Where Presidents Once Stood

150 days is slipping by quickly! Tonight will be #12 out of 150. It is the official beginning of the celebration most people refer to as "birthday." I prefer to call it the anniversary of the day the universe was blessed with my presence. The 35th anniversary, to be exact. Since I share said anniversary with Matt White, we have a tradition of attending baseball on the day. However, this year that was not possible, so we went to PGE Park a few days early with some friends and family.

PGE Park is in the midst of change. With soccer being the more prodominant sport in Stumptown, our Beavers team is looking for a new home because apparently boys can't share. What is it about sports that always requires bigger, better, faster..... I digress...

First known as Multnomah Field, later as Multnomah Stadium, and even later as Civic Stadium, PGE Park has a rich history since the Multnomah Athletic Club rented the cow pasture that it once was in 1893. I love the photos on display in the stadium--antique cars parked right on the field, houses in the background, men in three piece suits and ladies in hats. Those were the days.

Tonight, however, being Bark in the Park night, there were lots of four legged friends in the house and even, to our amazement, a dog wedding after the game... Not so dog-gone surprising considering the stadium housed the Multnomah Kennel Club for over 20 years.

I wonder if there were canines in the park in 1909 when President Taft visited? And I wonder if President Harding drank locally brewed beer when he here spoke on July 4, 1923? I wonder if it was his last beer before he died less than a month later. Probably not.

All in all, a smokin' hot night that brings me to 138 to go. Happy Birthday to me! Still probably not as smokin' as when Elvis was here in 1957. I also wonder what else Elvis did when he was here? This clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPSWHz72QLo has some great sound bites--keywords: wiggle, trucker, crewcut and sideburns. My anniversary present to you!