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STREET FIGHTING MAN, OR PUSH OVER

Breaking up a street fight doesn’t take a street fighting man. My reward for breaking up a street fight was a punch in the face. Street fighting is a personal thing, apparently one you shouldn’t interfere with. Except when it’s in your neighborhood. And it’s a man beating a woman. Then it gets personal. City […]

A PERSONAL BEST FROM PORTLAND’S CINEMA 21

  From Personal Best on the screen to personal best on the street.   NW Portland had a few more movie theaters when I moved there. One more. The Esquire on 23rd closed in 1987. Cinema 21 is the last silver screen standing. That’s where I saw Eraser Head with a date who said the […]

A LITERARY PANEL FOR WILLAMETTE WRITERS

Three literary journal editors address Willamette Writers in Portland. Nothing cramps a writer’s brain more than one question: What is the secret to getting published in a literary journal? If you’re looking for the gold standard of publication, literary journals shine bright. Get a piece of writing published there and you join the literary crowd. […]

THE PORTLAND RIVIERA ON NORTH MISSISSIPPI

Is there such a thing as the Portland Riviera? When you hear the words French Riviera what comes to mind? Movie stars? Warm, sandy, beaches? France? How about the Spanish Riviera? It’s in the same neighborhood, same water, as the French Riviera, but not as famous. These two Rivieras don’t have signs designated at ‘clothing […]

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS NBA ALL STAR IN THE HOUSE

One NBA All Star is too many for the Portland Trail Blazers? No one is listed, but Damian Lillard in the Portland Trail Blazers NBA All Star. He wasn’t voted in, or chosen as a reserve, and it won’t matter. The Blazers are exceeding expectations, and Lillard leads the way. In a season ripe for […]

STEPH YOUR GAME UP

Anything is possible when you Steph Your Game Up. Step back a moment and consider the history of the long range bomber in basketball. Baby boomers had Pistol Pete Maravich in his baggy gray socks launching forty footers. They went in often enough for Pete to avoid the tag of, “afraid of the paint,” which […]

YOUNG EAGLES FLYING HIGH

Baby boomer life has a soundtrack. We’ve heard it all from Elvis, The Beatles, Big Hair rock, punk, grunge, and Adele. Then there’s The Eagles. Not quite country, not quite rock, but able to nail either style with what? Country Rock. They weren’t the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, or Poco. You didn’t need some insider vibe […]

IN PRAISE OF CANAPRENEURS AND THE OTHER SPOT

Canapreneurs manage risk with cannabis business. The Other Spot was part of it. Who remembers their favorite bar? Was it on a college campus? In your neighborhood? Maybe you’re still looking. Here’s one blogger’s list: J.C. Dobbs, South Street, Philadelphia. Long and narrow with a band playing in the back. It was the ‘go to’ […]

NEW PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZER TROPHY

The Portland Trail Blazer Trophy fits one of the youngest teams in the NBA? The Blazers are bad, but not that bad. You know what that means? No, they’re not a team like the Philadelphia 76ers or New Orleans Pelicans. Blazer fans will take a season of losses to take the next step forward with […]

THE BEST BOB HOPE CHRISTMAS SHOW

When servicemen spent time away from loved ones, a Bob Hope Christmas Show helped. Christmas 1974, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Part of joining the ranks of the new all-volunteer Army meant meeting a new bunch of guys. They weren’t sports guys, or college guys. They weren’t career guys, or upwardly mobile guys. Instead […]