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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on November 8, 2006 3:59 PM. The previous post in this blog was New office chief for Saltzman. The next post in this blog is Gettin' bloggy wit' it. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« New office chief for Saltzman | Main | Gettin' bloggy wit' it »

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Sneak preview

Crews have begun laying some of the new bricks that will pave the revitalized Portland Transit Mall. They've started with a sloping stretch near Portland State. You can see a photo of the work here.

Posted at 3:59 PM | Permalink

Comments (19)

I hope that this time they put down a tile that doesn't get quite so slippery when wet. Since I returned full time to Portland in about 1990, I have often been amazed to find that the tile that had been put down in the transit mall along 5th and 6th in downtown was quite slippery when wet-----far more than just regular sidewalk concrete. It seemed like they planned for the San Diego climate, not Portland's.

This always seemed to me symbolic of planning processes that bypass the actual needs of ordinary citizens. Hype v. actual daily life, the idea v. the reality, theory vs. actual facts, etc.

Posted by dave | November 8, 2006 4:31 PM

Man, if they're really putting it down at an angle like that, the skatepunks will LOVE it.

Posted by b!X | November 8, 2006 4:46 PM

I love it when people comment before checking out one of Jack's classic gag links.

Posted by Kari Chisholm | November 8, 2006 5:09 PM

Is that Borat?

Posted by Chris Snethen | November 8, 2006 5:16 PM

I notice that they've scheduled all of the open houses for the project during workday hours when most people can't go, despite the fact that (for example) such nonsensical scheduling gets mentioned over and over and over again when people are asked for easily-enacted changes to public process in Portland.

Posted by b!X | November 8, 2006 5:19 PM

Kari, sometimes the gag bombs so badly you can't blame folks for thinking it's real.

Posted by Jack Bog | November 8, 2006 6:13 PM

One. Very funny Jack.

Two. Since the original mall was built, I couldn't hazard a guess how many times I've slipped on those wet bricks. God forbid you're wearing new, non-scuffed shoes.

Three. Tri-Met had an open house today at PSU I went to over lunch. Gave 'em some grief over their refusal to reconsider the stupidity of having the #14 go outbound over the Morrison Bridge, not the Hawthorne, adding all kinds of hassle and extra time to the commute.

Four. On the way out I grabbed a free handout, and stuck it in my pocket. Back at the office it was a a measuring tape with a "Portland Mall" logo on it.

Can anybody tell me what the...heck that's got to do with anything?

Posted by Frank Dufay | November 8, 2006 7:14 PM

Four. On the way out I grabbed a free handout, and stuck it in my pocket. Back at the office it was a a measuring tape with a "Portland Mall" logo on it.

Can anybody tell me what the...heck that's got to do with anything?

C'mon, Frank. You know that our hard-earned tax dollars have little more value than as trinkets and trash serving as worthless PR for a decision the public wasn't consulted on that would have been a done deal no matter what we said....(inhale)

BTW, you mean one of those 6" rulers? Or an actual 6' meauring tape? Either way, you're right. No point. Other than some idiot in the staff thought, "Hmm, check out these cool rulers in this catalog! Wouldn't it be neat to get 'Portland Mall' ones and hand them out?" without a thought in the world about whose money is paying for it.

No better symbol for many government workers' level of respect for our hard earned tax dollars wrested from our control at the point of a gun.

Present company excluded.

Well, except Torrid, if he's lurking.

Posted by Don Smith | November 8, 2006 7:39 PM

Oh, yeah, and Jack, very funny, as per usual. I have been seeing that image on Yahoo for a week or so.

Posted by Don Smith | November 8, 2006 7:39 PM

...you mean one of those 6" rulers? Or an actual 6' meauring tape?

A retracting measuring tape in a round plastic housing. I was making fun of it with a guy at work who is also losing patience with the state of mass transit...I was gonna measure his height, but it only stretched out to five feet. It's got a cool button on the back, though...push it and "whoosh" the tape's sucked back in.

Gives me something to play with, I guess, when the overcrowded #14 is too full for me to board and take home (like tonight).

Posted by Frank Dufay | November 8, 2006 7:54 PM

For a different perspective on urban planning issues from the curdled one presented here, I suggest this as a bookmark:

http://urbanplanningoverlord.blogspot.com/

Posted by urban planning overlord | November 8, 2006 8:06 PM

Thanks for the off-topic post. It's your last.

I'm glad you've found somewhere else to spew your venom toward me. Interesting, though, that you feel you have to hide your identity. Well, here's a clue for everyone -- where you're posting from tonight:

198.236.192.210

OrgName: Oregon Public Education Network
OrgID: ORPN
Address: Marylhurst Campus, Hwy 43
Address: PO Box 216
City: Marylhurst
StateProv: OR
PostalCode: 97036-0216
Country: US

NetRange: 198.236.0.0 - 198.237.255.255
CIDR: 198.236.0.0/15
NetName: OPEN-BLOCK1
NetHandle: NET-198-236-0-0-1
Parent: NET-198-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: DNS1.K12.OR.US
NameServer: OPENDNS2.K12.OR.US
NameServer: NS1.NERO.NET
NameServer: ARIZONA.EDU
Comment:
RegDate: 1993-09-13
Updated: 2005-03-02

Good luck, whoever you are.

Posted by Jack Bog | November 8, 2006 8:14 PM

Too bad. I was looking forward to Randy Gragg versus Jack Bogdanski...
If only the gauntlet had been thrown down...
And so it would begin...

DRAT!

(Well, a man can dream. Let us hope, for the sake of all of our entertainment, that this "overlord" who refuses to use a real name is worthy of the beret of Gragg).

Posted by Start waltzing Matilda | November 8, 2006 8:22 PM

Earlier this week, this person posted from 159.121.27.66 -- a State of Oregon site -- during the day. At night he or she's in a public school somewhere. Clearly a public employee, somehow involved in academia. Hard to think it's not one of the PSU crowd.

Posted by Jack Bog | November 8, 2006 8:28 PM

Jack, they have already changed the symbol, they've decided to go with the classic hammer and scycle. It describes city government's policies MUCH better.

Posted by mmmarvel | November 8, 2006 9:45 PM

And Frank, think of all the women in heels downtown! Men have it relatively easy.

Side comment: Planning Overlord reminds me how New Urbanism has truly become a cult-level phenomenon. (Though its opposite, the Ortem/Cascade Policy stuff is equally narrow). Portlanders need to create a sensible, creative path between the two land use cults.

BACK to TILE SLIPPING: If anyone knows a good public office to call to inquire about using tile that is "anti-slip", let me know. I suppose council offices and aids would be a reasonable place to start. I would bet the problem would be taken seriously. Perhaps they've already anticipated it.

Posted by dave from multnomah | November 8, 2006 10:19 PM

Right on, Jack! Nice use of the picture.

Posted by Jon | November 8, 2006 10:48 PM

they have already changed the symbol, they've decided to go with the classic hammer and scycle. It describes city government's policies MUCH better.

LOL, thats how I pictured it when I sent Jack the pic...

Posted by Jon | November 8, 2006 10:49 PM

Good luck, whoever you are.

I went over and read his blog for kicks (not much there really)...but he says he was posting on your site a while back as "Matilda" as well.

Posted by Jon | November 9, 2006 7:46 AM

In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 54
At this date last year: 50
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269