OH, IRONY OF IRONIES: DECRYING SMUGNESS OFTEN BELIES IT...I AM AWARE OF THIS, SADLY...BUT THERES NO ESCAPE!
  • OH, IRONY OF IRONIES: DECRYING SMUGNESS OFTEN BELIES IT...I AM AWARE OF THIS, SADLY...BUT THERE'S NO ESCAPE!
You may recall (or not) that a while back I wrote a column critiquing Portland's panel discussions for their smugness. It's also a trend that we're all prone to, here in town. Nevertheless my smugdar is on full alert this afternoon for the panel discussion at Urban Grind, kicking off at 7pm. Courtesy of Brian Libby at Portland Architecture:
Over the past year the New Oregon Interview Series, an initiative of the nonprofit organization New Oregon Arts & Letters, has held a broad array of discussions ranging from music and film to visual arts, food, fashion and literature. Later, the interviews are set to be published in a printed anthology.

"Portland has bloomed into a top destination for creative culture," the OIS website opines. "Media from the New York Times to MTV tout our city's creativity, sustainability, and livability. Where are we heading now?"

For the latest in the New Oregon Interview series, host Nora Roberts will be talking with Mayor Sam Adams, Portland Monthly editor Randy Gragg and architect Brad Cloepfil to discuss "their work in shaping urban space, new city re-development like the Coliseum, and the meaning of world-class architecture, among other topics."

All I'm saying is that I hope the "other topics" include a heavy dose of the mayor's recent rhetoric on there being two Portlands, and so on, and so forth, and at least one named reference to the Campbell shooting, right up front. Libby continues:
There will certainly be a lot to talk about, from the Columbia Crossing to the urban growth boundary, green building and MAX trains to economic recession and ballot measures. The mayor of any city, let alone with as weak a mayoral system, can only do so much. But Adams is ambitious, and has the opportunity to show that he is smart about design.

AND MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING. AND POLICE OVERSIGHT. AND DISPARITY OF OPPORTUNITY. With all eyes on the mayor this week, it's a political minefield this evening. Please join me with your smugdar set to stun (I'll be tweeting the event with the hashtag #smugwatchPDX) at Urban Grind East (2214 NE Oregon Street). Admission is $5.