Portland
We spent a few days in Portland Oregon this past week. Spring is here and the past few months have been difficult for Bill so having a long weekend to escape was a good thing. For X billion years we have been specters of many used book store. The internet has stolen away most of those businesses save but the largest. Powells is that, the largest of the used book stores. We had heard tales of this as being a mecca, a whole city block building of multiple stories. I'm afraid I found the tales to be greater than the fact. My imagination led me to believe that this was going to be much larger and more traditional. The length of the city block we live on is similar to Chicago. In Portland they are perhaps 1/3rd the length and width. Yes we both found books that we desired but the experience was similar to going to the store for a bag of candy instead of running up and down the isles playing trick or treat. The aisles are all orderly, neat, and spacious. Too much space. Not only can you pass others in the aisles without gyrations but there is never a need to share a conversation or question with a like minded fellow reader. I'm so used to being addressed by others in used book stores that I would describe it to be a form of fandom, we're all in this amazing time and space together let us double the experience and share a few words. Powells I found to be far too streamlined and officious to even feel constrained at human contact. Then what of the employees? Automatons with a fresh coat of smug paint. The foods, cooking, and recipe books were about 3 aisles and I still was at a loss to find the cheese making books. Books on cooking with cheese but nothing in my area of interest. I even went into the agriculture area hoping perhaps for them to be found in a dairy science to no avail. (Did find a book on the Irish donkey though!) The thug I asked gave me the "obviously everything is in alphabetical order and had you BOTHERED to look" attitude. He couldn't find the topic in those first two obvious spots (I had explained this but he was certain I was an idiot{I am often an idiot but why divulge this to Mr. Attitude?}) and suddenly he was reduced to a quivering mass that might have to admit he didn't know every damn thing. He walked away and I followed as I was not about to miss the hysteria. The computer search led us to my request and he slipped away quickly. TYVM. I found the quilting section to have many volumes of useless books as well, only one that I took home. We did find two other book stores in the city that at least felt familiar. Yes I would say that you should visit Powells but don't allow yourself to pine for the romantic experience of a traditional used book store. The sf&f section was well stocked and with helpful cards taped to the shelf, if you like China Mieville you may also like X & Y found in aisle 845 and 849. There is a plastic covered graffiti beam in this area with authors who have autographed that was mildly amusing as well.
We did happen upon the Lan Su Chinese garden and that was as stated in their brochure the best Chinese garden to be found outside of China.
The Portland Farmers market was superb, found a source for Yak. Envied the vast mushrooms assembled as well as the greens and carrots of huge size and various colors. Farmers with many cases of grass fed beef, waggu and waggu crosses. The marbling of those steaks cried pure love.
The Portland Market north of Burnside was a disappointment as the artists were not of great quality even if the area was mobbed.
The homeless people were not a majority of mentally ill but rather down and out job seekers who were also polite and I quipped were far friendlier than most of the Portland natives we encountered.
The restaurant quality was good and some even excellent. There are many food carts (Mini trailers parked alongside businesses) but most aren't open but for a lunch rush.
We did go to the Portland Homestead Store as I hoped to find Tattler canning lids. I was told that they may carry these in the future. That I found very surprising. BPA is found in all canning lids and is a major issue for foodies. The Tattler lids are made of a reusable plastic and BPA free since 1974. The store has the beginnings of most homestead skills, canning, cheese making kits, kombocha, chicken and goat keeping. But they offered nothing in depth on any one of these.
My greatest surprise was to not see the plethora of "Food not Lawns" I expected for such a liberal city. Claremont, CA has made much further progress. It looks that these people may desire home grown pesticide free organics but not to the extent of becoming true locavores. Farmers markets yes, grow my own not even scratching the surface.
We managed to cross four of the ten bridges across the Wilmette river, most by pure accident of getting lost. The GPS on the iPhones was hilarious, the You are Here dot went wandering off on its own far from the road and reality and spent a good deal of the time in the river.
We accomplish much on our trip and never enough as I over plan so all was typical in the end.
We did happen upon the Lan Su Chinese garden and that was as stated in their brochure the best Chinese garden to be found outside of China.
The Portland Farmers market was superb, found a source for Yak. Envied the vast mushrooms assembled as well as the greens and carrots of huge size and various colors. Farmers with many cases of grass fed beef, waggu and waggu crosses. The marbling of those steaks cried pure love.
The Portland Market north of Burnside was a disappointment as the artists were not of great quality even if the area was mobbed.
The homeless people were not a majority of mentally ill but rather down and out job seekers who were also polite and I quipped were far friendlier than most of the Portland natives we encountered.
The restaurant quality was good and some even excellent. There are many food carts (Mini trailers parked alongside businesses) but most aren't open but for a lunch rush.
We did go to the Portland Homestead Store as I hoped to find Tattler canning lids. I was told that they may carry these in the future. That I found very surprising. BPA is found in all canning lids and is a major issue for foodies. The Tattler lids are made of a reusable plastic and BPA free since 1974. The store has the beginnings of most homestead skills, canning, cheese making kits, kombocha, chicken and goat keeping. But they offered nothing in depth on any one of these.
My greatest surprise was to not see the plethora of "Food not Lawns" I expected for such a liberal city. Claremont, CA has made much further progress. It looks that these people may desire home grown pesticide free organics but not to the extent of becoming true locavores. Farmers markets yes, grow my own not even scratching the surface.
We managed to cross four of the ten bridges across the Wilmette river, most by pure accident of getting lost. The GPS on the iPhones was hilarious, the You are Here dot went wandering off on its own far from the road and reality and spent a good deal of the time in the river.
We accomplish much on our trip and never enough as I over plan so all was typical in the end.