Laughlin Nevada

In hopes of avoiding the crazy crowds (and prices) of Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas, I thought it might be fun to check out Laughlin, Nevada. Afterall, when all you are looking for is air-conditioned large spaces with flashy lights and all-you-can-eat buffets, one Nevada "resort" town is as good as any other, right? As it turns out, Laughlin was a great place to pass a day (although any more than that and you would be pushing it). There was a pleasant path along the river that passed in and out of the casinos (which is a good thing because if you tried to walk the whole thing (a whopping half mile), you would prolly die of heat stroke). The highlight for us was probably the Colorado Belle (pictured above). It was a river boat themed casino that did a great job of giving you the impression of being on a river boat. I even felt on the edge of seasickness a few times. To complete our tour of Laughlin, we did a few geocaches on both sides of river*. We also had lunch in a great little riverside park while watching the scads of ski-dooers ski-doo (on their ski-doos). Yep, if you are looking for a cheap relaxing mini-vacation, give Laughlin a try. If you have any class or are looking for something fancy where your stories will hold your friends' and family's attention, you might want to keep looking. Case in point.

Wednesday September 5 2007

File under: travel

Toggle Comments (3)

comment?

on Wed 05th Sep, 2007 09:47 pm PDT Emily said: And I'm up to three states where I've geocached! Hey, I'm new. One cache in Arizona took the record for the highest temperature for my geocaching adventures-it was about 113. Yikes! ************************ on Fri 07th Sep, 2007 03:25 pm PDT Saxtor said: So let me get this straight. You left Atrain to go to Las Vegas and eat a Paradise Burger, came BACK to Bham to sleep in a tree house and then returned to Nevada to ride the desert riverboat. Man, ScootScoot must be racking up the miles... ************************ on Fri 07th Sep, 2007 03:29 pm PDT cardboard said: WOW! wren you coulda made a quick stop in a region where barley is grown and picked us up some locally made beer and brought it back to your local foods feast. That wouldnt be a violation of the rules would it? Damn good reason to travel to Las Vegas if you ask me. ************************

---

Cheeseburger in Paradise

I've been a Jimmy Buffett fan of varying degrees for the past 10 years or so. His music has saved me from completely losing my sanity one summer when I was stuck behind a copy machine 40 hours a week, transported me away from my gloomy cubicle in the middle of a Washington winter (via radio margaritaville), and inspired real life travels to tropical places. So when it came to looking for a place to eat on the Las Vegas strip recently, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to check out the Margaritaville Cafe. At the outset, I was somewhat skeptical of it being overly cliche and having the marketing shoved down our throats, but in the end, I was pleasantly surprised. While the music was a little loud, it was good*. There were guys on stilts walking around making balloon hats, which gave everything a kind of party atmosphere. Then, once an hour, a bikini clad lady emerged from a volcano, slid down a water slide, and ended in an extremely oversized margarita glass. It was quite a spectacle. Besides the carnival atmosphere, the food was really good. I couldn't pass up ordering the cheeseburger in paradise. While it wasn't the best cheeseburger I've ever had, it was pretty dang good. Emily had a salad with onion and cucumber relish, bbq sauce, candied pecans, and fried chicken. While it sounded a little out there, it was actually really good. Yep, good music, good food, and good atmosphere = a dang good evening.

Monday September 3 2007

File under: travel, food

Toggle Comments (5)

comment?

on Mon 03rd Sep, 2007 02:10 pm PDT MOM said: I imagine that "good company" figures heavily into the equation as well--besides the parrots, I mean, 'cause I'm figuring that there were a few of them hanging out too. ************************ on Mon 03rd Sep, 2007 02:32 pm PDT Saxtor said: So how was the margarita? ************************ on Tue 04th Sep, 2007 07:25 am PDT Chris said: Does anyone else find it strange that Saxtor continues to hyperlink his name to his site? ************************ on Tue 04th Sep, 2007 03:19 pm PDT Saxtor said: Well you see, when BdW's hosting is being funky (which seems to be often lately), my blog is still the best non-kid or -indiecrap one around! And if we only wait a couple more months, the current post's topic will be current again! ************************ on Fri 07th Sep, 2007 08:07 pm PDT Joe Wilbur said: I never went there, nor will i don't think. i'm what you would call NOT a jimmy buffet fan...i honestly don't see what the big deal about him is. ************************

---

Travel Essentials

1. A pen: This is the single most indispensable thing for me when I travel. You never know when you'll need to fill out border declaration forms, copy down phone numbers, schedules, or addresses, or give your number to a sexy flight attendant*. 2. A crossword puzzle: Not only does a crossword work great for killing those minutes spent waiting for your bus to come, your food to come, or a late friend to arrive, but it also functions as a great notepad for phone numbers, addresses, schedules, todos, travel observations, and more. I always try to carry single sided crosswords when I travel just for this reason. Looking over the notes taken on the back of them when you return from your trip is always a hoot. (Oh, and I guess Sudorkus could work in a pinch.) 3. Reading material: For the waits that are longer than a few minutes, having a book/magazine/travel guide handy can greatly help pass the time. The one thing that is guaranteed* in travel is that you will always have down time. Paperbacks works great and can often be exchanged with other travelers you meet along the way. 4. Camera: I try to keep my camera handy while traveling, but not to the point of being one of those guys*. You never know when a good shot will present itself. I take pictures not only to remember my trip later, but also to share my travels with my friends and family (via this blog of course. Who actually looks at printed pictures anymore?). 5. Ear plugs: Those $.50 yellow thingies you squish up and jam in your ears can be a lifesaver for flights with crying babies, shared hostel rooms with snorers, or time when you just want to block everything out. I rarely go anywhere with a pair of these handy. 6. Spare change: Having a dollar or two of spare change can save lots of headaches when traveling. Many public transportation systems require exact change (or at least don't give change), vending machines are often the only choice for a quick meal before hopping on a bus, some fountains simply require having a wishing penny thrown in, and for the 11 people left in the world without a cell phone*, public pay phones rarely accept dollar bills. 7. Fork and spoon: While these don't lend themselves well to air travel*, they are great to have around when exploring new places. Often times when you are trying to travel on the cheap, the grocery store provides meals. Eating yogurt with a spoon is much easier than eating it with an expired driver's license. (Using your own utensils is also a great way to avoid sending more plastic to the land fill.)

Wednesday August 29 2007

File under: travel, misc

Toggle Comments (8)

comment?

on Thu 30th Aug, 2007 12:04 am PDT Joe said: a well stocked ipod has always treated me right. both music and videos...and music videos...but yea that other stuff is cool too. ************************ on Thu 30th Aug, 2007 04:52 am PDT Nesbitt said: I find imodium AD to be indispensable. Nothing's worse than...well you get the point. ************************ on Thu 30th Aug, 2007 07:36 am PDT cardboard said: dont forget frozen mahi mahi patties, in a pinch you can put them in the sun for a few minutes and enjoy with fine helping of vegtables (ketchup). ************************ on Thu 30th Aug, 2007 07:40 am PDT Sean said: I would add a good multipurpose tool, TP, and 30 feet of 550 cord. It's about the thickness of yard, but can hold 550 pounds. Make a clothes line, tie stuff up, tie a glowstick to the end and twirl it around in the dark to signal where to land, you name it! ************************ on Fri 31st Aug, 2007 03:35 pm PDT Emily said: Great list. Now all I have to do is take your already compiled list when I plan for travel. Of course I would have to add about 50 more things: Clara's binkie, a drink, a cup, extra clothes for her, a Backyardigans DVD, another binkie..... ************************ on Mon 03rd Sep, 2007 04:20 am PDT I said: they told me i would have to get a cell phone. i said "nihongo ga (i don't understand japanese)" and now i don't have to get one. also, i object to the bulk of a fork and spoon; i recommend the snowpeak titanium spork. ************************ on Tue 04th Sep, 2007 05:13 pm PDT Wren said: Case in point: I was so glad to have my ear plugs handy as I was dragged to karaoke night in Laughlin, NV last night. ************************ on Fri 28th Dec, 2007 01:05 pm PST Wren said: Another addition to the list: good shoes appropriate for the situation. (Tennis shoes on the beach just doesn´t cut it.) ************************

---

Kwik-E-Mart

As most of you already know, the Simpsons Movie opened this past weekend. And as most of you might suspect, I went and saw it on opening night. I'm giving it a thumbs up! Good plot, good inclusion of the characters we have come to know and love*, and lots of good jokes. All in all, it was just like paying $10 to watch a good, long episode without commercials. Anyway, I enjoyed it muchly. Since the Simpsons Movie is kind of a big deal to me, I tried to think of ways to make it special. I immediately* discounted the idea of dressing up like Prof. Frink. Camping out for tickets was also out of the question due to the 105 degree heat. Luckily, one of the 12 or so 7-11s that have been converted to a Kwik-E-Marts is in the Las Vegas area. (I've heard confirmed reports of others in Seattle (thanks, Siri) and Washington D.C. (thanks, Izak) Bingo. Most notable at this particular Kwik-E-Mart was the number of other slack-jawed gawkers roaming around with cameras. Good thing there was lots to take pictures of. Life-sized replicas of many characters were placed around the store, although the Jasper from the freezer had been stolen. There were Simpsons-themed foods and drink available as well. The Buzz Cola was sold out, but there were Squishees a-plenty. I enjoyed a nice sprinkled donut. There were also little subtleties around that made it quite fun, like dashing uniforms for the employees and other quirks. On my way out, I struck up a conversation with the cashier* who told me how well the promotion is working for 7-11. He said that in the Las Vegas area alone, they made over $30,000 in two weeks off the sprinkled donuts alone. Not bad at all.

Thursday August 2 2007

File under: travel, movies

Toggle Comments (4)

comment?

on Fri 03rd Aug, 2007 03:18 am PDT Horge said: My mom went and bought a bunch of stuff at the one in Dallas (I guess 7-Eleven might have its headquarters in DFW). ************************ on Sat 04th Aug, 2007 07:25 pm PDT Joe said: Still haven't seen it. but that's cool. ************************ on Sun 05th Aug, 2007 07:50 pm PDT mandy said: u r a tard ;) ************************ on Mon 05th Jan, 2009 10:55 am PST colin said: Glad to see you were able to go by and see it, I loved the story. ************************

---

110 in the Shade

A few nights ago, Emily and I went up Red Rocks Canyon to the Super Summer Theatre. The venue is gorgeous with the red rock cliffs surrounding a grassy lawn and professional stage. Everyone brings their blankets and chairs, along with picnic dinners, and enjoys an evening outdoors watching legitimate theater. Because it is a couple thousand feet higher than Vegas, the temperature is bearable, some might even say pleasant*. 110 in the Shade was the name of the play we saw, not a description of the weather where we were seeing it. And I guess I should call it a musical instead of a play. There was lots of singing. It immediately brought to mind that Simpsons episode about painting the wagon red. Hilarious. It also struck me as completely the opposite of what kind of experience one might expect to have in Vegas. Rather than high gloss, air-conditioned casino entertainment, it was more old-timey community-oriented fun. While the atmosphere was spectacular, the temperature was bearable, and Pei Wei hit the spot, we opted to beat the crowds and head out early before we found out if Lizzie hooked up with Sheriff File and if Starbuck made the rains come. I imagine it all worked out. All in all, it was an awesome evening.

Monday July 30 2007

File under: travel, misc

Toggle Comments (5)

comment?

on Mon 30th Jul, 2007 09:32 pm PDT Saxtor said: Super Summer Theater has a Super Terrible Website. However, PeiWei looks pretty good and cheap! Never heard of that place, I'll have to keep an eye out. ************************ on Tue 31st Jul, 2007 08:33 pm PDT Emilly said: Pei Wei is the best chain chinese food EVER! It's true. If there is one in your area people, go, you'll love it! I recommend the Blazing Noodles. ************************ on Tue 31st Jul, 2007 09:26 pm PDT Saxtor said: Hmmmmm, by the looks of the "Quick Look Menu," I see Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Korean and Chinese dishes. Looks pretty pan-Asian to me. ************************ on Tue 31st Jul, 2007 10:39 pm PDT cardboard said: heh blazing nooodles goodtimes ************************ on Sat 04th Aug, 2007 08:23 pm PDT Alyson said: I was GOING to comment on my favorite place in Vegas, EVER (Red Rock Canyon's Summer Theater), but then Emily said Blazing Noodles, and I have to interrupt this comment with a resounding, "OH MY GOSH I LOVE BLAZING NOODLES!" ************************

---

Bling Bling

Gambling with other people's money is good times, esp. when it forces you to try new extremely intimidating games. Chris, with his convoluted craps plan, was the big winner for the night (although we quickly deviated from his plan, but it worked out great). "Daddy needs a new graphing calculator" drew a few looks from the table attendents, but it was worth the extra 5%. His take...drum roll please...$33.50 (plus the initial $10). I'll take the appropriate action and finally utilize that donation box on IHJ. Taking second place on the winner list was Sarah who doubled her money on quarter slots (not to mention the free Bud Lite that Emily got from the appropriately*-dressed cocktail waitress). We found an old school machine with actual reels and an honest to goodness pull-arm and let the money roll in. Unfortunately, it wasn't old school enough to have the coins come tumbling out. We had to deal with a printed ticket instead. On the converse side of things, both Julie and Andrew walk away empty handed. Julie, since we couldn't find a $.25 slot machine with hearts on it, we put your dollar on a machine with dolphins (appropriate, eh?) but it went away just as quickly. Since we didn't conform to your specifications, however, you are off the hook on payback. Andrew, your bet gave us the least trouble because 17 seconds after it was placed, it was gone*. Because it was so easy, I will let you off the hook for paying me back if you agree to put it towards future debts accrued on the frisbee golf course. As for the only bet that requires research, synthesis, and understanding, we will have to wait until February to find out how Ryan did. It does give me a reason to follow football this year, though. Go Steelers!! All in all, a great night at the casino. The only downside is that Emily has now become afflicted with the "There's No Way I Can Lose at Craps" bug, which we all know will come back to haunt her. As for me, I think my own personal Gamblor* has been sated and Senior Tuesdays at the Northern Lights Casino will tide me over until my next Vegas Vacation.

Sunday July 29 2007

File under: travel, misc

Toggle Comments (6)

comment?

on Mon 30th Jul, 2007 05:32 am PDT Chris said: WOOHOOOO!!! Take that formal education and understanding of probability!! All you ever brought me was years of work and $50K in debt whereas dumb luck has once again fed me for a couple more days! ************************ on Mon 30th Jul, 2007 07:30 am PDT Sarah F said: AWESOME! Although I can't beleive the coins don't come rushing out... All those quarters would make you feel rich. I was feeling soo lucky this weekend- I just knew we'd win something. I'm glad Emily got a Bud out of it too! ************************ on Mon 30th Jul, 2007 08:38 am PDT Sweet Julie said: Dolphins! HOW cool is that! I thought hearts would be much easier to find in Vegas. Thanks for playing you guys! That was fun. ************************ on Mon 30th Jul, 2007 11:51 am PDT cardboard said: pure madness ************************ on Mon 30th Jul, 2007 04:18 pm PDT Andrew said: Dude. 00 sucks. ************************ on Mon 30th Jul, 2007 10:07 pm PDT Joe said: I see you didn't try mine...the easiest money there... ************************

---

Spot the Irony

Anyone? Anyone? Well, I got a good chuckle out of it, at least.

Saturday July 28 2007

File under: travel, pics

Toggle Comments (2)

comment?

on Sat 28th Jul, 2007 06:07 pm PDT Chris said: Hey, it's a well known fact that Vegas is very environmentally minded; if everyone died then no one could gamble. In fact, that entire sign is run by just one compact flourescent bulb! ************************ on Thu 02nd Aug, 2007 02:04 pm PDT mandy said: do as vegas says, not as she does ************************

---

Get Rich Quick (or Gambling By Proxy)

I once again find myself in the Las Vegas area. "Who goes to Las Vegas in July on purpose?", you ask. Good question. In its defense, the weather has been quite exciting with thunder storms, flash floods, and temperatures that have more or less stayed below the 100 degree mark. But enough pleasantries; let's get down to business. Last time I passed this way, I talked to a few people about my idea of gambling by proxy. This time, I want to make that dream a reality for us all. The concept is this: for all of you who aren't able to make it to casinos, whether because of time, geography, or overbearing spousal reasons, I offer you my time and location* so that together we might both become rich. The rules go like this. You name the amount, game, and bet (e.g. $10 on roulette 15) and I will go place it. I'm thinking the games that lend themselves to this would be roulette, craps, slots (please be as specific as you like with the type of machine), and blackjack (although you would have to accept my decisions*. If you lose, you pay me the amount lost. Kind of like if you were here, but without having to deal with the crowds, stress, and heat. If you win, we split the winnings 75/25 (yes, the bigger amount is for you*). The concept here is to allow anyone to be a part of the BdW experience, to participate in this adventure that I am on, to have a little innocent fun while on your government-mandated 15-minute coffee break at the office. The action and outcome will be documented here. And besides the excitement and fun this will create, you will be helping to support BdW (web hosting ain't free, ya know.) So get your bets in by Friday night and then leave the rest to me.

Wednesday July 25 2007

File under: travel, misc

Toggle Comments (21)

comment?

on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 09:50 pm PDT MOM said: Okay, so not being a Casino junkie, I need more direction here but I'm not willing to cast my bet in the presence of all these bloggy eyes. How do we, the faithful, let you, the bookie, know our $$ desires? ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 08:49 am PDT Condiment Sandwich said: 20 bux on a spring wedding to a blond with an intriguing laugh ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 08:52 am PDT Saxtor said: Good idea, Wren. But the colorblind shouldn't bet on red... ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 11:50 am PDT whuppin stick said: your take is way more than the casino's, which makes my odds a bit out of favor. ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 12:29 pm PDT Wren said: Condiment Sandwich, you're on! ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 05:44 pm PDT Sarah F said: Come on people!! This is our chance at the big bucks!! I’ve always wanted to go to Vegas and I’m so happy I can now live vicariously through you. I’d like to bet just $10 on the quarter slots and can you wear your luckiest clothes that you have? If you win, you can take someone out for a drink or desert on me too before you send me my cut. (good karma for next time) Thanks buddy! If we lose, I’ll send you cash so that Dragan doesn’t know about my “habit”. ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 06:23 pm PDT Ryan said: $10 on the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl. ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 06:52 pm PDT Andrew said: Alright. $10 on Black w/ $10 on the corner of 4,5,7,8. If you loose, send me a bill. If you win anything, take half and put it on Black. Put the other half in between 20/23. Take whatever you win from that and put it all on Red. Then walk away. ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 09:38 pm PDT MOM said: Wait a minute...Condiment Sandwich--are you the blond with the intriguing laugh and did you just propose to my son? ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 09:54 pm PDT Sweet Julie said: How about $1 in quarters in a quarter slot machine with Hearts on it?! ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 09:57 pm PDT Saxtor said: Off topic: Marg, congratulations on getting mentioned on one of my favorite blogs! ************************ on Thu 26th Jul, 2007 10:15 pm PDT MOM said: Saxtor,Thanks for the head's up. WOW, I'm famous! Someone actually uses my library! Who does this blog? I want to check and see if they have any overdue books. ************************ on Fri 27th Jul, 2007 05:19 am PDT Ryan said: make it $20, and the checks in the mail ************************ on Fri 27th Jul, 2007 07:24 am PDT MOM said: That comment about overdue books...I was just kidding, librarians aren't like that, really. ************************ on Fri 27th Jul, 2007 08:06 am PDT Saxtor said: I'm seeing $71 bux here. Chris, how'd that PayPal button work out on IHJ?! ************************ on Fri 27th Jul, 2007 11:28 am PDT Chris said: Being egocentric as I am, I've always wanted to be the craps shooter in the hopes that my roll would win some high roller a ton of cash and yell "Yee-ha!" and give me his cowboy hat for good luck. Unfortunately I'm in Ohio, so you're going to have to live the dream. I realize the instructions may be a bit long, but I figured half a paragraph shouldn't be too much for a guy who memorized pi out to over a hundred places just for fun! Alright, I want $10 on the Pass Line. If you crap out (2, 3, 12), walk away and put $10 on double zero at the roulette table. If it's 7 or 11 let it ride once, starting over with $20. If a point is set (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) then bet an additional (one-time) $10 High Horn Yo ($2 on 2, $2 on 3, $2 on 12 and $4 on 12). Ater you finish making your point or seven-out (your turn finishes) if you've got less than $20, bet it in whatever manner you feel is fun and let me know if we win; if you walk away with more than $20 though, then hold on to it so that I can put up a poll on IHJ to decide what my official high-roller nickname is going to be, I'm leaning towards "f(g)-Money", but I'm accepting suggestions. Let me know if you have PayPal (the button is for settling debts mostly Saxtor, I'm not expecting too many random contributions), otherwise I'll send the $20 to Anacortes. I can feel the anticipation already! ************************ on Fri 27th Jul, 2007 11:35 am PDT Chris said: I forgot to say, you can have an extra 5% of the winnings if you promise to say "Baby needs a new graphing calculator!" when you throw the dice the first time. ************************ on Fri 27th Jul, 2007 07:52 pm PDT Chris said: Man, I really need to read what I write. Hope it's not too late, but High Horn Yo puts the last $4 on 11, not 12; sorry. ************************ on Fri 27th Jul, 2007 11:18 pm PDT Joe said: well, i think it's a dumb idea but here's what you can do for me...you have to get your video camera ready tho or i'm not paying. put $20 down on the bar, order a jack and coke (and whatever you want). Pick up the jack and coke, breathe a sigh of desire, then pour it out on the carpet right in front of the bartender while saying, "one for my homies". then immediately grab your drink and take a drink, a single drink, if it's a shot then just a sip and say "and one for me." then...pour the rest out on the carpet and say, "another one for my homies, cuz they be good homies." do it just like this on video and another $20 is yours...i feel like i would win this way. ************************ on Thu 02nd Aug, 2007 02:03 pm PDT mandy said: i really like joe's idea. i'll give you $20 if you do this, but it doesn't have to be on video. you could do a slideshow instead with some sort of rap music in the background. another $20 if you dress up like flava flav ************************ on Sun 05th Aug, 2007 06:15 am PDT Sean said: I'll throw down $50 for you to do your little turn on the catwalk on ameture night at a strip club. ************************

---

Bike Portland!

Portland likes bikes. Or at least they recognize the value in accommodating and encouraging them. I've never seen a city that is as bike friendly as Portland is. There are bikes racks in front of most establishments, often overfilled. I even saw a neighborhood that blocked off a parallel parking spot and filled it with bike racks so the sidewalk wouldn't be clogged. In the space it takes to park one car, there was space for over a dozen bikes. There is space for bikes on the buses and the MAX (the light rail public transportation), also often filled. But what has impressed me most about the biking scene in Portland is the number and quality of bike routes. In my short time in Portland, I've probably ridden over 50 miles. The difference riding on designated bike routes makes is huge. Often these routes are on lesser traveled residential streets so you don't have to contend with traffic. When the routes do follow major roads, there is a lane set aside for you, painted and everything. Every time the route makes a turn, there are signs pointing the way and updating the distance (and estimated time) to the major landmarks. And for people not terribly familiar with the area, there is even a route planner. All the encouragement and accommodation seems to be working. You see bikers everywhere you go, ranging all the way from spandex clad aerodynamic racer types to little old ladies with their groceries. Seeing all these cyclists is so inspiring to me. Whether it is their intention or not, the positive environmental impact of pedaling across town instead of pedal-to-the-metalling across town is huge. I count my miles bicycling among my favorite experiences here in Portland. It kept me in shape, showed me the city, and saved the planet all at the same time. Yes, I agree with sentiment often heard around the city, on billboards, bumber stickers, and store windows: Bike Portland!

Sunday July 22 2007

File under: travel, transportation

Toggle Comments (6)

comment?

on Sun 22nd Jul, 2007 07:55 pm PDT Jule said: I once biked the Portland marathon on a single speed beach cruiser. Everyone else was running and I do believe they were a little jealous! Actually, I biked the side streets shouting encouragement to a running friend. And I agree, Bike Portland. ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 05:08 am PDT Chris said: Yeah, they've got some good routes here, but none of them go where I need to get to. I've biked to work pretty much every day for the last two years and I've got to say the main depressing thing I see is the lack of helmets. I just don't understand the mentality, unless you have the good fortune of running into a corner marshmellow outlet, pretty much anything you hit is taking you down. My favorite is this guy who said they were too expensive - as he was sitting on what had to be a $1,000 bike. I give up, I don't get people. ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 10:42 am PDT gretchen said: i'm with you chris. the no helmet thing kills me. another awesome pdx bike trick the kids like to play is the 10 p.m. bike ride with no helmet, no light, no hands! so frustrating. i don't want to name any names, but somehow some of our friends have fallen in with this crowd(ANDREW and PER!!)...very disappointing. ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 03:46 pm PDT per said: some oblivious little old lady opened her taxi cab door directly into my ring finger the other week. helmets make sense cuz that's where our precious grey matter resides, but man, I've had the need for gloves, and a harnessed dive n' roll, far more than the need for a brain bucket. screw helmets, car owners should be arrested and tried for raping the environment and destroying our cities. peace. ************************ on Tue 24th Jul, 2007 08:27 pm PDT Andrew said: seatbelts? seatbelts are for nerds lady! and this ain't no nerd taxi! ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 08:22 am PDT whuppin stick said: does this mean you aren't in anacortes and don't want to help me make a photo collage of the island today? ************************

---

Harry Potter Mania

One of the big goals for my time in Portland was to visit the oft extolled Powell's Book. For some, this isn't just a must see when you visit Portland, but reason enough to make the trip in the first place. I chose to combine my required literary pilgrimage with the circus I knew would be taking place around the release of the new Harry Potter book. Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined the spectacle that awaited me. The party was slated to start at 10pm with the books going on sale at 12:01am. I arrived at about 9:15 with the thought of grabbing a bite to eat and maybe finding myself a good used paperback before I gawked. From a block away, I could hear the festivities and see the commotion. The street was blocked off with t.v. vans with satellite dishes raised to the sky. There was a smoke machine and face painting tables. Then there was the line: hundreds of cape-clade, striped scarf wearing fans with their lawn chairs and coolers zigzagging and doubling back Disney-style to fully occupy the closed off street. Although I didn't ask, I'm sure many of them had been there all day. While I don't consider myself a fan*, I've read a few of the books and know of the characters, many of whom I saw running around with wands, etc. Besides the slew of Harrys and Hermoines dressed in Hogwarts' attire, I saw a Dumbledore, a Prof. Sybill Trelawney*, and, my favorite, Hagrid, true to form towering 2 feet above everyone else. Among the non-Potter related, there were all manner of stilt walkers, a fire juggler, and some Scottish/Irish song and dance troupe that clacked sticks as they do-si-doed. As I waited for transportation home (unfortunately the bus came before the magical train), the book-purchasing line overflowed its bounds of the block off street and wound halfway around the block, this at only 10:30. I can't only imagine how long the line got by midnight. The poor kids who had gone home to nap before the big event were relegated far from the excitement not to mention prolly not getting their copy until well after midnight. I guess that goes to show what it takes to be a true fan in this day and age.

Saturday July 21 2007

File under: travel, events

Toggle Comments (13)

comment?

on Sat 21st Jul, 2007 02:26 pm PDT MOM said: Now you know what we poor librarians go through every day without the profit motive! Go books! ************************ on Sat 21st Jul, 2007 09:45 pm PDT Wilbur said: omg....that Hagrid was cool tho. tim was in line somewhere in seattle...i'll wait for the movie ;-)...j/k i'll read it sometime. good stories i think. ************************ on Sat 21st Jul, 2007 10:01 pm PDT K said: That looks way cooler than the line I waited in... Too bad I can't start reading it till after the bar :( ************************ on Sun 22nd Jul, 2007 03:09 am PDT Saxtor said: Sounds like a blast. What a strange cultural phenomenon the waiting in line to purchase the latest consumer artifact/experience has become. Lets say you were a hardcore fan about all the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Apple gadgets and children's novels and opted to wait in line for each one of these. I bet in the Summer of 2007, you'd be looking at over ten nights spent on the street, in line waiting until midnight, tomorrow or a day or two from now. I just find it all rather bizarre*. That said, if there is a place that needs no excuse to throw a super-fun party, it is most certainly PDX. ************************ on Sun 22nd Jul, 2007 10:34 am PDT Saxtor said: I should note, this does not necessarily originate from a tide-shift in consumer habits (although I think that's what we're seeing here in part). This article about a dust-up over a Starbucks store "releasing" a new flavor syrup (???) ahead of its "release date" suggests that there are strong economic forces involved, too. ************************ on Sun 22nd Jul, 2007 01:27 pm PDT Emilly said: It would have been awesome to be in a city like Portland for the release of the book. There is something about a shared experience like this that gets exponentially larger and more exciting as the number of participants grow. While our release at the library was quite a bit smaller (about 100 people) it was still a big event for us Potter fans. For more about our midnight release event check out my blog post And although it seems some of y'all out there are put off by the commercial aspect of the event just remember this phenomenon that is Harry Potter has gotten millions of kids to Put Down the Video Games! and actually read a book. I'll take that trade. ************************ on Sun 22nd Jul, 2007 02:50 pm PDT Sara said: I didn't stay out until midnight (I got the book yesterday), but I went downtown on Friday night to "The Party that Shall Not be Named" and watched all of the people. I got a t-shirt, mostly because of the 7/20 date. They expected about 70,000 people to show up...two streets were blocked off, they had costume contests, people dressed up as characters posing in portraits, the stores had Hogwarts banners, sample things from Harry Potter, etc. I was amazed. - Oh yeah, I still want to go to Portland someday. ************************ on Sun 22nd Jul, 2007 08:00 pm PDT Jule said: Katy got the book Sat. morning and I haven't gotten a normal conversation out of her since. Thank goodness she is almost done! then we can have some quality time together in front of the XBox! oh, wait, I mean, then I GET to read it! ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 01:04 pm PDT mandy said: our love of books rivals our love of festivals! wouldn't it be awesome to be the author of such a loved series? btw, her site & blog, www.jkrowling.com, is quite entertaining ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 09:33 pm PDT MOM said: Hey Jule, Is this the same "K" that said "Too bad I can't start reading it till after the bar :(?" Ahhh, the lure of a good book... ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 11:28 pm PDT Wilbur said: Is "K" still at the bar? ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 07:07 pm PDT Emily said: Hey Jule....this Katy you speak of sounds awesome! I didn't talk to anyone -or leave the house really- until I had my book finished- Monday/Tues at 2:35AM. I'll miss those guys.....sigh ************************ on Sun 05th Aug, 2007 05:54 am PDT Sean said: I got it in the mail last week and just finished today. I TOTALLY blew off my Marines and responsibilities as a platoon commander so I could focus on Harry.I was the only one dressed up when I went to the PX to buy my copy. A Navy Seal punched me in the stomach. ************************

---

< Previous Page  Next Page >

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Recent Comments:
*Horge on Mother Wrenger in the Nutcracker
*Horge on A Whirlwind Eclipse Adventure
*Andrew on A Whirlwind Eclipse Adventure
*Mom on A Whirlwind Eclipse Adventure
*Mom on Mother Wrenger in the Nutcracker

Recent Content:
*A Whirlwind Eclipse Adventure
*Mother Wrenger in the Nutcracker
*Malta Bene!
*2023 Performance Review
*Twas the Night 2023
*Recycled Plastic Christmas Ornaments
*Halloween Act 2023 - Dueling Banjos
*Walk Like MADD 2023
*New Stilting Costume
*Sleeping Around 2022-2023
*Project Hotdog Halfway Complete
*Giant Juggling Club

Websites du Friends:
* Wren the Juggler
My I-guess-I'm-a-Professional-Juggler juggling website
* Wren and Della
Della and my juggling website
* The Real Food Show
A circus-inspired elementary assembly show to teach kids about healthy eating
* Della Moustachella
Della's performance website
* The Fun Bags
Della and Sadye's Performance Troupe


Tags
Anacortes (39)
Cambodia (5)
China (14)
Korea (1)
Macau (1)
Mexico (13)
New Zealand (1)
Seattle (2)
Thailand (18)
USA (11)
Vietnam (5)
beard (5)
blog (8)
books (1)
coding (15)
comic (45)
contest (4)
environment (9)
events (12)
food (22)
games (15)
geocaching (4)
holidays (13)
juggling (8)
links (9)
meet-ups (1)
mexico (1)
misc (54)
movies (5)
open letter (2)
participation (1)
pics (39)
poetry (6)
poll (1)
quote (6)
road trip (25)
stats (1)
transportation (14)
travel (136)
video (6)
work (8)