On the Northwest Trail #7 Last Days

 

Downtown Portland, Oregon, 2014

Left, Outside the Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Oregon, 2014

Right, Mark Hosler (right) and Doug Theralt (left) from the band, Office Products, in the Green Room at the Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Oregon, 2014

Back to Portland after our week on the Olympic Peninsula. From slow to fast, quiet to noise, open landscape and forest to mountainous buildings. We like it here. 

First night back we go to the Crystal Ballroom to hear our friend Mark Hosler who lives in Madison County. Mark is a founding member of the band Negativland and he was doing a show of his unique music, which I might describe as organized noise. 

 
 

Mark Hosler pushing the buttons and turning the dials, Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Oregon, 2014

We mostly take it easy the last few days. Museums, food, some shopping, more food, laying around, yet more food and drinks. We hang out with Ben at Clyde Common, the bar/restaurant he works in. We meet his friends and co-workers who, to a person, treat us like visiting royalty. Ben clearly loves his work, bartender and mixologist, and I must say how satisfying it is to see one's child doing something he enjoys, where he has found his niche. Home.

Ben mixing at Clyde Common, Portland, Oregon, 2014