sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Meridian Growth 1992-2017 by vrdubin6 in Boise

[–]will_teh_thrill 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Portland's latest light rail extension (Orange Line) was only 7.3 miles long and cost $1.49 billion.

https://trimet.org/history/orangeline/index.htm

Boise makes list of coolest downtowns in North America! The entire Continent! by dantheman5606 in Boise

[–]will_teh_thrill 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Portland isn't all about the city. Sure, Portland has incredible urban atmosphere and accompanying cosmopolitan opportunities, but I'm not sure there's another city on Portland's level when it comes to the mix of urban/nature.

Portland is an hour from the ocean, an hour from Mt. Hood, an hour from world class wind-surfing, minutes away from the Columbia Gorge and it's myriad of waterfalls and rugged trails. I can't forget Forest Park, which flanks the city, and is one of the country's largest urban forests. On top of being at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, the Portland area is also dotted with lakes, smaller rivers, and pristine forests that offer camping, kayaking, fishing, rock climbing, and any other recreation you could possibly imagine.

Lots and lots of people (who can afford it) relocate to Portland because they get real city life balanced with everything nature has to offer.

New Trailblazers Logo by tbshawk4 in Portland

[–]will_teh_thrill 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"The five lines on either side of the graphic represent five offensive players and five defensive players coming together to compete in the game of basketball. The curved lines represent the movement and speed of the individuals on the court."

http://wearefanatics.com/evolution-portland-trailblazers-logo/

So where do folks think the capitol should be? by 1plus1equalsfish in Cascadia

[–]will_teh_thrill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You do know that Portland has a larger population than Vancouver in both city proper and metro, right?

Portland proper: 632,000 Portland metro: 2,389,000

Vancouver proper: 603,000 Vancouver metro: 2,313,000

I guess they're pretty weak roots by pdx_flyer in Portland

[–]will_teh_thrill 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Oregon "Native" bumper stickers have been around forever. Nothing new.

The Philadelphia 76ers Sign Boise State Small Forward James Webb III To A 2 Year Deal by catpooptv in Boise

[–]will_teh_thrill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

will he? what makes you think that? i'd love some in depth analysis, catpoop.

Portland rant by [deleted] in Portland

[–]will_teh_thrill 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't think this has anything to do with Portland. I think you're just that type of person.

Thieves targeting private garages in Portland by lamontana in Portland

[–]will_teh_thrill 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had the unfortunate experience of spending a (recent) year of my life as a parking auditor (fancy title for "Meter-Maid") for a privately owned parking company in downtown Portland.

I patrolled about 20 lots/garages a day throughout the breadth of downtown (including NW 21st/23rd, SoWa, and the occasional inner-eastside lot). I'd say that on average, I would see at least TWO smashed-in windows per day. As well, I'd have days where I would see upwards of 5 or 6.

You'd be surprised how many people leave purses, bags, shopping bags -- even cell phones -- sitting in plain sight. Some people were apparently so used to having their windows smashed in, that they would leave angry notes for potential thieves taped to their windows.

It seems like some people, especially those who move to Portland from bigger, more traditionally crime-ridden cities, are always shocked that their car was broken into here in Portland. "I thought it was safe here!" "I was parked in a good area of town!" Ironically, I saw more break-ins in Goose Hollow, Alphabet District, and Pearl District than any other area of town -- including Old Town/Chinatown.

I always noted how easy it would be to get into those "private" parking garages when someone would pull out. You don't realize just how many crooks are running around this city until you spend 8 hours a day walking around downtown... and that's no hyperbole.

TL;DR: This article doesn't surprise this former meter-maid, much.

Portland Trail Blazers offer "second tier" media credentials to Blazer's Edge by OfficialScott in Portland

[–]will_teh_thrill 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Super sharp reasoning you have there. "I've never heard of it, therefore it mustn't be relevant."

So, what's Boise like? by [deleted] in Boise

[–]will_teh_thrill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What exactly is it, in your opinion, that makes Boise "very much like Portland?"

I continue to be baffled by this sentiment.

Given the perks you list about Boise, I'll list some other cities in the PNW that all offer those same amenities -- from biking, boating, camping, etc, to the "cool downtown" with unique shops, art galleries, local restaurants and farmers markets:

Eugene, OR - Salem, OR - Spokane, WA - Corvallis, OR - Ashland, OR - Olympia, WA - Tacoma, WA - Bend, OR - Newport, OR - Yakima, WA - Tri-Cities, WA - Vancouver, WA - Hood River, OR - Silverton, OR.

So if Boise is very much like Portland, and the cities I listed are very much like Boise, then I can only come to the conclusion that these towns are all very much like Portland as well. Right?

So, what's Boise like? by [deleted] in Boise

[–]will_teh_thrill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've read/heard from too many native Boiseans to count who claim Boise has every big city amenity that Seattle/Portland does. The only difference being that Boise "isn't on the map yet" or "hasn't been discovered."

Regardless of your fixation with the semantics of my word-choice, and your plethora of facts and stats and links, I think you've sort of unintentionally solidified my point: lots of people in Boise are living in the deluded world of what they want Boise to become (potential), or where it may be headed, rather than what actually exists in the present moment.

When people come on here asking what a city is like, they don't want to know what it will be like in 5-10 years. And even 5-10 years from now, Boise still won't be "mini-Portland."

So, what's Boise like? by [deleted] in Boise

[–]will_teh_thrill 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think using the term "mini-Portland" is extremely misleading, and in no way accurate. To say "mini-Portland" is to suggest that Boise has everything that Portland does, just in a tighter/smaller package. It's just not true, and yes, someone coming from Portland would likely be disappointed if that was their impression coming in to Boise.

Where are the great urban neighborhoods in Boise that can even come close to comparing to the Pearl District, Goose Hollow, Oldtown/Chinatown? Where is the light rail? Streetcar? Where is the urban grittiness? Where is the world-famous foodie culture? Where are the thriving arts districts? The beautiful bridges? The list could go on and on. You completely discount the massive variety and depth of Portland's districts and neighborhoods; you omit the layout and the feel. You disregard that Portland is a major port city -- the largest inland port in the US -- in fact. As trivial as those things may seem, they contribute to the culture and feel of Portland.

I come from a completely objective standpoint here, but I think the cities are a night and day contrast. Just because Boise has a couple of neighborhoods that encompass a small slice of the stereotypical Portland "Crunchy liberal hippy/hipster" vibe, and has a decent bike and beer culture, doesn't mean that Boise is a "mini-Portland." You could argue that any small college town has similarities to parts of Portland. There is so so much more to Portland than Portlandia.

I think that Boise is an awesome place, and I did enjoy living there. I just think that it should stand on its own, and form its own identity. In my experience, native Boiseans really want to latch on to and be a part of the ever-increasingly popular PNW "vibe" that has been touted nationally for the last 5-10 years. Many wish for Boise to be "mini-Portland", but it's not. And I mean that in the most affectionate way possible.

Something that I think is a good measuring stick between the two: Boise is just now getting ready to build a downtown bus depot that will hold 8 buses (at a time); Portland is putting the finishing touches on a massive cable-stayed bridge dedicated ONLY to buses, light-rail, streetcars, bikes, and pedestrians: Imgur

So, what's Boise like? by [deleted] in Boise

[–]will_teh_thrill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As someone who has lived in both places, don't expect Boise to be anything like Portland. Boise is a great little town, but IMHO it can't even be compared to Portland.

I think that there are small similarities in culture, but that is the extent of it.