Saturday, January 17, 2009

Let there be light

portland at night
Lux, Portland Oregon
Originally uploaded by alicethelma
I did a little window shopping in NW Portland recently and discovered two very illuminating shops – both on NW Glisan Street coincidentally. Hive sticks out like a little box of store but the lighting attracts the eye. The window display reminded me of an old, old Woody Allen movie. Sleeper I think. The futuristic movie he made - futuristic in that mod 60s sort of way. Know what I mean?

portland at night

Traveling a little farther up Glisan I encountered Lux lighting. Lux’s lights sparkle like diamonds and it’s especially pretty at night, Check these two shops out next time you’re in the Pearl.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Portland at Night: Hawthorne Bridge

I love the Hawthorne Bridge almost as much as I love the Steel Bridge. I love the Hawthorne Bridge because every night it 's a vibrant hub of human activity humming with the noise of human movement in all it's various forms. I say humming because the bridge isn't solid pavement. The deck is constructed of open steel grating, which is lighter, allows the rain to fall through and "sings" from the sound of vehicle tires. This information was gleaned from the Portland Bridge Book by Sharon Wood Wortman.

Yes, you can be entertained by this bridge all night long just watching the many cars, buses, pedestrians and especially bicycles cross it. More bikes now than ever before. Did you know that the bridge officially opening in 1910 - the same year the Boy Scouts of America and the NAACP were both founded? All true my friend. All true.

hawthorne bridge portland oregon

From Wortman's book, I also learned about Dr. J.C. Hawthorne (1819-1881) who moved to Oregon and founded the Oregon Hospital for the Insane in 1859. At that time the hospital was located on Asylum Street in East Portland, which was, renamed Hawthorne Street in 1888, five years after the hospital was moved to Salem. Dr. Hawthorne is buried in Lone Fir Cemetery in Southeast Portland. Bloc 8M, Lot 44, Grave One North.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

What's happening with Pioneer Courthouse?

I made it downtown the other night and was surprised to find Pioneer Courthouse covered in scaffolding. I didn’t know it was being renovated. Or had it always been covered and I just never noticed before? Or had it been so long since I’d been downtown? I think the recent snowstorms have turned my brain to mush (or maybe it’s just old age).

Some internet sleuthing revealed that the Courthouse had been renovated as recently as 2005 when the Post Office was removed and five additional parking spaces were added to the basement. It’s been more than 10 year since I’ve been inside the Courthouse but I am saddened by the loss of the Post Office. The building still houses the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the chambers of the Portland-based judges on the Ninth Circuit.
portland at night

The Pioneer Courthouse is the oldest federal building in the PNW and the second oldest west of the Mississippi and I should point out that the scaffolding covers only the west side of the building. The east and north sides were uncovered. I forgot to check out the south side.

If you know anything about the recent remodel, renovation or retro-fit, please let me know and in the meantime, you can learn more about the Pioneer Courthouse here.