On a Saturday in August I retraced the steps I once took when I lived, for many years, in Northwest Portland.  When the streetcar crossed the street where I used to live,  I strained my eyes to find my old building.  I wanted to get off,  walk into my apartment, and stay for a while again, as in a time machine that takes you back to a long lost love.  It would be nice to retrace my steps again, capture with my camera all the places that I knew so intimately.

PORTLAND FARMER’S MARKET

The Saturday morning that I spent with my family at the Portland Farmer’s Market, ( www.portlandfarmersmarket.org) in the South Park Blocks of Portland, Oregon couldn’t have been more pleasant: bright skies and balmy temperatures.  This is a year round market of local farmers and artisan foods.  On a nice summer day you can expect thousands to show up. it’s one huge block party!

There’s room enough for the crowds in this large park, canopied by magnificent trees and lined on both sides with old churches, theaters, museums, apartments and a university.  There is a green grass carpet in the middle to sit back and listen to the music, watch a local chef give a demo or let children participate in cooking classes.  The area surrounding Portland is a cornucopia and everything you are offered (peaches and berries in season when I was there) might be the best you have ever had or ever will have.  I had to remind my grandchildren that the toothpicks were for samples and not a full meal.

A favorite in Portland, summer dahlias:

PORTLAND FOOD CARTS

We came full circle  where the market ends on its north side and there is a kiosk for the streetcar.  Since we came in to Portland  on the Max train and could use the same tickets for the streetcar, we all hopped on the next street car and headed on its north journey to 23rd Avenue, passing the Portland Art Museum and on  to the next stop: the full block  of Food Carts

POWELL’S BOOKSTORE

Next stop was Powell’s Bookstore.  I’ve always loved to see the windows that surround the building,  windows lined with post board after post board of book covers.  Powell’s covers one full city block and  is four stories high.

PORTLAND CENTER STAGE

We passed the Theater.  This was actually at one time the First Regiment Armory Annex,  built in 1891.   Also takes up a full city block, but more importantly it is now home to Portland Center Stage.

THE PEARL DISTRICT

Jamison Square Park, in the heart of the Pearl Distrisct.  Great for sticking your feet in water on a hot day.  The children in this area and actually from other parts of the city do.

There’s  a two block board walk that will take you from Jamison Square to Tanner Square Park. There the streetcar turns West and heads toward Nob Hill and Northwest Portland.

TANNER SQUARE PARK

Portland has Forest Park, covering 8 miles of forest through the hills that look down on the city of Portland and the Willamette River.  But it also has Tanner Square Park, covering the area of a city block. The park is “a modern day experiment in sustainable design and management” intended to mimic the wetlands that were once there.   The park has caused controversy and its design has not always been loved.  For me, this is a space where peace settles over me when I am fortunate enough to visit.

A wall made of reclaimed train tracks that were donated and  infused with glass.  Also look for the basalt blocks that are the paths now.  They were originally used as ballasts on ships traveling the Columbia River and later cobbled the streets of Portland.

NW 23rd  AVENUE

We got off at the last stop on 23rd Avenue before the streetcar turned around and continued its journey back to the center of town and beyond.   23rd Avenue is great to walk up and down the full length, to eat and shop.  I had been looking forward to trying some unusual flavors of ice cream at Salt and Straw but by this time it was late afternoon.  My family and I were all a little slower and a little less animated.  Time to go home.  But what a great bunch we were.  Lots of curiosity and no complaints.  Real troopers all the way.