Drive-By, with Bullet Points
Grand Outlandish wasn't very Outlandish, but it was grand. Preparing for it (including extra shifts at the salt mines to work up velvet) kept me so busy that, even at this late date, I feel as if I'm in free-fall
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The first time I went to Portland, I was wearing a borrowed Burberry, the streets had been washed clean, there was a bright overcast (high cloud ceiling, possibly late spring; the fountains and bubblers were on) and mist was clinging to the green bits in downtown. There was a Scotsman in full kit piping on the lawn of the post office. I was drinking a perfect latte and a very pierced, tattooed girl came up and asked me for change. I told her I didn't have any change, but I had a buck, and she took it and blew me a kiss.
A couple of blocks away, a deeply grimed bum was playing Chopin in the piano showroom. I spent the afternoon at Powell's and strangers were chatting and flirting and posing (oh, what a town for posers! But it was all a pageant for style.) I fell in love with the place, just as it turned the tip between grotty and gentrified. The White Stag sign on the Burnside Bridge had not yet turned to "Made in Oregon", and I lived in a number of fatigued apartments in what is now the Pearl -- 21st and Hoyt; 19th and Johnson; and just off 20th and Lovejoy. It will forever be my home, even if the yuppie scum have taken over. I hope it is beautiful, peaceful, and magical for you and your new family.
I hope you go to the Brasserie and have the fried brie. I hope you enjoy the elemental beauty of the coast, from Victoria BC to Wolf Creek, with the oak trees and granite and velvet green hills. Go to Wildlife Safari and hold a cheetah, go to Bandon-by-the-Sea and try the fudge, have some Tillamook or Umpqua vanilla bean, go to Moonstruck Chocolatier and try the Earl Grey truffle, go to Coffee People for a Black Tiger shake. Go to Everyday Music and the Mission and the Aladdin and the Crystal Ballroom. Go to the Japanese Garden and Washington Park and the Rose Garden, and sing La Vie En Rose just for the hell of it. I can see my house from there. Bite the lotus!
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There may indeed be yuppie scum about but the rest of the place is so FUNKY that I don't even notice them!
When I announced the move, people said "but oh, the rain!".....but I LIKE the rain. And it's not like it (usually) rains all day...just enough to wash the city clean and make it GLOW.
I love it here already. thanks for the suggestions. Come and visit. :-)
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I love the rain, too, and the constantly shifting light, and having things be clean and fresh and fragrant. Walking around after clubbing, going to the Roxy, singing in the street in the wee hours...you can't do these things in the Southwest.
What I would really like is to scoop up Victoria and have the three of us take the city by storm -- I don't know if you like champagne (or gin, or any such stuff) but we would show you the finest time. I like to think we will, one day....
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I'm so looking forward to exploring this place.
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