Lawrence Halprin’s realization of the Forecourt Fountain catapulted him to architectural fame in 1970, but his Pioneer Courthouse Square design fell short a decade later. | Photo via Portland City Archives
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Or, in the case of Pioneer Courthouse Square, it was Meier & Frank that demolished the Queen Anne-style Portland Hotel to cater to car culture.
That was 1951, and by 1970, the department store wanted to raise the roof and build an even bigger multi-story garage. City leaders were in the process of reimagining downtown development, so the structure never materialized.
Before the parking lot and Portland Hotel, the site was home to Central School (built in 1858).
It did spur yearslong conversations about converting the block bordered by Southwest Broadway, Sixth Avenue, and Yamhill + Morrison streets into a public plaza where people could gather. The city of Portland eventually bought the property and a committee of governmental figures and citizens kicked off an international design competition to decide what the future multi-use space would look like.
The jury received 160 submissions and 10 of those earned interviews. That group was whittled down to a final five; eventually, local architect Willard Martin’s blueprint earned the blue ribbon, and the rest is history for Portland’s Living Room.
You often hear history belongs to the winners, but in this case, we’re interested in the losers — what did the designs that didn’t make the cut look like? Thankfully, they survived the wrecking ball of time.
The brief called for a design that was “distinctive, dynamic, elegant, inviting, and unique to the area.”
Photos via Portland City Archives
Eisenman and Robertson Picture two separate glass pavilions housing a tiered coffee shop and a greenhouse looking out onto a copse of towering evergreen trees.
Geddes, Brecher, Qualls, and Cunningham Elements like an amphitheater and underground visitor center look familiar, but the massive glass arcade and covered garden set this scheme apart.
Halprin and Moore The anchor of this design evoked famous conservatories from around the world, which could house all manner of flora. Outside, multiple performing areas emerged from the characteristic natural stone-like surfaces.
Machado, Silvetti, Schwartz, and Silver Palm trees and a rose-covered pergola set the stage for this space with room for restaurants, shops, and a teahouse.
Asked
Asked
If you could time travel to pick a different Pioneer Courthouse Square design finalist, which would you choose?
A. Eisenman and Robertson B. Geddes, Brecher, Qualls, and Cunningham C. Halprin and Moore D. Machado, Silvetti, Schwartz, and Silver
Night of the Living Opera | Monday, Oct. 21 + Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 5-11:59 p.m. | Raven’s Manor | $15 | It’s... alive! And filled with monstrous music performed by local composers.
The Ecology of Feathers | Monday, Oct. 21 | 6-7 p.m. | Online | $20+ | Lift your knowledge of plumage with this class about one of nature’s most fascinating adaptations.
Bowling For Soup | Monday, Oct. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Roseland Theater | $35 | “High School Never Ends” and neither does the fun on this pop-punk band’s 20th anniversary tour.
ConCocktail | Monday, Oct. 21 | 8 p.m. | Jack London Revue | $5 | Watch some of the region’s best bartenders show off their skills across three timed rounds and compete for the favor of local mixologists.
Turnstiles: An Epic Billy Joel Singalong | Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Mississippi Studios | $15 | Sing us a song, you’re the piano man, sing us a song tonight — if you’re all in the mood for a melody, you’ll be feeling alright.
The Portland GrandSLAM | Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 8 p.m. | Aladdin Theater | $34 | Join this culmination of The Moth’s storytelling mastery, where people from all walks of life share tales of love and heartbreak, emotion and wit.
“Hollywood Crime Scene” | Tuesday, Oct. 22 | 8 p.m. | Helium Comedy Club | $31+ | Join this live recording of the podcast that discusses history, scandals, and true crime, with a special focus on the Rose City.
Wednesday, Oct. 23
“Psychedelic Rock Posters and Fashion of the 1960s” | Wednesday, Oct. 23-Sunday, March 30 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Portland Art Museum | $22+ | Reminisce about your own 1960s experience or encounter the mind-blowing rock posters of San Francisco + beyond for the first time.
3 ways couples can start mentally preparing for the holidays
Presented By Couples Clinic of Portland
“Life is challenging for many,” Davis says. “I strive to create a safe environment that supports people in their therapeutic journey, helping them navigate life in a way that brings them meaning and contentment.” | Photo provided by Kate Davis
Celebrating the holidays can be both a joyous and sometimes stressful time for couples.
Davis says if you anticipate an issue, start talking about it now, don’t wait until the stressor surfaces.
She recommends creating a list of separate + shared values and realistic resources related to anticipated activities or decisions.
Celebrating different holidays
Intercultural couples may find themselves adrift if their holidays occur at different times and with different meanings. Couples who stay curious and open to their partners’ traditions will find extra intimacy in sharing and may find ways to honor each person’s experience.
Discuss each other’s experiences around the holidays and create a plan that will ultimately bring you closer in the long run, says Davis.
Supporting a partner experiencing grief
Grief manifests in many different ways. Davis recommends talking to your partner about how you can support them, whether it’s taking on more household responsibilities, being there to share memories about a lost loved one, or giving them space.
Fresh off of retaining the Cascadia Cup, the Portland Timbers (No. 9) will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC (No. 8) in a MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card match despite being the lower seed. The reason? BC Place is hosting a motocross event, so the game will instead be played at Providence Park.
Watch
Looking for eerie films to add some ominous ambiance to your evenings? These Oregon-made movies are sure to send a shiver down your spine, from Laika Studios’ animated classics “Coraline” and “Paranorman” to “Spiral,” a story about an insurance salesman + painter with a dark past that was shot in Portland. (Portland Monthly)
Civic
If you, like one-third of Portlanders polled by The Oregonian, are unsure of how ranked-choice voting works, now is the time to brush up on the process ahead of November’s general election. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live + KGW)
Featured
Bison Coffeehouse, take a bow. Portland’s only Native-owned cafe was recently included in AFAR’s list of the 13 best places to try Native American food in the country. Of note were the lattes made with beans from Native roasters and owner Loretta Guzman’s famous biscuits. (AFAR)
Holiday
This year, Diwali falls on Thursday, Oct. 31, and signifies the victory of light over darkness in Hinduism. However, many of the local festivities will stretch into November, with a special dinner hosted by Our Table, a cruise with Portland Spirit, and a party at Desi Bites in Beaverton. (Eater Portland)
History
Music Millennium has been an important piece of Portland’s sonic scene since 1969 and it could soon be commemorated in puzzle form. A Kickstarter campaign is underway to raise $3,000 by Sunday, Oct. 27 to create a limited-edition 500-piece jigsaw of the business’s iconic facade. Pitch in here.
Closed
A pair of Northeast Portland cocktail bars have called it quits. Cereus wowed guests with Colombian food and drinks but ran into “insurmountable financial challenges.” Asha, the rebirth of closed restaurant The Sudra, had its own wobbles on the relaunch, but ultimately said “that’s a wrap” on social media. (Eater Portland)
Sports
The worry of a potential trap game at Purdue turned out to be unfounded for Oregon football. They beat the Boilermakers 35-0 on Friday night, earning them a 7-0 record and their first AP Poll No. 1 ranking since 2012. Hear the game’s breakdown from “Locked On Ducks.” (KGW)
Scammers’ tactics are increasingly sophisticated — OmniWatch offers a groundbreaking layer of identity protection (think: 24/7 monitoring, full-scale identity restoration, and up to $25,000 in scam insurance).*
Category
Plan Ahead
🎶 Quince you’ve been gone
Ripe quince fruits are hard, sour, and acidic, although they are made into many things including jams and alcoholic beverages. | Photo by Jonson22
On Sunday, Nov. 3, Bauman’s on Oak will partner with the Culinary Breeding Network and Sauvette to host the first Quince Fest in Portland since… well, ever.
The inaugural celebration of the beloved but often misunderstood fruit will bring together farmers, cider makers, cooks, bakers, arborists, and others interested in learning more about this pome native to the Caucasus region. There will be plenty of opportunities to taste it raw, as juice + membrillo, and in cakes and other pastries.
Is it a pear? Does it taste like an apple? These and other questions — like how to grow it, cook it, and juice it — will be answered by representatives of the USDA quince repository at Oregon State University. The Portland Fruit Tree Project will also be available with tips about how to care for fruit trees in your own yard.
Tickets are $12 but kids under 10 are free.
The Buy
The Buy
A pair of thermal fleece lined leggings. Made with an elastic waistband and moisture-wicking fabric, they’re perfect for both casual and active wear.
Personally, I really like the Halprin/Moore model for Pioneer Courthouse Square and overall, I wish we could’ve found a way to incorporate a botanical garden into the current design. Alas, it was not meant to be.
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