They don't race here anymore...

Multnomah Greyhound Park - Abandoned, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Multnomah Greyhound Park has sat abandoned since 2005. There has been a couple of proposals to tear down the track and build a casino but both failed. Last year a company tried to get voters to approve of private (non-native) casinos in the state but pulled out when it was clear their state wide ballot initiative was going to fail badly.

1913 Fire Station - Now Abandoned

1913 Fire Station - Now Abandoned, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Fire Station Number 2, for many years was an essential part of the old town part of Portland but today stands abandoned surrounded by roads and railroad tracks.

I am not sure when the fire station was last used but it is clear by looking at the old doors that the fire trucks once used that they are in no way equipped to handle today's multi purpose fire trucks.

Hopefully this building would be put to use as it has great architectural details but it will cost money to fix up since it would have to be seismically upgraded to handle the eventuality of a Cascadia Subduction Zone 9.0+ earthquake.

El Dorado Motel Baker City, Oregon

El Dorado Motel Baker City, Oregon, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

When I travel I much rather stay at some older motel with character than most of the cookie cutter places that are way too common today.

On a trip last year we stayed at this motel in Baker City, Oregon. Baker City is home to several unique lodging locations but this one is right off Interstate 84 on Oregon Highway 7 and convenient for our late arrival.

While the rooms could use some sound insulation and the continental breakfast was nothing to write home about, we had a nice short stay before continuing our trip.

Portland Streetcar at Portland State

Portland Streetcar at Portland State, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

In my last posting I mentioned how it had been three years since I came to Portland for a conference that would lead to me actually moving here to Portland.

Here is another once of those photos that makes me think about that trip three years ago. The day after I arrived in Portland for the conference I had a free day so I planned to walk the city using walks created by Laura Foster in her books "Portland City Walks" and "Portland Hill Walks" both of which I highly recommend.

That day I walk to this very spot and took a picture of a streetcar approaching this very spot. Little did I know that I would become very familiar with this spot. Since a year ago June I have been attending Portland State and have had classes in the building to the right and left behind the streetcar. I have also spent time in the Park Blocks which are on either side of the streetcar.

Just goes to show that sometimes a picture is can be more than just a picture of something but can have meaning and possibly for things we don't think of when we take the picture.

MAX Train at Skidmore Fountain

MAX Red Line train in old town Portland, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

A MAX Red line train on its run from Beaverton to the Portland International Airport passes the Skidmore Fountain in old town Portland.

If this was a Saturday or Sunday except in the months of January and February this area would be jammed packed with people attending the Portland Saturday Market with trains crawling through to ensure no one gets hit. However because it is a weekday things are much quieter in the area and for the operator.

I love walking around Downtown Portland and the surrounding areas taking pictures. No matter how many times I walk the area I always find something new to take pictures of.

This picture also makes me realize that next month will mark 3 years since I boarded a Red Line train at the airport to attend a conference here in Portland and how much my life would change since. Little did I know when I rode the Red Line that day that I would be moving here to Portland in nine months and would make the frightening step to return to school.

Now three years later it seems like all a blur.

Lunch is now being served...

Lunch is now being served..., a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Are you hungry? Well if you like Chinese food you might just be after looking at this picture. A food cart has displays several of their dishes during the Portland Saturday Market.

There is Sweet and Sour Chicken and General Tso's which are my favorites plus several other tasty treats.

A Wet Day in Chicago

Metra train at Big Timber, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

As mentioned in my previous post, in April I attended the national convention for the American Planning Association in Chicago.

On the final day I took the "Behind the Scenes of Union Station" Tour and then had the afternoon to explore. The area was being hit by severe thundershowers so I decided to take a METRA train from Union Station so I could be dry for a couple hours.

I took the train out to Big Timber which is right outside the town of Elgin. I irony of going out on this route is that I almost moved to the area about three years ago before something fell through (which turned out to be a blessing in multiple ways).

I was able to take a couple of pictures while the train laid over at Big Timber before the rain started to fall again.

The next day I was supposed to fly to Detroit to visit my Aunt whose only child (and someone I had spent a lot of time with in the summers growing up) had passed away earlier in the year,

However, because of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings in the area I couldn't make the trip.

Chicago Union Station-What the public doesn't see...

Chicago Union Station tour, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Back in April I spent a week in Chicago to attend the American Planning Association conference.

On the final day of the conference I was part of behind the scenes tour at Chicago Union Station.

One of the rooms that we went into were once the woman's restroom and lounge which is now used for storage and a prep are for caters and others that work the special events that are held at the station.

You could see the beauty that this room once had with the murals and the decorative ceiling. While the ceiling had been damaged in the late 50's/early 60's by the installation of a lowered ceiling, you can see still the beauty that was once there.

Hopefully someday this section of station will be restored.

Party in the Park, Beaverton, Oregon

Party in the Park, Beaverton, Oregon, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

I did not realize how long it has been since I posted a photo on my blog, but that is now going to change.

My first picture in a log time is from a band that played at Party in the Park which is big party sponsored by the city of Beaverton and takes place in July.

Unfortunately the band was placed in a bad position for taking photos but I think the photo still came out pretty good. I have not tried taking pictures of bands too many times before so what do you think?