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Letterpress in Portland

I’m in Portland, OR at the moment for the NWACC Instructional Technology Workshop. I arrived today and took a little time to familiarize myself with the are - specifically the Pearl District at the suggestion of both Chris and Patti.. and the barista who made me my afternoon mocha and told me my hotel was nearby… and the person who checked me into my hotel room.

I went particularly looking to visit Powell’s Books, but stumbled across Oblation Papers & Press along the way and spent entirely too much time in there. The store is filled with amazing letterpress from their own presses and other stationary, paper, journals, and various paper-related curiosities. I could have bought one of everything.

The Design Within Reach Airstream

Design Within Reach is now selling an Airstream model with its own brand of design flair. When I first read about it I was irritated. To me, RVs of all shapes and sizes represent everything that is wrong with consumers and our culture of convenience. Why do people feel the need to cart their earthly possessions around behind them when they vacation? What is the attraction in creating a microcosm of one’s home life in the pursuit of “getting away from it all”?

To my horror, the more I think on the DWR Airstream design the more I find myself appreciating its clean efficient use of space and tasteful decor. Somehow it seems to appeal to my design sensibilities, curses! Nevertheless, I will not allow myself to be lulled by its siren song of materialism - and remain resolute that my vacationing and enjoyment of the outdoors remain free of a portable kitchen, recessed halogen lights, and Nelson Ball Clock.

When it comes down to it, for $50k I can travel to so many places not reachable by the National Highway System, without buying something that most closely resembles a ball and chain - bouncing along behind my vehicle.

An Airstream spotted in the wild, not far from home