how do you spell 'SOLEY'?*

at last, i feel compelled to write about something besides music. i've addressed this habit before; my unwillingness to discuss anything related to 'work.' at this point, i'm considering this my version of 'not bringing work home with me.' more proof that i'm becoming more like my dad more and more every day. but i digress ...

two days ago {august first} was a special day for myself and a few of my co-workers. we took it upon ourselves to jump on the light rail {the 'max' if you're cool} and rode it to portland's hollywood district. hollywood is a strange part of town, not because it features a strange amalgamate of chinese, italianate, mid-century modern, and hilariously mediocre 21st century buildings similar to southern california's Hollywood, but mainly because of it's perplexing inability to reach it's full potential as a powerful, self-sustaining district. where cafes and restaurants should be wrought with activity, there are copy centers with oversized parking lots. where low to mid-rise residences should be proudly bordering Sandy Boulevard, predictable, reliable small-box-chains like starbucks and whole foods shops are posting up.

sandy boulevard cuts diagonally through the east side, much like new york city's broadway. as a result, wonderful triangular blocks are created. intuitively, these are attractive parcels, and seem conducive for an active street life and remarkable urban design. portland has a strange ability to create these incredible visual corridors, on both the west and east side. in terms of sandy's uniqueness, the views into the street from the peripheral, residential areas are abundant and dynamic. on the flip-side, these angles do create a significant amount of confusion in terms of driving, but i'm of the opinion this is a simple function of unfamiliarity and the construction occuring on the street itself.

in the end, we collectively postulated that much like Portland's thriving districts {the pearl, hawthorne, the 23rd/21st street corridors, st. johns, etc.} convincing the general public, as well as property owners and developers, that while investing in the enrichment of Sandy Boulevard is a a difficult and risky task, the upside is limitless. every new 'district' faces that obstacle. my boy nolan and i stand by entirely different standpoints about portland's rising {literally} south waterfront. it's a textbook example of a seemingly asinine development move, but is also one that will one day be considered 'necessary' and a 'visionary' move. i disagreed with him at first, but i think my argument is slowly crumbling. nolan did get his undergrad at colgate and a masters from penn in urban design. i went to a state school in eastern kansas.

the point is, this was an evening of ideals. everyone present still believes in all that is good and positive about really providing for the public. it is our responsibility in every sense of the word to be thoughtful, considerate, and calculated about what we do.

strangely enough, this 'walking analysis' was thrilling. we looked at hidden opportunities, missed opportunities, little mistakes, and outright criminal developer moves. in other words, i felt fucking alive. lucky, i work with a group of people who are so terribly in love with their work that their energy is undeniably infectious and addictive.

++++++++

i leave in fifteen minutes for eugene to see the completed project i have been so consumed by over the past several months. a reflection piece via blogger? probably not. probably. who knows. right now, i'm too focused on my trip home next wednesday, preceded by a trip to crater lake and the official opening of the treatment center and celebratory tailgate party {i'm not kidding} with the oregon community. in howard slusher's words, "if you didn't like oregon before this project, you sure as hell will hate us now."

++++++++

okay, i obviously can't help myself ...

albums currently rotating >

The National > Boxer.
Archie Bronson Outfit > Derdang Derdang.
White Rabbits > Fort Nightly.
Lucky Soul > The Great Unwanted.
The Fiery Furnaces > Bitter Tea.
Fugazi > Red Medicine.
Girl Talk > Night Ripper. **
What Made Milwaukee Famous > Trying Never to Catch Up. ***
Wilco > A.M.
Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton > Knives Don't Have Your Back. ****
Handsome Furs > Plague Park.
Clipse > Hell Hath no Fury. **

* question overheard by a co-worker {principal} while typing this. yes. i'm at work.
** again?? yes!! again.
*** this album is average, but i keep on listening.
**** this album is LEGIT.