Jun 28th, 2009
by Markovitch.
Jeeeez, am I late with this one. Pertinent news first, I suppose: the Timbers face the Montreal Impact today, 5pm at PGE Park. Be there. Even more Important, the Timbers face their nemeses, the Shittle Sounders, on Wednesday, 7pm, at PGE Park. That will be an event worth witnessing. Be there too. There’s also a scrimmageFriendly against some German team on Thursday.
A week ago Friday, when most of Portland was, to their chagrin, pulling the wool sweaters back out of the closet, 8,000+ fans gathered at PGE Park to see the Might Portland Timbers face the lowly Minnesota Thunder. The Timbers had played four games in the 10 days leading up to the match, and the Thunder had managed to put some wins together after a lethargic start to the season.
At the start of every match, all things are square. It didn’t stay that way for long. Continue reading →
Posted in: Timbers, stumptown.
Tagged: match report · Minnesota Thunder · soccer · Timbers
Jun 28th, 2009
by Markovitch.
I’ve heard whispers about Southern Barbarian since arriving in Shanghai, rumors about a stocked beer fridge hiding delicious favorites like Brother Thelonious and my now missed Rogue brews, innuendo about deep fried honey bees and Yunnan Goat Cheese. There have been more than one botched attempt to dine there.
Continue reading →
Posted in: place, shanghai.
Tagged: review · shanghai · Southern Barbarian · yunnanese
Jun 19th, 2009
by Markovitch.
The Portland Timbers played 4 matches in under 7 days starting last Thursday: two US Open Cup matches, on either side of a weekend tour of the USL1 deep South, to play the top 2 teams in the USL, the Carolina Railhawks and Charleston Battery. A 9 game streak without a loss was on the line, as well as the Timbers’ opportunity to avenge last year’s debacle in the US Open Cup.
I’ll write up some comments about each game below the fold, but if you skip it, I want to get the major news out in front: the Portland Timbers will play the Minnesota Thunder tonight at 8pm at PGE park.
Oh, and I can’t keep quiet! The Timbers will mangle their most hated rivals, the Seattle Sounders in round 3 of the US Open Cup, July 1st at PGE park. It will be epic, BE THERE.
Continue reading →
Posted in: Timbers, stumptown.
Tagged: Blogtown · match report · Timbers
Jun 10th, 2009
by Markovitch.
It started at 630 am.
on a Sunday.
Posted in: Miscellaneous, shanghai.
Tagged: construction · picture · shanghai
Jun 6th, 2009
by Markovitch.
Not a whole lot of people wanted to go outside on Thursday, and who could blame them–that was one hell of a storm. But the Portland Timbers had a game to play, and though many had to brave the elements to get to the game, the game itself was only sprinkled with steady rain.
The Montreal “Impact” had not lost in three games coming into Thursday’s match, after a slow start to the season (perhaps a hangover from their impressive run to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals) but the Mighty Mighty Timbers were unbeaten in seven games, including an impressive win against Vancouver last weekend.
Lightning, thunder or milk tycoons could not keep the Timbers at bay, nor could they keep the Timbers Army away. Continue reading →
Posted in: Timbers, stumptown.
Tagged: Blogtown · match report · Montreal · Timbers · video
Jun 2nd, 2009
by Markovitch.
Portland’s most magical weekend—well perhaps its most family friendly magical weekend— was the perfect setting for a Timbers team to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, last year’s league champions and the only team who has beaten the Timbers this year.
I always like games against Vancouver because of the rivalry, the history, and the away support who make the trip down from Canada. The old adage ‘enemies on the pitch, friends at the pub’ has always rung true with the ‘Caps fans, win or lose they’re the opposite of Shittle fans: polite and mostly good humored. After all, we share one very important point: we fucking hate Seattle.
Continue reading →
Posted in: Timbers, stumptown.
Tagged: Blogtown · match report · Timbers
Jun 1st, 2009
by Markovitch.
Our neighborhood has a lot of dining options, from alleyway noodle shops to (the only) Applebees. Beyond a really exceptional Euro/American breakfast place, we’ve got at least one of everything. We’re lucky. Our current favorite spot is Yeshari. Yeshari’s walls are covered in pictures of, and murals depicting the Northwestern province of Xinjiang.
We eat here a lot for a few reasons: the yogurt here is fuckng amazing, and made in house. The yogurt here is in half a roasted pumpkin. Hell fucking yes. That noodle dish in the foreground? Noodles Xingjiang with smoky tomatoes, garlic scapes, beef and what might be just one loooooong noodle. Around dinner time they’re making the noodles fresh too. That dish to the upper left? Oven roasted eggplant in a spicy, oily delicious. On the right? Uigher Lamb Wontons and Xingjiang beef and potatoes, both so inundated with cumin and coriander they dance as you chew. Throw in that pot of Milk Tea. Boy are we happy we learned how to ask for the sweet (tián) kind, not the salty (xián). Not pictured, my favorite thing about this place, and Xinjiang in general–Sinkiang Black beer, the best beer made in China I’ve had so far.
I’m partial to other dishes there that aren’t in the photo, such as the mutton puffs; girlie loves the lamb kebabs on rods of red willow. Also awesome: we’ve yet to be punished by the promised belly dancing. I guess we don’t eat at peak hours.
Yum.
Yeshari Xinjiang Restaurant
147 Nandan lu (near Xujiahui station)
Xujiahui, Shanghai, PRC.
Posted in: place, shanghai.
Tagged: review · Xinjiang · Yeshari
May 30th, 2009
by Markovitch.
I’m not very hip. I shower most days and try not to look too shabby from day to day, but I’m not one of the painted masses, clubbing the nights away and choosing restaurants not by the cuisine but by who else might be there. Continue reading →
Posted in: place, shanghai.
Tagged: Luwan · place · review · shanghai · the Fat Olive
May 27th, 2009
by Markovitch.
I’d feel guilty about not getting these match reports out sooner, but I waited long enough to have news to break!
The Portland Timbers headed for a weekend of games in Puerto Rico last weekend (sorry I’m late!) and played extremely well given the conditions (hot and muggy) and the stadium (crap pitch).
Also, the Timbers FO announced a friendly with Burnley, a Premier league bound Club, on July 25th.
Game notes and fun facts about friendlies, below the fold. Continue reading →
Posted in: Timbers, stumptown.
Tagged: match report · Puerto Rico · Timbers
May 18th, 2009
by Markovitch.
Thursday’s game was cast under a shadow before it started: Hartmut Bless, a longtime Timbers Army member known as ‘Timber Howie,’ (I called him ‘The General’) passed away. Howie was always the first in the park, always standing in front of the same seat, and one of the kindest, most welcoming and encouraging people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.
Timber Howie from CulturePulp 26
The Army decorated his seat, and a moment of silence preceded the National Anthem. RIP Howie, We toast your honor.
Howie touched our hearts over the years, but I’m convinced he touched this game too. Continue reading →
Posted in: Timbers, stumptown.
Tagged: match report · Timber Howie · Timbers
Thanks to TA member HeathenHooligan