The New Portlander

The Moorish-themed, 1920’s movie palace known as the Bagdad Theater has long been an anchor in my neighborhood. When I first moved to Portland, the Bagdad was the place to spend a rainy Saturday night. My friends and I would pay four dollars to sit through two awful, second-run movies, eat not too good pizza, and if someone had a little extra money, drink some beer. The camaraderie was great, it was often warmer inside the theater than at home, and the architecture of the building itself made you feel that you were someplace special. 

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Opening Day is When I Say

Most boaters in this hemisphere would say that opening day is sometime in the spring, likely the first weekend of May. For me though, opening day is a feeling more than a date. It’s the day that the low clouds and steady drizzle of winter part, the north wind blows, and you can actually feel the warmth of the sun. 

A Little Luck

There’s a time in the late fall when it hasn’t rained for a while and the Columbia River gets low. Really low. Most boaters have called it a season, but there are still some fine days left if you watch for the right weather window. 

Going, Going…

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You might have read about the panacea of easy living, good food, and green living know as Portland, Oregon. Everything you’ve read is true and it’s also a falsehood. Especially that statement about it being the place where young people go to retire… 

Blue Friday

Fifteen sailboats, one motor yacht, one trawler. Those were the only boats I saw on the Columbia, today, the day after Thanksgiving. Force 3 wind. One dumb guy (me) with just oars. No lines. No shopping. Fantastic.

Dean’s Garage

“I can’t let you leave here with those handlebars,” said Dean sternly.

I looked at my mechanic in surprise. Those handlebars were intended for my new bike, and I’d chosen them carefully. I thought they’d be extremely comfortable, and they looked stylish to boot. “Why?” I asked a bit defensively.

“They just don’t look right on you,” he growled.