So I might move to Portland
 

What's it like these days? How are the record stores? What's it like to get around?

for the record stores, you mean? did you buy everything they had in stock in your town?

yeah, when your office is right around the corner from the one good independent record store in town, it's pretty easy to buy up everything... and empty your bank account. That's been my experience.

Anyway. Portland. Good, bad? Hey, at least I'll get out of friggin' Iowa.

I won't have a job, though. I'm following my wife, who seems to be landing this sweet transfer deal (she's a fed, by the way). We've wanted out of this place for a while now, but I have no prospects for anything out there right now. Hey, maybe I'll become a house husband and sit around playing records all day. Yeah, that's the ticket.

oh, ive never been to portland but i've heard great things from the residents & what not (not those residents, i mean the people who live there.)

shit, i'd go anywhere to get out of iowa.

by the way, is the university where you work the place where all the famous poets come out of? do you ever see them walking around campus, deranged by the moonlight? no, seriously, im asking.

Yeah, believe it or not, I do, mostly writers... Once upon a time, talking like mid-70s, I'd see Kurt Vonnegut and John Cheever sitting a table or two away from me in the sub sandwich shop. More famous people pass through here than people realize, mostly the lower-profile art and literature types. I probably pass a few on campus every day and don't even realize it. And believe it or not, we get good bands through here in one or two small bars. Animal Collective is coming in late spring, I think. The town also has a fairly good local music scene.

Nowhere else in Iowa is like this, though. This is the only place to be if you have to live in Iowa. Kinda like Austin is to Texas.

oh man once upon a time i almost wanted to go to that school. they have some great programs for writers. there is a very funny mexican novel about some writers who go there (they hate it: the food, etc).

anyway here's a bump for you. it's a pity that emma blowgun doesn't post here anymore. not only was she one of the coolest board members by far-- she also lived in portland as of maybe last year? (i suspect she's still there).

well maybe you can reach her via her blog, if you have the gumption and she doesn't think you're a stalker (which you might be!) . ha. have fun

http://emmablowgun.blogspot.com/

I like Portland. If I ever moved there I'd live inside Powell's. I'd hide in there after closing time and build a fort. They'd never find me.

or like Lawrence is to Kansas.

anyway, i haven't spent much time in Portland (although i have some family there), but, from what i've seen, it's one of the top five places in the country that i'd want to live in.

I saw something on TV about the transients and street-teens who plague Portland due to its lenient laws. That's Portland right? Might be a good place for a hobo. Cheesequake O'Lennox for example.

I still love it here. KPSU is a great college station, and sure I'm biased, but it's because it's great that I got a show there. Powell's is indeed a great place, though many of the smaller and cheaper used book stores have gone under recently. Same with a few great record stores, but we still have more good ones left than most places. Both of those types of places have been hit hard by having the internet to compete with I think. Why would anyone buy a storefront if they can sell their records and books and stuff online without having to pay rent?

Anthem is an amazing record store though, that specializes in all of the weirdo stuff I love, and they do have an online presence too, so hopefully they can last. Jackpot is a great local chain that seems to be doing well still. Everyday Music is another one that covers the cheap used at big selection niche well.

Still lots of great places to eat for under $10, and given the increasing Hispanic population at least the Mexican food is something we can count on staying affordable.

Bands? Yeah, I've heard about that. I just don't go out much unless I'm playing, but there are both strong indie-pop and experimental scenes.

The best thing about this city though is that it has the biggest forested area in a city in the U.S. in it, and it's really close to all sorts of natural wonders and the ocean. Yeah, I know, call me a hippie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz2XRSgRocU
Had to do it.

i hear its nice there. good luck!

want to move to portland together??????

There's a used vinyl store up on congress St but otherwise not much. Strange Maine might have some stuff now and then. Best of the city is YES books. The best thing about being in Portland I think is its easy and cheap to get lobster.

Um, Portland, Oregon, not Maine, silly.

You might make my wife jealous, but meh, so what--hop on board, sweetheart.

yay!!!!:)

I've visited a friend that goes to the University there, and i loved it. She loves it too.

Best wishes!

i haven't been there in over a year but i visited there a lot when i lived in washington... i loved oregon & portland was pretty awesome... the people there were always so nice to me...& the stores were amazing!

Portland is awesome. I'm actually considering moving there myself.

whaphaa! (whip)

So...

Looks like it's official. My wife got her official offer today. She leaves in 6 weeks. I follow about 2-3 months later (there's a relocation/house selling part of the deal I have to stick around to handle.)

Shit, I tell you. Shit!

ScreamingSkull, on the way out, I'm putting you in charge of making sure the LPs don't get to warm in the sun.

hot damn, 6 weeks without booty is an eternity.

can't you just auction off the house to the highest bidder?

then again, you could "channel" your "kundalini" to your brain... & maybe get an aneurysm...?

hm... tough spot, tough spot, but there is the issue of future rewards...

oh here's a motivator: watch "touching the void". if he could make it, you can too.

most record stores per capita in portland then anywhere else in the united states. anthem isnt THAT great of a record store... 2nd ave all the way. powells is great, but i fancy the crusty used bookstores more. jackpot totally sucks, but everyday music is acually pretty cool. bands... all im familiar with is the weirdo stuff... smegma, yellow swans, oscillating innards, daniel menche, pulse emitter etc. right about the mexican food, killer sidewalk stands. portland is bearable i guess, but i am truely sick of oregon... id rather live somewhere like LA

Have fun!
It's a good place.

i fucking love Strage Maine!!! my friend and i were walking down the street and came upon a random Crank Sturgeon performance at Strange Maine. good find!

when my band performed there, the wall of VHS tapes behind us was organized... by color! nice backdrop.

portland, ME > portland, OR

i've been to both several times. portland, OR = too much enemployment, too many hippies. portland, ME is a bit more laid back and reserved in a good way i think. plus you're more likely to happen upon a random Crank Sturgeon performance.

If you want to, get ahold of me via my band's My Space and I can show you around town a wee bit (I've only been around a wee bit). If you want to get on KPSU, I can introduce you to the Program Director and stuff.

Seriously? Do radio again? I'd love it. The town tour would be cool, too. It won't be for several months yet, but when I get closer to the move, I'll keep you posted. Thanks.

funny you should mention crank sturgeon, he is playing in portland oregon tommorow. hoping to catch him in eugene...

i'll be seeing Lightning Bolt in Portland on Saturday.

I'm not sure. There are some cool independent stores here and there.

However, if you're a musician, there's a badass music store row in Downtown Portland called Apple Music.

Hey, gmku, have you read "Fugitives & Refugees" by Chuck Palahniuk?

If not, ya should. Look it up. :)



Things I personally associate with Portland: thousands upon thousands of roses, walking in the rain, 'My Own Private Idaho' and Gus Van Sant, Elliott Smith and The Decemberists, Suicide Girls, 'Geek Love' and Katherine Dunn, Powell's bookstore, Chuck Palahniuk, little record shops and bars.

Yeah, if I ever moved to America, Portland's where I'd move to. Hope you enjoy it.

Los Angeles is much stranger then oregon, if that is possible.

I have to agree with such friends. Los Angeles is weird.

forgot to tell you on the other thread looks like UC san diego might interest you
http://literature.ucsd.edu/

I heard they got some good ass heroin.

That is a UC system, my grades are not that good to get into those. I am going to CSU systems.

thats the point, oregon is boring.

i dont know oregon but im sure its less boring than iowa!

yeah, prollly.