city news...
May 31,2008
Towards Carfree Cities VIII
by pearlgirl
The Towards Carfree Cities conference series brings together people from around the world who work to promote practical alternatives to car dependence. The conference attracts professionals, advocates, and community leaders who focus on the creation of sustainable transportation systems and on the transformation of cities, towns, and villages into human-scaled environments rich in public space and community life. The fundamental role of the conference is to share knowledge and assist the practical work of conference participants, whether it be organizing community events, promoting urban cycling, or building the carfree cities of the future.To learn more, contact the conference team . Learn more at the Car Free Portland website . Read More...
posted at 11:05 AM
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May 31,2008
Portland Makes NYT List of 31 Summer Stops
by pearlgirl
The New York Times has named 31 interesting places to visit this summer. Portland made the list as a foodie haven: "As far as foodie havens go, Portland has been better known for its vegan cafes and eco-hippie cooperatives than for restaurants with gastronomic ambitions. But an emerging locavore movement has changed that. Drawn by the city’s low rents and artsy vibe, young chefs are breaking the culinary mold and tapping into the Northwestern bounty of local fisheries, small meat purveyors and artisanal farms. Sample the heat at places like Clyde Common (Southwest 10th and Stark; 503-228-3333; www.clydecommon.com ), which serves novel dishes like crispy pork belly with blood orange marmalade." How do you sell a trip to Portland to your family and friends? Read the full article
posted at 10:37 AM
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May 31,2008
Is the Starlight Parade really Green?
by pearlgirl
Although the Starlight Parade emits 240 pounds of carbon dioxide, it has purchased enough carbon offsets to be considered 'green'. Is this really a matter of paying to pollute or do you think carbon offsets are a good thing? Are there ways to green the parade without carbon offsets? From the Portland Tribune... Just plain old “Starlight Parade”? How about “PGE/SOLV Carbon Neutral Starlight Parade”? PGE said that for the second straight year, the Portland Rose Festival’s Starlight Parade has purchased enough carbon offsets from the Climate Trust to be considered “green.” The parade, which begins at 8:30 tonight in downtown Portland, purchased the offsets because of the carbon emissions from the vehicles and floats that will roll through the city in the traditional event. The purchase offsets about 240 pounds of carbon dioxide produced by 43 floats, plus cars, police motorcycles, garbage trucks and street sweepers as they travel the 2.5
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posted at 10:22 AM
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May 31,2008
Mt. Tabor Park access plan stirs neighborhood
by pearlgirl
From the Portland Tribune... Changes are afoot at the southern edge of Mt. Tabor Park, but this time Portland Parks and Recreation is bending over backwards to accommodate nearby residents. Two years ago, Mount Tabor residents foiled the parks bureau’s plan to sell off its central parks maintenance yard on Southeast Division Street to neighboring Warner Pacific College, which wanted the land for athletic fields. After the neighbors mobilized, the bureau backed down and agreed to renovate its antiquated maintenance yard and adjoining nursery at their locations in the park’s southwest corner. Under a 2007 agreement reached via mediation with the Mount Tabor and South Tabor neighborhood associations, the city created a 34-member committee to plan the project. Read the full article I'd love to hear from residents of both neighborhoods and get their feedback on the access plan. What do you think about it?
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posted at 10:13 AM
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May 31,2008
Contractors wield fast nail guns in Habitat 'blitz build'
by pearlgirl
Hooray for partnerships that produce results. Five low-income families (their annual income is between $20,000-$40,000) will receive new homes in Lents. It's possible because businesses, organizations and the families are working together to supply the materials and manpower the project requires. Kudos to everyone involved! From the Portland Tribune... You know that feeling you get watching “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and seeing how excited the family is when that big new house is revealed on national television? That’s how Sam Portesi expects to feel some time next week. And he won’t have to shout, “Move that bus!” Portesi is part of a Habitat for Humanity “blitz build” project constructing five new homes in the Lents neighborhood for Portland-area low-income families. He is with Buena Vista Custom Homes of Lake Oswego, one of five builders taking part in the Portland project. Work began early Friday morning on the five h
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posted at 10:01 AM
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May 31,2008
Street Closures for Starlight Parade
by shooter
NW Glisan from NW 10th to NW Broadway and NW Broadway from NW Glisan to Burnside will close at 1PM today. It is the staging are for the Starlight Parade. Also expect local bars to be packed after the parade. It sounds like a decent night for the parade, maybe a bit cool with a chance of a shower or two early.
posted at 09:51 AM
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May 31,2008
Dinosaur Egg Pinata Making at Jamison Square
by nancy
The city-wide mania for dinosaurs has settled in the Pearl, at least for a few days. A couple of Central Portland Families are hosting a pinata making event on June 9th and 10th from 3:30 - 5:30 at Jamison Square. And what will kids be making? Dinosaur Eggs!
This is not to be missed, as you can imagine. The crafty host mamas will teach the kids how to assemble and decorate the pinatas, and if I know one of these mamas like I think I do, there might be a science discussion or two. The first day, the kids will create pinatas, and the second day they'll decorate and smash an already finished pinata.
We think we've assembled a lot of the basic materials for this project, but kids are encouraged to bring embellishments and decorations. Have any stickers, crepe paper, ribbons, glitter or the like in your craft box? They'd look great on a dinosaur egg.
Also, if you have ideas (or items) for filling the pinatas with treats that are not candy, please let us know
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This is not to be missed, as you can imagine. The crafty host mamas will teach the kids how to assemble and decorate the pinatas, and if I know one of these mamas like I think I do, there might be a science discussion or two. The first day, the kids will create pinatas, and the second day they'll decorate and smash an already finished pinata.
We think we've assembled a lot of the basic materials for this project, but kids are encouraged to bring embellishments and decorations. Have any stickers, crepe paper, ribbons, glitter or the like in your craft box? They'd look great on a dinosaur egg.
Also, if you have ideas (or items) for filling the pinatas with treats that are not candy, please let us know
Read More...
posted at 07:22 AM
2 comments
May 31,2008
Weekend Round Up
by nancy
Carol McCreary from Steel Bridge sends out an 'events' email that always has a great list of activities. And she's a good scout for kids events; we're OMSI members and still didn't know that they'd be at the Saturday Market this Sunday. Here are some of her recommendations for the weekend.
Saturday, May 31: Community Designers invited to Resource Access Center Workshop.
Serve our low-income neighbors and help make the development of Block U a success by bringing your views and expertise to the table. HAP and TPI need community input to get it right. From 9 am to noon at the Port of Portland. Take a look at the latest proposals and interesting case studies .
Saturday, May 31: Have fun, help Burma at The Monkey & The Rat.
Join the Burma Action Committee and Green Empowerment in solidarity with people in the Irrawaddy Delta region who are pulling together after Cyclone Nargis. Burmese dancers, a presentation by author Edith Mirante, an ar
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Saturday, May 31: Community Designers invited to Resource Access Center Workshop.
Serve our low-income neighbors and help make the development of Block U a success by bringing your views and expertise to the table. HAP and TPI need community input to get it right. From 9 am to noon at the Port of Portland. Take a look at the latest proposals and interesting case studies .
Saturday, May 31: Have fun, help Burma at The Monkey & The Rat.
Join the Burma Action Committee and Green Empowerment in solidarity with people in the Irrawaddy Delta region who are pulling together after Cyclone Nargis. Burmese dancers, a presentation by author Edith Mirante, an ar
Read More...
posted at 07:11 AM
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May 30,2008
Condos in Portland's Pearl get camouflaged cell towers
by pearlgirl
You can dress them up but you can't hide their radiation -- camouflaged cell phone towers are now proposed in Portland’s Pearl District.
The proposal in question comes from Verizon Wireless.
The company wants to hide a rooftop cell phone antenna at NW 10th Ave. and Flanders St. inside either a fake chimney or what appears to be two fake exhaust vents.
This would hide the antenna from the plain view of hundreds of condo residents.
Portland city planners want neighbors’ advice on the proposal.
“We're looking for feedback,” said city planner Shawn Wood.
Read the full article and watch the video at KGW...
The proposal in question comes from Verizon Wireless.
The company wants to hide a rooftop cell phone antenna at NW 10th Ave. and Flanders St. inside either a fake chimney or what appears to be two fake exhaust vents.
This would hide the antenna from the plain view of hundreds of condo residents.
Portland city planners want neighbors’ advice on the proposal.
“We're looking for feedback,” said city planner Shawn Wood.
Read the full article and watch the video at KGW...
posted at 09:37 AM
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May 30,2008
Bishops Closes Pearl Salon - Will Reopen as a Barbershop
by shooter
The Mercury is reporting that Bishops has closed its Pearl salon on Everett. Bishops made the announcement with class, owner Leo Rivera sent The Mercury a mannequin head in a box with a note. I think this is a great way to announce this kind of change, admit the mistake and do it with humor. Photos are from The Mercury, read the full post .
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posted at 09:26 AM
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