Portlandia

Coffee artistry at Stumptown Coffee, Portland                         © Diane B. Reed

Every now and then we like to get out of town and take a trip to the big city. Most of the time we opt for Portland, which seems more comfortable to us than Seattle. Once you navigate the freeways and end up in town, Portland seems more like a series of neighborhoods than a megalopolis.  The public transportation system is easy to use and far-reaching. Bicycles are welcome and plentiful.

Public art disguises a parking garage           photo by Dan Nelson

Portland seems to have a wonderful sense of art (not to mention whimsical art). Public art seems to appear on almost every corner. Some of it's deliberate, some of it is spontaneous. It can even be interactive. We saw a neat exhibit by Portland State University grad student and artist Lexa Walsh "Portland Food Cart Songs." (check it out online) that included a series of songs developed with some of the food cart vendors near the PSU campus.

Streetside exhibit on Portland Food Cart Songs © Diane B. Reed

Speaking of food, Portland is one of the best food (and coffee) towns I've ever been to, with a wide variety of diverse cuisines and price points. During the summer Portlanders love to eat outside and soak in the sun at the sidewalk seating that spills out of many restaurants. It is a small offset to the dismal winters.

Mt. Hood from the Pittock Mansion 

© Diane B. Reed

 The city is also graced by one of the best park systems in the country, complete with gardens, trails, historic properties and the zoo. Forest Park  at over 5,000 acres is one of the largest natural areas near a city, and the Pittock Mansion nestled in the West Hills is a century-old home with a stunning view of Mt. Hood in the distance and the city unfolding below.

Sampling Portland is real treat, and one that we always look forward to.

Pittock Mansion, West Hills of Portland     © Diane B. Reed

Friendliest Small Town in the U.S.!

Pioneer Park on the Fourth of July                                       © Diane B. Reed

 

The Garden Vegan Cafe, downtown © Diane B. Reed

This week, USA Today and Rand McNally's Best of the Road named Walla Walla as the friendliest small town in the United States. It isn't a surprise to me and most of the folks here, but it sure is nice to be recognized as the town "that's so nice, they named it twice." All you have to do is walk around town, head over to the Farmers' Market, or go to the annual summer musical put on by the Walla Walla Community College Foundation--this year it's "Hairspray." (This is the last weekend, so if you haven't see it yet, add it to your plans.)

It's wonderful to walk around downtown or head off for the supermarket and bump into friends, or meet them for lunch in one of our many restaurants. And even though Walla Walla boasts 32,000 residents it has that small town feeling that makes us feel at home. There is lots for kids to do including playgrounds, parks, skateboard and BMX parks, and youth fishing. 

Dabbling in the pond at Lions Park, College Place  © Diane B. Ree

But don't take my word for it, if you've never been to Walla Walla, come visit. And if you already live here in the Walla Walla Valley, enjoy the accolades that have come our way. You might even rediscover what the Wynns from "Best of the Road" saw when they came to visit.

Books and Browsing

Book and Game, Downtown Walla Walla       © Diane B. Reed

On mornings when I awake to rain on the pond, or it's too hot (or cold) to work outside, I figure I might as well embrace the weather and curl up with a good book. I already have stacks of books to read, but I still feel the need to browse the bookstores before I settle in with my first selection—just in case there’s something even more interesting out there. This is, of course, ridiculous because I already have enough books to keep me busy until I’m 120!

Earthlight Books, Walla Walla © Diane B. Reed

You can tell a lot about an area by the variety of its bookstores, and we’re lucky to have so many. What could be more welcoming on a cold day than an inviting bookstore? I love them all—used books at Earthlight and Just Right Books, new books at Book and Game, Hastings and the Whitman College bookstore, to name a few. I always try to stop by SkyeBook and Brew when I’m in Dayton. Then there’s the annual AAUW book sale, yard sales and thrift shops and … Oh dear, I guess I’m a bookaholic!

It’s not like I go out looking for a certain book. In fact, I’m never quite sure how to respond if a bookstore proprietor asks me if I’m looking for a particular title. Most of the time I have no idea what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it. I’ve found there’s a certain Zen to browsing. I wander to my favorite subject areas—nature, history, poetry or a good mystery . . . I settle in and let my eyes roam over the titles, pulling out ones that intrigue me. Often I find titles I’ve never heard of, particularly in used bookstores. I might browse through a dozen books or more and find one or two that draw me in. I’ve found that talking to bookstore folks—particularly if they’re avid readers themselves—often results in suggestions about wonderful books that I would have otherwise missed.

© Diane B. Reed

An added dimension to my search is the design and craftsmanship of many vintage books. I recently found a 1909 copy of Our National Parks written by John Muir that is printed on high-quality paper and has a stunning image embossed on the cloth cover, complete with gold leafing. The book was Muir’s pitch for preserving the wilderness through the creation of more National Parks (there were only 13 at the time the book was written). It combines extraordinary writing with a volume that’s intrinsically beautiful, a combination difficult to find in today’s mass-market books.

Don’t get me wrong. I love technology and use it regularly, but I rarely order books online and (for now) I don’t own a Kindle. I treasure the decadence of browsing, the sociability of interacting with book people, the art of the book and the satisfaction of finding a volume that I can’t wait to read. Life is good in the Walla Walla Valley!

Happy Canada Day and Fourth of July!

Sparks from a campfire create their own fireworks                 © Diane B. Reed

Since my grandfather was born in Canada, I celebrate both holidays — just another excuse for a barbecue! We're looking forward to enjoying local activities over the long weekend, including the Farmers' Market and the Fourth of July events in Pioneer Park in Walla Walla as we celebrate our nation's birthday.

B25 "Maid in the Shade"                            © Diane B. Reed

 Last weekend we had an opportunity to see a manifestation of that celebration, the B25 "Maid in the Shade" carefully restored by the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force when they visited the Walla Walla Airport.  This iconic aircraft is a World War II combat veteran and has been lovingly restored.  It reminds us of the sacrifices that have been made over the history of the United States by our men and women in uniform.  

1929 Travel Air biplane                               © Diane B. Reed

Another attraction was a 1929 Travel Air biplane which was kept busy giving rides to daring passengers.
I hope all of you have a wonderful Fourth of July (and Canada Day). Be safe, and don't forget those who have served and are serving our country.