This morning I saw TNT’s  Leverage signs, directing people under the Sellwood Bridge, where they were going to be filming an outdoor scene.
This one apparently was to be on a railroad track, and they needed to used the paved area of the Springwater Corridor for their equipment.
On this particular morning, we were driving so it didnt matter much to us,  but I am sure the temporary closing of the path will be affecting many cyclists.

This reminded me that a few weekends ago, Honey and I took a ride out in Clackamas.  I picked the route on this day since I wanted to go by the warehouses that are used for the indoor filming of Leverage.

Their filming location is no great secret  in fact you can find them at 12438-12442 and 12458-12460 S.E. Capps Road.
They even put up little yellow signs helping people find them.
But otherwise, it is a pretty non-descript setting.

On this day there was no one around.
We know this because we found the back parking lot where all the extras have to park. It was empty.

No stars about either. Their parking lot is also empty. But it has nice plants and in a slightly nicer location.  Even their signs were better.

Popularity: 4% [?]

I have become a Beaver baseball fan.
For the last few years, I have listened to nearly every single game, via the Internet, and I track their record and opponents. I even keep a schedule highlighted in color codes for wins/losses.

So, early this morning, I found myself in a very long/slow moving security line at the Portland airport as I kept my honey company prior to her departure. During our conversation about how we would miss each other and all that other feelings talk you have to do, I looked up to see a young kid in a OS Baseball sweat suit in front of me. As I looked around, I noticed that there were like 20 such kids in front and behind me and I slowly realized we were in the middle of the whole team. Honey no doubt noticed that my attention had drifted from her in mid sentence, but she seemed OK with that as I turned to one of them to wish them a good trip down to USC as they start a 3 game set on Thursday. I think he was  a little taken aback that I would know that, but he politely agreed it should be nice.
Anyway, it was a good part of the day.
Well, honey has left  for 6 days in Kentucky where she points out, while it will be raining here on Saturday, it will be 81 degrees in Louisville, so its not all good.

On top of this, this morning it was announce that 5 games will be televised. 
(Tivo is good….Tivo is good….Tivo is good )

OS Beaver Schedule (more…)

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A knock on your door first thing in the morning, and you find out your car was just smashed. When it was parked. Outside your front door.  Looks like its time for a new car. At least the driver should have some good insurance.

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Victorhill Farm.

This is where we have cut our Christmas tree for the last 4 years.  We found it because it opened earlier than most, which allowed us to prepare for a Christmas party. Once there, Honey has discovered that her taste matches that of Blenda the artist/owner. She loves the stuff they sell in their barn, and we spend as much time looking at the wreaths and decorations as we do the tree.
And they have a lot of very good u-cut trees.

Popularity: 30% [?]

Demolition of the southwest Portland home known as the Canterbury Castle started back in May of 2009. We made a quick trip out to see it one last time.

Haven’t been back there since that time, so unsure where they are in that whole process.
And not much on the web about the progress.  Guess the process of tearing it down is not as big news as the decision to start.

Time for another road trip.

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Early Sunday morning I found myself deep in NW  Portland, with my bike.  I had no set schedule, and no required route, which gave me the chance to just ride in any direction that seemed interesting.  Soon I found myself at the Union Station train-yards where I discovered the Union Station pedestrian bridge.  Nice looking bridge, going over the tracks.  But for what purpose I wondered.

There is a nice elevator at each side, but I was a little surprised that for a newer Portland bridge, it really didn’t have any bicycle friendly access.  Other than the elevators. I took the elevator.

A very similar design to the Springwater trail bridge over McLoughlin Blvd.

Apparently, this bridge was built to get people from the train yard area, over the tracks, and into the courtyards of “The Yards” apartment complex.  Oh, and once you get down and around all the steps of the courtyard, it will put you out on to Naito Parkway. It doesn’t seem like a real heavy traffic flow need, but perhaps I am not aware of the needs of the residents of The Pearl district.

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Once down to Naito I ran into The Race for the Cure in progress.  40,000 women walking the streets of Portland. Time to move on.

Then, on to Sellwood, to ride out onto the Sellwood bridge during another one of its regular closings.  Last Sunday they closed it to replace the asphalt that had broken away from all the joints.  This week they were sealing all the seams, and using their lift truck to inspect the underside.

Honey thinks that one day soon they may close it for the day and just decide not to re-open it. She may be right.

By the way, September 30, 2009 is the next open house for the Sellwood Bridge Project.

The goal for this meeting is to share information revisions made to the preferred alternative that have been made since the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) was published. These revisions were made to comply with various agency policies and regulations. They include:

• Refining access to properties with driveways on SW Macadam Avenue
• Mitigating historic and natural resource impacts
• Improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities on the west side
• Narrowing the bridge cross section near the west side interchange
• Planning more detailed connections to transit and trails

Popularity: 20% [?]

We were out at Stoller Vineyard to do a race/walk up and down the hillside vineyard outside of Dayton, and I saw this bike rack. A simple design, but the bike on top adds some artistic design while at the same time, helping label what the structure is to be used for.

While riding into the Pearl district for some errands, I found this at 13th and Lovejoy.
Portlanders should recognize what it is in an instant.
But others may not really know all that it really is.
Its even got little cars on it!

Popularity: 21% [?]

Our most regular bike route to and from Portland takes us by “Sherrett Square” at 9th and Sherrett, in Sellwood.  They have repainted the pavement in the intersection since the last time we have been through. It looks great.   At this intersection there was the most amazing park bench made of earthen materials.  After a few years it deteriorated and was replaced. The replacement is very impressive, but I dont think it is as good as the original. Plus a covered gazebo has been added to help preserve the work. We do love to ride through the area. It has a warm community feel to it.

Sherrett square is sponsored by Community Rejuvenation Project. The northeast corner houses a community bulletin board and a structure for dropping off/picking up free items. The southeast has a bookshelf sharing shelf; the southwest corner has a tea stand complete with mugs and tea, though we arent interested in taking part in that. And finally, the northwest houses a child’s playhouse constructed of cob and recycled windows.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Our bike commute to work goes along Old River Road, then taking a paved path along the river, that opens up to the lower end of George Rogers Park, where the old iron furnace sits, still and forgotten. Until now.  Looks like there is a restoration effort underway.

An early industry of the Oswego area was iron foundaries. The hill known as “Iron Mountain” is (or at least was) reasonably rich in iron ore, and the furnace and foundry complex was constructed south of what is now Lake Oswego. Today, in a corner of George Rogers Park, other than the stone furnace walls, little remains of this early Oregon industrial effort. This city has always seemed to to have the funds to do things like this.

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A walk through the Japanese Gardens in the west hills of Washington Park can be a tranquil experience. Its a chance to center yourself and to let go of the stress of everyday life……..Provided you can avoid the irritating and obnoxious tourists.

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Leverage has made my Tivo Season Pass list.   Honey didn’t think much of it at first passing it off as simplistic and  formulaic.  And, maybe it is a bit of that, but it is also a lively, entertaining continuing story dramatic/comedy,  filled with unpredictiable twists.  It isn’t near the top of our watch lists, but with Tivo, it doesn’t have to be.  Anyway its going to film in Oregon?  That’s a bit of a stretch given its slant towards exotic locales, but maybe with next years plot line of the gang splitting and perhaps lying low, then rural Oregon may be just the thing.  It will be fun to see.

‘Leverage’ with Timothy Hutton coming to film in Oregon

By DAVID KROUGH, kgw.com Staff

SALEM, Ore. — A TNT crime drama is coming to Oregon.

That’s the word from Governor Ted Kulongoski who announced Thursday the hit television series, “Leverage” is coming to the state and many Oregonians will be hired as cast and crew.

“The decision to locate in Oregon is a clear indication that our incentive programs are working. State support for film and television creates jobs and brings a big return on investment for Oregon taxpayers,” Kulongoski said.
The show starring Timothy Hutton is to start its second season. Creators describe it as “a team of thieves, hackers and grifters who join forces to take revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize others.”
“We’re delighted to be bringing ‘Leverage’ to Oregon,” Electric Entertainment Founder and ‘Leverage’ Executive Producer, Dean Devlin said.

“From our initial scouting of locations to making the final decision to move the production, we have found the cooperation and assistance from everyone at the Governor’s Office of Film & Television to be extraordinary. The officials from the city of Portland and those at the state level have also been outstanding. We are so impressed by the wide variety of locations available to us,” Devlin said.
Shooting will begin in late spring at locations across the state.

By DAVID KROUGH, kgw.com Staff

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Wow, how did we miss the new bridge in this plan?

Apparently,  the design drawing of Gibbs Street bike and pedestrian bridge, been fast-tracked by Mayor Adams to help Portland’s economy.  The City of Portland announced a $503 million economic stimulus plan. Within that plan, is $52 million in Bureau of Transportation projects — at least four  of which include bike-related facilities.

• East Burnside and Couch project will create a couplet with eastbound traffic on Burnside and westbound traffic on Couch.
• The Cully Boulevard Green Street Project, which includes Portland’s first-ever cycletrack. The new cycletrack will run from NE Prescott to NE Killingsworth
• A project to replace the N. Vancouver Bridge over the Columbia Slough is estimated to cost $10 million and create 146 jobs.
• And a new Gibbs Street bike/pedestrian bridge to cross I-5 just south of the east end of the Ross Island Bridge.

We will be keeping a close eye on the development of these projects. The first step will be to visit the sites to get an idea of how it looks and works, prior to any work started. In that way we can really understand what the improvement really means to us.

See an current bridge design for the Gibbs Street bridge  here.

For more information see MayorSamAdams.com.

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