Here is a sample street sign (Walnut and Broad). I love it because it has a little Liberty Bell on it. My sister commented that she'd never even noticed that before. Guess sometimes it takes a tourist to notice certain everyday details.
Broad Street view of City Hall
You can find these water fountains, called the Benson Bubblers, all over downtown. Fresh water, always great after coming from a workout at the gym and waiting on my bus...Soon thereafter, Benson proudly noted that saloon sales dropped nearly 40%—a trend more likely attributed to the growing temperance movement than to free water fountains. Still, the Bubblers have remained famous, functional Portland landmarks, and on hot summer afternoons they are especially appreciated by all."
The Hollywood theater. Portland is full of little independent theaters that play both independent films and dollar theater type of films. Some play brand new films too, but they cost more. We saw Avatar at a local theater, but not the Hollywood one. I will get a better photo of the facade to put up here as you can only see the side angle.
City of Roses! :) This is a mural on a building next to the 405 painted in 1995. I'm not sure if Mary Lou Fendall is the name of the rose or who it's in honor of (or both).
Just an old advertisement on a building downtown. While not the case here, oftentimes these old ads are actually still relevant to the business inside the building they're painted on.
Near Chinatown, this all you can eat Chinese buffet is no longer. Now it's a used book and magazine shop, so it says anyway. Actually, it's nothing. Another vacant space.
Just a pretty sunflower in someone's yard that we passed on our way to be extras in IFC's new show Portlandia. One thing that I really loved about Portland when I first visited was all the flowers in people's yards. It's always so lush and colorful here.
