[Portland, OR] Sunday Parkways! One of my favorite Portland
summer events… that felt strange to say… Every few weeks each summer (I heard
this one was the thirteenth), they block off 7 miles of street or so in a Portland
neighborhood --- and the bicyclists come. There’s no point. It’s not a race. It’s
just a loop. There’s no real events. Some people bring their personal
soundtracks. Some are on skateboards or razors. And it’s totally enchanting. I
kept remembering two friends in Austin who lived on either side of a somewhat
or more-than-somewhat shitty duplex – I can say that because all mine were too.
Somehow serious-biker friend (pedicabber by trade) put the other guy on a bike
for the first time in forever and described it like watching a happy dog with
his ears flapping. That’s biking right? Sunday Parkway style biking at least. That
was me. My bike’s been broke for over a year and enough stuff was broke in my
life that I let the bike stay broke. Turned out it only took 45 minutes and 16
bucks to fix it. I regretted taking that long to try to fix it, but that first
ride around my parking lot sure was sweet.
And not only does Google Maps tell
you the best route for bikes but Portland’s got these ‘bike route’ street and
asphalt signs I’ve totally ignored up to now that guarantee the safest and
least stressful ride. I realized this year Sunday Parkways might be a commercialized
scheme – with the boothed areas where you’re supposed to walk your bike and
peruse the propaganda – eh I’ll take it. I didn’t buy anything or get
schnoodled or bemuddled. The Orchestra was just down a short hill from the
route in one of Portland’s many parks (that felt strange to say too). There
were a whole lot of instruments and one lady out in front of the tented area
belting out a tune. Upon approach, I thought she was an interloper or something
because her outfit was sort of crazy but her voice was solid. Ellen Vanderslice
was her name and confidence was her game. They’re big band, swing – classic. I
also chanced by the Portlander Recorder Orchestra … … … I was intrigued but I
had to get, so I got.
[Portland, OR] Sunday Parkways! One of my favorite Portland
summer events… that felt strange to say… Every few weeks each summer (I heard
this one was the thirteenth), they block off 7 miles of street or so in a Portland
neighborhood --- and the bicyclists come. There’s no point. It’s not a race. It’s
just a loop. There’s no real events. Some people bring their personal
soundtracks. Some are on skateboards or razors. And it’s totally enchanting. I
kept remembering two friends in Austin who lived on either side of a somewhat
or more-than-somewhat shitty duplex – I can say that because all mine were too.
Somehow serious-biker friend (pedicabber by trade) put the other guy on a bike
for the first time in forever and described it like watching a happy dog with
his ears flapping. That’s biking right? Sunday Parkway style biking at least. That
was me. My bike’s been broke for over a year and enough stuff was broke in my
life that I let the bike stay broke. Turned out it only took 45 minutes and 16
bucks to fix it. I regretted taking that long to try to fix it, but that first
ride around my parking lot sure was sweet. 
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