I'm right-handed. Greg Odell is a fantastic teacher. If I practice, I just might be able to do this! I definitely weigh more that I should. I learned the Comparative Table of the Relative Value of Notes. (Well, I have a hand-out to make sure that I remember them.) I drummed something very fun known as a Single Paradiddle. I had no idea how much counting went on with drumming. Every cent I pledged to the LRSD's Kickstarter Campaign was well spent. I had a blast and am so happy that my brother Howard was here from Mississippi visiting and got to accompany me to my lesson,  along with my two sons Lamont and Leland. Yippee!

Hollywood Theatre, No. 5

Looking west at the Hollywood Theatre in a photo that I took on September 30, 2012. Now you can see the apartment building standing on what was a vacant lot, seen in yesterday's post. I can tell you that the view when you're eastbound on NE Sandy Blvd. is no longer what it was in yesterday's post.

See the lights on the left side of the Hollywood Theatre building? They are in the ladies restroom--it has a small vestibule or lobby or seating area, I'm not sure what to call it. I'm pretty sure it's original to the building which has been turned into a theater with three screens, one big one downstairs and two smaller ones upstairs. Despite that yellow insulation showing on the apartment building, I like how this photo turned out.

Here's an article about the plans for the building, from the Portland Mercury, May 2, 2011. And here's another article from the Daily Journal of Commerce, December 5, 2011, about the beginning of the building project. It remains to be seen what sort of business will be on the first floor of the apartment building. It would be cool if it were a good restaurant.

Hollywood Theatre, No. 4

Here's a photo of the Hollywood Theatre that I took May 19, 2011. Can you imagine how fine that tower looked as you drove or rode eastbound on NE Sandy Blvd.? What a sight to see.

Speaking of seeing, I did see "Win, Win" and "Jane Eyre" here--thoroughly enjoyed both. "Hobo with a Shotgun" is not my cup o' tea.

Hollywood Theatre, No. 3

A surprise addition, atop the marquee and barely visible to me as I sat on a bench in front of the theater, waiting for a friend so that we could go see "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." I've looked at a whole lot of other photos I've taken over the years of this marquee--the owl is not in any of them.

Whose eyes scare you the most? The one visible owl eye, all golden and huge? Or the deep-set, wide-opened eyes of that slightly smiling man's face behind the owl? Maybe it's the other man, in the blue circle with the with rim? He looks like he's been goosed by something--maybe the owl's sharp beak got to him before it "landed" on the edge.

The owl must be there to scare birds from landing on the edge of the marquee. However, even pre-owl, I cannot remember seeing evidence of birds on the marquee or on the sidewalk in front of the theater. What amazes me is that the small owl can be noticed by birds, considering the myriad details included in the colorful and ornate tower above the marquee. (More photos of it to come.)

I read online at the Oregon Historical Society's Web site, The Oregon History Project:
"The Hollywood was designed by the architectural firm of Bennes & Herzog of Portland. The style has been described as “Byzantine,” but is better characterized as Spanish Colonial Revival. It was constructed of poured concrete, but the entrance was topped by an elaborate tower of polychrome (colored) terra cotta with arched niches flanked by turned pillars. The two-story street side of the theater was capped by roof tiles that carried out the Spanish Colonial theme. Most theaters of this size were located in downtown areas, but the Hollywood was sited in a neighborhood shopping district that was well served by both streetcar and automobile."

It is very easy for me to get to the Hollywood on the 12 bus--it's just 20 blocks away from my street.

Hollywood Theatre, No. 2

Check yesterday's post for the first part of the story of how I became the proud owner of the movie poster for my favorite movie of 2012--The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Here's the man in the plaid shirt, with the window open, about to unpin the poster and take it back inside the lobby so that he can roll it up and then put a rubber band around it and hand it to me. I say, "Thank you, sir!"

I like the side story here--the lady gazing at the big, varying shades of red, plastic letters for the right ones to finish readying them to be placed up on the movie marquee. Can't you just see her brain running through the remaining letters and movie titles?

Hollywood Theatre, No. 1

Hollywood Theatre marquee the evening of September 6, 2012. In honor of probably my last time to see "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" in a theater. To tell you the truth, it was the third time I saw that fantabulous movie in a theater.

As I left the upstairs theater that night--the movie's last at the Hollywood--I wondered whether or not anyone had already begged to take home its poster hanging in the display window beside the front door. So, I quickly made my way down the curving, banked ramp and the few steps at the bottom, spied the poster still in the window, made a B-line for the cash register, and asked the guy there, "Whom should I beg for 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' poster in the window out front?"

He looked at me, looked out the front door, and replied, "See that man in the plaid shirt? He's the one." Within mere moments, that nice young man had listened to me beg, pulled the key from behind the register, unlocked the window, removed the poster, rolled it up, put a rubber band around it, handed it to me, and said, "I like knowing this is going to someone who really loves it!"

Not too many days later, my sons hung in on my closet door so that I can see it any ol' time I want. Hey, Lamont and Leland, I'll take a DVD of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" for my birthday!

Open House, Provvista Specialty Foods, Part Four

Read about Provvista Specialty Foods here.

My sons Lamont and Leland work at Provvista and are in photos on Open House, Part One.

You can see the rest of the photos that I took at Open House, Part Three and Open House, Part Two. Lots of good food to see!



So, if I've Googled correctly, this is San Giacomo's table. Country of Origin: Italy-Emilia Romagna. I found that they make balsamics vinegars, one of which I read is considered the best of the best. I think that's it in the presentation boxes.
 

Ortiz, delicious tuna in olive oil--I already knew just how great it tastes, so that's what I tried. Country of Origin: Spain-Basque Country. It really worked well that Mr. Ortiz had placed toothpicks sturdily into chunks of tuna. Lots of people surely tasted the other fishes, but I'm partial to tuna. I made several return visits for additional chunks.
 

If I remember correctly, I tasted the Unio vinegar with riesling, which I liked better than the vinegar with cabernet sauvignon.  Country of Origin: Spain-Catalonia. I left the razor clams for others. I don't make a habit of sipping vinegar--this was a first for me.
 

Several sorts of chocolate here with a lady whose name tag says Susan Bolding, CW Hayward. I tasted the Belgian chocolate with one of those teensy wooden paddles--the plate filled with it is just out of the photo near that gigantic bag of Callebaut.
    

The lady's name tag says Raquel, Forever Cheese. Nothing else needs to be said, does it? Cheese of all sorts covers the table. I see the word Mitica on labels, along with Montegrappa, Ombra. I also read on a Mitica label, Fig Almond Cake, which sounds delicious. Mitica, Country of Origin--Spain-Valencian Cmty.
 

Boiron fruit purees. Country of Origin: France. Earlier that same lady handed me one of those small cups filled with several flavors, seems like I remember papaya and kiwi as two of them, along with gin. I could be wrong. I do remember it tasted fresh and that I decided not to drink all of it since I was driving a Zipcar.
 

The Fine Cheese Co. table, loaded with all sorts of crackers to enjoy with cheese. Country of Origin, the United Kingdom. Those fruit purees in the little jars looked good, so I tasted the fig on the crackers named Bath Ovals--yummy.
 

ChocoLate Organiko. Country of Origin: Spain-Madrid. Such expressive hands as she talks chocolate with the woman adjusting her purse on her shoulder. As warm as the afternoon turned out to be, I doubt that woman left her sweater/coat on once she stepped outside the warehouse. I tasted several delicious tidbits, all good.

Open House, Provvista Specialty Foods, Part Three

Read about Provvista Specialty Foods here.

My sons Lamont and Leland work at Provvista and are in photos on Open House, Part One.



Here's a shot taken in the sunny parking lot. You can just about feel the warmth. Personally, I love Provvista's logo which you can see part of on these two trucks parked in the company lot. My two sons were born in Kansas, the Sunflower State, and now they work for a company with a sunflower logo!
 

Central Milling, Premium Flour & Grains - Est. 1867. A busy table. Country of Origin: USA-Utah.
 

La Querica's table is busy, too. Country of Origin: USA-Iowa. They produce artisan cured meats or salumi — prosciutto, pancetta, coppa, speck, lonza, guanciale, and lardo.
 

One of my favorite tunas comes from Sacred Sea Wild Albacore Gourmet Fillets. Country of Origin: USA-Oregon. It's not packed in oil but in it's natural juices. Yummy. The lady, who had drained the natural juices and placed the flaky tuna in those little cups for us to be able to enjoy it, said that her father was out catching tuna, so she came to the open house in his place.
 

Look at these meats from Framani. The man's apron says Traditional Italian Salumi, but on the Provvista Web site, the Country of Origin: USA-California.
 

More meats, this time from Olympic Provisions. Country of Origin: USA-Oregon. I've bought some of their goodies at the Farmer's Market and have been to their restaurant in the restaurant in Southeast Portland.
 

Mama Lil's--spicy, tasty, hot and wonderful. Country of Origin: USA-Washington. I tried for the first time the Bread and Butter Pickles, Spicy. So fine. So hot. I already knew that I loved the Peppers Pickled in Oil, although I don't know if I've had the Mild Spicy or the Hot. I'm guessing the Mild Spicy.
 

Steadily filling sample plates, Morena from Calabro Cheese. Country of Origin: USA-Connecticut.

Can you guess the two-word name of this business?

Two clues. One, the shape of the sign itself. Two, the red-colored design inside the circle. First word, seven letters; second word, six letters. Have fun! For those in Portland, the business is on the north side of NE Sandy Blvd., just east of the intersection with NE 28th. I took the photo as I waited for the 12 bus.

Buddies

Hercules and Bubba enjoy Portland's fantastic summer weather every chance that they get, here in the door of Bright Auto Upholstery, 1611 SE 6th Avenue, near where I work. Up until this week, I've only been able to get Hercules, on the left, to stand up to be petted; he's a sweetheart. Tuesday morning Bubba decided not to be so shy and walked up to sniff my hand. Our weather is about to change to misty, drizzly and/or rainy--for months to come. I hope that I'll be able to visit these two in their doorway and continue to build a friendship with both of them.

Open House, Provvista Specialty Foods, Part Two

Read about Provvista Specialty Foods here.

My sons Lamont and Leland work at Provvista and are in photos on Open House, Part One.



Provvista employee Robin looks to his right, listening to a woman out of the photo, as he works at a table filled with all sorts of cans and bottles. Looks like peppers and tomatoes galore, arborio rice, bottles of olive oil? and boxes of something else that I cannot see the names of in this photo. Whatever is on the table holds the interest of those two people.
 

Provvista employee Terry enjoyed talking about cheese with folks who stopped at this table last Sunday. Some of these, as well as others on the tables in the distance, were sheep or goat cheese--I enjoyed bites of quite a few of them. My favorite cheese is at the table where the girl in the white apron stands. I can't ever remember the name of that cheese, but I know the label when I see it! I always have to ask Lamont or Leland what its called. It's from Italy, I think.

Later on I sat with Terry at a table over where the pizza and paella cooks prepared those tasty treats for anyone who stepped up and asked for a slice or a dish. I think both cooking stations were set up especially for the Open House.
 

Pizza cook slicing away as the fire continues to heat the pizza oven. I ate a couple of slices with kale and some sort of cheese on them--very tasty.
 

A guy hard at work from Crown Paella, paella and tapas for hire, Portland, Oregon. Our friend from Seattle, Pat, stopped by the Open House on her way home after a several-days-long yoga workshop in Beaverton. She enjoyed a dish of paella, as well as bits and pieces from lots of the display tables throughout the warehouse.

Thanks, Vintage Roadside, for turning me onto this refurbished neon sign!

I stood as far as I could from the north side of the sign, out of the overhanging tree limbs filled with leaves, and took this photo on Tuesday night at 7:29 p.m., with a Nikon D5100. I don't have a tripod; the photo is a bit tilted down to the right. Gorgeous paint job and fully functional neon. Hooray! Thanks, Palms! See below for almost the same shot, before darkness had arrived.
 

Here's the south side of the sign. I walked up onto the landing of some wrought iron stairs. I'm afraid of heights and couldn't get myself to go up one more flight. Maybe next time. Took this one at 7:32 p.m. with the D5100. Too bad the leaves cover the capital L a little bit.



I took this one at 6:31 p.m., with the D5100. You can really tell how swell the paint looks.



Here's the south side of the sign, taken from underneath the wrought iron stairs, at 6:29 p.m. with the D5100.

 

I took this one from the window of a Zipcar which I had driven into the parking lot and put into park, at 9:36 p.m. on May 16, 2010, with a Nikon D50. It's easy to see the spotty paint and neon.

Waiting for the MAX

This couple chose to wait in their own way, one seated, one standing. The MAX soon arrived and they rode away, together.

About Provvista's Open House, Part Two, and more about the chemistry demo at the Portland Mini Maker Faire, not enough energy for either one of them tonight. Soon, though.

Open House, Provvista Specialty Foods, Part One

Read about Provvista Specialty Foods here



Here's Leland, my younger son, on the right, who is working with Chris at a table filled with various products available at Provvista. The Taza Organic Stone Ground Chocolate tasted so good, especially the Mexicano Salted Almond--I had several small bites over the course of the three and one half hours I was there. Also tasty on this particular table, the Luxardo Italian Maraschino Cherries.
 

Here's Lamont, my older son, who is standing outside the company's kitchen where he cooks lunch each day for the employees. At the Open House, he kept up with the needs of the various vendors for all sorts of necessary items for their displays, including those pieces of bread in the bowls on the table in front of him.
 

Leland on the left and Nick on the right. Nick is the Provvista employee who delivered one time years ago to 3 Doors Down Cafe when Lamont was at work there, with owner chef Dave. For a few seconds, both of them thought that Leland had come through the door with the delivery, there was that much of a resemblance. Today when I arrived, I found Lamont in the kitchen and this young man was there picking up things to take out into the warehouse. I immediately asked Lamont, "Is that the guy who reminds people of Leland?" Of course, the answer was yes.
 

Todd, Lee and AJ, all Provvista employees, at another table filled with items which end up being bought by restaurants and grocery stores in the Portland area and other parts of the USA.
 

Dave, 3 Doors Down Cafe chef owner, and Andy, Provvista and who was sous chef at 3 Doors Down Cafe in the past.