Having a hard time re-entering a five-day work-week? Did your Monday start with a bang? (Mine certainly did, ugh*) Then celebrate the middle of the week in style and/or drown your sorrows at the OurPDX meetup on Wednesday, December 2nd at Thatch.

We’ll be there just after 5 pm - which gives you plenty of time to enjoy a drink prior to the Web Innovators meeting at 7 pm at Cubespace, right? Or I’m sure a few of us will be there for a bit longer…

Thatch Tiki Bar
2733 NE Broadway
Portland, Oregon 97253

RSVP on Upcoming so we know to save you a seat, will you?

(* or, more accurately, the sound of what I’m now told must have been a huge rodent thrashing around in a closet in my house, eeeeek! Liberally sprinkled poison down the freshly-gnawed hole he disappeared down; plugged same with steel wool. Will buy drinks in exchange for good exterminator recs…!)

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If you think literally, this blog is named after Portland’s airport. I can’t think of another city that identifies with its airport code like we do. DFW sounds like a traffic infraction. SFO sounds like an abbreviated apartment listing. PHO Live? That sounds like a Dirty Dining segment. And yet, everybody refers to Portland as PDX. I’m not here to raise issue with that, I think it’s fine. But, after six months or so, I believe it’s time to address the 250 lb gorilla in the room:

Our PDX, Portland’s airport.

After a series of emotionally draining personal incidents, I felt the need to get away. As the city grows, there are fewer places to find solitude. After the Airport MAX opened, I discovered the wide open spaces at the Mt Hood stop. Its a MAX stop in the middle of nowhere, rarely does anyone get off or catch the train there. I can sit there as long as my bladder will allow, watching planes come and go, flocks of birds, the occasional coyote wandering through the wetlands.

I have a friend who works at PDX. I used to visit her a lot, we’d play Scrabble on her breaks between flights. A few years back, you could find me haunting the airport any given weekend. I was fascinated with its dynamic, and loved the people-watching. Throw in conversation with a pretty girl, what’s not to love?

Time marches on, and we don’t see each other like we used to. (She got married and had a kid, sorta squelched the pursuit.) But we are still close, so I called her and told her I was coming for a visit.

The airport hadn’t changed much. When I was visiting regularly, construction was wrapping up on the big expansion/remodel. There was a new spot to plane-watch. It was the things that hadn’t changed that pleased me.

Hark! There’s still a Coffee People at the airport! My friend used to know all the baristas, and we got lots of deals on caffeine. I resisted spending $5 on coffee for nostalgia’s sake. I know Starbucks owns them now, so I knew it was more marketing gimmick than anything. (Especially when I saw the backward Coffee People sign at the Starbucks by the escalators.) If I were to drop any money, it would be at the Powell’s store. They always have something cheap that catches my eye.

I sat at the northern security entrance for a while. I used to wait there for my friend. People disembark from planes, and this is where the family meets them. It’s touching to watch the young lovers rushing to each other. The soldiers returning home to a hero’s welcome. The embarrassed teenager awkwardly dodging his mother’s kiss because “People are watching, Mom!”

I’m not wearing sunglasses because I’m trying to look cool. If I’ve had a couple of adult beverages, it’s impossible not to get misty.

What shocked me most were all the stores at Cascade Station. Um, hello? Pardon my questioning demeanor, I acknowledge I’m no fookin’ genius, but wasn’t the original idea of putting an airport way the hell “out there” so if an airplane falls out of the sky it won’t hit anything bigger than a couple trees and a cow or two? I must question the logic of putting a huge strip mall at the end of an airport runway.

Do we really need a Mattress World there? “Ooh, honey! I *knew* I forgot to pack something.” I look forward to someday seeing someone hauling a box springs onto the MAX…

Of course, if the terrorists want to ‘kill whitey’, all they have to do is take out the IKEA. What in the hell are all those people doing buying furniture on a Sunday night? Must be some mighty fine meatballs…

The Mt Hood stop will not be a quiet spot much longer. Either offices or condos are being built a stone’s throw away. I saw less wildlife than before, and the fog was such that I couldn’t watch planes for more than a few seconds. I had a brief but wonderful visit with my friend, revisited memories of days past, and witnessed progress in action.

Maybe next weekend I’ll go back, get a mocha at the Coffee People and get my ass kicked at Scrabble.

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Settle in around the fire everyone and I’ll tell you a story. A tale of two people who started a podcast just about a year ago with a silly little song contest. Dr. Normal lured me into our basement studio to record a short audio clip announcing our song contest (which was being held on my blog), and then sprang on me that we were doing a podcast. After the contest was over and done with we took a little break, but it was only a matter of months before we were recording a show every week like clock work and now Strange Love Live is a huge part of our life together.

Okay, sappy paragraph is over, now onto the 2nd annual Kaos Holiday Song Contest. We’ll have a post up later this week to fill in all the details, but the deadline for submissions is Friday December 12th at midnight. Email submissions to strangelovelive @ gmail.com with Holiday Song Contest as the subject. Judging will occur in the days that follow and we’ll announce the winners of both categories (Naughty and Nice) on Friday December 19th.

Take a listen to this very short episode to hear the tune for this year’s Holiday Song contest and to get a little info on what to do with it.

SLL Episode 59: Kaos Holiday Song Contest

With all the formalities out of the way, we kicked back with guest and fellow Portland Podcaster Will Radik. We had some rum, we decorated a tree and he and I wore a skimpy Santa shirt. Good times were had as we brought an official start to the holiday season in our home, talked about his show, photographs and the blurry fuzzy creature that has been roaming his home chewing on things. Join us and listen in on this NSFW Afterhours episode.

EXPLICIT CONTENT

SLL Episode 60: Holiday Kick Off with Will Radik

You can listen to the shows here, download them, subscribe or pick us up on iTunes so you can always be the first to know when we’ve released a new episode…

***

Join us Friday December 5th at 10 PM on ustream or at Vidoop as we broadcast from the Cyborg Camp kickoff party. Check out the upcoming page for details as things are solidified.

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Made in Oregon
Originally uploaded by Aaron Michael Brown

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.

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This is piggybacking on Betsy’s post about Black Friday and whether or not we opt to get up before the crack of dawn to get discounted products at the big stores around town.

My mother is one of those people who make it a tradition to awaken at a ridiculous hour the day after Thanksgiving to venture out to various stores in Baltimore that are open and hoping people will buy, buy, buy.

Not I. Never have, never will. Simply put, I’m an insomniac and the thought of intentionally altering my sleep patterns for shopping seems a step too close to masochism.

Since moving to Portland, I’ve been absolutely amazed by the amount of local artists and artisans who sell a variety of items. Sorry, but you’re not going to find vegan chocolate truffles at Wal-Mart. And that’s just one of many examples.

While there is definitely a time and place for shopping at Target and on Amazon.com, here are some places to check out as you think about gifting during the winter season. This isn’t intended to be an exhaustive list, but should serve as a good starting point.

• Secret Society Sale — happening today (November 30) from 10AM - 6PM at the Secret Society Ballroom in NE Portland.
• Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Holiday Sale — happening Sunday, December 14, from 11AM - 7PM at the Oregon Convention Center.
• Portland Truffle — the shop is open through the season on Fridays and Saturdays from 10AM - 5PM, and is located in NE Portland, but you can also place orders online.
• Handmade NW — there are multiple Handmade NW events occurring in December, so check the site for details on locations and dates.
• Festival of the Last Minute — from December 17 - 24, the Portland Saturday Market will be open daily for those folks who enjoy the thrill of procrastination, but still want to support local businesses.

Perhaps buying local is a peace of mind for some. You may know the people who run the business or you know they use quality materials, for example. There’s also the ability to utilize less packaging when shopping locally as you can take along your own bags to cart goods home rather than dealing with lots of plastic bubbles and cardboard boxes. (Granted, that isn’t entirely unavoidable if you’re like me and having to ship gifts out of the area for friends and family.)

In addition to getting out myself out to the above events, some of the folks on my gift list will be receiving some homemade baked goods from my kitchen. But shh, don’t tell them that!

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I should confess right up front that I am definitely, absolutely, positively 100% in the ‘Out’ camp. (Yes, I am a Scrooge.) My kids get plenty during the course of the year. We don’t really celebrate Christmas, and Chanukah is also really de-gift-emphasized. And, finally - I am lazy. After years of scrounging for just the right gift, scrambling to create festive occasions, well — I decided to opt out a few years ago, and haven’t ever regretted the decision.

I’m not totally anti-consumer, though. While I’ve cocked an eye at the Fred Meyer early-morning sock sale (I do love me some bargains) and don’t much mind crazy deals on electronics from the brand name stores, if I’m going to buy something — I’m going to buy local.

Which explains why this avowed “don’t leave the house on Black Friday” will be venturing out at some point to New Seasons to get the turkey she wants to roast (to make up for the carcass she doesn’t get when she’s a guest at someone else’s house.) I’ll be grabbing my coupons for next week’s Choose Local event while I’m at it. (Choose local starts November 29th and runs through December 7th.) And then, I’ll be dropping by MacForce.

See, they’re having a Black Friday Garage Sale. My daughter’s old G3 laptop has been acting up; it’s time to see if it can be fixed, or if I need to consider a replacement. If I have to spring for something else? I’ll check out MacForce. Or FreeGeek. Or Craigslist.

What shopping choices are you making this holiday season? Are they influenced by the sour economic climate? Do you make conscious choices about where you’re buying from? Or is this the kickoff to some well-deserved rewards for having survived the year thus far?

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The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Portland’s West End.

On election night, as people celebrated a young man went around starting fires in garbage cans and dumpsters. One of those fires destroyed the front of Julia’s Specialty Gifts. The young man who allegedly started the fires is locked up, but there was the problem of what to do about the shop. This is Julia’s busiest time of year.

Neighbors came together, and a storefront across the street was made available to Julia’s, next door to Ray’s Ragtime. They’ve been busy carting stuff across the MAX tracks and are back in business. They will be opening at noon on Friday with a full-on Christmas blitz!

I know the turkey isn’t even in the oven for most of y’all, but it’s not too early to think about helping a neighbor who has been dealt a dirty hand. If you need Christmas ornaments and other goodies, stop by and say hi. They are on SW Morrison Street, four blocks west of Pioneer Square, where the Holiday Tree will be lit by KGW’s news team at 6 PM Friday.

But, first things first. It’s turkey time!

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My friend Audrey wrote in and told me about a now-annual activity some friends of hers have put together. They describe it as follows:

Some friends and I are doing a collaborative live Thanksgiving website for the second year in a row, and we’d like our fellow Portlanders to join the fun online! http://TurkeyTracker.com

We use Ustream, Flickr and Twitter to create an interactive webcast of our turkey smoking. We have a camera (probably 2 this year) trained on the smoker, which broadcasts all day. We take pictures throughout the cooking process and post those as we take them, alongside a twitter feed that includes automatic updates from a USB thermometer rig (which got mentioned on MAKE, actually! ).

Because a big part of our goal is to connect with family and friends who are also enjoying the holiday, we have chat (via Ustream) and a Flickr pool that others can post photos to, which are then randomly cycled for display on the site.

Last year, we had 50-60 viewers, based entirely on word of mouth, this year we’re doing some more promotion, and hope to have a virtual Thanksgiving Day with hundreds of celebrants.

Links:
- Main Website: http://turkeytracker.com
- Our behind the scenes blog: http://blog.turkeytracker.com
- Invitation for the world to Join Us (also has FAQ): http://turkeytracker.com/joinus
(As you’ll see, the website is in it’s second year but the celebration has been going on for much longer.)

Anyway, feel free to join us and/or invite others. The more the merrier.

I’m in, I’m in! But I have just one question. What, no live-Twitter stream? Slackers…! I should have known they had it covered: Follow @turkeytracker on Twitter!

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• November 25, 2008 — OurPDX shared links for November 25th (0)

Here’s what we’ve found as we’ve traveled the local PDX web (complete with our comments) for November 25th

• OPB Calling: Think Out Loud - Oregon Public Broadcasting and Think Out Loud will be offering a Thanksgiving Best-of Food special set to air on Thursday at 9am. (I know I'll be listening as I shape my loaves of homemade bread for the final rise before dinner that night!)
• My life on the rocks: The World’s Best Hot Buttered Rum Recipe - Local bartender Lance Mayhew offers up this holiday classic to warm up your guests this Thanksgiving.
• Thanksgiving Day Deals: Free Day at Oregon Zoo, Free Meal at Cheerful Tortoise - Around the Sun: A Blog About Saving Money in Portland, Oregon, and beyond - Note that beverages aren't included in the free meal; other stipulations apply..! (Going to the Zoo? Reminds me of memorable family thanksgivings past!)
• Oregon’s first case of the flu arrives | The Portland Tribune - Have you gotten *your* flu shot yet? There's still time…
• Turkey Day at the Green Dragon at Beer and Blog - The site's worth visiting to check out the pic of the bacon-bedecked bird!

Note: you can share bookmarks back to our site if you have a Mag.nolia account - just join our group and then send relevant links to that group when you mark a site, article, or post!

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I don’t know about you, but my favorite part of Thanksgiving was going to a local bar after dinner with my favorite cousins and the cool uncle to get the real dirt on the family. You know – the dirt you didn’t reveal at the dinner table. We’d sneak away a few at a time and meet at the local bar to swap stories and have an hour or so away from the whole family. We called it Operation Family Gossip.

The thing is, until a few years ago, I’d never had a Thanksgiving in Portland so I had no idea where to go after Thanksgiving dinner. Outside of the places that specialize in doing a big Thanksgiving meal such as The Heathman, Mother’s, Paley’s Place, Huber’s and Higgins, many bars are closed.

Then a few years ago, driving down Broadway, I saw a crowd going into the Rose and Thistle. Ever since, it’s been my post-Thanksgiving dinner home.

I called a few places, many were closed, but some are opening late just for you and your family gossip. Here is a short list of bars and their opening times. If you’re working that night, you are one of the things we are all thankful for, so post it in the comments so everyone can see.

Rose and Thistle, 2314 NE Broadway, Opens at 7:00 p.m.

Space Room Lounge, 4800 SE Hawthorne, Opens at 11:00 a.m.

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