G is for Grimm and greenspaces

Grimm

Grimm is a police procedural fantasy drama filmed in Portland. It's about a homicide detective, Nick Burkhardt, who learns he is descended from a line of "Grimms," who keep balance between humans and creatures called "Wesen." He battles dangerous Wesen with the help of Monroe (a reformed Wesen) and his partner, Hank Griffin. I love the show and never miss an episode! One of my favorite aspects of the show is that it's filmed in Portland.

Grimm has filmed on location all over the city, including at the theater we frequent (in the Gerding Armory) and a restaurant near our house (so exciting!). This website keeps a catalog of Grimm shooting locations, which is fun if you are behind on the episodes and trying to catch up.

Many of the actors and crew have made Portland their home because they love it here. "There's so much love I have for this city," said Bitsie Tulloch, who plays Juliet. "The people are friendly, the food is amazing, and there's no sales tax." They miss it when they are not filming.

My personal Grimm moment occurred last September when my family was going to see "Fiddler on the Roof" at Portland Center Stage in the Gerding Theater. Who should I see coming down the street but the leads of Grimm, David Guintoli and Russell Hornsby? So exciting! I pointed them out to my outgoing teenager, who asked them if he could have a photo with them. (He's collecting photos of musicians, so he's comfortable asking.) They were very obliging. I just wish I had asked for a photo too, since I'm the biggest Grimm fan in the family. Oh well!

My son Chris with the stars of Grimm

Greenspaces

Forest Park

Portland holds a number of records for its parks and greenspaces. As I mentioned in "F is for forests and foodies," we have more than 10,000 acres of public parks and other natural areas (at least 279), including one of the largest city parks in the country, Forest Park, with 5,100 forested acres. These include 6 public gardens, 25 community gardens, 35 community parks, 5 golf courses, 47 habitat parks, 98 neighborhood parks, 12 regional parks, 12 urban parks, and thousands of acres of forest, all with extensive native plants and wildlife. Portland’s number of parks and greenspaces is one reason why Portland is often ranked among America’s best places to live. It's also one of the reasons Grimm is well suited to Portland--lots of the show's scary scenes are filmed in our forested parklands.

We have the only volcano in the city limits at Mount Tabor Park and the world's smallest park (Mills End). And one of my favorites, Tryon Creek State Park, is the only state park within city limits. The wonderful Washington Park has the oldest continuing operating public test rose garden in the United States. With over 8,000 rose plants in more than 600 varieties, it was created to save some of the European hybrids during World War I.

Portland owes its park system to the 1905 World's Fair, at which the Olmsted brothers (landscape architects) were commissioned to create a parks master plan. The Olmsteds' father designed New York City's Central Park.

Portland-area residents are deeply committed to greenspaces, approving bond measures in 1995 and 2006 to preserve 12,000 acres and 90 miles of river and stream banks, as well as support community projects through Metro.

When I was researching this post, I read about a local, grassroots nonprofit group of volunteers called Depave, which pulverizes pavements to create greenspaces. "Depave promotes the transformation of over-paved places, engaging and inspiring communities to reconnect urban landscapes to nature."

First I discover a group of volunteers delivering love and cupcakes to women in the adult entertainment industry, and now this. God bless Portland!


Read my other A to Z posts here, and stay tuned for tomorrow: healthy!