I Live Here: Dave Strom
Name & Age: David Strom (aka Dave Knows). I am in my late mid-thirties (i.e. 39).
Hometown: Portland, Oregon.
Current Neighborhood: Downtown, until May at least. I move a lot. I’ve called the following neighborhoods home for at least a year apiece: Reed, Creston-Kenilworth (twice), Buckman, Goose Hollow, Hosford-Abernathy, Mt. Scott (twice), Richmond, Downtown (thrice), and Boise (twice).
How do you pay the rent and what is your slash? I write a blog called Daveknows.org. It’s about stuff I find interesting in Portland. My wife and I also just started a new business: PDX Web Ads. (Unfortunately, I have a day job in software quality assurance that pays the actual bills.)
What do you create? I think of myself as more of a curator than a creator. I dig up unconventional and interesting things about, and going on in Portland.
How did you land in Portland? I’m a native, born and raised. Well, raised in the suburbs. But I’ve been living in Portland proper since 1990 (with the exception of a 2 year stint in Hawaii a decade ago).
What is the last book you read? This Day in Oregon History (research for a project on my blog).
Name your favorite tattoo. My wife’s of course! I’ve yet to find anything I’d want imprinted on my own skin for the rest of my life.
What was the last thing you ate at a food cart? The amazing Fishy Chips at Eurotrash Cart.
Oregonian, Willamette Week, or Mercury? All occasionally online. None in real life.
What is your favorite bridge and why? Hmm, Broadway maybe? For a year or so I walked across it almost every day as part of my commute. Not as many cyclists trying to kill pedestrians as on the Hawthorne, which is the only other bridge I’ve crossed on foot as often. Also far fewer bridge lifts to wait out.
Stumptown Coffee or _________? Peet’s actually. I’m not a big fan of Stumptown. My favorite local-ish coffee comes from Astoria Coffee Roasters, but I don’t think it’s available in Portland (if someone knows please let me know!).
Coast or Mountains? Mountains for summer camping. Coast for rain and wind all year long.
Only in Portland moment? Any one of thousands watching Portland Timbers matches. Portland sports fans are uniquely good natured obsessives.
A favorite local business? Hall of Records on Belmont. The proprietors Justin and Katie are friends of ours, and we watched them build the store from sketches in notebooks, to hammers and nails. Great people, delicious food, awesome music.
Are you a car person or a bike person? Neither! My preferred mode of transportation is by foot. I’m also a long time TriMet trouper. I’ve been accused of being an (idiot?) savant when it comes to my knowledge of TriMet routes.
If you could change one thing about Portland, what would it be? Better transit funding and more focus on improving pedestrian infrastructure. Also more poutine.
And finally, where can we find you on the web?
I Live Here: Amy Baskin
Name & Age: Amy Baskin, 39
Hometown: Hard to say. (I was a corporate oil brat.)
Current Neighborhood: Grant Park
How do you pay the rent and what is your slash? I’m a writer/volunteer at Beverly Cleary School/ serial county library abuser.
What do you create? Community and stories.
How did you land in Portland? In credit debt, in a U-haul, after my husband and I ate our way out of San Francisco. We wanted to live in a bikeable city near nature where we could raise kids, enjoy life, and afford to eat out on occasion. Check.
What is the last book you read? Second Fiddle by Rosanne Parry. (Her debut novel Heart of a Shepherd was on this year’s Oregon Battle of the Books list for middle grade fiction.)
Name your favorite tattoo. My yoga teacher Elona Landau’s red dahlias. They’re elegant and take up all of her left back and shoulder. See for yourself at Montavilla Wellness Center.
What was the last thing you ate at a food cart? Veggies and lentils on injera bread.
Oregonian, Willamette Week, or Mercury? Savage Love
What is your favorite bridge and why? The Broadway Bridge, because its red contrasts so beautifully with the blues and greys of the sky.
Stumptown Coffee or Jim and Patty’s? Both. Delicious and socially engaged.
Coast or Mountains? Why choose?
Only in Portland moment? Yesterday, I saw a woman in running attire and ear buds skip across town as a form of exercise. She was smiling. Anywhere else, she’d be branded crazy, but in Portland, we all know she’s not only sane, she’s happy.
A favorite local business? Staccato Gelato.
Are you a car person or a bike person? A bike person at heart.
If you could change one thing about Portland, what would it be? I’d arrange for a strong, stable funding base for our public schools. My biggest fear for the city I love is that we’ll let the public schools crumble, both literally and physically, and it will go the way of other cities where only the rich can afford to raise their children well.
And finally, where can we find you on the web? At my blog Euphoria: that kick I get from kidlit, and wasting precious time on twitter.
I Live Here: Brittany Hanson
Name & Age: Brittany Hanson, 26
Hometown: Los Angeles + Seattle WA
Current Neighborhood: Alberta
How do you pay the rent and what is your slash? Graphic Design, print mostly, currently lots of layout and covers. I’m working with a bunch of architects right now, they’re genius.
What do you create? Art! All the time.
How did you land in Portland? It seemed like a friendly city, not too urban but just urban enough. I up and moved here without knowing anyone really and am glad I did.
What is the last book you read? Brain Rules, but before that Rework (it’s a good one if you’re into small business or graphic arts)
Name your favorite tattoo. It’s getting more and more rare to not have any. My nonexistent ones. :)
What was the last thing you ate at a food cart? That amazing chicken and rice from Nong’s Khao Man Gai. So good.
Oregonian, Willamette Week, or Mercury? Mercury
What is your favorite bridge and why? Fremont vs Steel, depending on the type of transportation.
Stumptown Coffee or _________? Townshend’s Tea
Coast or Mountains? Both, but usually the coast.
Only in Portland moment? Only in Portland do you see bicyclists trying to ride through a snowstorm.
A favorite local business? Together Art Gallery
Are you a car person or a bike person? Depends on where I’m headed.
If you could change one thing about Portland, what would it be? Nothing.
And finally, where can we find you on the web?
www.brittanyishanson.com (Design)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ForestGinger (Illustration/Art)
I Live Here: Amy Wing
Name & Age: Amy Wing, 32
Hometown: Victoria, BC
Current Neighborhood: Sellwood
How do you pay the rent and what is your slash? Jewelry designer & business owner
What do you create? I design and make sterling silver jewelry, which I sell at Portland Saturday Market and to a number of stores and boutiques in the Pacific Northwest and around the country.
How did you land in Portland? I’m a Canadian, my husband is an American and we met in Europe, so it was always going to be complicated as to where we would live! We got married, moved to Pennsylvania, moved to California and then my husband got offered a job at Lewis & Clark. I am from the NW and my husband got his undergraduate degree in Oregon so Portland seemed like the perfect place.
What is the last book you read? The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest and The Royal Assassin.
Name your favorite tattoo. I would love to get a realistic outline of an old oak tree, but I have been thinking about it for a long time and I still can’t decide where I want it, and who I would like to do it! I also love my hair stylist’s (Deanna Reed at Arabella Salon) tattoo of her Dad’s signature. I think that would be a beautiful way to honor the memory of a loved one.
What was the last thing you ate at a food cart? The Southsider at the Grilled Cheese Grill on NE Alberta.
Oregonian, Willamette Week, or Mercury? Willamette Week.
What is your favorite bridge and why? The Hawthorne bridge. Some girlfriends and I like to walk a loop of the waterfront so it’s a common part of our route. I also kind of love the fact that the driving lanes are separated in an unusual way. And I don’t know if it’s a regular event, but I would love to participate in the Brunch on the Bridge because, come on, eating breakfast on a bridge? That’s awesome!
Stumptown Coffee or _________? A really well crafted cocktail!
Coast or Mountains? I love, love, love the coast. Sun, rain, wind, storms. I love watching the ocean through it all.
Only in Portland moment? I feel grateful to be a part of the Portland craft and art scene and I think that “only in Portland” feeling comes at a show like Crafty Wonderland that showcases so many amazing artists. When I walk in to set-up and know every second person either personally or by the work they do I feel an incredible connection to this creative city!
A favorite local business? I have come to know so many local shops from being a customer but also as a small business owner by selling my jewelry in stores around the city. In my neighborhood of Sellwood I would say Tilde, which has the most amazingly well-curated selection of accessories, home goods and perfect gift items. Sold at stores around Portland, Eclectikid creates quirky and funny designs and puts them on everything from kid & adult t-shirts to stationary and magnets. And then there are so many Portland creatives that write great blogs like Honey Kennedy, Color Collective, Farmer Jo, Modish, Unruly Things, {frolic!} & Urban Weeds that provide incredible inspiration!
Are you a car person or a bike person? I am more of a by foot person. We live within walking distance of our bank, post office, grocery store, and a gelato shop so I pretty much have all of the basics covered. I am always so impressed by people who live their lives by bike, but when I need to go farther than my feet can take me I go by car.
If you could change one thing about Portland, what would it be? Maybe just a touch more sunshine?
And finally, where can we find you on the web?
Amy Wing Designs website
Amy Wing Designs Twitter
Amy Wing Designs Facebook
I Live Here: Andrew Nelson
Name & Age: Andrew Nelson, 30
Hometown: Vantuckey, WA
Current Neighborhood: Alberta/NE
How do you pay the rent and what is your slash? IT Project Management “I deal with the customers so the engineers don’t have to!” My slashing duties include playing drums in a couple of bands (who doesn’t have playing in a band as a slash in Portland?), distance running.
What do you create? Fun, Smiles, and a wicked backyard barbecue when the sun is out.
How did you land in Portland? I’ve lived in the NW all my life and work brought me into Portland proper about 3 years ago.
What is the last book you read? I read a bunch at a time, on the nightstand and in my bag are “The Rest is Noise” -Alex Ross, “The Arrogance of Humanism” -David W. Ehrenfeld, “Stumbling on Happiness” -Daniel Gilbert
Name your favorite tattoo. Who names their tattoos? How bout Alex.
What was the last thing you ate at a food cart? Poutine from Potato Champion!
Oregonian, Willamette Week, or Mercury? Mercury.
What is your favorite bridge and why? St. Johns, it’s the best workout on a bike.
Stumptown Coffee or _________? Sterling or Intelligentsia
Coast or Mountains? I try not to discriminate.
Only in Portland moment? When all education and commerce slows to a halt, busses put on chains, and people stay home from work because of the possibility of snow.
A favorite local business? Tiny Meat, 21st Ave. Bicycles, Red Fox, Athletes Lounge.
Are you a car person or a bike person? BOTH, with equal love and in equal measure.
If you could change one thing about Portland, what would it be? Please, please, please people of Portland:
1. Quit disobeying traffic rules to “be nice” to the pedestrian who wants to cross in the middle of the street and isn’t at a crosswalk, or the cyclist waiting to turn left at an intersection when you have the right of way. Just follow the rules, “waving someone through” is not a safe or legal traffic maneuver and it’s super annoying.
2. People in Portland amble… Walk with purpose, your day will get better and muggers will tend to leave you alone.
Ok that’s two but they both need to change.
And finally, where can we find you on the web?
