halamen's blog

The Many Faces of Portland

halamen — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:19:33 -0500

The Greek festival had barely begun, but already crowds of people were filling the white event tent with high-spirited echoes. Clusters of teenagers, young families, disabled vets in wheelchairs, elderly folks from the nursing home down the road…they all crowded around the long tables decked out...

CLICK

halamen — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:29:15 -0500

...

Map-nosis

halamen — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:09:17 -0500

So, I have an unhealthy obsession with maps. It’s something that may seem a little strange to the general public, but I’m comfortable writing about it here as I’m sure most Matador readers share the disorder.

I could easily while away an hour looking over a country map…any country. Really....

City Spring

halamen — Mon, 5 May 2008 15:49:08 -0500

Spring comes late to the north country.

My untrained eye failed to spot the cherry trees sprinkled here and there along the snowy Portland streets. This being my first spring in the city, the brilliant blossoms took me totally by surprise. And, like many people I’m sure, I can’t look at those pink...

State Your Name

halamen — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:27:40 -0500

Henry John Amen IV

HJA

halamen

Hal

Is there a more basic possession than a name? We all have one—probably more than one. There’s your childhood nickname, the name your high school sports team gave you, your Matador profile name, the name whispered only by your lover, your super-secret...