I’d heard of, but hadn’t seen, the big pair of shoes parked outside Adidas in Portland. I hoped that they were arranged in such a way that a person could conceivably stage a photo to look as though they were tiny with enormous feet. What I found was almost as good–the shoe was easily scalable and practically made for lounging. Now I want a big shoe in my backyard.
Spotted at 5055 N Greeley Ave in Portland, OR
Erected in 1959 by the Kenton Businessmen’s Club, this 31 foot tall likeness of Paul Bunyan was created to honor Oregon’s timber industry and the state’s centennial. A placard on the side of the statue explains that Bunyan is facing north to overlook the Expo Center, where the centennial celebration took place….but a quick look from behind him shows what Bunyan is actually looking at. Not that I blame him. A man gets lonely in the woods!
Spotted at 8433 N Interstate Ave in Portland, OR
Escondido’s Grape Day Park wouldn’t be the same without its unique playground, dubbed “Vinehenge” by the creators. Sprawling vines are designed to climb and swing upon, mosaic leaves rise up from the ground to form the cutest seats, and a slide is encased in a bunch of vibrant purple grapes. I wondered how the heck I missed this when I worked in Escondido, and as it turns out, the installation was put in place in 2004, six months after I moved out of the area. It’s always fun to see unique playgrounds, especially since so many old, cool structures are being torn down across the country. I vividly remember the playground in my hometown with the huge metal swirly slide that would burn the backs of your legs in the summer sun, and the giant spinning wooden hamster wheel of danger–I don’t think either are there anymore, but I could be wrong. Then again, it’s good that some of these death traps are no longer in action, because the only people who should be pirouetting on a metal barrel that rotates around a metal pole are already in Cirque du Soleil.
Spotted on North Broadway in Escondido, CA.