High-tech treasure hunt

The Northwest Chevy Dealers sponsored an exiting event on the Square on Saturday. It was a high-tech treasure hunt where the winner drove home a brand new 2011 Chevy Cruse. Contestants raced through downtown Portland receiving challenges and clues via text messages, while trying to earn the most points and pick up the key’s to the Chevy Cruse. A young couple from Salem racked up the most points and won the car. In the photos you see that Umbrella Man was trying to get in the act and give advise to several contestants. I also photographed David Coiteux, a participant who pointed out his own brick on the Square. How cool is that! Visitors and shoppers in downtown Portland had to wonder what was up, with several hundred people in blue t-shirts running in all directions.

War protest

On Saturday, several hundred people gathered on the Square to protest the United States involvement in conflicts around the globe. The rally marked the 8th anniversary of the United States invasion of Iraq. Speakers and organizations were on-site to educate the public on the U.S. policy in Iraq and the economic situation in the United States.

Waterproof watch

I was in a driving rainstorm on the square the other day and didn’t want to pull out my cell phone to check the time. I was near Umbrella Man and decided to check his watch. I found it still keeps perfect time after 28 years of rain on the square. They just don’t make this kind of quality stuff anymore.

Cold weather tourists

With temperatures in the 20’s Umbrella Man draws a crowd on one of the coldest days of the year. The leader of this tour group gathered everyone in a semi-circle to introduce Portland’s famous icon. Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square is the focal point for several tours in the downtown area and Umbrella Man is always the star attraction.

Strong kid

Everyone knows how much little boys love to climb on things. It looks like this little guy knocked over this column on the square, so he could climb on it. Wow, that took some major strength.

Afternoon sun break

On a cold winter day, the afternoon sun hits the square for a little over an hour in the late afternoon. People take advantage of the sun to relax, get warm and catch up on some reading. During the winter months the sun shines on the square for a couple of hours a day, once at noon and again in the late afternoon. Those two hours are a welcome break from the cold weather.

Electronic revolution

Protesters gathered on Pioneer Courthouse Square calling for ouster of Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak. This has been billed as an electronic revolution, with worldwide protester's using Google, Facebook and Twitter. Many people learned about this protest on the square through electronic networking media. Many other gatherings on the square are fueled by these same methods. So, once again Portland’s Living Room gives people with a cause a place to meet and voice their beliefs.

$1,000,000 studio

NewsChannel 8's HD "Studio on the Square" is adjacent to the Square's Visitor Information Center. The construction was completed in the summer 2008. The studio cost over $1,000,000 dollars to build. The location of the high definition studio showcases events at the Square in visual detail never seen before. With only a select number of street level news studios in operation throughout the United States, the "Studio on the Square" captures the recent trend of integrating news and information access with some of the nation's most distinguished public spaces. For a tour of the studio watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkXIL_akEss

Who is this man?

The answer is Umbrella Man. Anyone who has ever been to Pioneer Courthouse Square knows Umbrella Man. He’s the most photographed person in Portland. Since starting this photoblog in July I’ve seen hundreds of people photograph him from every angle. I would guess he has been photographed over a million times since the square opened. Anyone who doesn’t have a photo of him has never been on Pioneer Courthouse Square with a camera.

Sun break

In the middle of winter, sun on the square is scarce. The only direct sun is during the lunch hour as the sun passes between two buildings. If you want to eat your lunch in the sun, you have to eat fast or move with the sun. There’s not much of it, but it really feels great.

Summer re-visited

Last summer during a concert on the square, I noticed this little girl trying to convince a new friend to dance. Her older sister (who was dressed just like her), was already dancing with a girl she found, and she was trying to find someone to dance with her. It worked. They became friends and danced several songs together.

Tons of literature

Since winter arrived I tend to drop into the Information Center on the square to get warm and use the restroom. A lot of people don’t realize that the center contains hundreds of brochures on attractions in and around Portland. Browsing through the literature I found all sorts of places I didn’t know existed. There’s also a group of very knowledgeable people to answer any questions you may have. I don't know if anyone is interested in this post, but I got nice and warm taking these photos.

End of the day

Three “square” meals

A couple of weeks ago I met a friend of a friend named Scott. We were talking about Pioneer Courthouse Square, and he said I should do a blog post on “square” meals. I agree. When someone is visiting the square and gets hungry, they have three “square” meals to choose from. There are a variety of delicious burritos, hot dogs, sausages, Philly steak sandwiches and burgers. The blogger has tried everything and gives all three carts a big “two thumbs up.”

Familiar faces

A lot of people who visit the square miss these guys. If you want to check them out, they hang around the moat that runs around the Starbucks deck.