When we last spoke, I was telling you about how I cruise the bookshelves at Powell's City of Books and then head down the street to the Central Library to borrow stuff I like instead of purchasing it. It's a great system...saves me a ton of money obviously as well as the shelf space in my room.
I love the Central Library - Portland's got a terrific library system; it seems you can't walk through a neighborhood here in town without running into one of the sixteen libraries that make up the whole. Here's a fun fact for you: Multnomah County Library is the oldest library system west of the Mississippi, first established in 1864. The Central Library, located right downtown, was built in 1913 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It underwent a thorough renovation about 60 years ago but still retains that historic, solid feel to it. They don't tell you how many books they have at this one building, but they will tell you there are nearly 900 TONS of them. You can spend some time here, and it's a lot less chaotic than Powells.
I get most of my books from the library, but I also use it to get pretty much all my DVD rentals. They keep their collection up to date, mostly getting new DVD's the same time the video store gets them. You may have to wait a few weeks in the queue for the more popular stuff (new series episodes of TV shows for example) - but they're free. I started borrowing DVD's from the library when I once rented a movie at my local video store and they told me, "Hey, you just rented your 100th movie! I did the math. I figure I save myself about $300-400 a year. It adds up!
So...after burning all kinds of calories at Powells and the library, I decided a Sunday treat was in order. That, for me, is sushi.
When I was in Europe, on top of missing cheeseburgers, I really missed sushi. Now that I'm not making the kind of scratch I was hauling in when I was working at Sisters, I don't get to have it very often...so this was definitely a treat. I like to go to Sushiland ( I really like to go to Yoko's...but they are way out of my budget), where I can get treats off the sushi train for a dollar apiece. I get to spend $10 and no more - I could easily eat $20 worth, so it's good I set myself a little limit.
Fully fueled I started heading back home, back up through the Park Blocks...
The North and South Park blocks are eleven blocks of established green land (established back in the 1850's - even then we were a green city!). Each block features a statue or other artwork - I shoulda shown you the cool elephant down at Burnside and 8th...but that'll have to be another time. Here you see Lincoln, and if you kinda look aways behind him...that's Teddy Roosevelt.
Worked my way down through Pioneer Courthouse Square...here's one of the most photographed statues in Portland. Commonly known as "The Umbrella Man," the actual name of this piece is "Allow Me." You see people taking their pictures with it all the time...and it generally gets adorned with scarves and hats throughout the year.
And made my way back across the bridge and through the neighborhoods towards home.
When I got home, my housemate Joan was there and we decided to make a bunch of juice with all the fruit that Gwen left us.
Gwennie gifts us with lots of stuff from her job at New Seasons - mostly produce that they can't sell anymore. Joan has a juicer -so we made some killer pear/apple/ginger juice. And a carrot juice - my personal fave. Here's me....enjoying juice. Yum!
Kitten was sitting outside, wondering what all the commotion was about. But mostly, being a perfect cat...didn't really care all that much.
Kona...being a perfect dog, cared a great deal.
And that...was my Sunday in a nutshell. Thanks for coming along!
2 comments:
Years ago, the Amtrak used to run Rail Sales all Winter. I'd get a ticket on the Empire Builder, the train that runs across the Northern USA from Chicago to Portland or Seattle. I say OR because the train splits at Spokane and a new locomotive takes part of the train to Portland and the other goes to Seattle. I got on in St. Paul, MN and did it one time for $51.00!
I have taken both and gone to either place depending on my planned itinerary. I'm going to check out the rail sales and see if there is a cheap ticket. I'd love to spend a laid back Sunday walking around Portland with you. We could visit and talk about the Walk, laugh and maybe even cry a little, probably cry for sure.
Or, the train comes to Minneapolis/St. Paul and there are Spados' you haven't seen in a while.
Thanks for sharing the images of that Sunday. I too love Powells, and really appreciate our local library up here on the other side of the river. The one in Camas is particularly beautiful, with lots of comfy reading nooks and a big DVD collection.
My daughter is a sushi fiend. Sometime we should have a ladies' sushi luncheon together and you can share more about the Walk and other experiences you've had.
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