We did not simply travel to Portland, Oregon we moved there. In fact we decided to move there without having actually visited. I was completely okay with this because as a Navy officer I had done that many times. However, Matthew wanted to make at least one trip before executing. So we went for a few days the first week of July, 2000. Of course we had sold our home, submitted our resignations and lit the fires on the bridges. It was love at first sight.
We packed up two moving trucks and a car and made our way across country the first week of August, 2000. We had found a mid rise 50′s building in the city two blocks from Lydia’s school. We became a one car family and walked most places. Once I was settled in one of the first places I went in search of was the Multnomah County Library Central location in the heart of the city about ten blocks away. When I first walked in I was amazed by the beauty of the building. I obtained my card and entered the large general fiction room where there were reference librarians, computers, and a mini Starbucks. Yep, Portland had their cups in a row. Sadly, the Starbucks was removed a couple of years later.
The holdings are large and it is a county-wide system that allows for hold requests so I could find my books online , place a hold, and walk down to get them and linger in the beautiful building.
Walking into the library is stunning because the first thing you see is a magnificent stair.
- 68,000 square feet packed with books
- we buy 3,000 used books over the counter every day
- approximately 3,000 people walk in and buy something every day
- another 3,000 people just browse and drink coffee
- our parking garage provides space for 40 cars (ok, so there are bigger parking garages)
- we stock 122 major subject areas and more than 3,500 subsections
- you’ll find more than 1,000,000 volumes on our shelves
- approximately 80,000 book lovers browse the City’s shelves every day, in Portland and via the Internet. So is our mother ship the world’s largest bookstore? Heck, it may be bigger than your whole town.
I can’t wait to visit Portland! What is taking me so long already!!!!!
I’ve known about Powells and it is the 1st item on my To Do list for Portland. I’ve dealt with them online, selling them books and then turning around and buying more with credit from selling to them!
Speaking of selling, you’re totally selling me on Portland.
That is just a perfect building to house books! And that staircase – I don’t think I could resist doing a few Ginger Rogers dance moves! (Unfortunately, I don’t think I’d win any prizes…)
Did the comment I just wrote get thru? Must have punched the wrong button. Always did have trouble with this old Smith-Corona portable of mine. Guess I need to upgrade to a desk model.
Thanks for the Oregon post.
I made some muttery noises about boycotting the corp. media coverage of the election, but why rehash that. We've joined Dems Abroad and signed up for our absentee ballot. What more to do.
Will have some good stuff soon on G&L on great news reporting out of New Orleans these days.
Cheers! Grill (and Lune)
My son and his family live in Portland. I go up there every 3 months! I love Portland so much.
If you need any restaurant recommendations, check out http://www.portlandfood.org
Thanks for sharing info about Portland and the Multnomah County Library Central. It certainly looks like a paradise. I think it was Borges who said that paradise was like an infinite library
You have a lot going on in your life!! I thought you lived in the Ozarks! Hope you can get back to painting soon! Your blogs are inspiring and the quotes you’ve collected!
We do live in the Ozarks…I am including Portland in my Travels because it is such a wonderful place and worthy of being a travel destination for anyone . It is my third favorite city after Venice and Paris.
I will do more painting in the fall. I have some jewelry commissions to work on and I am now publishing a community online magazine…and kniting and some other things going on.
Thanks for your interest and that you continue coming by.
O.