Exercising at lunch in Tom McCall Park, June 18, 2009

Please scroll down to see today's dahlia, Swan's Desert Storm, from Swan Island Dahlias.

Happy Birthday, Lamont!

On my lunch hour I hurried to the bus, then hurried from the bus to the sidewalk along the river. I wanted to be sure to get some photos of The World, docked on the west bank of the Willamette. More about The World soon.

Anyway, I'm walking along, gawking with lots of other folks when I hear an amplified voice and look around to my right. I see this row of people being led by a diminutive woman calling out their exercise routine. Naturally I swung the camera up to my eye and clicked!

The grass has been worn out by the Rose Festival's Waterfront Village. It closed up shop just four days before I took this photo.

Today's dahlia, Swan's Desert Storm. Facts from Swan Island Dahlias--Bloom: 10" Yellow and Rose Blend, Bush: 3'

One of the reasons I love Portland is ...

...you never know what might turn up on the street. Honestly.

And there's always someone close by to take a photo.

And another photo. Who wouldn't want several of these young people bent on advertising the grand opening of the Evergreen Space Museum? It's in McMinnville, next door to the Evergreen Aviation Museum, home of Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose. They handed out freeze-dried fruit to folks at the Waterfront Village.

How's this one seen through the Salmon Street Springs Fountain?

OMG! I just realized this photo is pure foreshadowing of the next night when the fireboat cannon doused me! Don't ya just love karma? I do!

Photo Booth at the Waterfront Village

To me this looks like a great big bunch of candy corn. What do you think?

Here it is earlier in the evening. I believe the man in orange works at the booth.

One of these days I'm going to sit right down and get myself photographed in a booth like this, especially if I remember to have on fresh lipstick and eye make-up.

What caused these smiles and flying hair?

The Inverter, one of the carnival rides at the Waterfront Village. These three kind people recovered very well from their fun, and at my request, looked at the photo on my camera and said they did not mind if I posted the photo on my blog. I really appreciate that, getting their permission so that you could share in the sheer fun they had while spinning and turning and dropping and hanging in the Inverter.

Here's how calm it looks while folks are getting locked in.

Later on I came back to get some photos of the ride and its lights.

Ferris Wheel at Rose Festival

Here's what I found at rosefestival.org about the fun along the Willamette, only one of many, many activities during the festival's run, May 29-June 8.

The Rose Festival's WaMu Waterfront Village is where Portland celebrates its favorite family traditions, awesome new activities and diverse cultural influences. Located along the scenic Willamette River in Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the WaMu Waterfront Village offers a park-load of whimsical and magnificent kid's adventures. Quite simply, the WaMu Waterfront Village is a great place for parents to bring their families. Come see why our village was honored from among IFEA's 2000 plus member festivals.

Along with this year's featured attraction, Dinosaur Jurassic Journey, the village features the Pacific Northwest's largest carnival, five stages packed with family entertainment, the BI-MART Kids Zone, WaMu Big Top Stage, zany strolling minstrels, two of the tallest thrill rides in the Western United States, three food courts, marching school bands and festive cultural music.
Dates & Hours
Dates
Thursday, May 29 - Sunday, June 8, 2008

Hours
11 AM to 11 PM* daily except May 29 when gates open at 5 PM

*Event hours & closing times are subject to change based on weather, attendance and park safety conditions.