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Famed Made in Oregon sign to change?
Wow. First Mercy Corps comes in and takes away the beloved mural of Packy the elephant and now University of Oregon (based in Eugene, no less) wants to change the iconic Made in Oregon neon sign that welcomes all crossing the Burnside Bridge. I honestly can’t believe they have the balls to ask for the change. Then again, will Portland’s laissez-faire attitude to anything old prevail? We’re slowly letting the neon on N. Interstate go bye bye, why not this?
The Made in Oregon sign has been around for ages. Not always in its current form though, so U of O has something to stand on. Over on Neighborhood Notes, we get some history. The sign was originally White Satin Sugar which changed to White Stag and then to its current form of Made in Oregon. Also, while the sign is protected, it is only the form and typeface, not the words. So, in all honesty, The Dancing Bare (a strip club in N. Portland) could have bought the building and changed the sign too. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?
You can have your say on whether this happens or not. There will be a pre-application conference regarding U of O’s proposed change on December 9th and is open to the public. You can also submit your comments to the city for consideration. And they will read them.
My opinion? U of O shouldn’t change the sign. It is probably one of the most photographed signs in the city and is a symbol of being proud of the products Oregon produces. Don’t change the sign.
Photo licensed under Creative Commons by Aaron Michael Brown. Thanks.
Fall leaf fun!
Yes, it is still Fall even though it is the middle of November. I like saying Fall instead of the more puritan Autumn because it is a verb along with a noun. Well, my friend Brian embraced all that Fall has to offer this past weekend and recorded it for your viewing pleasure. Thanks Brian for the video. I just love the time lapse along with the music choice. Enjoy.
Make like a tree from brewcaster on Vimeo.
A house saved?
There is a block close to my house where 9 single family homes are boarded up awaiting demolition. On N. Interstate, a new condo tower is going in - albeit only a 6 story “tower.” While I’m glad to see the change, I am saddened by the loss of some great 1920’s or earlier bungalows and Victorians.
Well, it appears at least one of the houses is going to be saved. I wandered by the other evening and this house is up on steel I-beams awaiting transport somewhere. I thought it would move this past weekend, but alas, it is still there. Such a beautiful house. Someone has a gem on their hands. According to PortlandMaps, this house has a market value where it is at of $275K. I wonder how much the buyer paid. Seriously. They are saving the development company cash money by taking the house away. Yet, the house has value. Was it a $1000 deal? A $10,000 deal? Just think. Wouldn’t it be cool to buy a house for that cheap? Granted, you have to find a lot and pay to move it, but in the end, you would have a gem.
I’m glad the house is being saved. Built in 1907, we should cherish such homes. Now, if only the Rebuilding Center could get the contract to deconstruct the other houses and salvage the materials….
Say goodbye to Green Dragon?
Updated. See below: News just in from BrewPublic that Rogue Brewing is going to purchase the Green Dragon and revamp it as a Rogue Taphouse. Wow! Crap! Damn! Those are my emotions right now. I love Rogue, but there is already a Rogue in downtown. There are no other Green Dragons which offer the rotating taps of some great beers. Also, we love having events there because the staff loves us. According to the article, the staff may change also.
I’m verklempt. I have been going to Green Dragon since week one and have seen it change over the past year to a great location for beer drinking. Please don’t change that!
Updated 3pm: John Foyston of The Beer Here blog has an update that pretty much states that Rogue plans on keeping most of what the Green Dragon character is today, so that could bode well for us who love it. From how I read the article, the only change would be in ownership, but the heart of the Green Dragon would live on. You decide.
Also, check out the latest over on Brewpublic - they got a legal nastygram from Rogue.
