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LIVING HISTORY? IT WORKS FOR ME

Living history is what you see when people put on costumes and churn butter. At least that’s what comes to mind for most people. It’s a farm, a museum, a town. History is one thing; living it another. Which one is right for you? I have the right answer:

OREGON HISTORICAL BUSINESS

The Oregon Historical Society holds a special place in my heart. I took a temporary job there as a museum guard, a six month assignment to watch over an exhibit called Soft Gold. Six months turned into twenty-odd years before I signed off. It was a dream job from guard, to exhibit worker, to curatorial […]

DREAM CATCHER HOLDS TIGHT

Hang on to the good stuff as long as you can Picture your dream catcher self at a SoCal party with your wife’s high school friends. It’s all good in a Santa Monica apartment complex, except for the pet. Not a kitty, not a puppy, not a dream catcher, but a huge freaking snake.

BEST ADVICE FROM UNEXPECTED SOURCES

The best advice is words of wisdom from a trusted wise man, or wise woman. If that’s what you’re looking for, keep looking. You’ll find it, or give up trying. This is a post for just such quitters. Quitters who figured it out on their own.

OREGON MEMBER RINGS THE CHRISTMAS BELLS

This Oregon member left the state to look around. Twice. And I found out why I like it here better than there. This is how I explain it to my kids:

BROADWAY MURAL AT JEFFERSON IS FINE. HERE’S WHY:

The Broadway Mural is in the rearview mirror of every car heading south. If you saw this in the rearview mirror heading south on Broadway, what would you do? Make a right turn on Jefferson, buddy, and park the car. If you’re an out-of-towner in Portland and cruising up Broadway on the way out, this […]

TWITTER TALK DONE RIGHT

Twitter talk quoted: replying to @DavidGillaspie Museums are shit places to gain an understanding of history because colonizers build and fund them. T. Roosevelt is famous for that “Only good Indian is a dead Indian” quote, but apparently not famous enough. You are an old white man with a colonizer perspective. Some nerve. Me: Hey […]

BEARD LIFE: WHY ADDING OREGON HISTORY TO THE STORY MATTERS

In the middle of every February it’s always the same: Oregon’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, and a celebration of beard life all at the same time. This year I brought some extra beard life to the chocolate and the lemon birthday cake. They both wore well.

PORTLAND PICTURE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

The Portland picture shows up after you forget about the beach, the river, the mountain. People show up to see the city sparkle and shine like the pictures they’ve seen in tourist magazines for fine living in the great Northwest, Portland pictures that seem to say, “Join us in reverence of our beautiful discovery.” Portland […]

PORTLAND PULSE = CRYSTAL BALLROOM + GERDING THEATER + OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

  In one week Portland showed itself on a Sunday night, Tuesday night, and Wednesday afternoon. The show included the Crystal Ballroom on SW 14th and Burnside, Gerding Theater on NW 11th, and Oregon Historical Society on SW Park.   From Dan Auerbach, to Astoria Part 2, to Oregon’s birthday party, Portland lifted the curtain […]