As far as useful Oregon bridges go this one gets a reluctant 4 stars . Certainly none based on its…read moreaesthetic appeal. This bridge is purely one of our workhorse bridges and nothing more. What it lacks in style is evident in its performance. It's only the second bridge besides the Interstate Bridge, otherwise known as the I-5 Bridge to connect Portland and Vancouver, WA. Daily traffic across the bridge is estimated at 170,000 in 2019. Obviously with Covid that number dropped. With this current talk of replacing the Interstate Bridge, bear this in mind. Planning for the 205 Bridge began in 1964. Construction began in 1977, and was put together in segments and it first opened December 15, 1982, and is now known as Veterans Memorial Freeway and also the Glenn L. Jackson Bridge. This bridge is rarely backed up the way the I-5 bridge because it has 8 lanes, 4 heading in either direction. But if the time table from this bridge build is any indication of things to come, we might have to wait another 15-20 years before we see a new I-5 bridge. 2021 - Review #43

The Earl Blumenauer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge isn't just another crossing in a city spoiled…read morewith bridges it's one I've got a little skin in. Back in the construction days, my daughter and I spent some time out here getting our hands dirty helping with demo, moving pieces, laying down the early bones of what now stands as a clean, modern span over Interstate 84. Not every day you get to point at a structure and say, "Yeah... I helped put that there." That part sticks with you. I came back recently doing a bit of scouting thinking ahead to future tours. Portland's got this rhythm to it: a few blocks, a bridge, a bite to eat, repeat. This one fits right into that loop like it was always meant to be there. It's practical, sure but it's also easy on the eyes. From a distance, the design is sharp, almost effortless. Midway across, you get this open slice of the city just enough skyline, just enough space. It's quieter than the main bridges, though the hum of traffic below reminds you where you are. Still, there's something about it... feels like a spot you could pause. Sit a minute. Talk a little longer than you planned. Maybe even make it a regular stop with someone who matters. Springtime? Perfect. Summer, I imagine it'll bake a bit, but that's part of the deal. It's not the main attraction and that's exactly why it works. Sentimental? Yeah, a little. Practical? Definitely. Worth the detour? Without question.

A great new pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the i84 highway. Separates pedestrians and cyclists…read morewhich is nice. Some good infra leading to the bridge too. Beautiful bridge.

The Yelp address is someone's house, but the actual city just a few miles up the road is super fun…read moreto wander. I love how they've taken the name and made it into just a unique part about the city. We drove around to the Christmas tree farms and tried to go to the lavender farm (no dice). But would be a fun pit stop if able. All in all, driving around the town was fun!

I don't live in Oregon City, but my brother and sister-in-law both enjoy living there, but my…read morereview is about the times I have visited and observed over the years. My first memories revolve on driving through to visit family members who lived in Canby. The only way over on our side was either to drive out McLaughlin Boulevard or go over the US 43 Bridge after driving through Lake Oswego and West Linn. There was no I-205 bridge at the time, so the trip always seemed very long and boring. Oregon City seemed to me to be all about papermills, old houses, the river, falls, a derelict downtown area, and a big dump (a large portion of Oregon City's outskirts were a garbage dump that stunk to high heaven before the portion was sealed over for the construction of the I-205 freeway and bridge). Another memory is from about fourth grade when we studied Oregon history. We took a couple of days worth of field trips to see the John McLaughlin house (he was head of the Hudson Bay Company that played an extremely crucial role in Oregon economic history), the paper mills, the falls, the elevator downtown, and several points outside town important in Oregon history. I'm the child of an Oregon history buff, so all of that was familiar territory and very enjoyed since I already had a good grasp of all that had gone on. Since the construction of the I-205 bridge in the 1970s, Oregon City has undergone massive change. The downtown core has become quite charming, and further up the hill there are a lot of antique stores (lots of fun shopping those). The high school is up there as well, and the older homes have undergone lots of renovation. Rents and housing pricing used to be some of the least expensive in the tri-county area, but Oregon City, like so many other outlying communities, have been discovered and deemed desirable, and thus prices are coming ever close to the Portland housing market. I think it's a very lovely community with lots of charm and history. I was sorry to see that a company wanting to develop the old papermill property near the falls into a "water park" (i.e. kayaking and canoeing amongst other activities) lost their bid to do so, but it would have been a very popular attraction I believe, but maybe something a bit smaller in scope could be found to bolster up the Oregon City economic picture over the years.

Don't try and come to Oregon CIty and hope that the city will try and work with new businesses and…read moreencourage business growth! They WON'T do that. They make it difficult for any business to do business or growth within the community. Now the downtown businesses are working with a gentleman named Lloyd Purdy (Nice man!) to try and get some help with the old bridge closing for 2 years. This city is messed up....I have had many dealings with them for many years and it just gets worse.....

If you walk around Portland and really pay attention to the art there does seem to be a theme…read more There is a surprisingly large number of statues of small either male or ambiguous figures. This is just one more example (though in a different part of town as most are downtown.) This one is comes complete with a story telling of a fake legend. It is ok though nothing special. Still it is always nice to have some art to look at at a mass transit stop and this one does that job well enough.

A very very creative piece. And I bet you if you are smart, and have the eyes to see and the ears…read moreto hear, there is some pretty cool hidden stuff being expressed.

I think it's time to go back in time for a milestone review…read more A long time ago,160,00 years ago, humans, as we know, emerged in an evolutionary epic from Africa. They traveled on foot, and later by boat, crossing the Bering, to our Northwest area about 50,000-15,000 years ago. That is 1,500 to 5,000 generations of regional knowledge! That 'here' would later be named the United States of America, Canada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia; all of our mountains, rivers, cities, neighborhoods and streets. The original people were named by new arrivers from Europe, who spread from Africa on their own Descartian epic. Those 'Native Americans', 'Indians', and 'First Peoples' in Canada, lived in balance with the land. One of their most beautiful traditions was the Potlatch. What we call religion, economics and politics were one. Food was sacred. Berries, roots, game and salmon were considered sacred foods: First Foods. Gathering and eating them were a religious ceremony. They are considered sacred foods today, and they are a religious ceremony. They will continue to be for generations. The Columbia Intertribal Fish Commission is their voice. I was fortunate to meet a leader from the Commission and know individuals who founded it. I know a little about the rivers and the fish. But I have to say I did not understand until I heard that leader speak just recently. And I have to say it brought tears. Salmon, an anadromous fish, are fish that are born on small streams in shaded gravel. They swim downstream over as much as 1200 miles to the ocean. There they grow. At the end of their life cycle, about three years, they return up those miles to their specific birthplace, spawn, laying eggs, and pass away to the great fish heaven. I have been very thankful to experience the fish swimming upstream to mate on a small river in the Washington Cascades off the Snohomish that flows undammed. It is intense survival of the fittest. It's real. And beautiful. Can't really describe it. Salmon only live in colder climates. They have been fished out in the Atlantic Oceans, Scotland, Norway, Eastern Canada. Almost all Atlantic salmon your buy in a store are farmed. Salmon are surviving in Alaska, the Russian peninsula. But we do not take care, they will be driven to extinction here. In 1932, President Franklin Roosevelt was elected. He created a hydroelectric dam building program on the Columbia River. His intent was to create jobs (did) and provide cheap, inexpensive, sustainable power (did). Fish, passing dams, swimming up to mate, and down, to grow, to the ocean, have suffered. The number of fish swimming up the Columbia River and tributaries to mate has declined since from sixteen million a year to around one million. Generally Indian treaties have been tragic. But a few treaty words in the Northwest promising a few, named, of the many tribes, the opportunity to catch salmon in their usual and customary places has saved those fish, so far, from extinction. (Just a note, most native people in British Columbia, the First Nations, are unrecognized and rights under law are lacking.) Do I advocate dam removal on the Columbia and Snake? No! But I would favor universal fish passage where spawning habitats can be restored, including high dams. Especially restoring fish passage into Canada. And I would advocate maximum habitat restoration. We can afford it. The Columbia Intertribal Fish Commission is the advocate for a balanced approach for fish in our region. Under their advocacy and interpreting treaties, native fishers can fish the Columbia. They sell fish locally and I always recommend buying from them. They are a repository of that knowledge, and a great source for Northwest school teachers or speakers for your event. The Intertribal Fish Commission collects the deep knowledge of thousands of generations of fish in our rivers. They are a voice for that knowledge for us new arrivers of only 6 generations. If you eat fish, especially salmon, they are a great resource.

As a frequent visitor to the Kingdom and a resident of the Portland metro area, I have felt blessed…read moreto have a consulate so conveniently located in downtown Portland. For a 60 day tourist visa, I typically wait less than 15 minutes. No waiting until the following day, like in Singapore or Paris. Mary is always prompt and friendly. Because the office is small, they were forced to discontinue visa issuances circa March, 2020. My only concern is whether they can resume issuing visas later in the year when Thailand starts to reopen to foreign tourists. I sure hope so.

Am I the first one to review this place?! Kind of surprised there aren't more reviews already?!…read moreDrove down to Portland from Seattle to get a Non-Immigrant B Visa for work in Thailand. This place is easy to find, especially with the identifiable location marker. Street parking is plentiful around the area since it is in the quiet downtown area. If not, there are plenty of paid parking garages also. Came on a weekday right after they opened at 9:00am, was the only one there. Literally handed the woman my paperwork, asked to used the bathroom, came back 3 minutes later, waited in the room for like 2 more minutes and she was done with my visa! FAST! In and out in 5 minutes! It certainly helps if you have the application pre-filled and all paperwork ready, it speed things up. Along with arriving early as possible. Their website is extremely useful for directions, information, etc. Too bad their operating hours are extremely limited (M-Th 9:00-11:30am). But if you can work around it, there shouldn't be any problems. I had a good experience with them!

You're leaving Beaverton, headed West on Baseline Rd, when all the sudden, not only does Baseline…read moredisappear only to be replaced by "Main St.", but also out of nowhere you see a random mini version of the St. Louis Gateway Arch holding up a Max-line overpass! Sadly, unlike the Gateway Arch, you cannot journey to the top in any regular, legal fashion, though if you have some good climbing/bouldering skills and guts of steel, try climbing it some time (make sure you have medically-trained friends present and a decent video camera on hand to record it for YouTube posterity :-) I actually kind of like the unique design and A+ for the nighttime illumination, though admittedly I've only seen pictures (never in person) because I have absolutely no reason to be in that part of the burbs after sundown...except if I went to Syun Izakaya :-)

Five stars for the style! this is a cool bridge for Max. Its kind of out of the way but day and…read morenight it has great style. Going over it on the Max i didn't realize how cool it was. But one day I happened upon it driving and I really appreciated the design.