Streetcar saavy

This afternoon, despite a weather forecast for rain, I took a shopping excursion into downtown Portland. The weather stayed ideal - a few puffy clouds, temperature at 74 F, a delicate breeze. Pioneer Courthouse Square was lively as usual and I enjoyed seeing the young people hanging out on the steps that lead to the sunken plaza. Meandering around Portland in this way I was reminded that the place is still a refuge for a rather sophisticated punk contingent. There were several mohawks and black fingernails among us, but everyone looked healthy and well fed and content with their (gasp!) Nordstrom and (alas!) Gap shopping bags.

Later I hopped on the new Portland Streetcar that links downtown to Northwest 23rd Street by way of the Pearl District. The Pearl is a nice place, but now it's filling up with tons of new loft style apartments, blocks and blocks of them. A few years ago it was a more attractive place, I think, because there was still some vacant brewery warehouses and older structures that made it appear romantically rough on the edges. Warehouses are now condos, but the place still looks like a decent spot to start a roost - especially since it's just a few steps from Powell's famous book warehouse.

Back on 23rd, I stopped in some boutique called the Powder Room and picked up some interesting red beaded shoes. I could have bought these same shoes in Thailand for $5, I am guessing, but they are still a find for what I paid for them. Plus, if I ever go as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, the shoes are taken care of (although these are more like slippers, but who's that fussy over the details?).