Portland doesn't have a Harbor Place but it does have two rivers (the Willamette, above, and the Columbia) which between them provide plenty of water to look at and to play on. A long promenade along the east side of the Willamette attracts thousands of walkers, joggers and bike riders on a pretty day. Obesity is not yet a felony in Portland but it's probably only a matter of time.
South Park is one of several downtown parks that provide respite from the hurley-burley of the business streets surrounding it. The Art Museum, Historical Society, a university and several churches surround the park in what is known as the Cultural District, reminiscent of Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood but even prettier.
This bronze in front of the Historical Society commemorates Teddy Roosevelt the Conservationist who did much to preserve the natural beauty of the west, including Oregon.
Trompe l'oeil murals depicting scenes in Oregon history decorate two sides of this building next door to the Historical Society museum.
Baltimore was already a thriving city by the time Lewis and Clark and the other western explorers got to this area so Portland's history as a metropolis is relatively short. Late 19th century buildings are considered ancient.
This new city park across the street from Uncle Jack's hotel will be the latest downtown amenity when it
opens next year. The glass roof will cover an open-air restaurant. The central business district appears to be thriving with all the fancy stores that in Baltimore are consigned mostly to shopping malls out in the burbs. (A Nordstrom's consumes an entire city block across the street from Macy's). Public transportation by streetcar, bus and light rail is free throughout the downtown area. The streets are immaculate and very few storefronts are empty.
Like Baltimore, Portland sports a number of classy, modern high-rise buildings, most of which have been built to "green" standards.
This futuristic glass confection sports its own wind turbines. Portland bears the appellation "Greenest City in America" with great pride.
The world famous Powell's Bookstore occupies an entire square block in downtown Portland as well as several satellite spaces with specialty collections. Book lovers like Uncle Jack and Mrs. U.J. could spend the entire rainy season in Powell's and never notice the precipitation.
The vast interior is color coded (this is the Purple section) to help readers find what they are looking for.
Every Saturday during the clement months a huge outdoor market convenes in an area between Chinatown and the Willamette River where hundreds of craftspeople offer their wares to thousands of potential buyers. Uncle Jack and Mrs. U.J. could not resist a beautiful handmade wooden cribbage board with which they will while away many an hour during the winter season when neither the Ravens nor the Orioles are playing. The market also features a bewildering variety of ethnic foods and some first class free musical entertainment.
The exquisite Governor Hotel, called the Seward when it was built in 1909, is a downtown landmark. It was expensively refurbished in the 1990's and it is an art deco gem with Native American flourishes.
Oh yes, about crime. Baltimore and Portland are roughly the same size, a bit over a half-million within the city limits. There were 26 murders in Portland last year (residents are appalled) compared with Baltimore's 234. Portland has a female police chief. Perhaps Charm City should try that next.
1 comment:
Hi Uncle Jack,
I remember you from the Outer Banks and the Yellowhouse. My brother lived for many years in Baltimore, eventually moving to Harford County. Prey tell, why did you move to Baltimore?
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