Hi, I paid some good money to live above a strip parlor...

Lush1
Originally uploaded by dieselboi.

Here on the corner of NW 6th and Couch, where once were crack dealers and prostitues, sat an old run down grocery store. Then came along a developer and saw the potential of opening a club to cater to the youngins moving into "the Pearl." (john hausman voice) Andrew Sugar had a vision - as WW put it - he introduced puddletown to serious swank, paving the way for Mint and East, egg chairs and avocado martinis. He went on to start Portland Monthly, a regional magazine.
Back to the building. The building in question housed Lush, a upper scale hipster restaurant/bar. Next door was Level, a DJ club that brought national and international DJs. This was a significant change for old town. Skid row was moving up in the world.
Now? Well, a few years later, Level is still running strong, around the corner is BackSpace and Fords. Lush? Well, beginning last month, WW and The Portland Mercury began running large ads advertising Lush as Portland's premier 2 level strip club. Yes, a strip club. I'm no prude and don't have an opinion on where strip clubs end up, but I think to myself- how would I feel if I dropped $150,000+ on a cool new condo in an up and coming neighborhood only to find out a couple years later that my downstairs neighbor has decided to become a stip club- albeit an upscale club - still a strip club. Then again, in stumptown, maybe that raises property values. You never know.

On a side note, I walked home a little bit today. The rain is really cramping my style with afternoon walking. My walk took me from work up to 10th via Pioneer Courthouse Sq. and then over to Burnside and up to Whole Foods for some shopping. After shopping, I cruised down Couch to the park blocks and discovered Lush/Level and thought I would photog it. By the time I reached 1st ave and MAX, it had begun raining a little harder, so I decided to hop the train for home.
11,900 steps so far.

Walking North Portland

Just came accross the following - a map of walking areas in North Portland. Nice!

Here

Walk up mississippi

when you read that, do you spell it out? m.i.s.s.i.s.s.i.p.p.i..... hee hee. well, on my walk home, i decided to cruise up mississippi to get a feeling of what's coming next for the street. first off, came upon the newly remodeled Rebuilding Center. Wow. The new space is amazing. Large, open and clean. also, the whole space, including what will become the lumber yard, is all under cover. amazing.
Next up was Mississippi commons. What used to be a decrepit white cinder block eysore is now a group of business spaces open for new ideas. The first to open was PIN and then Belle Epoque. I was exited to see these two businesses. Today, my excitement peaked. As I walked past Belle Epocqu, I began to see that the other businesses had posted what they were and when they were opening. Here's the rundown:

Bridge City Comics - opening April 1 - obviously a comic store.
Memoir - Handmade Gift Boutique - handmade soaps, candles etc.
Salty's Dog Shop - Pet store
Blue Gardenia - Handcrafted Baking and Coffee Roasterie
G Nome - Men's and Women's clothes - retro, vintage, high fashion
Laughing Planet Cafe - if it's anything like the locale off SE. Belmont, I am excited. Burritos

And lastly, but the only open business.....

Lorenzo's - Italian restaurant and deli - we actually walked down there this evening with the pups and brought home wonderful Putanesca - booya to Lorenzo.

So, come to N. Mississippi and support some new small businesses. I'll be there. Find me and I'll buy you a beer @ Amnesia Brewing.

more on the Trader Joe's to be coming to Nopo in a few days.
13312 total steps today.

ps: don't forget grandpa's bar-b-que, mississippi pizza, pistals nursery, bold sky cafe, pasta bangs, the crow bar, gravy, cuckoo, equinox, fresh pot and the albina press......

Sad morning for Crowded House fans.

Just learned the drummer - Paul Hester- took his life Sunday. I have fond memories of Crowded House - especially thier song Don't Dream it's Over. Wow, to think that was 18 years ago when that came out. WOW. Well, prayers to Paul's family and friends.

the kills march 2005

the kills march 2005 5
Originally uploaded by dieselboi.

The Kills. What else can I say? The fucking Kills! OMG, if you haven't heard them, drop what you're doing and go out and listen to them. If I could stream them, I would. The Kills! Went to the Doug Fir this evening to see The Kills. Opening bands were The Volumes and The Sights. Both opening bands weren't bad, actually pretty good. I enjoyed The Sights as they had a 60's sound ala the doors and the who with an organ and such.

Then, well, the Kills came on. VV and Hotel were fucking amazing. The waltzed on stage and rocked for 1 hr straight. they ripped through thier catalog and played some amazing tunes before taking a quick (2 minute) break. Thier encore began with my current fav - Rodeo Town. I have to say I had something to do with that song as I was chanting it when they walked out and was front and center when they began. The show was awesome. A.W.E.S.O.M.E. And, vv looked at me. ME! She was all over me like jeans on an 80's punk. And she is one smokin' girl. Hotel isn't too bad himself. Photos from our evening out.

Sailor Building re-dux

Thank you Miles and Christopher for your comments on my last piece. The building in question as noted by Christopher was actually the Ancient Order of United Workmen Temple, built in 1892 and designed by local architect Justus Krumbein. Over @ Portland Architecture profiled this building on March 23. To answer Miles' question - yes, that is a coincidence. I was walking by and decided to take some pictures. Thanks Christopher for the details.

Sailor building

front sailor bldg
Originally uploaded by dieselboi.

I walk by this building on a regular basis. I never had a name for it until I took this picture. I call it the "sailor building." why? well, there are reliefs of anchors way high up on the side of the building - alas, sailors. The building obviously has some character and should be used appropriately. Currently, the main floor is used for Wallbangers, a duelling piano bar for the 30 something $$$ crowd. I walk by and I think it's an old boarding house or maybe an auditorium - the windows are that colored glass you find in churches. Maybe it was a church. My theory? It's an old school flophouse for sailors and thier friends. There are the pianos on the ground floor, along with a bar obviously. On the upper floors, there is an auditorium, a disco, showers, steam baths, a spa (aveda no less) and a chapel. On the top floor, we're looking at high end lofts for captains and explorers. just a thought.

side shot.

Bansky makes top of CNN

Haaaa haaaa. The interwebs did it. Bansky, whom I blogged about earlier this week is now a top story on CNN.

Excalibur on walk

Walk ends. It is raining too much now and i dont want to melt. 6000 steps

Nice Courtyard on walk

Beautiful courtyard.

Tree Lined street on walk

Still sprinkling. Oh to live down a tree lined street.

Lucky Lab on walk

Should i stop for a beer? Alas no. It is oregon rain.

Accross the bridge on walk

It is starring to rain. I am just cabsors the bridge.

Cold fountain on walk

It may be spring break but it is still darn cold.

Lownsdale park on walk

It is not raining.

Weather for walk?

What is the weather like for my walk today?

Someone's got cahones

From Kottke:

An artist entered 4 prominent NY museums and installed his own art on the wall. Not bad are mind you, just not approved art. Props to Bansky. More.

Daniel H. Lownsdale - Portland Founder

momument @ lownsdale park
Originally uploaded by dieselboi.

Daniel H. Lowndale is a famous Portland founder who doesn't get the name credit as others who were here in the 1840-50s. Everyone knows names like Lovejoy (founder), Overton (founder), Couch (first shipping business), Stark, Flanders etc. I was surprised to learn that Mr. Lownsdale may have been even more influential in Portland's growth and current state than these others. It's one thing to found a city and name it (Lovejoy/Overton), but another to stick around and watch it grow and prosper. (Overton quickly left Portland for the qold rush in California and Lovejoy moved back to Oregon City)
Daniel Lownsdale came to the Oregon Territory in the 1840's and and established the first tannery in the far Northwest where PGE field (Civic Stadium) now sits. In the winter of 1845-46, Lovejoy sold his share of Portland (approx 300 acres of downtown) to Benjamin Star and in 1848, Pettygrove (the other founder) sold his interest to Daniel Lownsdale. The new proprietors added two new partners, Stephen Coffin and W.W. Chapman and formed the Townsite Promotion Company. An excerpt from a diary of that year says, "Portland now has two white houses and one brick and three wood-colored frame house and a few cabins."
Daneil Lownsdale eventually owned all of Portland and under his influence, Portland actively sought to attract businesses and customers to patronize them. As a large land owner, Mr. Lownsdale donated to the city of Portland what is now the Lownsdale square (4th and Salmon) and the South park blocks.
Thank you Mr. Lownsdale for helping Portland become what it is today. I know I am probably not doing you the justice you deserve with my quick history of you, but I think those in blogosphere will appreciate the story.

Happy Anniversary from Flickr

special day! one special day!

7 years ago, i stood on the deserted Kee beach at the end of the road on Kauai with the love of my life and six guests. i was stubborn and the only one not to remove my shoes when we walked out on the beach (it was a whole outfit thing at the time). my lovely bride wore a beautiful dress hand made by her accomplished cousin. our parents were present to celebrate this most amazing occasion. Katrama, our trancendental astrologer, officiated, including in the ceremony items of hawaiian culture and spirituality. after the ceremony, we all gathered to watch the sun set fully and then went to dinner to celebrate. oh, by the way, it had been lightly raining the balance of the day. the clouds broke around sunset and we remained dry the entire time.
happy aniversary Anna. i love you more than ever and look forward to the next 7 years. love you!