Hawthorne Avenue-Portland

I spent the day walking around Portland, starting with the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI). It was supposed to be aimed more toward children, but I think that's just a way to say that the exhibits invoked imagination and interaction rather than just cold hard facts. That being said, most of the areas were closed off for some reason so I spent an hour or so exploring the cumulative "Miracle of Birth"/"Thinking Animals"/"Nanotechnology" demonstration. It's too bad how subdued school makes me feel sometimes, because I was just kind of floating along, or maybe I just felt like there was nothing I needed to learn. I knew a lot about most of the demonstrations that I viewed (I was interested in nanotechnology through the book The Singularity Is Near by futurist Ray Kurzweil, which I read in high school), but I also think that at a certain point in your life you seem to close off a lot, besides the subjects that you're really passionate about, that is, until new doors start to open up. I guess you just have to keep digging holes...

Still in the museum, I checked out the Planetarium, where I sat in an IMAX-type theater and shown a view of the early spring night sky through a projection on the ceiling. Ironically, this was the part that I was most psyched about, and I probably could have given the presentation myself:

We're currently in a pretty spectacular planetary alignment, a perfect triangle, or a grand trine, between the planets Mars in Virgo, Venus and Jupiter conjunct in Taurus, and Pluto in Capricorn (From our location, we can see all of these besides Pluto). This arrangement of planets hasn't been seen since around the Revolutionary War, and the significance of it astrologically is pretty astounding. This particular patterns fall in Earth signs, and with Pluto in Capricorn, it shows that what is superficial will fall, and what is real and grounded in permanence, rather than temporary materialism, will prevail. Like the American Revolution, a new political dynasty is in the process, as the old one crumbles apart due to dishonesty and greed. Several asteroids fall into this grand trine, including a conjunction between Psyche and Eros(Lovers by instinct in Greek mythology, a synchronicity between action and thought. These two belong together, so with Virgo and Mars, lifestyle decisions will help formulate and lead people's lives in directiosn that will benefit and maintain them), Amor conjunct Pluto (True love for planet Earth, and a generation of revolutionists), and then the grand trine is turned into a kite via Chiron in Pisces (Leading into Virgo, action becomes healing for mankind and an opportunity to experience the mysticism of human creativity). Even not to acknowledge this formation astrologically, no one can deny the beauty of the planets' dance.

When I left the museum three hours later, the crazy Portland weather woke me up from my museum daze, and I stretched my legs down Hawthorne Avenue. My first stop along the Haight Ashbury-esque street was a cool artistic, yet handy bicycle shop called Clever Cycles. They had bikes that could fold and compact through three different bends. They also had tall bikes, short bikes, and a special type made out of wood, designed for children first learning how to ride. I watched a little girl scoot around the store on one!
http://clevercycles.com/

After that, I continued walking down Hawthorne until I reached a food cart area with a big tent in the middle. My friend Emma told me about this one stand, Potato Champion, that used to be owned by a substitute teacher from her old high school. The man at the cart said that Nick was full time teaching now, but we had a nice conversation, both Minnesota natives. I tried the Poutine, fries topped in gravy and cheese curds, and then accommodated it with a few sauces on the side (Always the best part, and they had variety!). Very delicious, and an opportunity to try something different when I show Justin, who I'm in Portland with, later this week!

http://www.potatochampion.com/

On the long walk back to the Woodstock area, I stopped at a knitting store, Yarn Garden, and picked up some needles and yarn, to try my hands at something new. I also walked checked out Artichoke Music and Powell's Books (again).

http://www.yarngarden.net/
http://www.artichokemusic.org/
http://www.powells.com/

It was my favorite kind of day, an opportunity to explore the more eccentric areas of the city on my feet!