Sorry, NYT, we’re just not that into you

by Anna Griffin, The Oregonian

Tuesday May 19, 2009, 7:25 PM

Dear New York Times,

Ending a love affair is hard, even when it’s as one-sided as ours.

Look, we know you have strong feelings for us. We can tell — like the rest of the English-speaking world — by your incessant need to write about us.

Two weeks ago, you made “Frugal Portland” the Sunday Travel centerpiece. In early April, you devoted another travel cover to touring our fair city by bike. You’ve also written recently about our conflicted attitudes toward gentrification, our quest for big-league soccer and our openly gay mayor, not to mention our great food, rainy weather and communal caffeine addiction.

It’s getting embarrassing.

Look, we love New York. Many of us misplaced East Coasters still pine for H&H Bagels, overpriced walk-ups and rush-hour driving as a full contact sport. We like how you describe us — “a cool and refreshingly unneurotic city that marches to its own cosmopolitan beat.” That’s exactly what we’re going for, Big Apple culture without the noise, crowds or Eliot Spitzer. (OK, scratch that last one.)

All this attention is flattering, and not entirely unsolicited. There are a thousand stories and a thousand p.r. flacks in this occasionally naked city.

We do like validation here in the 503. Despite our frontier bluster, we retain an inferiority complex when it comes to bigger cities such as San Francisco, with its plethora of pro sports, ethnic diversity and tourist attractions. Still, we both need to move on. Austin is just as quirky as we are, if you don’t mind the heat or the politics. Seattle is at least as hip, and as insecure about its place in the world. We hear Portland, Maine, is feeling decidedly unappreciated.

Here’s the problem: You’re making us something we’re not. Most of us don’t have time for a weekend at the Ace Hotel, or the wardrobe for First Thursday. Sure, we talk about racial tensions, but we haven’t conquered them. We still aren’t sure what to do with either our mayor or our major-league ambitions.

Yes, there’s “a general indifference to wealth” here, as you so lovingly put it, “a dedication to the things that really matter: hearty food and drink, cultural pursuits both high and low, days in the outdoors and evenings out with friends.” But we’ve warts aplenty: Stop staring so hard at our Pearl District, and you’ll note we can’t fix our potholes, pay for our schools or end homelessness.

Plus, friend, you turned downright passive aggressive this winter, using scuttled expansion plans at our unofficial town hall, Powell’s City of Books, as a microcosm of our economic woes. “In recent months,” you wrote, “Portland has devolved into a symbol of much that is wrong.”

Ouch. How can we ever trust you again?

Besides, frankly, we’re just not that into you. Sure, we love curling up with you on Sunday mornings, sipping our Stumptown and taking a glimpse into a world where people talk about “frenemies,” “man dates,” and where their parents’ parents went to college. But, at heart, we’re simpler folks. You’ll eventually grow bored of our easy commutes and healthy living. One of these days, we’re going to wake up to discover you’ve dumped us for Detroit or Houston.

Finally, we have an unrequited love of our own. Oh, Vancouver, B.C., land of clean air, same-sex marriage, universal health care and that dreamy commitment to smart planning!

So … this was fun while it lasted. Let’s stay friends. The next time you’re in town, we’ll have coffee. There are some charming little places east of 82nd Avenue you probably haven’t tried.

XOXO

Portland

– Anna Griffin; oregonlive.com/griffin

Today on tour the stand out house for me was this property at 70 NE Fargo in the hot Boise Elliot neighborhood. Fargo is one of the prettiest streets in the area I believe, the trees are lush, the houses are grand and you can walk to downtown. The listing agent, Kirsten Jenkins from ReMax, who lives a few houses down told us her dog use to walk to the Pearl district from her home. Now with so many great restaurants and businesses like Lincoln, Ink and Peat and Pix near by why leave the neighborhood? The house has 4 modest but good sized bedrooms on the top level, a formal parlor, entry, dining and beautifully remodeled kitchen on the main. The basement has high ceilings and an attached garage. The back yard got a gasp from Katrina, its bigger than you anticipate and one of the most lovely gardens we have seen touring this year. I think at $384,900 this feels like a solid value and a good investment.

Listing information courtesy of Kirsten Jenkins of ReMax Equity Group

Give us a call we would love to show it to you!

When I pulled this one up on RMLS my stomach got butterflies. Its the kind of house in a stellar location that has me mentally packing my bags and moving the family once again to restore another fabulous mid-century. Good thing for my husband we are half way through a major landscape renovation so moving is out of the question. I would love to help a buyer purchase this house, I want to develop a relationship with this home and see it change and become what it can be. The beamed ceilings are fantastic and no one has gutted the original plywood cabinets or painted the panelling. Ultimately they may be best altered but the thrill of being the person that makes those decisions is priceless. The house has a lake/swim easement, a hot commodity when you live near private Lake Oswego. It would be no fun to see the lake from this fabulous pad and not be able to jump in on a hot day.  This 1959 home is 4 bedroom 2.5 bath with a craft room and double garage. Beautiful floor to ceiling windows, vaulted beamed ceilings, circular floor plan, fireplaces and smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor living spaces. More good news the price is a modest $429,950. Listed with Laurie Holland of Winderemere.  This is a smokin’ property!  Call me today to look at this property, I’ll understand when you fondly stroke the original wood panelling.

  Built to last, updated for immediate enjoyment. This deluxe 1960 Ranch has cool vintage features, durable materials, and a huge lot. This home has a very livable floorplan with hardwoods, coved ceilings and THREE fireplaces! Almost 1/2 acre lot includes a detached 2+ garage with opener, a private, level and fenced backyard with EXTRA 23′ x 28′ outbuilding ready for your love. Enjoy the well-groomed grounds with mature trees and sunny garden space with sprinklers. Come live in the Cool Ranch Land of Parkrose Heights. This is a close commute, near the Gateway Lightrail hub.

  10909 NE Siskiyou St. Listed at $325,000. 3 BR/2 BA, 2616 sq ft. MLS #9036184. Call today for a private showing.

Location, Location, Location, at a great value! Contemporary home built in 1995 walking distance to multiple parks and highly rated Cooper Mountain elementary school. Quiet location in the Hart highlands area. The home sits perched off the street to take full advantage of the serene territorial views. Fantastic sunny porch off family room to soak in the afternoon sun or entertain in private back yard. Lofted ceilings, skylight, and gas fireplace in the formal entry and living room. The floor plan is open and light filled, designed for modern living. Gas furnace and well insulated home keeps utility bills low. 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Upstairs is a loft area perfect for a home office and the 3 bedrooms including the Master bedroom suite with bath and walk in closet. The home has updated stainless appliances, new carpet, newer hardiplank siding and handsome exterior paint job, and custom tile. The double garage has bonus storage room.

Call today for a private showing!

7869 SW 168th Beaverton Oregon 97007   1717 square feet   Listed at $299,900