Last night–downtown, sometime around sunset, at a block party hosted by the Art Institute of Portland–the best nine films we received in the “My Pretty Portland” film contest were screened. We got over 30 entries, and for myself and a crack team of intrepid Mercury writers, it was no easy task to decide the winners, […]
Portland
Posted inPortland
A Sneak Peek at Commissioner Randy Leonard’s Public Safety Report
I just snagged a draft of Commissioner Randy Leonard’s Public Safety Assessment, the report mayor-elect Sam Adams asked him to prepare. It’s not due on Adams’ desk until September 9, but Leonard and his staff “reluctantly” released it today, though they’re still waiting for the mayor and the chief to comment on it. (UPDATED at […]
Posted inBikes
Bus Drivers: No Bicycles in the Rose Quarter Transit Center
A petition from “over 250+ professionals with over 2,900 years of driving experience from across the board at TriMet” landed in my inbox today, to protest TriMet’s upcoming plan to add a bike lane through the Rose Quarter Transit Center. The way biking in the Rose Quarter works now, bikes crisscross the intersection at Oregon […]
Posted inPortland
Today in PDX
From Eric: Eric writes: Umm…. COCAINE? I just want to get this out there so someone might be able to put a stop to this. This is a totally creepy “tobacco” store at about 50th and Foster on the south side of the street. Look at the picture and tell me how disturbing this is. […]
Posted inPortland
Project Homeless Connect: Successful, Necessary… and No Longer Funded?
For eight hours today, healthcare is free in Portland. Well, if you could wake up in time to snag an appointment at Project Homeless Connect down at the Waterfront, a twice-annual event which hooks upneedy people up with every kind of care — dental work, eye glasses, bike repair, food stamps, free socks. While signing […]
Posted inPortland
Today in PDX
From “an anonymous bike commuter with a crappy camera phone,” near Vancouver and Fremont: Saw something in PDX today? Toss it in the pool.
Posted inMedia
Liveblogging The O’s Collapse…S. Renee Mitchell: “We’re Luckier Here Than at a Lot of Other Newspapers…”
I’ve been outside the Oregonian for the past hour, trying to get a sense of people’s reactions to this morning’s news of at least 100 buyouts for the staff. There have, admittedly, been one or two “creative” responses to my questions, but for the large part, people have been very forthcoming. And polite. Columnist S. […]
Posted inMedia
Liveblogging The O’s Collapse…Steve Duin: “We’re All at a Total Loss Right Now…”
I’m outside the Oregonian‘s offices at 1320 SW Broadway, trying to get a sense of the mood inside. Fortunately columnist Steve Duin just stepped out and gave me his perspective: “The question we’re all asking: Is there more stability in taking the buyout offer or in staying at the newspaper?” he says. “I don’t know […]
Posted inPortland
Should I Just Break In?
I headed up to the old NW Natural Gas building this morning with the Oregonian‘s art and culture critic, and architecture fanatic, Brian Libby. I was hoping Libby’s credentials, which he didn’t even offer, in the end, might get us past the security guard. But no dice. It took six cold calls yesterday to the […]
Posted inPortland
So, Who Wants $1,000?
Just a reminder: A joint effort between the Mercury and the Portland Art Institute, the “My Pretty Portland” film and animation contest is up and running! Submit your Portland-centric, two-minute-long film so that you can be in the running for prizes like $1,000 cash, passes to TBA, a fancy-pants dinner at clarklewis, and other great […]
Posted inPortland
What Do You Know…
About this place? So far I’ve managed to ascertain that it’s on NW Natural Gas property, but that’s, like, boring. I’ve got a call into them, but in the meantime, I was thinking those who have lived here longer than I might have some local knowledge. So: help!
Posted inPortland
Blog-Off 2008: When Nessie Attacks
Today’s challenge for the Red Cross-Water Bureau Blog-Off 2008 came from a Blogtown reader: I’d like to hear a response plan from each agency on a Nessie-esque beast in the water reservoirs. Assume it is dangerous, eating skinny dippers, dragging dogs underwater, etc. I upped the ante for the bloggers, challenging them to illustrate the […]