Full Service with Icicles

Astoria, Oregon ~ February 7, 2014
Yesterday at 3:49 PM on Marine Drive.
Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Astoria Sunday Market picture of the week!

Astoria Sunday Market ~ May 19, 2013
Astoria Sunday Market Picture of the Week!  This is Zola's booth at 12th and Marine.  Zola is originally from Hungary and is known throughout Astoria for his cedar carvings.  He often parks his van during the week on Marine Drive in the parking lot of #10 6th Street.  He often proudly puts up the American flag, which seemed appropriate for our Memorial Day weekend photo.



Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store and Astoria Sunday Market.

Theme Day: My Street

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 8, 2012

My "street," the Astoria Riverwalk, is so extraordinary that I've shown it many times on this blog. It runs along the river the whole length of town and beyond. Here you see a fraction of it in the foreground. It connects to Marine Drive (parallel, beyond the stop sign). Here it also intersects with 15th Street, which takes you up the hill to the college. The Riverwalk never looks much like a street, but like an alleyway, parking lot, paved walkway, boardwalk, or trolley trestle. I showed the view west from here in yesterday's post. Unaccountably, any building fronting the Riverwalk bears the address of some other street. For instance, the address just behind me is 1490 Marine Drive, and you can see how that would confuse someone  actually looking for it on Marine Drive.

See thumbnails for all Theme Day participants

Many thanks to Julie and Peter for giving City Daily Photo bloggers

 a new home on the web and reuniting old friends!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #17: Perspectives

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive

At the beginning of the drive-by series, starting with photo #2, we were tripping along Bond Street. Now we're heading back toward town on Marine Drive paralleling Bond, which is somewhere in the midst of the vegetation climbing this hill. I'm not sure which row of windows is street level on the white building ( believe it's the second row from the roof), but . . . (see below) . . . 

. . . this nearby tall building is the back of the apartment complex I showed in this post. The lower row of windows seen here is at street level on the other side. You can just see the top of the windows on the 4th floor, and there is one more below that - the apartment where I lived when I first moved here. From this angle, it looks like it wouldn't have much of a view, but it certainly did.

When I stepped out the back door and climbed half a dozen steps . . .

. . . the world opened up. These last two photos were taken August 7, 2001.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #16: The Butterfly Fleet

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

W. Marine Drive at Columbia Street and Bond

I was surprised a number of weeks ago to see a new mural in Astoria. Apparently it was unveiled about July 10th. I was no less surprised to learn about the butterfly fleet itself and these amazing sails that look like wings. At one time there were 2,500 of these boats in our coastal waters, but the Maritime Museum was not able to find a single one remaining. The mural was painted by local artist Dorothy Danielson on the side of the Wauna Credit Union building. There is a book called The Butterfly Fleet on Amazon.com. The cover is very similar, but I don't know the connection. The scroll on the mural reads:

THE BUTTERFLY FLEET

BEFORE ENGINES - THEY FISHED

IN BOATS POWERED BY THE WIND

IN THEIR SAILS & WERE CALLED

THE BUTTERFLY FLEET

THEY WERE AT THE MERCY

OF THE WIND & TIDES 

& AS SUCH IT WAS A VERY

DANGEROUS PROFESSION - THEY

DID NOT ALWAYS COME BACK -

THESE PREDOMINATELY SCANDINAVIAN

FISHERMEN & WOMEN PREFERRED 

USING GILLNETS - WHICH THE FISH

SWAM INTO & GOT HUNG UP. THERE

WERE DAY FISHERIES & NIGHT FISHERIES -

THE NIGHT ONES WERE LIKED AS THE

FISH HAD A DIFFICULT TIME SEEING

THE NET, SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN

TO SWIM ALONG SIDE OR GO AROUND -

ON A GOOD TRIP THEY CAME HOME

LOADED TO THE GUNNELS --

Speaking of adventures, Lee Spangler is off on a new one. For anyone who would like to follow along, his blog is here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #14: Uniontown

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive, Uniontown

Still on our drive-by excursion, we pass some buildings in the short stretch of Marine Drive called Uniontown that were apparently built as houses, but most often are home to small businesses. I enjoyed the funky and eclectic "Captain Fishhead's Emporium," or whatever the official name was, but it's emptied out now. Stores in this area have ranged from the fun and funky to the downright sleazy. I got my favorite shoes mended in this vicinity, so that was quite useful. You can see in the upper left of the photo how the bridge ramp vaults into the air at a nice clip.

What are your favorite or least favorite places in Uniontown?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #13: Which Way?

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive

This traffic light is where you turn left to get onto the bridge up ahead. It's the beginning of a block-long loop into the sky, and there is no turning back. It's kind if like when you get strapped into the roller coaster, headed for a wild ride. I love driving over this bridge, but you roller coaster fans can keep your adrenalin rushes, thank you very much! This is as close as I come to catapulting myself into the sky unless it's in an airplane.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #12: A Woodsy Scene on Marine Drive

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive

Being built on a hill, Astoria provides numerous views like this one, and being in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the views are usually green, even before the rains start after summer. I took this photo along Marine Drive not far fron where the bridge crosses to Washington. There may be Blackberries in there. . . .

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #11: Houses on Young's Bay

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Still on Young's Bay Bridge almost to the Astoria side, we get a good view of Astoria's cool wooden houses along Marine Drive at the base the Astoria hill. The pilings with lintels (?) are left over from a dock. There was also a beautiful red boathouse (which I never saw) and net shed where people could be seen mending nets. Gill net boats were often tied up there as well. The building was blown down in a storm in about the 1970s. If anyone can describe more about Astoria's lost features at this location, please comment or send e-mail. That's Florence Avenue starting its trip up the lower part of the hill. The tall hill with the Astoria Column on top is out of sight on the right. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #5: Sleeping under the Bridge

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Marine Drive

It looks like the bridge is sitting right on top of the Holiday Inn Express. Not exactly, but it's very close! Some of you may remember the series of photos I took from the hotel in 2010. One of the images was my favorite "Astoria Daily" photo of the year. Here is the rest of the series:

. View from the Lobby

. Gull's-eye View of the Cannery Pier Hotel

. Trolley from the Top

. A Point of Land with Benches

. Ship and Bridge: A Classic Astoria Scene

We've come down from the Bond Street hill to the intersection of Bond Street and Marine Drive. Does anyone remember the sign on the marquee from when the hotel was first built? It said, "Where Sleeping  under the Bridge is. . . . " and I can't remember the rest of it! The sign disappeared after awhile. Maybe somebody thought it was politically incorrect?

(Aha! Michael E. McDaniel found it on TripAsvisor. The sign read, "Where sleeping under the bridge is a good thing." Thanks, Michael!)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #4: "Oasis on Bond Street"

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 15, 2012

Bond Street Hill / Columbia View Apartments

Here we are at the top of the Bond Street hill. When I first came to Astoria from Colorado in the summer of 2001, there were about 6 or 7 apartments available in the entire city. Only the one in this building seemed remotely livable, and when I walked in I thought I'd found Heaven. It was affordable, it was clean, it was spacious, the building was secure, it had an incredible view of the river AND a back deck! 

The building actually has five floors. It has three on the street side, but since it's on a steep slope, there are two more floors down once you get inside. My apartment was the only one on the bottom floor, which was strange, because it didn't feel like a basement. One side of the apartment was dug into the hillside, which kept it from getting hot in summer, and the other side perched high above Marine drive and the shipping channel. It's one of the coolest places I've ever lived. The title of this post is what Erby called the place. She was the very efficient and friendly caretaker when I lived here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Drive-by Astoria #1: The Corner at 8th and Commercial

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 16, 2012

Yesterday was sunny and beautiful, and for a change I was a passenger with her camera out. Some of the shots I got were kind of fun. The perspective was different, the angles unpredictable, and the composition could either be nice or insane. When I looked at the photos, I realized this is how many of us see our town. As of today, I think I'll do a short series of "Drive-by Astoria" photos. It might also be fun for those who haven't been here for awhile to feel like they're really back for a visit.

Here we are coming up 8th Street from Marine Drive, turning left onto Commercial. Looking west you can see the post office steps on the right and the Clatsop County Courthouse on the left.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Come on In

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 9, 2012

Here are a couple of signs you'll find inside the front door at 10th and Marine Drive seen in Tuesday's post. The white banister runs across the top of the wide stairway leading to the basement; stairs begin just to the right of the photo. Someone has created an indoor-outdoor feel around both the front and back entrances that I find very pleasant and inviting.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Antiques

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 12, 2012

I've always liked this antique building that sells antiques on Marine Drive. I'm not sure if it's open for business. I think it's been closed for a very long time, but if anyone knows, I'm interested. I could try to notice next time I go by. If I remember, it used to look closed even when it was open.

I like the details, like the odd-shaped windows and those things with the flowers. Deco decor, I would imagine. The front door, such as it is, is around to the right on Marine drive. What you see here is a paved alley.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Wellness and More

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 10, 2012

This building at the corner of Marine Drive and 10th Street holds many surprises: Waves of Change Wellness Center, Reiki, Reflexology, Tai Chi classes, a wine cellar, an art gallery, a quilt shop, a bakery, and downstairs is an old jail cell with a bunk - imported from some other building. I've missed some of the names, but it's a cool place. Go on down the old wooden stairs to the gift shop. It's nice down there!

To sign up for Tai Chi, just give Angela a call.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Couple of Classics

Astoria, Oregon ~ September 10, 2012

I'm not a classic car fan in the "fan" sense, but it was very cool to come out of a shop on 10th Street between Marine Drive and the river and see these brightly-colored throwbacks. One of the things that irks me about modern cars (besides their exorbitant prices) is that so many of them look alike to me. Where is originality of design? Where is nonconformity?

I think I recognize the aqua one as a Ford, but maybe someone will identify the yellow one for me. There must be a show of some sort nearby, because I saw three or four more classic cars coming off the bridge from Washington. I think those dumb-looking rims have to be modern. What's the deal here? As for the shapes and colors, what a nice way to brighten the day.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

End of Summer

Astoria, Oregon ~ August 27, 2012

I found this end-of-summer color blooming near the corner of 10th Street and Marine Drive. It was a beautiful day, just about right for me - balmy and not too hot. It sounds strange to say that one reason I moved to Astoria was for the weather, I am not good in the heat. But I've found a number of people here who feel the same way. I think all of us enjoy the sunny days, though, when we aren't having one of those rare Astoria heatwaves. I know that I do. A sunny day in Astoria can be absolutely glorious - and we appreciate them for sure. This year we are sympathizing with so much of the country and the world that is suffering from drought. In Astoria, the rains have come.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Franciscovich Building: Under A Blue Sky

Astoria, Oregon ~ February 15, 2012

Guest Photographer: Jessika Robinson

One of the many cool things about Astoria is the named buildings in our downtown area. Located on Marine Drive at 16th Street, this one is just outside the nucleus of the congregation of commercial buildings that line Commercial Street, Duane, and part of Marine Drive. It housed Hauer's Cyclery & Locksmith for many years, and now it's the home of the Bach 'n Rock music store. I have to admit I didn't recognize the upper facade of the Franciscovich Building when my guest photographer showed it to me. The building was constructed, as most of downtown Astoria was, after the Great Fire of 1922. The Franciscovich dates from 1925.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Steam Locomotive Restoration Shop

Astoria, Oregon ~ December 3, 2011

Anyone familiar with Astoria will recognize this place, although it doesn't beg for your attention the way the bridge or a big ship does. The shop is situated on Marine drive just before you get to the traffic circle heading west. The photo is not elegant or artistic, but I assume that not every town has one of these along the main drag. The sign says, "Visitors Welcome." I'll have to stop in someday if the sign is still current. 

Has anyone been there?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Yellow Leaves and Rain

Astoria, Oregon ~ November 21, 2011

14th Street and the River Walk

For those who don't know Astoria, 14th Street intersects the River Walk (next to the trolley tracks), while Marine Drive runs parallel to the River Walk and the tracks.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.