My buddy Geno works at Peterson’s, and caught this deer-in-the-headlights photo of the Google Street View car.

So, have you Google-Viewed your house yet? Ours was snapped on a day when we were legally parked, the sun was shining, NO sightings of Brother-in-law with a wife beater and beer in the front yard. (Not his style anyway.)

Another OurPDX author (who shall remain nameless for now) was not so lucky. She (or he, but just so I can keep my story straight we’ll call her a she) is typically a precision parallel parker; the Googlemobile caught her parked cattywampus and backward. Whenever she gets high and mighty about her parking skills, I just mutter “Google View.” HAW ha!

You can read of Geno’s snapshot safari adventure catching the Google Mobile here.

Smiles everyone! Smiles!

Related Posts

• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• January 29, 2009 -- Geno paints a house (1)
• September 24, 2008 -- Round-Up at the Wild West End (1)
• August 13, 2008 -- Peterson’s Can Stop Packing… (1)

Anyone here old enough to remember the Dr Hook song, The Cover of the Rolling Stone? Before the high-tech age, getting your picture on the cover made you a counter-culture hero. (Or hated villain.) Nowadays fame, or infamy, is everywhere. Just look what’s hanging out at the local newsstands! Probably not the magazine you’d want to send home to Ma, unless her last name is Barker.

I wrote a couple weeks back about the downtown crime sweeps. Police and merchants are working together to displace the crack-slanging crowd, and results are noticeable. While the shifty behavior continues, it’s toned way down and nowhere near as prevalent as in recent months. Want to see what some of your neighbors have been up to? Check out the new magazine, Busted!

Culled from the Multnomah County public information website, mugshots and names have been compiled and put into print form. The arrests are mainly for drug and prostitution, but other low to mid-level offenders are represented as well. Copies of the paper are available at Peterson’s for $1, and more info is available at their website.

Ma Barker would be so proud!

Related Posts

• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• November 1, 2009 -- The Boogeyman Redux (0)
• October 13, 2009 -- Portland Pedal Power (2)
• July 1, 2009 -- What’s In A Name? (4)
• June 22, 2009 -- Parking Garage Nostalgia (2)

Downtown on a Friday night isn’t what it used to be.

I took a stroll through downtown last night, shocked at how quiet it was. I’m down there at all hours, used to hustle and bustle. During the weekday it’s office people; at night it’s the same people unwinding amongst the students and other colorful types that inhabit the area. Weekends bring a party crowd. (Woohoo!) There wasn’t much of anything going on last night.

It was a bit early for the Greek Cusina to be hopping, if indeed they do hop anymore. Repeated clashes with the city have left the Papas clan stinging from the OLCC restrictions and fire inspections. Kitty-corner across the street, the City Nightclub has shuttered. Numerous attempts to comply with the OLCC’s demands were unsatisfactory.

The Rialto was doing a hopping business, although it seems weird to have everyone standing outside smoking. It’s like running a gauntlet sometimes. Are smokers the new social pariahs?

Another happenin’ place was Voodoo Donuts. I’ve recently become addicted to Memphis Mafia fritters. The first time I had these, they were made with apple fritters instead of banana fritters. After getting irritated at the counter girl becasue she never had them in stock, she confessed that my first exposure, the apple variety, was an accident. (Talk about first impressions and happy accidents!) I think they should offer both. Maybe they could call the apple variety the Johnny Potseed, or a Humboldt County Cowpie. I’m casting a spell for this, as soon as I get ahold of my witch cousin.

Perhaps the biggest sign of recession is the rapidly increasing disappearance of longtime mainstays downtown. I ran into Doug Peterson of Peterson’s Newsstands the other day. After doing battle with the city to stay open, he now has to face the looming recession and everyone’s lack of spending money, so has decided to close two of his stores during the late hours. The city-mandated security had been crippling his bottom line, and lack of business has forced him to do this. (The hotels nearby are being hit hard as well, part of the Peterson problem. Peterson’s is a destination-spot for the hotel crowd; unfortunately the hotels are low-occupancy of late.) He’ll be open until the bars close, but finding cigarettes and candy at 3 AM just became a little harder.

Not to be kept completely down, Mr Peterson is keeping his 4th Avenue store open 24/7. It’s that hole-in-the-wall between the Greek Cusina and Doner Kebab. If Voodoo Donuts doesn’t have a Memphis Mafia or MayOral Cock & Balls, you can always load up on Little Debbie’s for a tenth of the price!

I sure hope the hot weather comes soon, and brings the happy wanderers back downtown. All those nice wide sidewalks with nobody on them is a depressing site indeed. Come on downtown and have some fun, people! Let’s keep Portland the City of Roses, not the City of Tumbleweeds.

Related Posts

• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• December 28, 2009 -- It’s All Greek To Me (8)
• November 1, 2009 -- The Boogeyman Redux (0)
• October 13, 2009 -- Portland Pedal Power (2)
• July 1, 2009 -- What’s In A Name? (4)

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time in Portland’s West End, so I thought I’d do a brief update on some of the things I’ve been writing about. As I started writing, I noticed a barnyard theme forming, so I’m going to roll with it.

I still haven’t seen the naked biker chick. Although, two weeks after I wrote about it, the Oregonian picked up on the story. Call me Scoop Jackson. (Thanks again to my anonymous photographer. I won’t tell the wife, I promise!) Roll on, Gen, roll on!

According to Willamette Week, Ray’s Ragtime was visited by Cindy Williams of Laverne and Shirley fame. (Did you know Squiggy used to be part owner of the Portland Beavers? And Lenny is a founding member of Spinal Tap? “Big bottom, big bottom”…) In unrelated musical news, Kid Rock really hates waiting in traffic, so he got a police escort to St. Helens. I always assumed it would be an escort out of town. “Cowboy…”

After reading about toys and grown-ups, I paid a visit to Finnegan’s and bought a rubber chicken. Why are rubber chickens so damned funny? I have a thing for chickens… I also bought a pair of $1.50 squirt guns; defense weapons for the wild critters roaming my house.

I spent a little time with Geno, getting the latest dirt on Peterson’s. The store is staying, at least until they tear the structure down to build another one just like it. Geno has taken the SavePetersons.com site and converted it to PetersonsPortland.com. (Thie site is in transition as I write this, so if you can’t get on, give it a few hours and try again.) He’s put up customer profiles, product info and other assorted funsies. Now that the conflict with city hall has been resolved, the gang at Peterson’s can get back to hawking snacks, smokes and magazines. The MAX platform was empty at 9 PM, I swear I saw a tumbleweed roll by. The sketchiest looking guy had a ferret in his pocket, but he was allowed to shop, as long as the ferret stayed in the pocket. He was followed by the amiable security guard, and the whole thing was caught on closed-circuit TV. Eventually, Geno wants to have the security cameras linked online, so anyone can look into the store whenever they like.

The Darwin Award winner who fell off the third floor of the parking garage? Still dead. The bright spot who went swimming at midnight wearing Doc Marten’s? Also still dead.

One of the reasons I was at the West End? I had to meet a certain girl to make a cell phone payment. (Some guys pay child support. I pay technical support.) My reward? I got moo cards! WTF are moo cards, you ask? (I didn’t know either, until I got one.) Little tiny business cards with the website and related URLs. I’m official! I’m in the club! I swear, Ringo Starr’s (All I got to do is) Act Naturally started playing in my head. What a great earworm to carry through the evening.

As I handed her the cash, I said, “You’re just gonna spend it all on beer, aren’t you?”

“Probably. Got a problem with that?” Feisty, isn’t she?

“Why, yes I do, actually. But you go have fun anyway!”

So thass what’s happening in the wild west end. Y’all come on down and say howdy, ya hear!

I’ll be moseying along now…

Related Posts

• April 24, 2009 -- Googley-Eyed (1)
• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• August 13, 2008 -- Peterson’s Can Stop Packing… (1)
• August 9, 2008 -- OurPDX shared bookmarks for August 9th (0)

At least for now.

The city council (minus Tom Potter and Randy Leonard) just voted to allow Peterson’s on Morrison to remain open on a month-to-month lease. Following this as it develops has been a lesson in civics. I watched the fun unfold on Comcast Channel 30, Portland’s own cable access channel. So did a friend ‘in the loop’, who e-mailed:

“Not to sound negative but – It’s a complete set up. This way they can save face, and still evict him later than sooner, plus negate the tort claim. Notice how Fish asked that specifically? You’re withdrawing the Tort Claim Right? That’s what it all boiled down to right there.”

Will Peterson’s be a safer place to shop? It’s not scary inside the stores, but now there will be a security guard to make sure it stays that way. That cost will average out to two and a half employees per year. Mr. Peterson has been working with a scaled back crew since this has been going on, so fewer employees aren’t an option. We all know what that means.

Prices are going up!

So when you complain to the clerk that packs of American Spirits cost more there than they do in southeast, remember where you are: the downtown tourist-destination nightclub district. Pretend you are in New York or San Francisco, where cigarettes are $9 a pack. It’ll seem cheaper that way.

Oh, and behave yourself. Part of the good-neighbor agreement requires employees to report any illegal activity observed inside or around their store. Live and Let Live will be replaced by Not On My Watch.

A public THANK YOU from Doug Peterson and all his employees for keeping his flagship store open. Thanks to Dan Saltzman for taking the time to study the facts before disrupting so many lives. Extra special kudos to Matt Davis for dogging this issue. (That trashy mag you write for is getting more respectable every day, dare I say!)

And a side note for Geno Heleen, Peterson’s employee and all-around fungi, I mean fun guy. He’s put a lot of sweat and angst into saving his job, and kept it amusing in the process. Good job, dude!

See you at the porno rack…

Related Posts

• July 16, 2008 -- Peterson’s evicted by unanimous vote (7)
• April 24, 2009 -- Googley-Eyed (1)
• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• September 24, 2008 -- Round-Up at the Wild West End (1)

Here’s what we’ve found as we’ve traveled the local PDX web (complete with our comments) for August 9th

• Peterson’s saved (Jack Bog’s Blog) – Thanks to Bojack, The Merc & others for keeping the spotlight on this story until justice was done!
• The Bite of Oregon: Day 1 Photo Gallery – The Lunch Lady over at Stumptown Lunch went to The Bite both Friday and Saturday for me (can't squeeze it in my own agenda) – check out the photos & commentary, or follow her on Twitter: stumptownlunch.
• Pie-Off!: And yes, the pies will be judged – Hmmm…that means it's time for me to suck up to the intelligent, discerning, all-knowing judges, no? Yes!

Note: you can share bookmarks back to our site if you have a Mag.nolia account – just join our group and then send relevant links to that group when you mark a site, article, or post!

Related Posts

• August 30, 2008 -- Pie-Off: Our Eyewitness Report (14)
• August 28, 2008 -- My Winning Pie-Off Strategy (11)
• July 29, 2008 -- Mmmm…pie! (3)
• August 10, 2009 -- Only 6 More Days ‘Til Pie Nirvana! (4)
• June 4, 2009 -- OurPDX shared links for June 4th (0)

Doug Peterson appeared in front of the Gang of Five (aka city council) this morning, once again appealing the eviction of his Morrison store.

Things have changed at the Morrison store. Recent visits to the site have been uneventful. He has hired overnight armed security. The platform is always bustling, though it is slower than usual thanks to the Steel Bridge closure. Signs point to security cameras; you can go inside and watch yourself on TV! (And even have it broadcast on Newschannel 8 if you misbehave enough…) But please don’t misbehave. Mr. Peterson is having a tough enough time.

He pointed out this morning that thanks to construction disruptions, neighbors Bush Garden and The Real Mother Goose are getting free rent for a year. (Yet his business, which is successful by all accounts, is being shuttered. ???) He has requested the same treatment, and has offered to put what would have been rent money into more personnel and security measures for his stores. The kicker? He will donate 30% of that rent money to the Oregon Food Bank. He’s challenged Bush Garden and TRMG to do the same.

Perhaps the most tell-tale action this morning? Mayor-elect Sam Adams was not present for the testimony of Mr. Peterson and his employees, taking his place immediately after the last speaker. As soon as he took his seat, they made a proclamation regarding the Portland Development Commission, thanking them for 50 years of community service. Hmm… Why does he hate Peterson’s? I guess 23 years in the community doesn’t count for much.

Kudos to Dan Saltzman for asking pointed questions and having an open mind. All Mr. Peterson wants is the opportunity to continue operating his successful business, and be there when the building is remodeled. He has the backing of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, and a huge outpouring of community support.

Give the man a break already…

Related Posts

• April 24, 2009 -- Googley-Eyed (1)
• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• September 24, 2008 -- Round-Up at the Wild West End (1)
• August 13, 2008 -- Peterson’s Can Stop Packing… (1)

Here’s what we’ve found as we’ve traveled the local PDX web (complete with our comments) for July 29th

• Beervana: Vote Best in Show at OBF – I didn't go this year – but *you* did and will vote for me, won't you?
• Reason Magazine – What’s the Matter With Chicago? – Portland falls close to the bottom of 35 cities ranked on their Nanny-ness? It's one of the 'best cities for exercising personal freedom?' Seattle ranks up near the top of the Nanny-doms? Hmmm…
• Portland Mercury | Finally: City Says The Portland Business Alliance Behind Peterson’s Eviction – Good to know that Dan Saltzman's staff is finally asking pointed questions here – all the more reason to keep the pressure on the city commissioners, people!

Note: you can share bookmarks back to our site if you have a Mag.nolia account – just join our group and then send relevant links to that group when you mark a site, article, or post!

Related Posts

• April 24, 2009 -- Googley-Eyed (1)
• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• September 24, 2008 -- Round-Up at the Wild West End (1)
• August 13, 2008 -- Peterson’s Can Stop Packing… (1)

Doug Peterson needs to vacate his flagship Morrison Street store by August 15, 2008 after all. KGW’s got the videotape here, but I can’t find any other written coverage elsewhere. From what I’ve heard, though:

• While Mayor Potter was quick to speak up on camera afterwards, the rest of the commissioners were mostly silent during the discussion/vote.
• However, there’s speculation that our soon-to-be-Mayor has played an, um, active role behind the scenes aiding and abetting the anti-Peterson’s cause

Based on what I’m reading (and yes, I freely admit I’m biased in favor of Doug Peterson and his employees), does anyone (save for the city commissioners themselves) think that Peterson got a fair shake? Anyone?

Or was the deck stacked against them a long, long time ago?

Related Posts

• August 13, 2008 -- Peterson’s Can Stop Packing… (1)
• April 24, 2009 -- Googley-Eyed (1)
• March 25, 2009 -- NOT the cover of Rolling Stone… (1)
• February 28, 2009 -- Downtown Needs a Booster Shot (7)
• September 24, 2008 -- Round-Up at the Wild West End (1)

music_man

Originally uploaded by Our PDX photos

My first post here was about Peterson’s Newsstand/Convenience Store. The Morrison store is facing eviction, but the store isn’t going down without a fight.

Doug Peterson, along with friends of the store and large group of employees, will be appearing before city council Wednesday July 9th, at 9:30 AM to address the situation. Prior to that, they will be holding a rally at Terry Shrunk Plaza, across from city hall, at 8:30 AM. While The Real Mother Goose and Bush Gardens are receiving subsidized rent for the next year, Peterson’s is being forced out because they are perceived by certain people to attract an undesirable element.

The last time I walked past the Morrison store, about two weeks ago, I took note of the area. It was about 5:30 PM, and commuters were bustling to and fro. Theo, a local street musician, was covering Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say I Love You. A Wackenhut security guard was watching the action. We spoke to her for a bit, and she showed us a spot around the corner from Peterson’s, where a group of street kids had been panhandling. They’d left the signs behind after scoring the money they needed.

Quite simply, it isn’t Peterson’s attracting this crowd. Had they been in front of the store, security or police would have been called. The ne’er-do-wells know this, and stay out of the sightlines of the cashiers. There’s a Peterson’s on 4th Avenue, not on a MAX line. Loitering is rare, and panhandling is strongly discouraged. The sidewalk is used for its intended purpose, not a social scene.

Both stores sell the same products and have the same employees. Could it be something to do with, oh, I don’t know, the city’s inability to deal with the transient problem downtown?

Doug Peterson will be on the Lars Larson show, KXL 750 AM, at 11:15 AM Tuesday.

Related Posts

• December 7, 2009 -- Portland Police: The Problem is Perception (3)
• November 17, 2009 -- Drive to Downtown PDX? Not Any More… (15)
• September 28, 2009 -- A Green Line Redux (2)
• September 1, 2009 -- Irritation to the MAX (1)
• August 24, 2009 -- Sleek, Sexy… and Inconvenient (12)