Behind the counter at Portland’s pawnshops, cast-off valuables create a
portrait of recession-era city life.
Sarah Shay Mirk
Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.
Driving Miss Lazy
Governor Kulongoski tries to re-fund the Columbia River Crossing as
part of last-minute negotiations to pass a car-focused transportation
budget.
Sex by the Book
New sex education bill heralds end of abstinence-only education in
Oregon.
Triple Shot
Popular coffee shop battles landlord.
Stanford Economist Refutes Stadium Benefits
Last night when Commissioner Randy Leonard and Merritt Paulson pitched the plan to use $42 million in Lents Urban Renewal funds to build the AAA Beaver’s ballpark in Lents, the discussion hinged on whether the pricey stadium will actually revitalize the Lents neighborhood. Today Stanford economist Roger Noll told me, “The answer to that question […]
We Have a Winner!
For the Approaching End Times Photo Scavenger Hunt! Yesterday I challenged people to win pairs of tickets to the Urban Assault Ride by photoshopping together four items which are contributing to the rapid downfall of society (deadly polar bears, Bristol Palin, The Gays and Bluetooth phones) with at least one bike. The winner is obviously […]
Uh… Leprechauns?
I had exactly one half hour of unscheduled free time yesterday, so of course I spent it reading Wikipedia. Randomly, I read through an entry about the World’s Smallest Park, which is Mill Ends Park located right here in Portland on scenic Naito Parkway. The entry starts off normal. Then it turns insane. Mill Ends […]
Three More Hours to Win Bike Scavenger Hunt Tickets!
Hey there’s only three more hours left in the photo scavenger hunt challenge! We’ve got four pairs of tickets to Urban Assault Ride, the crazy bike scavenger hunt New Belgium is hosting on May 31st – you bike around town in the sunshine, completing challenges and getting tipsy, it’s a really good time. Tickets are […]
Leonard’s Pitch: $42 Million From Lents for Stadium
Matt Davis co-wrote this post and snapped the pictures, too. Randy Leonard and Merritt Paulson were hoping to present a done deal tonight to Lents neighbors who hold the purse strings for new Beavers AAA stadium funding. But instead, after grueling negotiations, Leonard and Paulson turned up at tonight’s Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area […]
Free Entry to the Urban Assault Ride – Yours!
Oh man, today is your lucky day to be reading Blogtown. We’ve got four pairs of tickets to Urban Assault Ride, the huge, crazy bike scavenger hunt New Belgium hosts every year in Portland. It’s a giant alley cat ride, where you complete obstacle courses and get clues and get drunk and win bikes. This […]
“We Get Thrown Out! Banks Get Bailed Out!”
About 20 rowdy people bearing “Save Our Homes” signs descended on the Multnomah County Courthouse this morning, interrupting the foreclosed home auctions that take place on the courthouse steps every morning at 10AM. I tagged along with a house auctioneer two month ago and found that the auctions are usually swift affairs where the story […]
Goodbye Crime Train, Helloooo Friendly Smiles Train!
East Portland Representative Jefferson Smith has an interesting idea for how to make the MAX safer: not more tickets. Not more cops. Instead, more Fred Meyer style greeters. Smith sponsored a bill creating a pilot program of volunteer MAX greeters which, last week, passed the state house. If the bill (HB 3047) gets through the […]
