Dearth of Turkey Burgers

One of my first goals after moving up there (after changing the plates on the car, natch) is to locate a decent turkey burger in the great city of Portland. We've visited many a time, and you can sooner walk a block without getting wet than you can avoid running into some sort of pub serving hamburgers and veggie burgers.

So they cater to the meat eaters. And they cater to the cardboard eaters. But what about those of us that prefer the middle ground? As Nicole doesn't eat the red meat or swine, I've come to actually prefer the turkey burger to the hamburger. I feel lighter, a bit more spry, prepared to chase Della around the table after a turkey burger, whereas a hamburger leaves me feeling greasy, sluggish, and ready for a nap.

And yes, I know that Burgerville serves turkey burgers. And while I'll admit that it's better than McDonalds (not that I've ever actually had a burger there), Burger King, and most other fast food joints, it's still not a great turkey burger.

I'm hoping some lost soul finds this posting and replies with a long list of turkey burger outlets. A guy can dream.

Portland #1 Sustainable City

Portland is ranked the #1 sustainable city in America according to SustainLane. Who is SustainLane? Not a clue, but highlights include:

1. #2 ranked water quality
2. #2 ranked air quality
3. #2 in green building
4. #5 in locally grown foods and agriculture

San Francisco is #2 on the list and Oakland #6 -- nice to be moving up (double entendre intended)!

Replace the Plates!

Found the following amusing (or maybe not?) comments on a blog called Taylor Street Purple in the shortest two-part series ever on Californians in Oregon (parts 1 & 2).

... native Californians are taught and taught well: If you ever move to Oregon, the first thing you do — the…very…first…thing…you…do — is to get your license plates changed.

Replacing a windshield is expensive.

I'm thinking I'll stop at the first DMV I see after I cross the border.

Treehugger Does Portland

One of my new favorite sites featured Portland recently in their Tell Us About Your City series. Lots of interesting comments, some from some obviously passionate peeps. The topic of biking in particular seemed to rouse the natives, which reminds me that I'll miss riding my bike to and from BART on my daily commute to SF. Course, the walk from bed to the office will be significantly shorter, so I won't be complaining too loudly.

Eastmoreland Links

Been collecting some links about Eastmoreland and the surrounding areas.

Wikipedia
Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association
Portland Connected
Duniway Elementary School
Moreland Farmers Market
Topix.net
Reed College

More to come, I'm sure. And I'll likely just continue updating this article.

Yet Another California in Portland

We are officially in escrow on a house in Portland! What does this news mean? Yet another Californian in Oregon!

I'm accustomed to being the native, sneering at the droves that move to the Bay Area. I'm now amongst the droves. Hopefully I can fend some off with the feeble defense of "but my wife's an Oregonian," but in the end I'm still just another Californian in Puddletown. I'm sure I can deal.

Anyhow, I'm intending this blog to be a semi-regular diary of thoughts and discoveries in my new home. In the short-term, it'll likely just be a laundry list of various sites I find that I think will be useful in familiarizing myself with Eastmoreland, the South East, Portland, Oregon, the Northwest, and beyond. Eventually ... who the hell knows?