Portland: Day 4 - Floating World Comics, walking around and Mio Gelato

[I swear I'm almost done with all of my Portland posts - Here's day 4. Scroll down for the latest 3 posts. Post originally for April 2009]

As mentioned in my previous post, we saw a lot of public art while walking around downtown. We were heading towards Floating World Comics and came across this sculpture located on SW Fifth Avenue and SW Ankeny Street. Unbeknownst to us, this was actually a fountain and it's called "Car Wash". I wished we could have seen it in "action" with actual water spouting the holes. It looked pretty cool nonetheless.

Earlier during our trip, we visited the comic store Cosmic Monkey (a recommendation from BadAzzMoFo creator and Portland native, David Walker - check out his insanely awesome blog here). While at Cosmic Monkey, the girl working the counter also recommend that we check out Floating World Comics in the NW area...

Like his Star Wars shirt? It's supposed to look "vintage" but it's not...

There was a lot to look at, not just on the shelves but on the walls. Check out this artwork...Stuff on their counter.

I ended up buying the book One! Hundred! Demons! by Filipina comic artist and Seattle native, Lynda Barry(creator of the weekly strip "Ernie Pook's Comeek" which used to be in the SD Reader, but sadly, not longer is). She is also a contemporary of Simpsons creator, Matt Groening. The owner of the store, Jason was super nice and said that was one of his favorite books by Lynda Barry. I especially like how she throws in her personal life in her work, often including her Filipino grandmother and relatives as well as choice cuss words in Tagalog.The Chinatown Gate in Portland...we didn't really check out too much here...

Here's what's available in the Old Town Chinatown district. We thought we would have time to see the Chinese Classical Garden, but alas...we'll have to go during our next trip here.

Portland has all these parking meter machines. San Diego is just now starting to do this downtown.

We passed by the 24-Hour Church of Elviswhich is next to Floating World...(a very cool comics shops I must say)

Looking back on this now - I wished we had gone in...I think we were just focused on getting back to our room because TC was getting hungry again, plus we were tired.

Yeah baby!

Floating World sign outside their door...

More cool street art :

Before getting back to our room, we had dessert at: Mio Gelato.

Bert and I shared some Chocolate Hazelnut and Pear.

TC had the mango and pineapple sorbetto...

The crowds came in waves. It would be mega busy for a few minutes, then ultra dead later on.

OMG - there was a girl here who was the SPITTING IMAGE of my sister! She looked EXACTLY like her. I did a double, then triple take because I knew it wasn't my sis, but damn, she looked like her. Same complection, shape of the face, makeup and length of hair.

I called my sis to tell her of her doppelganger and she wanted me to go up to the chick and ask to take her picture but I didn't because, seriously, if someone did that to me, I would just think that person was a wierdo. And I didn't want to be that wierdo. So yeah, I also contemplated taking a "secret" picture of her in the background while pretending to take a picture of Bert, but I think she saw me and I didn't want her to get suspicious.

We did a lot of walking and also wandering around the neighborhoods. Loved the free streetcars here, which is awesome. This city is pretty much pedestrian friendly, unlike San Diego where people will not hesitate to run you over in a heartbeat no matter where you're at, especially downtown. Portland is divided into quadrants, each with their own unique flavor and identity. Our hotel is in the SW area, which is downtown.

We're a block away from Powell's and a few blocks away from the Pearl District (aka the NW), which is the chi-chi, yuppified, La Jolla'ish area filled with lofts and art galleries. Not really fun or interesting if you're with an 8 1/2 year old. Our dinner and dessert destination last night was in the SE, which is also where Knitting Diva's brother lives.

We went to only to one place in the NE (Cosmic Monkey) and plan to see a few other spots tomorrow. We're not sure yet all we want to see and do. We're trying to hit up several places suggested by friends, readers, and things I saw in this book, The Zinester's Guide to Portland (this is one of the top sellers at Powell's). I really love this book because is a cooler alternative to the other guidebooks out there that are pretty run of the mill. No offense to Portland natives, but do I really need to see the Zoo? Or their museums when there are other off beat things out there that San Diego doesn't have? C'mon, how can one pass up on the Velveteria and the 24-Hour Church of Elvis? One cannot.

In addition to the Zinester's guide, I also consulted Insider's Guide to Portland, 5th Edition, and received Kirk's older copies of Best Places - Portland and Walking Portland (thanks!). We have one more day tomorrow and we head back home Thursday morning. Out of all of our trips, this one has been the most fun and most relaxing.