Portland, OR

Posted by: canuckInOR

Portland, OR - 14/12/2006 23:56

On Saturday, I take temporary possession of a 26' Penske moving truck, fill it with (nearly) all my wordly possesions, and move to Portland. (Hence the change in name from canuckInLA to canuckInOR -- that's the problem with picking a name based on location, I suppose.)

After five years at my current job (which I leave Friday), I figured it was time for a change. House ownership appeals to me, and it's not going to happen in Los Angeles. There's better kayaking in Oregon, too.

I need to buy an umbrella.

If there's any empeggers in Portland, come out of the woodwork, and show yerselves!

Cheers,
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Portland, OR - 15/12/2006 00:11

Good luck and safe travels!
Posted by: rob

Re: Portland, OR - 15/12/2006 00:26

Astonishing quantity of strip clubs in Portland. Good jazz too.

Rob
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Portland, OR - 15/12/2006 00:59

Ah. Strip clubs. Can't say that I've ever been in one, nor do I have much desire to, either.

Oddly enough, the other thing that gets a lot of mention about fine things in Portland, is the number of micro-brews. I don't drink, either.

I will try to partake in some of that jazz, though!
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Portland, OR - 15/12/2006 20:18

Seattle is only a 3-hour drive northward. Come up and I'll take you to a great Indian restaurant and show you the sights.
Posted by: rob

Re: Portland, OR - 16/12/2006 12:09

Quote:
Seattle is only a 3-hour drive northward. Come up and I'll take you to a great Indian restaurant and show you the sights.

It also happens to be a really nice drive - very scenic!

We're in the process of acquiring a company in Seattle so maybe I'll get over for a visit some day soon. I hope so, I've not been there since the days of Rio Car training for Car Toys. Great city!

Rob
Posted by: mlord

Re: Portland, OR - 16/12/2006 13:37

Quote:
Quote:
Seattle is only a 3-hour drive northward. Come up and I'll take you to a great Indian restaurant and show you the sights.

It also happens to be a really nice drive - very scenic!

We're in the process of acquiring a company in Seattle so maybe I'll get over for a visit some day soon. I hope so, I've not been there since the days of Rio Car training for Car Toys. Great city!

Rob


Yup, fantastic metropolis! I was last there for a tech conference in 1996, and spent way more time walking around the downtown, driving up to the mountains, overnighting on Ranier, etc.. than l did listening to geeks discuss whatever the show was about!

Cheers
Posted by: siberia37

Re: Portland, OR - 16/12/2006 15:25

Anoter vote for the Northwest- I'm in Tacoma, Seattle's much affronted second city (it's really pretty nice here though). I've been to Portland a couple times and it looks like a fun city, and you've got one of the greatest bookstores in the U.S. Powell's Books.
Posted by: peter

Re: Portland, OR - 16/12/2006 15:58

Quote:
I need to buy an umbrella.

I've only been to Portland once, and after a week or so in the relentlessly nice weather of California, it was very relaxing to arrive in Portland in a slightly chilly drizzle. I think of all the places I've enjoyed visiting in the US (Austin TX, bay area, New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York, Honolulu), Portland is the only one where I could even imagine living. (Well, maybe Philadelphia in second place.)

Peter
Posted by: lectric

Re: Portland, OR - 16/12/2006 19:27

Quote:
Portland is the only one where I could even imagine living

Why? I've always wondered how people up north can handle the cold. I mean, it gets to 15 degrees or so and all my joints cease to function. To say nothing of my nose. That being said, a normal day to me is ungodly oppressive heat to a friend of mine from Jersey, so I guess you just acclamate.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Portland, OR - 16/12/2006 20:09

The one weather thing that really puts me off is drizzle. I hate that state between rain and not-rain. Is that what the rain in the Pacific Northwest is like all the time, or just the time you happened to be there?
Posted by: peter

Re: Portland, OR - 16/12/2006 20:46

Quote:
Why? I've always wondered how people up north can handle the cold. I mean, it gets to 15 degrees or so and all my joints cease to function. To say nothing of my nose. That being said, a normal day to me is ungodly oppressive heat to a friend of mine from Jersey, so I guess you just acclamate.

With cold you can always put on more clothes... going in the other direction, I start to run out of clothes to take off. It's not pretty.

Peter
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Portland, OR - 17/12/2006 05:03

Quote:

We're in the process of acquiring a company in Seattle so maybe I'll get over for a visit some day soon. I hope so, I've not been there since the days of Rio Car training for Car Toys. Great city!

Well, you're always welcome. And there's a Car Toys just a couple blocks from my house if you want nostalgia.
Posted by: siberia37

Re: Portland, OR - 18/12/2006 01:47

Quote:
Quote:
Portland is the only one where I could even imagine living

Why? I've always wondered how people up north can handle the cold. I mean, it gets to 15 degrees or so and all my joints cease to function. To say nothing of my nose. That being said, a normal day to me is ungodly oppressive heat to a friend of mine from Jersey, so I guess you just acclamate.


It doesn't really get that cold in the Northwest (at least on the Western side of the mountains). It's only been down to 15 twice since I've lived here. Most days the highs are in the 40s in the winter and the lowers are in the mid 30s. Not warm but not exactly bone chilling either.
Posted by: Neutrino

Re: Portland, OR - 18/12/2006 17:24

I grew up in Portland, Gresham actually. I live in Olympia, WA now. Portland is a great city. OMSI, the Portland Zoo, and the Japanese Gardens are great places. The Sandy river, Crown Point, and Mt. Hood are also very cool.
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Portland, OR - 03/01/2007 00:05

I may just take you up on that offer some time. I do have a good friend who moved to Seattle from LA who needs visiting. We both like Indian food too!
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Portland, OR - 03/01/2007 00:14

Quote:
Quote:
I need to buy an umbrella.

I've only been to Portland once, and after a week or so in the relentlessly nice weather of California, it was very relaxing to arrive in Portland in a slightly chilly drizzle.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to that rain, too. Rain is what makes things green, and I'm sick of the brown and gray (if it's not parched, it's paved) that is Los Angeles.

Oddly enough, while packing the moving truck in LA, it rained, but the entire drive up to Portland, and the unloading too, had perfect sunny skies.

Quote:
I think of all the places I've enjoyed visiting in the US (Austin TX, bay area, New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York, Honolulu), Portland is the only one where I could even imagine living. (Well, maybe Philadelphia in second place.)

I haven't been to most of those places, except the bay area. But I'll add Kansas City, MO, San Antonio, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Portland felt like home even while I was just being driven around looking for an apartment to live in. I haven't been there more than 4 days total, yet.
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Portland, OR - 03/01/2007 00:18

Quote:
The one weather thing that really puts me off is drizzle. I hate that state between rain and not-rain. Is that what the rain in the Pacific Northwest is like all the time, or just the time you happened to be there?

Nah... it can rain pretty hard, there. They had some huge storms about three weeks ago (the week before I drove the moving truck up there -- sans Empeg, I might add), which caused flooding and massive power outtages.
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Portland, OR - 03/01/2007 00:21

Quote:
you've got one of the greatest bookstores in the U.S. Powell's Books.

I've already visited it, and have plans to go back often.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Portland, OR - 03/01/2007 06:56

I have a Seattle friend who recently made the three hour drive to Portland just to eat at a Long John Silvers. He also went to Powells just because he didn't want to look completely silly for taking the trip. Everyone understands a Powell's run, but few can understand a Long John Silvers run. (I confess I don't.)
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Portland, OR - 03/01/2007 16:16

Ha! I wouldn't walk across the street to go to a LJS. :P