Portland Octopus

Strangest Barack Obama Sticker Found - WTF

simon — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:58:23 +0000

While wandering the Hawthorne District in Portland, We found the strangest Barack Obama sticker…. ever. It was clearly surrounded by Obama 08 stickers of the normal variety - We’re looking for our trusty, politically savvy visitors to please explain…. WTF?

We wasted the Entire afternoon at work trying to figure out what this sticker could possibly mean??! HELP!

Hike The Columbia Gorge Waterfall Loop

simon — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:53:39 +0000

This easy loop is perfect for a hot, lazy summer afternoon. And though that means hordes of weekend hikers, the chance to visit four beautiful waterfalls and explore a unique box canyon more than makes up for the crowds. In fact, this may well be the perfect introduction to the Gorge for novice hikers and out-of-towners. You can hike this trail in either direction, but you’ll save the best for last by starting at the Oneonta trailhead.

From the trailhead, Trail 424 leads to an intersection with Trail 400. Stay left, round a bend into Oneonta valley, and at about one mile, stay right at the well-signed intersection with Trail 438. The views of the canyon and the creek below get progressively better as the trail climbs to Triple Falls at 2.1 miles. In spring, the forest is a wild palette of greens, and in winter, red cedar and mossy trees turn incandescent in the sun. Excellent viewpoints overlook the aptly-named falls, with three segments falling more than one hundred feet to the pool below. The boulders and logs under the footbridge just above the falls make a great picnic spot before you return to the intersection with Trail 438 and turn right to hike down to the creek.

At the bridge, the steep, mossy canyon walls are just a tease of what’s ahead, so continue up the hill and along the top of deep, narrow Oneonta Gorge. After a short stroll, you’ll reach a lookout over the Columbia. The cliffs are dangerous, so use caution and enjoy the view stretching across the river and east past Beacon Rock. The level trail then curves left, paralleling the highway before dropping to impressive Ponytail Falls.

Ponytail Falls isn’t the biggest waterfall on the hike, but it’s easily the most exhilarating. The trail leads directly under the high basalt cliffs and passes underneath the waterfall as it pours through a chute and fans out into a pool. The wide ledge is often wet with spray and shaded from the sun, lending a subterranean feel to an unusual perspective.

After Ponytail Falls, the trail quickly drops down to the highway and 176 ft high Horsetail Falls, the third and largest falls on the loop. Stone walls and steps lead down to the pool, providing plenty of space to meditate or photograph the falls at what must be one of the most beautiful trailheads in the northwest.

To get back to the parking lot, walk west along the highway for about half a mile, past the entrance to Oneonta Gorge. The cool Gorge is a welcome place after the dusty trails above. Here the creek follows a fault and cuts a high, narrow box canyon through hundreds of feet of volcanic rock. A set of stairs leads down to the water, and the temperature drops noticeably as you leave the road. Bring swim-wear if you want to explore, because you’ll need it. One thousand feet up the Gorge is Oneonta Falls, and there’s only one way to reach it: get wet.

Strap on sandals, wade up the cold creek to a treacherous logjam, carefully climb over, and continue wading through deep pools to the hundred-foot high falls at the end of the box canyon. Along the way, lush ferns and moss drape the walls, and rare and unique species of flowers bloom from cracks and seams. Clear water glides over multicolored pebbles, and in the autumn, bright leaves swirl in eddies and collect along the gravel bars. Sharp-eyed observers will spot holes in the canyon walls formed when lava flows solidified around ancient trees. Oneonta Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in the Gorge, perhaps in the state, and the summer crowds don’t make it any less special.

This hike has a total distance of just under four miles, and although the trail winds up and down, it doesn’t ever climb higher than 800 ft. From Portland, take exit 28 (Bridal veil) from I84 East, drive 5 miles east on the old Columbia River Highway, and park at the Oneonta Gorge trailhead.

Article & Images By Jason Weeks, Borrowed Times

Mt. Tabor Art Walk

Dean — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:29:31 +0000

Take a walk in one of Portland’s most beautiful and unique neighborhoods and view art created by its residents. The Third Annual Mt. Tabor Art Walk is held May 17 and 18, 2008 from 11 am - 5 pm. This event showcases the many artists who live in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood, and promotes high quality visual art in a variety of media. This is a juried art show, and the artists will be offering their work for sale. This year will feature over 40 artists at 30 locations!

For more information and for a map to the walk, go to www.mttaborartwalk.com

PSU Roots Festival

Dean — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:20:15 +0000

The Roots Festival is an annual celebration of diversity put together by the multicultural student groups at Portland State University. The event, held on May 22nd on the PSU Park blocks, features local artists, international food vendors, a huge community-made mural, world musical and dance performances, workshops and more. This year’s theme, “Diversity in Politics and Activism”, will inform and inspire community members to embrace civic engagement and a multicultural perspective in political action.

www.rootsfestival.groups.pdx.edu

Pullet Days at Pistils Nursery

Dean — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:14:27 +0000

Pistils Nursery presents Pullet Days, with local farmer Mike Reid and Dennis from the NW Poultry Association. On Saturday, May 17th from 10-2pm you will learn more about chickens than you ever thought possible. If you are seeking older birds to start your flock, add to your existing one or would just like to go check out a bunch of chickens, then you won’t want to miss Pullet Days. Some of the breeds available for sale are Araucanas, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Golden Sex-Links and Bantam Japanese Chickens. Both Mike and Jim are great sources of information about keeping chickens, so come on down and pick their brains. And if you are looking for a specific breed, just give Mike at Pistils a call.

Pullet Days
Pistils Nursery
3811 N. Mississippi Ave.
(503) 288-4889
www.pistilsnursey.com

Lunch at Mercato

Dean — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:31:44 +0000

Mercato is vintage London mod meets urban contemporary. And it’s very very orange. The dining area is really spacious and all the chairs and couches are orange, styled like something out of a 60’s sci-fi movie. Even some of the industrial beams and structures are painted orange. The way it works is that you are handed a menu as you walk in and then you order at the counter. After that, you find a seat and they bring your food out to you.The pizzas are flat bread Neapolitan-style and delicious. They come in one size and are plenty for one person, or you could split one along with a couple appetizers or a salad. I tried the smoked procuitto, radicchio and stracchino cheese pizza and was not disappointed. Mercato also features a variety of paninis, pasta, salads and appetizers like Caprese and Bruschetta. This is a great lunch, gelato or coffee spot. They also serve dinner!

Mercato
904 NW Couch St.
(503) 219-9966

Dolly Parton Hoot Night! Yes!

Dean — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:22:59 +0000

I collect records and would have to say that among my favorites are a couple of early Dolly Parton albums. Not many people know this, but Parton has written and published over 600 songs in her career. What’s up Dylan? So you can imagine how excited I got when I heard about Dolly Parton Hoot Night. Siren Nation’s third annual Dolly concert raises money for the Siren Nation Women’s Music and Arts Festival (which takes place November 3 through 9). In this event, Portland’s finest women musicians from all different genres will come together to pay homage to Dolly Parton. Check it out!

3rd Annual Dolly Parton Hoot Night - a benefit for Siren Nation
Saturday, May 31
8 pm doors, 9 pm show | $12 advance, $15 day of show
Mission Theater
1624 NW Glisan St
Swallows
The Mighty Ghosts of Heaven
Michael Jodell
Spigot
Clampitt, Gaddis and Buck
Emily Herring
Lana Rebel (Juanita Family)
Pilar French
Alexa Marmon
Shelly Short … & more

Visit here for more information.

Village Building Convergence 2008

Dean — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:04:55 +0000

If you’ve seen the huge yellow sun painted on SE Yamhill Street and wanted to create something similar in your own neighborhood, now is your chance. The Village Building Convergence 2008 (VBC8) is a 10-day event beginning Friday, May 23rd and going through Sunday, June 1, 2008. Neighborhoods activate to build shared public places that they have envisioned, designed, funded and will maintain for themselves. VBC8 will include hands-on education in permaculture design and construction, ecological building and public art. All projects are built through collaboration, community conversations and the commitment of a neighborhood to strengthen itself. Everyone is invited to attend evening events at a central location, to participate in workshops and hear experts speak about sustainable culture.

To find out more or to get involved, check out the Village Building Convergence website.

Blue Gardenia Bakery & Coffee Roasters

Dean — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:22:31 +0000

Not many places roast coffee this way. Blue Gardenia buys their beans seasonally and from a “single origin,” meaning all from one region. When we bought a pound of theirfreshly roasted coffee, we were advised not to grind or brew it for at least 24 hours, and to actually let the beans air out in the mean time. This is serous business, I thought. It’s like decanting wine. Whether or not this process helped or not, these beans brewed some pretty fantastic coffee. Blue Gardenia, besides being a specialty coffee roaster, also boasts a pretty mean bakery. I had a fresh roll with baked in ham and swiss. It was soft, gooey and delicious. They also had some beautiful looking cinnamon rolls, sharp cheddar-jalapeño biscuits and lemon meringue mini pies. I can’t wait to try them all.

Blue Gardenia Bakery & Coffee Roasters
3747 N Mississippi Avenue
Portland Oregon, 97227
(503) 460 BLUE (2583)

Tony Smiley

Chris B — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:31:13 +0000

Tony Smiley is one of the most entertaining and talented musicians in the Portland area. He is dubbed the loop-ninja and, when you witness his verbal throwing stars and his black belt in smooth riffs, you’ll understand why. Tony plays every instrument by himself, one at a time, while his assistant Kevin helps loop and mix the new sounds. OK, I know it doesn’t sound that difficult but until you see him live, don’t knock it. He makes it look easy but I can assure you it’s not. His wide range of sounds can have you feeling good, like on “My Love” and “Storybook” or have you up out of your seat rockin’ with “Neighbor” and “Thea Thea”. Either way, watching him at least once in your lifetime and/or picking up one of his CD’s (Sand Paintings or Driving Myself Sane) is recommended. He plays anywhere from the Buffalo Gap in Portland all the way up to the 15th St. Pub in Vancouver. If you go see Tony be sure to give him lots of love and he will be sure to give it back.

http://tonysmiley.com/
http://www.myspace.com/tonysmiley