Seen last Sunday while out and about along the Willamette River, downtown Portland

I took the bus downtown, walked towards Tom McCall Waterfront Park and through a small portion of the location known as Portland's Saturday Market--it's also open on Sundays. The neon sign is at the prior location for the market, beneath the Burnside Bridge and next to the MAX stop. I like neon signs a whole lot, so I was tickled when I saw it. I didn't take any photos at the market itself because I didn't want to invade the creative property of the vendors.



I looked a bit and then made my way north on the sidewalk to find a park bench where I could enjoy my picnic lunch I'd brought with me--Cacio de Roma semi-soft sheep cheese from Italy, a hard-boiled egg, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, Extra Toasty Cheezits, and cherries. I remembered my water today! I filled up my Blazers' red metal bottle that I bought at the Columbia employee store on my last visit; sometimes where I work, we get invites to go to that store and save some money on our purchases.



After I ate, I decided to head back and catch the bus home. I'm glad I walked the direction I did because I got to take this photo of the Portland Oregon neon sign. I really like this sign!

Foggy morning commute, April 7, 2014

Once I crossed the street after stepping off the first of two vehicles which make up my morning commute, either two buses or a bus and a streetcar, I immediately realized I had to get my camera out of my backpack and take a few photos. Fog, the streetlights on the Burnside Bridge, the Big Pink disappearing into the fog, the neon Portland, Oregon, sign. All called out to me. Happy to have had the chance to take several photos before the streetcar arrived.



I took this photo as the streetcar slowly headed south on MLK--a split second opportunity.

New neon sign, a break from basketball

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Neon signs make me happy. This one is so fine. I love the crosswalk countdown along with the movement of the rock-climbing figure in my photos. The Portland Rock Gym is on the northwest corner of the intersection of East Burnside and NE 12th. The sign has not been in place for long, so I Googled to see what I could discover about it. I came across the City of Portland, Oregon, Bureau of Development Services, Land Use Services, "From Concept to Construction" report, dated Sept. 11, 2012. Whoopee!

Turns out the style of the sign is "projecting corner blade," and it was approved on Sept. 7, although to do so meant two modifications--to increase the size of a projecting right-of-way sign from 30 to 130 square feet AND to increase the overall sign size allotment on the site from 142 to 251 square feet (other signs already existed on the building). From the document: "The review body may consider modification of site-related development standards, including the sign standards of Chapters 32.32 and 32.34 of the Sign Code, as part of the design review process." 

After approval come these CONCLUSIONS:  
The applicant has proposed a unique, playful new sign at the Portland Rock Gym at the prominent intersection of East Burnside and NE 12th Avenue. The sign is constructed of durable materials, well integrated with the architecture of the building, and will not overwhelm the pedestrian environment or visual character of the surrounding area. The request is able to meet the applicable design guidelines and modification criteria and should be approved. 

Neon glory on N. Interstate Avenue.

I took this photo on October 9, 2012, after eating supper here. I needed to take some photos of the newly refurbished sign at The Palms Motor Hotel, but I knew I couldn't leave for that site before taking some photos here. This one turned out best.

Quick info on The Alibi's Web site: The Alibi Tiki Lounge is located in North Portland at 4024 North Interstate Avenue. We are open daily from 11am - 2am, with Karaoke every night form 9pm - 2am! Happy Hour in the Bar is from 3pm - 7pm with food and drink specials. Call ahead (503) 287-5335 for Reservations!



The History Of The Alibi

A Horse & Buggy Stop Beginning

The orignal home of The Alibi was a nice stop for horeses and buggies as they traveled up and down the dirt trail known as the Inter-state in the late 1800's. "Chat-n-Nibble", as it was known to travelers then, served up some of the finest grub a fellow could find at a breakfast and lunch counter. A small beginning!

The Max Alibi

The next business to call the spot home was a tiny tavern run by Mr. Peterson. "Max Alibi" was a popular spot to stop, and saw much success under his ownership. Peterson gave the business a name that would last far into the 1990's.

Island Inspirations

The third owner, Roy Ell, saw a jewel of a restaurant in this little stop. He leased the building in 1947 and renamed the place "The Alibi". Roy spent some time traveling to Hawaii and felt his friends and neighbhors deserved to experience the beauty and style he found on the islands. Polynesian decor was his goald to enhance his restaurant, even though it was hard to find suppliers.

The '50's found "The Alibi" expanding to a full restaurant and lounge. The building engulfed a home which sat behind the restaurant and The Alibi was proving itself popular. The famed food and delightful exotic surroundings kept bringing folks back for a piece of paradise right in their own community.

Taking Over The Neighbors

In the 70's, Roy added a magnificent 3-dimensional mural and had carved rails installed in The Alibi. By the 80's, The Alibi was a grand replica of the South Pacific, even businesses from overseas came to copy the decor.

Roy took his next step, purchased the property from Mr. Peterson, and engulfed the Texaco Station next door for parking.

Today, Like Yesterday

In the 80's, The Alibi was leased once again, with the agreement that the decor would not be altered. In 1991, the current owner, Larry White, took over and has agreed to keep the style and flourish that has been so magnificent for some 40 years.

Like A Tropical Paradise

As you sit in The Alibi lounge, restaurant, or one of the many nooks and shelters, under shell lamp shades, you can almost feel the cool summer breeze blow across the beach. Sipping tantalized tropical drinks, letting the atmosphere sink in, nibbling on seafood appetizers and entrees, it's easy to relax and enjoy a mini vacation in the midst of your day.
I posted the neon sign at The Palms on October 10, if you'd like to take a look at it. It's worth the bit of time to go find that one at the blog.

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.

Zipcar Trip to Ikea, Home Goods, Dress Barn and Fred Meyer, and a couple of sights to see in my neighborhood.

Saturday, believe it or not, I decided to forego seeing the Porsches in Cars in the Park. I got myself a Zipcar and did some errands instead.


The Zipcar of the day, a Toyota Prius named "Plush," a hybrid hatchback. I only had to walk four tenths of a mile to get to the car--not bad at all, especially since the closer one, only one tenth of a mile away, showed up on Zipcar's Web page as unavailable when I searched for a car to reserve.


This was my first ever trip to Ikea all by myself, no son along to keep me on task, following the arrows on the floor, and not missing any details of the Ikea experience.


Here's what I got at Ikea, five additional Branas baskets for my Expedit bookcase, six more Ribba picture ledges, one table-top ironing board, one Antonius over-the-door hanging rack which just might work when I have Milton and Kay here in a few weeks, and one Lajban drying rack, which just might work if the other one doesn't. No one likes or needs or deserves a somewhat soggy bath towel.


See the C reflected in the back window? That's how I found the car again--I parked in a space near the C because I figured I could easily remember cool and/or crazy, both terms that have been applied to me, now and then.


At Home Goods, a store I had never previously shopped, I found one more over-the-door rack with an attached shelf, plus the cutest paisley fit&fresh Retro Chiller Bag which includes a lunch POD with reusable chiller pack (their capitalizations). That's the bottom of it that you see here. I figured out how to attach it to a strap on my backpack! Next I drove over and parked in front of the Dress Barn where I lucked out and found three tops, two on sale, one not but still comfortable and affordable. No photos of the Dress Barn plastic bag--I know you are thrilled at that turn of events!


I extended my Zipcar reservation by using the app on my iPhone, drove home and unloaded the back of the car, ate a quick lunch of tuna salad and saltines, accompanied by a small Mt. Dew in a can. Then I drove to the Hollywood Fred Meyer and shopped for groceries, etc. Once I had made my purchases, I filled the two rolling black bags in the anteroom, grocery cart area, exited for the Zipcar with the Northern and the Brawny and one of the bags in the grocery cart, pushing the other rolling black bag. That silver sliver you see beneath my rolling black bags and the bag of Brawny is the removable thing that you attach somehow to the inside of the back of the car so that what you have in the back of the car is out of sight--it goes up and down with the opening and shutting of the hatch. Of course, someone who drove the car prior to me had taken it loose, I am not sure how to attach it, nor did I really need it. One of these days I may have to figure it out, but not yesterday.


I unloaded everything with 15 minutes to spare, drove the Prius "Plush" to its home, and walked back to my apartment. As I crossed the street, something shiny inside the open door caught my eye. I walked in and talked for a few moments to the nicest woman inside the Tip Top Cleaners , locally owned and operated, on the corner of East Burnside and SE 20th Avenue. The sidewalk you can see is along NE 22nd Avenue, heading north. That's my path between the apartment the "Plush," the Zipcar Prius.


"These mosaics are great! Did y'all do them yourselves?" "I did," she replied, smiling. "This is Mt. Hood!" I exclaimed. The lady replied, "My Mama thought I was going too slow, so she put some things at the bottom (to finish it), but that's the thing with mosaics (it didn't hurt it)!" I agreed with her and asked if I could take some pictures for my blog. She gave the OK. The pieces of mirror on the sides of Mt. Hood had reflected the sunshine, catching my eye as I walked by on the sidewalk.


The other counter says, "Welcome." I wish I had thought to ask if she worked on the mosaics elsewhere or here on the base of the counters. I will stop by again some time and ask.


As I left, I told her how much I enjoyed their neon sign, a comment that garnered me another big smile. Then I took this photo and continued on my way, for a few steps.


Then I stopped, looked at the sign painted on the window, glanced back south on the sidewalk and decided to take this photo. See the white car in the distance, about to come out of the side street?


That side street is where "Plush" lives. The closer white car in on East Burnside."Plush" at home, behind the 76 station.


A close-up of the sign on the window. I really like how the outline paint's color closely matches the color of the neon at the bottom of the arrow. Besides going back to ask about the process followed in making the mosaics, I need to get back over there after dark and take a few photos of the neon sign. Then I'll share them with you.


In the meantime, here's the same photo as above, altered at Picnik with the effect known as Lomo-ish.


Another couple of steps and I couldn't resist this oh-so-professional-looking Alterations, expertly painted across the three windows which such confidence in its ability to make someone notice what it says.


One final colorful local place caught my eye as I walked by, Spunky Monkey Coffee Roasters .