Artsy fun with Monet's Blue irises which I saw on Memorial Day at Schreiner's Iris Gardens, Salem, Oregon

One version of the Be Funky artsy effect, underpainting.
 

Another version of the Be Funky artsy effect, underpainting.
 

The actual beautiful irises.
 

A different view of Monet's Blue irises, as altered by Be Funky's artsy effect underpainting.
 

The actual beautiful irises. About Monet's Blue from the Schreiner's online catalog. It is a tall bearded, light blue iris originated by Schreiner in 1998. The description. Boldly ruffled petals finished in soft heavenly blue elicit the same shimmering feeling conveyed in the works of Claude Monet. Each flower is saturated in this lovely blue color, as close to "true" blue as an iris comes. Its tall stems consistently produce three branches and a spur with 7-8 buds. Growth habit is vigorous.

Hugh Laurie and the Copper Bottom Band, June 1, 2012, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, downtown Portland

The marquee connected to the iconic Portland sign says it all. Here's what Laurie's Web site had to say about the tour:

Hugh Laurie will take the music from his critically acclaimed debut album Let Them Talk on the road for a run of select dates on the West Coast. The 10-show tour will kick off on May 22 in San Diego and include stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland before concluding on June 4 in Seattle. 

This marks Laurie’s first U.S. tour, following up on two heralded performances last year at The Mint in Los Angeles and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco.

Laurie will be on vocals and piano and will be joined onstage by The Copper Bottom Band, featuring a cast of renowned musicians including Jay Bellerose (drums), Kevin Breit (guitars), Vincent Henry (horns), David Piltch (bass), and Patrick Warren (keyboard/accordion).
 

Laurie alternated from playing the piano and singing from there, just playing the piano, or just singing at the mic at center stage. The music performed ranged from "Unchain My Heart" to "St. James Infirmary" to "You Don't Know My Mind" to "Suwannee River" to "Tipitina." Made me wish for younger knees and feet and the opportunity to stand up and dance the night away. The man played and/or sang for a couple of hours without a break, then took a bow and came back to do, I think it was, two more songs for an encore. As far as I'm concerned, Laurie was a great big piece of cake which certainly makes the Copper Bottom Band the perfect icing on said piece of cake.
 

After the show, someone offered to take our photo--that's Sharon in the middle of her twin daughters and me on the left. Smiles all around after a most satisfying evening of entertainment and live music.

An Evening with The Schonz

Tuesday, June 5, after work I ate a quick burger and fries at McDonald's downtown, then headed on over to the Oregon Historical Society for a prime-time event. An Evening with The Schonz: As any true Oregonian knows, on June 5, 1977, the Portland Trailblazers won their first and only NBA Championship. On the 35th anniversary of that championship, Blazer broadcasting legend Bill Schonely--aka "The Schonz"--will share his memories of that championship year, and of a remarkable broadcasting career that earned him a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
 

Before the evening began, I took this photo. There in the distance, you see Dale Schlueter, 6'10" center on the team 1970-1972, the first two years of the team's existence; Mrs. Harry Glickman, wife of one of the founders of the team; Bill Schonely, first play-by-play announcer for the team and still with the team 42 years later; Bobby Gross, a 6'6" starting small forward for the team during the championship season; and around to the back of Chris Dudley, a 6'11" center who was a Trail Blazer from 1993-1997.
 

During the evening we went "live" to the local NBC affiliate, KGW, for a couple of spots on their week-nightly show, Live at 7. Here the reporter Joe gets everyone involved--that's him with the sheet of paper in his hand. Left to right, KGW cameraman, Mr. Schonely, Bobby Gross, Joe, Mr. Harry Glickman.
 

Something made Mr. Schonely and Bobby Gross smile, on live television!
 

The Schonz, beloved by all Portlanders and Oregonians, whether or not they are fans of NBA basketball. I took just a few photos because I wanted to concentrate on what was said, what Mr. Schonely shared with us. I think I grinned and/or smiled the entire time! What a treat!

And I got to talk to Mr. Schlueter again, for the third or fourth time starting last December, I've lost count. When I walked up to speak, he put his arm around my shoulder, drawing me in and following my, "Hi, Mr. Schlueter!" with "I saw you sitting over there!" Then we discussed the Trail Blazers' new general manager and our hopes for the upcoming season. Basketball heaven.

Irises set among the poppies at Schreiner's Iris Gardens, Salem, Oregon

Poppy Oriental standing tall beside irises Fiery Temper on the left and Sultry Mood Iris on the right. And, there in the distance, more glorious color and shapes.



Are you like me? When you visualize an iris, is it always a purple iris?


Well, let me tell you, after a few hours at Schreiner's Iris Gardens,  you won't have one bit of trouble visualizing all sorts of colorful irises. 


In honor of purple irises, here we go with the one named Sultry Mood, in a photo that I like a lot.


Here's a bit about Sultry Mood, from the Schreiner's online catalog. It's a tall bearded iris which grows to three feet tall. The color is listed as raspberry-rose, and it was originated at Schreiner's in 1989.


Finally here's the text beneath the description, which I find quite appealing (the definition of cerise is a moderate red):


Immerse yourself in the luxurious appeal of Sultry Mood's entrancing cerise-purple tones. Its exquisite flower form epitomizes balance and symmetry. This sense of grace continues with finely branched stems, each bearing 8-10 well-placed buds.






And here's a bit about Fiery Temper, from the online catalog. It's also a tall bearded iris which grows to three feet tall. The color is listed as wine-red, and it was originated by Keppel in 2001. 


Finally, here's the text beneath the description, equally appealing to me: Bright tangerine beards embody the spirit of this new wine-red bitone. The rosy dahlia purple of the standards balances the deep red wine of the falls. Rumbling ruffles add rhythmic energy. 


I found these definitions at Town and Country Iris Society online: Standards, upward arching petals of the flower. Falls, three downward curving lower petals (sepals) of the flower. Ruffles, bouncy, wavy or rolling form applied to the petals. Beard, thick bushy hairs on the upper part of each of the three falls. I think Fiery Temper is the perfect vision of these terms.


Seen a man with that color beard in real life? I have, here in Portland. Well, it was dyed that color, but who cares!


Way cool. 

William Barlow House, Clackamas County, Oregon, seen on the way home from Schreiner's Iris Gardens, Salem, Oregon

Perfect bookend to a delightful day spent among the blossoms. Once again, I had to turn around safely and make my way back to get a few photos. Well worth it, let me tell you. Especially when I looked at the photo in its original size and could read on that tiny white sign hanging above the porch steps: W. M. Barlow House. "Oh, boy!" I thought. Perhaps I will be able to find out about the house on the Internet!

Here are the bits which I found online about the house:

William Barlow House (or Barlow House) is a historic building in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States.

Barlow House was home to William Barlow, namesake of the city of Barlow and son of Samuel K. Barlow, who built the Barlow Road. The house is located south of Barlow, between Canby and Aurora on 99E. It was built in an Italianate style in 1885, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 15, 1977. It now operates as a privately owned museum and is open by appointment.

Sam Brown House, Gervais, Oregon, seen on the way to Schreiner's Iris Gardens, Salem, Oregon

Memorial Day I drove out of Portland in the Zipcar named McMinnville, headed for the glories of Schreiner's Iris Gardens. On the way I drove by this house.

Immediately, I decided to turn around safely, head back the way I came, and then pull over for the opportunity to take a few photos, the first ones of that day. On the way home, satisfied hours later, I noticed big white barn back off the road and partially hidden by trees, to the right of the house as you see it in the photo. I read the words "The Willows, Sam H. Brown, 1921" in black letters on the front of the barn. "Oh, boy!" I thought. Perhaps I will be able to find out something online about the house.

Bits, I found these bits:

The Sam Brown House is a historic building located in Gervais, Oregon. It was constructed in 1857 for the former state senator and pioneer Samuel Brown. Built in a French Prairie area in the Classical Revival style of architecture, the Sam Brown House is believed to be the first home in the area to be worked on by an architect, as employing such experts weren’t exactly the trend yet back then. It was featured in 1986 in the August issue of the National Geographic Magazine. The article told the story of Samuel Brown and how he became an Oregon pioneer. The Sam Brown House became home to three generations of the family. Samuel Brown’s son, Sam, was also a local politician who became a state senator and ran unsuccessfully for the governor post in 1936.

Sam Brown House is a historic house in Gervais, Oregon, United States built in 1857 by Oregon pioneer and state senator Samuel Brown. Area: 2 acres (1 ha) Address: E of Gervais, Oregon Architectural styles: Neoclassical architecture, Classical Revival

Sam Brown House on Oregon Route 99E Location:12878 Portland Rd. NE Gervais, Oregon Architect: Sam Brown. Architectural style: Classical Revival. Added to NRHP:November 5, 1974

Neons are in! No street visible this time, just a glorious giant boot! No. 10

Thanks to the map, you can tell that we're now on the northeast corner at Dr. Martens. We've made it around the entire intersection now. I took these photos on October 16, 2010.
    

I cannot resist the chance to say this, "I fell head over heels for the giant boot at Dr. Martens!"
 

The laces, stitching, and writing on the loop at the back of the giant boot certainly are neon yellow.
 

For you who frequent Portland Oregon Daily Photo, a perspective which shows the location of Dr. Martens, on the northeast corner of NW 10th Avenue and West Burnside, in relation to the Big Pink, for me another oft-blogged-about-iconic-Portland sight. The Big Pink is at SW 5th and West Burnside, five blocks east of Dr. Martens.

Hope you've enjoyed the Neons are in! as much as I have. Thanks!

Neons are in! Once again, not exactly neon, but for sure we've got street level matching colors, No. 9

Here's the map of the intersection. Today's photo is of the corner at the Sizzle Pie. You can tell from the map that it's one of those intriguing triangle-shaped corners and/or buildings. I took this photo on May 19, 2012.



Standing on SW 10th Avenue at West Burnside, pedestrians wait for the traffic signal so that they can continue to walk north.

One woman wears a salmon orange top. Coming around the corner is a younger woman wearing the same color top, just muted a bit. Then you've got the dark reddish orange letters with golden yellow light bulbs which make up the letters Sizzle Pie. And then in the corner window behind the man in the green beret, a red or reddish orange vehicle is reflected in the pizzeria's windows, along with its red neon Pizza sign.

Plus that lady with the grayish-lavender knee-length shorts is wearing a gray top and gray cardigan which match the painted bricks at Sizzle Pie. Her shorts, the man's plaid shirt, and the woman coming around the corner wearing the purple cardigan all match, too, in that they're in the purple family.

All of the men are wearing hats. And at least six of the pedestrians are wearing denim jeans. Cool!

Neons are in! Street level matching colors, No. 8

Here's the map again. Today's photo, taken on May 19, 2012, shows SW 10th which is the same street that the bright yellow Portland Streetcar rode on in the post from Monday, 05/28/2012. The vehicles are heading northbound on the one-way street.
 

I realize that I really don't need to point out the three, count 'em, three people wearing the matching neon chartreuse green! They're as obvious as the noses on our faces! Abundant serendipity at play here.

Now for the street level matching colors, also abundant. The girl walking away has on shoes which are two shades of gray, as well as a gray skirt, all of which match the pavement, parts of the sidewalk, that pole in the light gray base on the right, plus the wall and overhang on that building down the street. Part of her shoulder bag is a muted chartreuse, the section beneath the flap, the outline of the flower on the flap, and the shoulder strap itself.

The girl walking towards me has on a black coat, black pants and carries a black bag, all of which match the line of poles either beside her or marching out of sight beyond her. Also, check out that man walking towards me, wearing sunglasses. He's got on a black jacket and black pants!

And the girl sitting on the light gray base of the gray pole had getter hope that when she gets up from there that her white pants are not light gray! In the meantime, her pants match the extremely clean-looking white T-shirt on the man walking towards me as well as the random white-painted traffic stripes.

To tell you the truth, this photo provided the inspiration for this series. So, you can blame it on these three strangers!

Neons are in! Well, it's really just bright yellow, and this time without any street level matching colors, No. 7

Here's the map of the intersection. We're focused this time on the southwest corner, labeled on the map as Pod: the Sculpture.
 

Who could resist a bright yellow Portland Streetcar in a series like this? Not I.

On the right you see a young woman with her hoop, entertaining the pedestrians who are crossing West Burnside on SW 10th Avenue, heading north at the corner. It appears no one paid her much mind once they'd passed her on the way to cross the street.

I've noticed that the majority of the pedestrians are wearing denim jeans, so that's a sort of matching. Plus those three boys have on shorts. Two of the three people between the brown poles have on baggy pants. And one bicyclist waiting beside the streetcar has on a yellow bicycle helmet. Tidbits of matching going on here.

At the very right edge of the photo you can see just a bit of the kinetic sculpture, Pod. If you're tall enough, you can reach up and touch part of it which makes it swing slowly back and forth, much like the girl rhythmically rotated her hoop with her hips.
 

Here's a photo that I took on October 16, 2010, which shows almost the entire sculpture--you're just missing the third leg. That black, bulbous shape is what one must reach up and touch or shove to make the more than 70 stainless steel rods sway in unison. I've actually seen the tips of the rods separate somewhat when the shove had some elbow grease behind it!

The building diagonally across from the Pod has been changed, with a different business on its ground floor. You'll get to see a symbol of that new business in a later post in this series.

Neons are in! Street level matching colors, No. 6

Here's a map for you. I hope it will enhance your enjoyment of today's post, as well as those on the upcoming days. We'll start with Powell's Books, on the northwest corner, and then go counterclockwise from there.



First up, a man in bright red-orange shoes, wearing an orange jacket. He is walking north across West Burnside at the intersection of SW 10th (behind him) and NW 10th (in front of him). You see, Burnside, whether it be West Burnside or East Burnside, divides Portland into its northern and southern sections.

There's a good chance that he's going to Powell's Books which is on the corner he's headed toward. The red post and railing is in front of the store's main entrance. Powell's Books takes up that entire downtown Portland city block.

There's an orange sign on a pole just beyond the woman who has turned to look south, towards me. Although I can't quite read it when I click on the original size, I can see that there is the logo of the Portland Streetcar. Up the street to the north on the man's right, there appears to be a sign on a building which is red and orange.

Lots of matching colors to be found, thanks to the man's orange jacket and shoes. I took this photo on May 1, 2012.

Neons are in! Street level matching colors, No. 5

Talk about serendipity! Look at this guy's helmet juxtaposed with the back of that stop sign on the corner of SE Stark and SE 6th Avenue! How cool that I snapped when I did and the camera got that split second in time! Wow! I'm excited about this photo.

Oh, before I get totally distracted by my excitement, look off in the distance, south down SE 6th. See those parked vehicles, many of which are red? They match the man's backpack. There's a north-facing red stop sign, too.

OK. I found something else that matches--there's a teensy bit of bright green there at the corner to the right of the bicycle's front wheel. When I clicked on the original size for an up close look, I saw that it appears to be what's left of a bottle brush, crushed and torn up by traffic, no doubt. And it's the same color as his jacket! Whoopee!

I took this photo on November 9, 2011, on my walk to work.

Neons are in! Street level matching colors--well, not on the street this time, but who cares! No. 4

Turns out that waiting for a bus gives me some of my best chances to get interesting photos. Like this one which I took at the corner of West Burnside and SW 2nd Avenue. Well, I was standing at SW 2nd, he was coming south from NW 2nd.

I took this photo on March 24, before the leaves came out, so there is no green matching item off the bicycle, but the green part of the frame matches the green back wheel. Can you find the other bit of matching green? It's the bicycle seat, peeking out. And the pink part of the frame matches the pink front wheel. Then there's the perfection of the handlebar grips! He knows he's a cool dude on one cool bicycle.

Neons are in! Street level matching colors, No. 3

Last Saturday on the way home from a fine lecture at the Architectural Heritage Center and a rewarding trip to Powell's Books, I got off the bus for the block and a half walk to my apartment building.

On the corner, I noticed these two stacks of orange traffic cones as I crossed to wait for the traffic signal to change at the corner of NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 20th Avenue. "Hmmm," I wondered. "Is tomorrow's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon coming by here?"

Then I saw the man approaching on the bicycle, wearing, of all things, an orange knit hat covering,  I imagine, a head full of dread locks. I couldn't believe it--orange and orange, right at the same instant that I stood on the corner, camera on its strap hanging around my neck.

Yea for serendipity!

(And more about the cones later on in this series.)

Neons are in! Street level matching colors, No. 2

Another bicyclist, seen downtown on May 5, pedaling north on SW 6th Avenue at SW Salmon. I'd call his bicycle is a muted chartreuse green which nicely complements the big leaves on all of those trees. I also like the orange traffic cone, the orange "Don't Walk" hand on the traffic signal, and in the distance west up the sidewalk, there's another traffic signal with the orange hand and that pedestrian wearing a muted orange, long-sleeved shirt. I like the silver horizontal stripe on the orange traffic cone which is reflected in the stripes on the stone facade of the building on the corner. Plus, there's the yellow Broadway Cab waiting there at the curb, and up the street a block is another yellow Broadway Cab waiting at the opposite curb--several hotels nearby mean cabs nearby.

Are you as curious as I am about what he's got in that wooden basket on front of the bicycle? It looks like a vehicle battery when I open the original size of the image and can get an up-close look. Bicyling the battery to the vehicle--ah, Portland.

Neons are in! Street level matching colors, No. 1

April 20, 2012, outside the Rose Garden Arena, I noticed a colorful sight, this young woman on her Day-Glo orange bicycle which has buttery yellow sidewall tires and even brighter orange wheels. There's even a narrow, swooping orange stripe on her creamy white-colored bicycle seat. She's wearing a bright chartreuse green safety vest. Her bicycle helmet has a matching orange stripe, a matching green stripe, and a soft blue stripe on its creamy white surface.

I saw her outside the Rose Garden Arena, pedaling north at through the intersection of NE Wheeler and NE Multnomah. Just to the right of the street lamp, up that slope, lies I-5, the southbound side of it. NE Multnomah crosses beneath the interstate.

I had a good time looking photo, noticing street level matching colors. Shades of orange--a streak at the base of the street lamp, rust on the fence poles, some sort of flaking sherbet-colored paint on the concrete wall. Shades of green--the new grass, the trees and shrubs, the flaking mint-colored paint on the concrete wall. I can't get myself to count the green on the street signs, though--it's just too different to count.

Seen through the windshield, SE Belmont and SE 33rd

Portland, a wonderfully quirky city inhabited by wonderfully quirky people. One of the things I've believed since I first visited Portland is that this place is special for many reasons, not the least of which is that here you are openly allowed to be yourself.

Less than a week away! So You Think You Can Dance returns!

Two whole hours Thursday, May 24! Auditions in Dallas and New York! Dancers! Judges! Yippee!

Here you see Kent from SYTYCD 2010, the live show at the Rose Garden Arena. I probably looked just like that young girl caught in the inadvertent spotlight. Mouth wide open. Heart and mind filled with awe and joy.

And how cool it is that the Kent sign caught the spotlight just long enough for me to get it in the photo, too!

The first, and only, corner building I've entered in all of Portland

I took this photo on my walk to work September, 29, 2011. This is the only wedge-shaped corner building which I've been inside in all of Portland. I have eaten lunch at here with my two sons, Lamont and Leland, on several occasions. Click here to see the menu at Michael’s Italian Beef and Sausage Co. It's an interesting menu, filled with selections and guidelines for ordering and a tidbit at the very bottom which I do not believe that I have ever seen on a menu--"menu prices reflect cash discount." Have you seen that on a menu? I'm quite curious to find out if you have and where you saw it.



If you've arrived in an automobile, you park right there behind the building. If you work nearby, you can just walk on over. Since my building is a mile away, we ride in Lamont's car. No matter how you get to this street corner building, you enter the building beneath the black awning above the sidewalk (as seen in the top photo) and get in line to the right of the door (seen in this photo). By the way, I took this photo and the rest of those below on April 14, 2011.



While you wait your turn to order from one of the folks behind the counter, you can pick up a menu and make up your mind what sort of meat or meats you want on your sandwich, whether or not you want it wet or dry (juice spooned on or not), what sort of peppers and/or onions you want. I get a dry half Chicago Style Combo--sausage and beef on Italian bread with sauteed onions only, no peppers for me. With my sons, I share an order of fries which Michael's calls Shoestring Potatoes, fried in 100% Canola oil--we share two orders, actually. And I get a Barq's Root Beer. I can't remember for sure what the guys get to eat, but they like it.

Once we place our orders, all in the name of either Lamont or Leland, we walk towards the other end of the building, the wider end, and find a seat at a table. From that spot I noticed the meat-inspired decor hanging over the counter. Love the cleaver, the knives, the pincher, the machete and that giant axe-thingey. Way cool!



Once the order is ready, whichever son's name is called goes to get the tray of food. One son already had picked up his sandwich from the tray--seems like it was Lamont and he had a meatball sandwich--the photo I took of it is not any good, but he said the sandwich was very good.
 

Then we chow down! This is my lunch!

It's all in the eyes

This dog's eyes mesmerized me, instantly. As I took this photo, curiosity overcame my good sense, so I walked over to take a closer look. Lo and behold, I realized there were some sort of artificial lenses on the dog's eyes. I surely do wish I could have talked with the owner. No time, though, because I was headed to the Laurelhurst for a movie. Maybe I'll see them again sometime since that particular Whole Foods is within walking distance of my apartment.