Portland 2016

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For my 35th birthday, I traveled to Portland, OR. Couple of things I observed:

• Ride the Tram to and from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) bright and early. And walk through Terwilliger Wildlands when you do.
• Nike has a partnership with OHSU’s children’s hospital. Here’s an excerpt from the showcase:

  The remarkable partnership between Doernbecher and Nike started as a brainstorming session between father and son. Michael Doherty, Nike Global Presentation Creative Director, and Doernbecher Foundation board member was looking for fresh fundraising ideas for the (OHSU) hospital. His son Connor suggested designing o one-of-a-kind shoe and putting it up for online bidding. An avid sneakerhead himself, Connor predicted that it would create huge demand among collectors.

  That original idea evolved into a program where the kids themselves do the designing. Each year, Doernbecher chooses six young patients to create their very own pair of custom kicks, which Nike produces and sells online and at Nike stores all over the country. In return, 100% of the proceeds go back to Doernbecher.

• Like people on the streets of New York, people on the streets of Portland have their own distinctive personal style. From head to toe, people are very mindful about what they want people to know about them.
• Despite it being a West Coast, car-heavy city, drivers are surprisingly courteous to pedestrians.
• Everyone embraces veganism without complaint or comment. Even the meat eaters.