Seen while out and about in the Pearl District, with Sarah on Thursday afternoon.

Lilies in the afternoon sunshine, so bright that I couldn't see where I pointed my iPhone 6 Plus to take this photo. Tanner Springs Park, one of three Portland city parks in the Pearl District, Northwest Portland, is Sarah's favorite park in this part of Portland. Sarah took me there on our Thursday afternoon out--we'd been way west of Portland to the Helvetia Tavern for lunch, drove back into town on Skyline Drive, a winding road high atop the Tualatin Mountains, then onto West Burnside and down into mine and Mama's old neighborhood, then through the Pearl District to park for a few minutes so that we could walk through the not-quite-an-acre park.



Sarah pointed out that this is where Tanner Springs enters the park's design. You can't tell from my photo, but it runs in a stream-like-way on stone lined paths through the north end of the park where we walked. I don't know if the stream is at the south end because we didn't walk that direction. She explained that the stepping stones used to be on the streets of Portland and before that served as ballast in wooden sailing ships that came into the port of Portland many years ago. So cool!



More bright sunshine, plus my doofus self led to an upside down video that I made of Sarah stepping barefoot into the center of the circle that marks where Tanner Springs comes up out of the ground at the park. You can hear a little girl there with her mom, Sarah, and me talking about the rocks being slippery, the center not being slippery, and that Sarah will be careful.



This video is of the Art Wall on the park's east side. I guess I could blame it on the bright sunshine, too, the fact that I incorrectly called these railroad tracks railroad ties. Doofus me. I really like that it is made of railroad tracks because the Pearl District is where the rail yards around Union Station used to exist, along with warehouses and light industry. Portland Terminal Railroad onated the rails, recovered from the region. Some rails date back to 1898.

Found online at the city of Portland's Web site: Historical Information

What is now known as the Pearl District was once a wetland and lake fed by streams that flowed down from the nearby hills in southwest Portland. These wooded hillsides provided a natural filter for the streams, cleansing the water as it made its way to the Willamette River. The springs from Tanner Creek, named for the tannery built by pioneer Daniel Lownsdale in 1845, flowed into the shallow basin of Couch Lake, now the area surrounding Tanner Springs Park. As the population of Portland grew in the late 19th century, Tanner Creek was rerouted through an underground system of pipes to the Willamette River. The lake and the surrounding wetland were eventually filled to make way for warehouses and rail yards which in turn were replaced by residences, shops, and public spaces. Today, the park sits about 20 feet above the former lake surface.

From the beginning of the planning efforts for the Pearl District in the early 1990s, the creation of a network of open spaces was an important goal of both the neighborhood and the City. In 1998, a conceptual plan for the new parks and open spaces was proposed by the Tanner Creek and Water Feature Steering Committee and approved by City Council. Those recommendations served as a point of departure for planning the district's parks.

In June 1999, Peter Walker & Partners, a landscape architecture firm, was retained to provide concepts for three new parks between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues in the River District. They developed and refined plans for the parks with input from a Project Steering Committee and two public workshops. The final plan is characterized by a series of recurring elements which strengthen the connection between each of the three parks. Jamison Square was the first to be developed.

North Park Square was the working name given the second block to be developed. Planning for this park began in early 2003. Atelier Dreiseitl, a renowned German design firm, and GreenWorks, P.C., an award-winning, local landscape architecture firm, were selected to design the park. A series of community workshops were held between January and June 2003, allowing the public to participate in the design process. After committee review, the name Tanner Springs was adopted in April 2005. The springs connect the park to Tanner Creek that at one time flowed openly through this area; today it flows through large pipes beneath the city streets. Since the design of the park attempts to recapture the area's past with its native wetlands and flowing runnels, the name is fitting.

The Artwall runs along the east edge of the park. It is composed of 368 railroad tracks set on end and integrates 99 pieces of fused glass inset with images of dragonflies, spiders, amphibians, and insects. The images were hand-painted by Herbert Dreiseitl directly onto Portland glass, which was then fused and melted to achieve the final effect.

Architectural Details: A Photography Workshop, Image No. 4

Brickwork on the Patagonia clothing store, 907 NW Irving, Pearl District, Portland, Oregon. Naturally you're aware that he wanted us to pay attention to architectural details like these various brick patterns, especially in conjunction with the concrete blocks and the metal piece. This particular images has been changed at Picnik, an online photo-altering site, with Focal Zoom, then CinemaScope. I also checked Letterbox my photo.


Here it is, HDR-ish, courtesy of Picnik. You can see the concrete blocks and the metal piece much better in this version of the photo.


And here it is, merely straightened at Picnik.

Looking through ...

... the railing along the Steel Bridge towards the Pearl District in Northwest Portland. We were in a Zipcar, stopped by a bridge lift.

H is for Happy Holidays!

I thought this neon H would serve well as an accent for our warmest wishes to all of you during the next month and through the end of the year. It is in the window of a building in the Pearl, but I forgot to take a photo of the actual name of the business. If anyone knows, please tell me. Thank you.

It's doggone hot in Portland. And I'm thinking this water tower looks pretty cool.

After work I rode the bus to the Pearl District so that I could meet Lamont at the REI store. I don't know what the temperature was, but I certainly gravitated towards the shady side of the street! Whew, it was hot! (And now, four hours later, it's still hot. The thermometer in the east-facing kitchen window reads 87 degrees, at 9:10 p.m.)

This water tower atop the Chown Pella Lofts has long fascinated me. Today I thought, "Wonder how hot that water is inside there? Wonder if there is still water in there? What am I doing out here, wondering about this, when I ought to be walking on to REI?"


So I took a couple more shots, including this closer one, and went on my merry way. The intriguing water tower appears to be made of wood, doesn't it?


Lamont and the rest of them, Lindsay, Leland and Kailey (when she can fit it in due to her work schedule) have been hiking and/or camping lately. They're getting ready for a multiple-night-trip in the middle of September. Being a mama and all, I wanted to look at the GPS-locater-thingeys. Way too often people get lost and/or hurt or some such up here while out enjoying the gorgeous Pacific Northwest. Lamont had looked at a few of them onine; REI has one that we can probably afford, as well as the subscription service to make it function the way we want it to do when they are out in the wilderness. It's called SPOT. I'm going to check with a few folks at work, to get their input, too, before we make a purchase.

Believe it or not--and Mama said she thinks she remembers it right--the weather guy reported it got to over 100 degrees here today and is forecast to do so on Friday and Saturday. Yet, while at REI I looked at the raincoats on the clearance rack! I found a Marmot, a breathable one, on sale, that fit, that had a hood, that I can layer under, that was way longer than my green Helly Hansen. So, on a day when I really wouldn't mind standing in the rain with absolutely no coat on because I know I'd get cooled off rather quickly, I bought a new rain coat. Ain't the variety of life grand?

Here's a bit about the Chown Pella building, now lofts of various size and enormous prices, at 416 NW 13th Ave: Nearly 100 years ago, Portland Hack & Dray changed its name to Oregon Transfer Company and moved into a new four-story building at the corner of NW 13th and Glisan. Business was good and a year later a company, owned by city fathers Ben Holladay, George Weidler, and William Halsey, added a six-story structure next door. The two buildings operated as one from that time on. Over many years, Coca Cola, Wrigley, National Lock, Cudahy Packing, Ponds, and others warehoused products there. This was especially convenient when the old Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad provided both freight and passenger service from North Bank Terminal, located just around the corner at NW 11th and Hoyt. This "neighborhood" railroad service continued until after World War I.

In 1979 Oregon Transfer Co. outgrew its space and Frank and Elenor Chown moved in their Window and Door Division of the Chown Company. Operations continued for nine years: clearly the neighborhood had begun its transformation from an industrial area to what it is today. Now, as this building begins a new life in a revitalized neighborhood, the Chown family name continues to endure. It's a landmark that sets itself apart -- Portland's Chown Pella.

I found that info at the original real estate site for the lofts. There are five for sale right now, ranging from 963 sq. ft. for $379,000 to 1,156 sq. ft. for $597,000. Need I point out that Mama and I mostly go through the Pearl District, looking, window shopping and/or dining? We couldn't ever afford to live there. Besides, we don't want to own or be responsible for all that goes with owning.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 ... Jamison Square, the Pearl District, Portland, Oregon

Saturday before last before I walked over the Burnside and Morrison bridges, I rode the streetcar to Jamison Square so that I could take photos of folks enjoying a sunny Portland afternoon along with a unique fountain.

The water's deep and the fountain's flowing while children play, their adults relaxing in the sun.

The water's less deep here. Have you got an idea what has happened to it?

The water's back in this photo that shows some of the Pearl's surrounding buildings.

Here's a close-up that gives you a clue as to the different depths.


Bits I found online about Jamison Square:

The Portland Streetcar stops just across the street from Jameson Square in the Pearl District, Portland's trendiest neighborhood. The square boasts four totem sculptures designed by Kenny Scharf, play structures, and a fountain. The square is a magnet for Pearl District residents and visitors, especially those with children. The park’s main feature is its kid-friendly fountain, whose water tumbles out of a stack of rocks in a series of mini-waterfalls. The water cascades into a large pond that – designed to mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean tide – periodically drains and then refills.

And here's a link to more complete information from the city of Portland's Web site.

On the wall at Byways Cafe

How about this great souvenir? It's one of a whole lot of stuff on display at Byways Cafe on NW Glisan, in Portland's Pearl District. Mama and I stopped there for brunch Saturday--outta sight good home-cooked buttermilk pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs. More photos later in the week. Here's a bit I found about the swell little cafe at City Search:

Editorial Review for Byways Cafe – by Rachel Bellacera

The Scene
Kitschy and fun, Byways feels like a blast from the past with its vinyl banquettes, 3-D viewfinders, friendly servers and soda fountain. The crowd is mixed: 20-somethings nursing weekend hangovers, young families and Pearlites converge for hearty, satisfying breakfasts and lunches.

The Food
The Pearl's own greasy spoon transcends diner fare by improving on the classics. At breakfast, try the Mt. Rushmore Hash, a mix-mash of potatoes, spicy corned beef, melted cheese and hot peppers. Amaretto-infused French toast is pure indulgence; creamy, aromatic brioche topped with honey butter is well worth the 15-minute wait. For lunch, attempt the juicy, 1/3-pound hamburger with tasty homemade potato salad, or the Crater Lake Cobb salad, which is done with spinach instead of lettuce and doused in crumbly blue cheese. Don't miss the sweet treats: Chewy brownies, piping-hot scones and cookies have a loyal following.

Mama Update #5, and an easily understood sign, or is it?

Mama's cadre of doctors want her to recuperate over the weekend while they evaluate her problem(s) and the possible solution(s). She's a bit less dizzy, pretty weak, slowly getting back her appetite, and ready to do whatever they tell her to do so that she can eventually get back the life that she had. We're all proud of her and her attitude. She's getting really good care at Providence Hospital on NE Glisan.



"Stop Here Until Door Closes." Straightforward wording for a rather large sign. For some reason, though, I'm getting another message from it. I'm not sure but I'll just bet there's a garage at the other end of that ramp, a garage in a high-priced condo building. I do know for sure that the building is in the Portland's Pearl District which is a high-priced part of the city, from all aspects. Anyway, I think the sign's there to make whoever has the "key" to the door stop at that point to prevent any other vehicles' piggy-backing into the private garage. For some reason the sign also says to me "If you don't have the key, you can't get in." This raises two questions in my mind. One, do you have to "get in" to feel successful? And second, why in the world am I having such a deep sort of thought? It must be the exhaustion. Or is it that I'm 60 now and may be more prone to deep thoughts?

Without a doubt, the most unique small business sign I've yet seen. How about what you've seen in your city?

Mad Dog Garage, on NW Everett, between 15th and 14th, as the street descends out of the Northwest Hills and into the Pearl District.



Y'all curious? I am. Next time I walk by I will take a slower look. With these photos as evidence, this doesn't seem like any garage door I have ever seen, even if the tiny dog's head is mounted on a gear-shaped disc.