Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square is also known as 'Portland's Living Room', or simply 'The bricks'. It is indeed the center of the city, which features a curving ramp that leads down into a large communal space. The annual Christmas tree lighting occurs here along with many other activities that happen all year long. Most recently there was a sandcastle building competition here, and during some summer nights they have a large projection screen to show movie classics. It's always fun to pass through or sit and people watch at Pioneer Courthouse Square. 

Movie Madness

In the Southeast section of Portland there is a wonderful movie rental store that is part business and part museum (my kind of place)!  Movie Madness is a really neat destination for film enthusiasts, historians, and people who like to support local businesses.  Besides many aisles of movies for rent, which is a novelty itself these days, the store has collected many outstanding props and costumes from many famous films and movie stars.  In these fast times of streaming online movies, it is a fantastic refuge to physically be presented by artifacts and treasures from such an exciting industry.

  

A set prop used in 'Citizen Cane'

Prop head used in 'Pulp Fiction' for a character who is accidentally shot inside a car--The mirror is used to show the exit wound

Leopard print dress was a Halloween costume for Dee Wallace in E.T.--Peter Boyle's costume for 'Young Frankenstein'

The costume in the middle is from 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1943)

One outfit for Drew Barrymore from 'Never Been Kissed'

An outfit worn by Madonna in 'Evita'

The promotional soap bar held by Brad Pitt for 'Fight Club'

Costumes from 'West Side Story'

The Maltese Falcon

On the left, a dress from 'Bonnie and Clyde' for Faye Dunaway; on the right, one of Julie Andrews dresses from 'The Sound of Music'