Category Archives: Life

Disappearing History: Sellwood’s Golf Junction

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Mike

In a sleepy corner of Sellwood, nestled against the city limits and the Waverly Golf Club, is a disappearing part of Portland’s extensive history of rail transportation. The non-descript entrance to the hidden Garthwick neighborhood and the extant buildings don’t … Continue reading →

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Where is the highest point in Portland?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Mike

A question often asked by visitors and newcomers to the city is “where is the highest point in Portland?”. It isn’t obvious where the highest point is, even if you’ve lived here for years. While Mt. Tabor and Rocky Butte … Continue reading →

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The Rise of the Apartment: Kerns

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Mike

For many, growing up in 20th-century America meant that the “American Dream” centered around home ownership. The ultimate goal of any true red-blooded American born prior to about 1970 is a big house with a manicured front lawn. This idea … Continue reading →

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The Most Ridiculous Intersection in Portland

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Mike

Residents of Portlandia have an unending debate about the worst streets, onramps and intersections in the city. One of the challenges of living in a town that values history is that the quirky nature of early road building efforts don’t … Continue reading →

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Portlandia Park Tour: Johnson Creek and Westmoreland Parks

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Mike

Westmoreland and Johnson Creek Parks in Southeast Portland are very different parks, but they have one thing in common: Crystal Springs Creek. The creek’s headwaters are a mile or two northeast of the parks in a canyon on the Reed … Continue reading →

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Five More of Portland’s Greatest Mistakes

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Mike

As I said in my original post, “Five of Portland’s Greatest Mistakes“, I love this city and I think we make more correct decisions than bad ones. Still, mistakes are made that many of us wish could be undone; here … Continue reading →

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Five Ideas for the Future of Portland’s Freeways

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Mike

It’s been over 40 years since the Freeway Revolts helped keep Portland from following other American cities into the tangled abyss of massive freeway infrastructures. In what may be the major turning point in Portland’s modern history, residents of Portland … Continue reading →

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The Delta Dome: Portland’s Missed Opportunity or Dodged Bullet?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Mike

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, cities around the country were vying to be a part of the expansion of major league sports, particularly Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). … Continue reading →

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The first season of Portlandia is now on Netflix

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Mike

Thanks to the magic of Google Analytics, I can see what people search for to find my site. And it seems that many people are wondering if Portlandia is available on Netflix streaming. The answer, at the moment, is yes…kind … Continue reading →

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Can Portland expand light rail or streetcar in this political climate?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Mike

Every day it seems like a new article pops up on a local news site, telling the story of one suburb’s fight to extend rail lines into their world. For months, the wealthy folks in Lake Oswego have been fighting … Continue reading →

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