You may or may not have heard Portland, Oregon’s motto, slogan, tagline, whatever you wanna call it: “Keep Portland Weird.” Portland is known for its weirdness, which has been exposed by the Portlandia show, but Portlanders love it and embrace it.
I was known to be pretty weird when I was younger, very often described as “random.” Random was and probably is one of my characteristics. I seem to say and do things that people consider random. I can attest to the fact that Portland is random and weird, and I love it.
Below you will find a series of photos that I have collected since I got here over a year ago that give you just a glimpse of Portland’s slogan.
These two guys from Oregon Potatoes where happy to get some attention at their booth. (It seems they weren’t as popular as the other booths).That is a “fishy apple” (you can’t see its fishtail), for labeling GMO foods. “Are we eating fishy food?” It was especially funny to see it drive away.The tattoo from the cashier at the local Salt & Straw ice cream shop.An old gas station turned into a diner.A unique character in the street.A man walks his Husky dog and his kid in a backpack in cold weather.Micro houses.The brewbike taking drunk people around a brewery tour in Portland.A pink trolley.The art at a teahouse.The sign outside a barbershop.The outdoor art sign of a coffee shop.The hair products inside the barbershop.And the complimentary drinks inside the barbershop.Shirtless guy getting free ice cream.The line to voodoo doughnuts.Elvis setting up to play.Guys wearing beer hats.The Zombie truck. “Zombies don’t like fast food”A quinceañera by the waterfront.A security guy arresting Jack Sparrow or Johnny Depp?The Batmobile.Free chalk for people to use.Tin man.Hairdos.Happy metal statues.Superheroes for sale at a shop downtown.Eating their own poop.
But I think the prize goes to Darth Vader wearing a kilt, riding a unicycle and playing a bagpipe:
And these are just things I have personally seen, I can’t imagine all the weird things that go on around.
What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen in your town?
Update: I just found out that unicycle Darth Vader guy shoots flames from his bagpipe. True story.
Haha, I love this! I think the Brewbike is my favourite- that’s a genius idea. I’m actually pleasantly surprised by how much some of these random oddities remind me of Winnipeg- I guess I might have to do a post of my own! 😀
Btw, my favourite weird thing in Winnipeg is a busker who appears regularly in Osborne, wearing a horse mask and playing an accordion!
This is great – I just discovered your blog and love it!
FYI the kilt/unicycle guy actually shoots flames from his bagpipe (no kidding). Just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder. 🙂
Totally serious! He’s a Portland institution and I’ve seen a video of him riding the unicycle with flames shooting up in all directions. Hilariously, weirdly Portland!
A New Life Wandering 
That is quite the collection. Looks like a great city for people watching. I particularly like the zombie truck. 🙂
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Wow!! These are so cool! The micro houses are weirdly cute! 🙂
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How fun. This is quite the collection of some very unique sights 🙂
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Love these! How can you improve on the Darth Vader one? 🙂
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I know right? I don’t know if I can.
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Haha, I love this! I think the Brewbike is my favourite- that’s a genius idea. I’m actually pleasantly surprised by how much some of these random oddities remind me of Winnipeg- I guess I might have to do a post of my own! 😀
Btw, my favourite weird thing in Winnipeg is a busker who appears regularly in Osborne, wearing a horse mask and playing an accordion!
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Haha that does sound pretty weird.
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Haha…what a great photo series, made me smile! 🙂 Those voodoo doughnuts must be good?
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It’s kind of a Portland landmark, I actually have never been in there! hehe. But they make crazy doughnuts.
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This is great – I just discovered your blog and love it!
FYI the kilt/unicycle guy actually shoots flames from his bagpipe (no kidding). Just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder. 🙂
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Are you serious? You know him or seen him? haha Thanks btw.
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Totally serious! He’s a Portland institution and I’ve seen a video of him riding the unicycle with flames shooting up in all directions. Hilariously, weirdly Portland!
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