The inside of the Portlands Energy Centre, rising quickly on Unwin Street east of Cherry Beach, resembles a scene from an old James Bond film, where an evil genius is hatching a plan for world domination. In a soaring hangar criss-crossed by steel girders, as cranes and forklifts beep and roar, dozens of workers in reflective orange vests are welding, painting, tightening bolts. Four cylindrical steel smokestacks, the tallest two 75-metres high, resemble launching silos for missiles.
Neighbours in Leslieville, Riverdale and the Beaches have for years painted the new, $730-million power plant -- a 50-50 venture of Ontario Power Generation and TransCanada Pipelines --as evil.
Indeed, it is unattractive: a huge box clad in aluminum siding, painted grey.
I am not sure anyone will grow to love the natural gas-fired Portlands Energy Centre. Still, its builders do have one powerful argument for the place: in the 1960s Toronto produced 1,200 megawatts of power in city limits; these days, with double the population, the city produces power via one lonely wind turbine at Exhibition Place.
Yes, we can use our clotheslines (the province is even poised to decriminalize the practice) but, given that the City of Toronto consumes about one quarter of Ontario's electricity, it makes sense to produce some of the stuff on site.
Besides, you know all those new condos (and even a few offices) going up? They need hydro. "A lot of the development going on in Toronto wouldn't have occurred if this plant hadn't have gotten a go-ahead," says Ted Gruetzner, the affable spokesman for the new power plant, who led me on an exhaustive tour through thick mud the other day.
The plant's location is both idiotic and sensible. On the idiotic side: why is the new behemoth rising next door to the much bigger brick Richard L. Hearn Generating Station, which operated from 1951 to 1983? Explanation: In 2002, Studios of America, run by Mario Cortellucci, a fundraiser for former premier Mike Harris, leased the Hearn from OPG for 20 years. So far, the company has done nothing there.
"The lease was an impediment, and the engineers said they couldn't fit the new plant in the old building," says Mr. Gruetzner.
On the sensible side, the power plant needs a location near the lake, since it sucks lake water in both to cool the turbines and to produce steam. Our port is not just for sailboats and picnicking: companies like Redpath Sugar, Cascades (which recycles cardboard) and Lafarge Cement, along with a new cement plant going up next to Portlands, create Toronto jobs and belong here. These companies bring in supplies by water, rather than further clogging our highways.
With 500 workers on site right now, the power plant is on schedule, but has faced at least one setback: on Oct. 3 Steve Cuthbertson, 27, an apprentice electrician, "touched a live wire and he was electrocuted," says Mr. Gruetzner. His father, Stephen Cuthbertson, was his foreman at the time.
Meanwhile, dredging for a plant discharge channel revealed weak pilings on the Unwin Street bridge; the city has closed the bridge to cars. Bikes and pedestrians may cross.
This week, workers at the plant are installing turbines. The plant begins production on June 1 as a simple cycle: "It's like a jet engine," says Mr. Gruetzner. "You burn gas [which comes by pipeline from western Canada] and it turns a turbine which produces power." After the 2008 summer peak, workers will shut the plant to install a second system, capturing turbine exhaust to heat water into steam and drive a second set of generators. Once the combined cycle begins to operate -- by December, operators say -- the plant will produce 550 megawatts of power, enough for about 450,000 homes.
The plant is giving land to the University of Toronto for a solar research facility, which seems a token; would it kill these guys to put a few solar panels on their plant roof ? That said, next July when I flick on a fan to stay cool, I will be glad for this joint.

Pre-20th-Century History

Portland sits near the confluence of two of the West's mightiest rivers, the Columbia and the Willamette (w-lamb-it), so it's not surprising that the city's early growth was fueled by shipping and trade. The terminus of the continental railroad and a major port city to the Pacific Rim, Portland was ideally situated to export the agricultural riches of the western USA.

The settlement of Portland is inextricably linked to nearby Fort Vancouver, the Hudson's Bay Company fur-trading post established in 1825 on the northern bank of the Columbia River. Retiring trappers moved south, up the Willamette River, to establish settlements. The first building in what would become Portland was erected in 1829 by Etienne Lucier, a former trapper looking to establish a farm along the Willamette. Although Lucier abandoned his homestead a year later and moved farther up the river to Champoeg, activity continued at the site of future Portland.

In 1844, two New Englanders filed a claim for 640 acres (255 hectares) of land on the west bank of the Willamette River. They built a store, planted streets and decided to name the new settlement after one of their hometowns. A coin-toss resulted in Portland winning over Boston, and the new town was up and running.

Trade, not industry or natural-resource exploitation, was the engine that drove the growth of the city. The California gold rush of 1849 and the building of San Francisco demanded lumber, which was routed through the fledgling port city. At the same time, Oregon Trail settlers brought agriculture to the Willamette Valley, and mining and ranching developed throughout the inland West. Each demanded a coastal city of trade, and Portland became the mercantile and shipping centre for much of the Northwest.

Portland's primacy in the Northwest was cinched when the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1883, linking Portland and the Pacific Northwest to the rest of the country. The first bridges were built across the Willamette in the late 1880s, and the city's population increased five-fold between 1880 and 1900.

Modern History

During the 20th century, Portland has enjoyed steady growth. The influx of workers to the ship-building factories during WWII was so great that an entire new city, Vanport, was created in 1944 to house them. Unwisely built on a Columbia River flood plain, Vanport was destroyed by a wall of water that burst through a dike in 1948, killing 18 people and leaving almost 20,000 homeless.

Recent History

In recent years the slightly dodgy Old Town area has been substantially revitalised, and the once-industrial Pearl district now brims with expensive lofts. High-tech firms and outdoor-gear companies fuel the growth, primarily from the suburbs - Portland is the home of several Fortune 500 companies. That said, Portland's drive for green streets and sensitive human scale ensures you never feel hemmed in.

Ever since 1843, when William Overton cut Asa Lovejoy in on his 640-acre land grab, Portland’s attitude about money has been considered, shall we say, nonchalant at best. Unlike those brazen, Botoxed Angelinos down south, Portlanders don’t like to talk about money. That would just be too gauche. Well. Call us gauche. Because we’ve gone and posed all those forbidden questions–like “How much money do you make?” And “So how does it feel to be flat broke?” To our great surprise, in spite of Portland’s rep as a city given to monetary modesty, people talked. Turns out Portland’s attitudes towards money are as diverse as the city itself. Now that we’ve gotten all the juicy answers, all you have to do is take a look. Edited by Jill Davis.
Illustrations by Jack Black. Photographs by Stuart Mullenberg

Could a man who trimmed trees for the city of Ashland also be a bagman for a global terrorist organization? Or is Pete Seda (aka Pirouz Desaghaty) simply another mistaken casualty in the Bush administration’s war on terror? Our editor-at-large follows a trail that leads from Portland to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia–and discovers more questions than answers. By Ted Katauskas. Photographs by Basil Childers


Gregg and Laura Takashima were captivated by the majestic gardens on the three-acre lot in the Mountain Park neighborhood. But the house itself? No so much. Starting from scratch, the couple knocked down a 1950s ranch and replaced it with a marvel of contemporary design that combines the look of a modern Japanese lodge with rustic charm and sustainable common sense. By Camela Raymond. Photographs by Jon Jensen

Refinance Issues to Review

There many things to consider when refinancing your home loan. The fees associated with refinancing can add up quickly so, many mortgage companies will waive fees associated with refinancing applications and legal fees. This fee reduction can amount to large savings for the home owner but may result in a slightly higher percentage rate than expected. It is important to talk about your loan options with your loan officer. Additionally, the amount of time you plan to spend in your home will impact your decision to refinance. Many mortgage lenders will allow home owners who expect to live in their home for a minimum of three to five years to pay “points” and closing costs upfront. This option ensures the home owner obtains the lowest percentage rate available.

Evaluate Your Assets Saving money is important to many consumers in today's economy and refinancing your home loan is one way you can lower your monthly payments. A careful analysis combined with the advice of your mortgage broker will ensure that you make the right decision. The costs associated with refinancing are similar to those of obtaining an original home loan and include legal fees, application fees, settlement costs, and other related fees. When refinancing, additional fees will arise and they can include a fee charged if you paid off your original mortgage early, the points associated with the refinance, and the home loan interest rate. Typically the cost runs between three and six percent of the total amount of the home loan. However, many mortgage brokers can offer zero point loans and low-cost refinancing. Therefore, even if your rate change is less than one percentage point, you may be able to save some money by refinancing. Contact your home loan advisor to discuss the various costs and laws governing the fees charged by mortgage companies and the potential savings you can enjoy. p

Deciding to Refinance The decision on whether or not to refinance has, in the past, meant balancing the savings of a lower monthly payment against the costs of refinancing. In recent years, mortgage lenders have introduced "no cost" and low-cost refinancing packages that minimize or completely eliminate the out-of-pocket expenses of refinancing. With traditional refinancing, the interest rate for your new mortgage is often about 2 percentage points below the rate of your current mortgage. However, with the newer low and no-cost refinancing programs offered, home owners can find it valuable to refinance to obtain a smaller reduction in interest rates.

he Hilton Portland & Executive Tower is located nine miles from Portland International Airport, at the center of the city's business and entertainment district. Within three blocks of the hotel is the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, The Portland Art Museum, Pioneer Courthouse Square, and Nordstrom. Just steps away are several upscale shopping retailers and some of Portland's hippest restaurants. Guests wishing to commute to/from the Portland International Airport or heading out to the Oregon Zoo may utilize the Max Light Rail, located just one short block from the hotel. Hilton Portland & Executive Tower includes a full-service business center, concierge desk and the full-service Hilton Athletic Club, offering an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, cardiovascular equipment, free weights, sauna and steam room tanning, personal fitness training and massage services. The hotel?s 782 guestrooms are housed in two separate towers. Standard rooms feature large dormer windows, two-line telephones with voicemail, high-speed Internet access (fee), desks, coffee/tea makers, iron/ironing boards, hairdryers, Lodgenet movies and video games. All guestrooms also feature the Hilton Serenity Collection with luxury Suite Dream beds and linens, upgraded bath products from Crabtree and Evelyn and easy-read alarm clock radios with mini-plugs for MP3 players. The new Executive Tower features larger, boutique style guestrooms. In addition to the standard amenities, these rooms also include mini-refrigerators, large work areas, terrycloth robes, bottled water, umbrellas and cherry wood furnishings

Portland Jazz Festival Tickets On Sale Now!

Individual tickets to the 2008 Portland Jazz Festival can be purchased through all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone, in person, and on line:

• Online: Ticketmaster.com
• Ticketmast phone: 503-224-4400/ 866-448-7849
• Outlet: Find an Outlet
• Portland Jazz Festival Box Office is closed for box office sales.

Due to contractual limitations, The Portland Jazz Festival Box Office can only sell Bela Fleck and Flecktones with the Oregon Symphony as part of ticket packages. Individual tickets are available directly through the Oregon Symphony Box Office

Portland Jazz Festival Ticket Packages

Custom packages for the 2008 Portland Jazz Festival are the best way to see your favorite shows. Packages are only available through the Portland Jazz Festival Box Office. Prices are for one ticket at the specified seating level to the named shows. Packages are not available during the pre-sale.

Both Festival Weekends:

Round Trip Superior (Both Weekends) - $471 per person

The ULTIMATE festival package for jazz aficiandos - the Round Trip Superior package guarantees the best seats in the house for ALL ticketed shows. All superior seating to: Ornette Coleman, SF Jazz Collective, The Bad Plus, Tord Gustavsen, Classical Jazz Quartet, Spanish Harlem Orchestra(note: Prime level seating), Cecil Taylor (note: Prime level seating), Bill Charlap, Nancy King & Fred Hersch, Joshua Redman(note: Prime level seating), Anat Cohen, Nik Bartsch Ronin, and Maceo Parker.

*Plus, a special bonus -- a complimentary PDX Jazz Membership with every package sold! $50 Value.

Weekend One (Feb. 15-17th):

A-Train First Weekend Superior (Feb. 15-17) - $314 per person

The perfect pass to the most exclusive seats in the house for opening weekend of the festival. All superior seating to: Ornette Coleman, SF Jazz Collective, The Bad Plus, Tord Gustavsen, Classical Jazz Quartet, Spanish Harlem Orchestra(note: Prime level seating) and Cecil Taylor (note: Prime level seating).

Shape Your Experience (Feb. 15 -17) - $135 per person

Create your perfect experience, custom tailored to your taste. This package is a great sampler if you're new to the festival. Included in the package is prime seating to: Ornette Coleman, The Bad Plus, Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Cecil Taylor.

Nights Out, Days Free (Feb. 15 -17) - $115 per person

Because so many festival fans love Portland's tax-free shopping and eclectic restaurant scene, the Nights Out, Days Free package provides your afternoons free to explore the city, while you receive prime seating for the evening shows including: Ornette Coleman, SF Jazz Collective, and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Weekend Two (Feb. 22-24th):

A-Train Second Weekend Superior (Feb.22-24)- $232 per person

The perfect pass to the most exclusive seats in the house for the closing weekend of the festival.All superior seating to: Nancy King & Fred Hersch, Joshua Redman (note: Prime level seating), Anat Cohen, Nik Bartsch Ronin, Bela Fleck with the Oregon Symphony (Sunday show) and Maceo Parker.

Shape Your Experience Weekend 2 (Feb.22-24) - $143 per person

Create your perfect experience, custom tailored to your taste.Included in the package is prime seating to:Joshua Redman, Nik Bartsch's Ronin, Bela Fleck with the Oregon Symphony (Sunday show), and Maceo Parker.

2008 Sampler Weekend 2 (Feb.22-24) - $146 per person

This package is a great sampler if you're new to the festival: Nancy King and Fred Hersch, Anat Cohen, Bela Fleck with the Oregon Symphony (Saturday Show), and Maceo Parker.

Buy packages at the Portland Jazz Festival Box Office:

• By Phone: 503.228.JAZZ (5299) / 888.828.5299
• In person: M-F, 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Portland Jazz Festival Office

Portland Jazz Festival Hotel Packages

The 2008 Portland Jazz Festival takes over Portland. The 10-day event celebrates jazz music, Black History Month, and the city of Portland with over 150 events including educational programs, ticketed shows, and free performances featuring national, regional and local artists.

With performers such as free jazz innovator Ornette Coleman, avant-garde pianist Cecil Taylor, along with Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Renee Rosnes, Eric Harland, Nancy King, Joshua Redman, Maceo Parker, Bill Charlap, and the Oregon Symphony, you’ve got the ingredients for a spicy, yet delicious jazz stew that should please the tastes of all jazz lovers.

Purchase individual tickets online through Ticketmaster…

Or Custom Ticket Packages (the best way to see your favorite shows) from the Portland Jazz Festival Box Office directly.

Need a place to stay? Check out one of our Jazz Hotel Packages.

• Exclusive Hotel Rates (based on double occupancy) and the
  Best of the Big Deal
• A Portland Jazz Festival welcome gift pack including: an official program,
  a 24-ounce bottle of Rogue Jazz Guy Ale, a jazz CD, additional discount coupons from downtown retailers, and promotional items from festival partners
• Free parking (an average savings of $21 per night downtown)
• Free continental breakfast for two
• Shopping vouchers at 16 retailers
• Discounts at local restaurants and arts and entertainment venues.