Springtime cherry blossoms

This gorgeous tree stands across the street, diagonally, from our kitchen window.

Whoa! What's that?

Seen from the 18 on W. Burnside, on the way home from work, Friday, April 10, 2009.


The bus is stopped at the Fred Meyer corner. Often the bus driver calls out, "Freddie's," to let folks know we're there--that's a neat nickname. Can you see the sticker in the lower left corner of the pickup truck's back window? It's my favorite sticker--the outline of Oregon with a green heart in the center.


Here's what I first saw through the 18's windshield. You can understand why I sort of squeaked, "Whoa! What's that?" Right?


One of these days maybe I'll get to see the side of that vehicle. I think it qualifies in many ways as an art car.

Bosco and Milligan, the foresight behind Portland's Architectural Heritage Center

Sorry that I've cut off part of the caption, but I felt it necessary to try to make the photo larger than the other size. Here's the caption: Jerry Bosco and Ben Milligan with some of their artifacts, 1986. Photo courtesy of The Oregonian.

Mr. Bosco was Marsha's ceramics teacher in high school. She remembers him fondly and is very thankful for his awakening in her a deeply felt appreciation for Portland's architecture, both that which still exits and that which is gone.


Almost each piece in the photo is on display underneath it.

Recently the AHC honored Bosco and Milligan with a show highlighting their wide-ranging efforts. Marsha and I viewed it on the day that we attended the lecture on architect Joseph Jacobberger.

My favorite artifact on display, the Ladd's Block Wolf Head ... from the Victorian Gothic building at SW 1st and Columbia, built in 1881. It is galvanized metal. Donated by Christopher Boyd


Here's some background info from the AHC Web site:
"History of the Bosco-Milligan Foundation & the Architectural Heritage Center
For more than a decade, the Bosco-Milligan Foundation’s strong, ongoing commitment to preserving our regional architectural heritage has been based on the belief that vintage buildings and traditional neighborhoods are essential to the vitality and identity of our communities. Established in Portland, Oregon in1987, the Bosco-Milligan Foundation is one of Oregon’s most active non-profit historic preservation organizations. Our founders knew that when one historic building is lost, a piece of our history is gone forever.

The Architectural Heritage Center began as a vision of two remarkable men, Jerry Bosco and Ben Milligan, and is their legacy to historic preservation in Portland and the Northwest. Alarmed by the tragic destruction of historic buildings throughout the region, Bosco and Milligan salvaged countless architectural pieces which would otherwise have been lost to the wrecking ball. From the 1950s – 1980s, they collected a truly awe-inspiring treasure trove of historic stained glass windows, building hardware, doors, light fixtures and shades, tiles, mantles, cast iron, and countless other historic building elements. The National Park Service documents that the Bosco-Milligan Foundation's collections are the largest in the West and among the five largest in the United States. Our collections distinguish us from other historic preservation organizations in the western U.S.

Prior to their passing, Jerry Bosco and Ben Milligan established the Bosco-Milligan Foundation to fulfill their vision of a place where their collections could be used in education and training programs. Our vision of renovating the historic West's Block Building - constructed in 1883 at 701 SE Grand Avenue in Portland’s Central eastside - to house the Architectural Heritage Center was completed with the Center’s opening in 2005. The Center includes two exhibition galleries, two classrooms, workshop space, a library, collections storage spaces and the Foundation's offices. Our public historic preservation programming has increased four-fold at our “home base” and we have served the needs of more than 40,000 people, beginning in 1992. With continued progress on the professional inventory and documentation of the collections, public access will be expanded beyond the rotating exhibits in our galleries. The Architectural Heritage Center is a significant historic preservation education facility for the Portland region and plays an important role in celebrating and advocating for the architectural heritage of our city and region.

Meeting a Vital Community Need
The Portland area's rich diversity of vintage buildings defines the character of our community, and how it looks and feels both to long-time residents and newcomers alike. Our local history is irrevocably tied to these buildings, which stand as physical testaments to the hopes, dreams and talents of those who came before us. This is our architectural heritage - the built environment - which is vital to the fabric of our neighborhoods and community identity.

Growth and development pressures, deterioration, and unsuitable alterations threaten our building heritage throughout the region. The problem is compounded when people are unaware of knowledgeable craftspeople and lack knowledge of good preservation practices that need to be followed to take care for our historic buildings. With the appropriate resources and training, people go on to practice quality building preservation and restoration.

At the Architectural Heritage Center, we provide people with these resources throughout the year: teaching architectural traditions, styles, materials and building techniques, offering hands-on training in restoration, and ongoing outreach programs to the general public. We work to proactively promote a greater understanding and appreciation of preserving our building heritage.

Our programs and exhibits forge the link between people and places, between buildings of the past and the living communities of today. The Architectural Heritage Center – the physical facility and the resources within it – provides a unique and dynamic learning environment for people today and for generations to come."

Model of the West's Block Building that houses the AHC.


701 SE Grand Ave.(Grand & Alder)
Description, intended for those who might want to rent any of the space.
The Architectural Heritage Center is a beautiful venue to host a unique event for business colleagues,family and friends! Owned and operated by the non-profit Bosco-Milligan Foundation, the AHC is a resource center and showcase for historic preservation. Located in the authentically renovated West's Block Building (1883), it is the oldest surviving commercial building in Portland's central eastside Grand Avenue Historic District. With two exhibit galleries, two large classrooms for meetings or parties, and a private conference room, the Center provides a special experience for your guests. All rentals include access to the galleries, which feature exhibitions that change quarterly. We are happy to work with each client individually to meet your event needs and budget. Combining a sense of history with all the modern amenties, we hope you'll consider the AHC for your next event.

Academy Theater--Dine Out for the Architectural Heritage Center

A few weeks ago Marsha and I had a blast, eating Flying Pie pizza and drinking a beer (Marsha) and a glass of wine (me), plus some Raisinettes at the Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark Street. We decided to go see "Milk," which turned out to be a brilliant decision--what a splendid movie and acting effort by Sean Penn. So, we had a great time and part of the money we spent on our food and drink went to the Architectural Heritage Center.

Here's a photo of the concession stand.


And the popcorn maker. Somehow, I still don't understand why, I didn't buy any popcorn!


This was our second time to "Dine Out for the AHC." The first was back on Mama's birthday, Jan. 23, 2007, at Sckavone's Restaurant, 4100 SE Division. From the AHC Web site: This renovated neighborhood landmark retains much of the historical charm of the pharmacy, with original tile floor, antique fountain back bar, and 1950s style counter. They offer “classic American and comfort food” for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sckavone's will donate 50% of the proceeds to the AHC. Owner Jon Finley is the grandson of pharmacist Nick Sckavone who operated his Ever-Ready Drugstore here from 1934 to 1975.

Marsha grew up going to Sckavone's when it was the drugstore!

Here's some info on the Academy from their Web site:
Originally launched in 1948, the Academy Theater was a popular Montavilla destination until its closure in the 1970s. Over the following years, it fell into disrepair, but a full-scale renovation has recently been completed, including careful restoration of the glittering rounded lobby with its soaring, metallic two-story dome. Great attention was paid to every detail of the project. Using vintage photos from the original opening night, even the theater's signature marquee has been recreated to imbue the building with authentic 1940s charm.

Look, it's the original water fountain from when the theater opened April 30, 1948!



Sorry about the glare on the plaque that details the water fountain. I had to use the flash to get a decent shot.

Still another sign of spring

Portland firefighters clean up the Portland Firefighters Park. I took these photos Monday on the way home from work while riding the 18 bus. The small, triangular-shaped park is located on West Burnside and SW 18th as well as a little spur that might be SW 19th--I guess. I'll have to look sometime or other. The cherry tree has been beautiful.







Portland Firefighters Park (1927) is a memorial for David Campbell, Fire Chief 1893-1911, and other Portland courageous firefighters who died in the line of duty. The memorial is constructed of Caen stone, a light colored limestone imported from France. It was designed by Paul Cret of Philadelphia with Earnest F. Tucker of Portland. The bronze relief was sculpted by University of Oregon Artist Avard Fairbanks. (I don't show this part in the photo--I was on the bus taking them, so I couldn't get a good shot of it.)

The park surrounding the memorial was created in 1963 and 1964 by the Portland Chamber of Commerce with the assistance from a number of civic-minded businesses, the local labor unions, and the Oregon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Here you see the brick gazebo that surrounds the fire bell known as The Messenger. Bronze and silver, it weighs 4200 pounds. Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 built the gazebo as a charitable project. (More about the bell at some point when I can get a better photo and read the historical marker.)

Another sign of spring

Outside my window at work, for the first year, I'm seeing crows in the sweet gum trees. This one in particular found a twig to grab with its beak. Surely it must be building a nest somewhere.

The film on the window made the photos not a clear as they'd have been otherwise, but the film on the window helped me get these photos--the crow didn't get startled and fly away.

Could I look this graceful while holding something in my mouth, balanced three stories up from the sidewalk? No way!


Here's the first one I took. It appears the crow has peeled the outer layer of bark from the twig, there on both sides of the beak.




The crow amazed me, standing there holding the twig, sort of looking around, then turning.


Then it moved a bit to the left.


Still moving, it went closer to the center of the tree.


And then it bent over and put the twig beneath on of its feet!


See? There it is, being held with the crow's right foot!


I couldn't believe it. The crow took the twig back into is beak!






It worked hard to get where it wanted to go, twig in mouth, feathers spread for balance. What tenacity!


Here's the last photo in the series. I think the crow looks jubilant.

March Madness, Revisited

I couldn't resist this one for Monday's Final Four game day photo! It's the latest creative Funny Bone window, on SW Washington between SW 6th and Broadway.

Spring Blossom

Taken on the morning walk to the bus stop, last Monday.

Last Tuesday's supper, cooked by me and enjoyed by both of us

We had leftovers, hooray! I steamed the broccoli and sauteed the asparagus and squash. We warmed up the slice of ham. That's grated Sole di Sardegna sheep's milk cheese on the plate, waiting for the asparagus. My fork is on a slice of buttered wheat bread. Mama doesn't like asparagus, but she tried it again since I'd grated the cheese. She didn't like it much better. Oh, well, that means more for me!

Bowling at Grand Central with friends from work and my family.

I didn't get any action shots--too busy bowling, eating and talking when we went after work last Thursday!

Mama came to watch. She's wearing a Mississippi State Basketball sweatshirt that Teresa from work found at lunch when she went to the nearby Goodwill Super Store! The SEC stands for Southeastern Conference.

No one could believe it that Teresa found that brand new, never-been-worn-but-Mama-washed-it-anyway, sweatshirt right after the Bulldogs were here in Portland, playing basketball! By the way, I had a blast at the free practice session. I just put my finger on the button with the camera set on Sport and took pictures! I've got so many that I haven't even had time to look at all of them!

I digress. Back to bowling buddies from work. Mama and Sarah. Oops! It's blurry. Me and the CoolPix made a mess of the focus here. Sorry.


Marsha and Teresa.


Sharon and Marsha.


Mama and Lamont.


Kailey and Leland. I blurred it again! Sorry.


Here's not-very-good photo I took of Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge, on SE Morrison, back in September. I took it from the car, stopped in traffic.


I'm going back sometime to get a photo of the sign at night. But we probably will bowl somewhere else next time. Variety is the spice of life!

A vivid surprise on the sidewalk

I'm walking down the sidewalk on the way to catch the bus Monday morning when I notice this streak of color on the sidewalk. Oh, photo opportunity! Click.

Walk a few steps closer. Click. That's a three-story house the camellia there on the right of the photo. It's been made into apartments, three I think with the digging out of the basement during 2008 which made the third one.

One of the beautiful blooms.

And another one. Don't the leaves look sad, though? Our street is a busy one, 24/7. The traffic volume plus the still-present gravel/rocks put down during the snows in December make for a fine gray dust. You can see that on the leaves, sticking no doubt on one of our recent damp days.

Eggs, compliments of Sarah's Girls