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Category: TheSquare

Can’t wait for 30 hour day? Bring a toy to the KGW The Square tweetup tonight or help us pick a tree tomorrow

kicking off some of the festivities tonight by joining KGW The Square for a Twitter-fueled Toy Drive and then heading out to another tweetup on Saturday to grab the 30 hour day tree—a whole week before the actual event begins.

While I’ve been resisting the urge to blather on and on about 30 hour day, here, the time is drawing near. And things are getting into full swing. While I’ll share—perhaps overshare—way more details next week, suffice it to say that 30 hour day is a joint effort between Strange Love Live and Silicon Florist. It’s a telethon to raise money for Free Geek, Oregon Food Bank, and Toys for Tots. 30 consecutive hours. No sleep. All for charity.

We’re pretty darned excited about the whole thing. So much so, that we’re looking forward to kicking off some of the festivities tonight by joining KGW The Square for a Twitter-fueled Toy Drive and then heading out to another tweetup on Saturday to grab the 30 hour day tree—a whole week before the actual event begins. Read More

You’re invited: Open Source Bridge after party, Wil Wheaton, Stephanie Stricklen, and Strange Love Live

The Open Source Bridge after party is open to all of the folks in Portland. With guests Wil Wheaton, Steph Stricklen, and Strange Love Live

We’re drawing near to the end of three days of open source awesomeness, thanks to Open Source Bridge, the first ever entirely volunteer run open source conference. It’s been an amazing event. And now, it’s time to celebrate what we were able to accomplish.

Why the sad face? You’re invited!

That’s right. The Open Source Bridge after party is open to all of the folks in Portland. So come out and join the people from the conference, our gracious hosts, and all of our volunteers for a beer or two. Read More

Dooce Squared

Heather Armstrong DooceI’ve no idea what that headline means. But it sounds good, doesn’t it?

What? Oh.

Well, allow me to explain.

Heather Armstrong, known to the majority of the blogging world as dooce, is currently in Portland on a press junket and book signing trip. She’ll be at Powell’s tonight at 7:30 pm.

But more importantly, she’ll be on KGW The Square at 7, tonight. And thanks to the beautiful new Pioneer Square facing studio, that means you can show up with signs and fanfare and whatnot to welcome Heather to Portland.

You know me. I kind of get all excited when the internet famous swing by Portland.

For those of you not aware of Heather’s work, you should be. I’m an unabashed fan. Not only is she an exceptionally talented writer, she’s one of the most refreshingly honest bloggers I’ve ever read—and has been since 2001. So honest, in fact, that it infamously got her canned from her design gig. Now, the term “dooced” means “getting fired from one’s paying gig for blogging about said gig.”

Lucky us. Over the past seven years, dooce has become one of the most prominent professional bloggers. And remains an inspiration to many of us who have aspirations of doing more with our blogs. That’s right. I used “inspiration” and “aspiration” in the same sentence—clearly indicating that I am still aspiring to actually learn how to write.

So if you have a minute, head down to The Square with your dooce signs or swing by Powell’s for her book signing. At the very least, take a few seconds to send @dooce a tweet, welcoming her to the Rose City.

(Photo courtesy Kris Krug. Used under Creative Commons.)

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Opensourcery Lunch 2.0 is Wednesday

It’s been a while since it was announced and a lot has happened since then, but Lunch 2.0 at Opensourcery is finally upon us.

It’s this Wednesday, March 11 from 12-2 at their relatively new digs at 1636 NW Lovejoy Streeet. Look for this sweet plaque.

Image from Thomas King

The last time I was there, they were putting the finishing touches on a conference room, and I think that may all be done by now. So, come on, come all and chow down with us. Just please make sure you RSVP over on Upcoming so they know how much food to get and drop a comment there if you’re a vegan or vegetarian.

This coming Wednesday is shaping up to be another busy one here in Portland, right before a horde of locals head off to SXSW.

Checking Calagator, there’s a squareup over at Pioneer Courthouse Square, home to the newly opened Studio on the Square, at 4:30, which overlaps a bit with the monthly game of Portland Werewolf at the Lucky Lab on Hawthorne (Upcoming).

You’re on your own between Lunch 2.0 and the squareup, but I’m sure you’ll find something to keep yourself busy.

In other Lunch 2.0 news, TechShop Portland has moved its Lunch 2.0 date from March 25 to April 22. I’ve updated Upcoming and Calagator accordingly.

Don’t forget these Lunch 2.0s, coming soon:

March 11 at OpenSourcery
April 8 hosted by MioWorks at the Green Dragon
April 22 at TechShop Portland in Beaverton
May 20 hosted by WebVisions at the Oregon Convention Center

I say this every time, and I mean it: big thanks to all the hosts who have hosted or plan to host Lunch 2.0. Drop a comment (or tweet @jkuramot) if you want information about hosting one. It’s easy.

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KGW gets strange: Stephanie Stricklen and Aaron Weiss (@TheSquare) on Strange Love Live, tonight

Strange Love LiveAsk me about my favorite podcast and I will respond without hesitation. “Strange Love Live,” I will say.

Ask me about my favorite local news program (period), and I will respond just as quickly with, “KGW Live @7.” I’ll also mention that it’s going to be called “The Square” once they finish their studio in Pioneer Square.

For what it’s worth, I will also likely punctuate both of those responses above with, “Duh!”

So just imagine my excitement for this evening when—in a Reese’s “you got your peanut butter on my chocolate; you got your chocolate in my peanut butter” moment—Stephanie Stricklen (host) and Aaron Weiss (Senior Producer) from KGW will be on Strange Love Live with Cami Kaos (host) and Dr. Normal (Senior Producer).

KGW Live @7What’s that? You’ve never heard of The Square?

It’s no secret that I’ve been a fan of local NBC-affiliate KGW’s Live @7 show. I don’t even watch broadcast TV and I’m a fan. Why?

Because they’re approaching broadcast journalism in a way that I understand. They leave mics and cameras open during breaks. Both Stephanie Stricklen, the show’s anchor, and Aaron Weiss, the senior producer, use Twitter—and they use it very well. They swing by Beer and Blog….

In short, they get it.

What’s that? You’ve never heard of Strange Love Live? First, you hadn’t heard of KGW Live @7, and now this? I’m growing concerned.

It’s Friday. It’s kind of chilly outside. You’re looking for something to do. Why not spend some time by the warm glow of your monitor learning some interesting stuff from some interesting people?

That’s why there’s Strange Love Live, the weekly podcast hosted by Cami Kaos and Dr. Normal. Dare I say, “the best podcast in Portland”? Indeed, I dare.

They’ve got a guest list that boasts a veritable who’s who of the Portland tech scene—Nate Angell, Josh Bancroft, Bram Pitoyo & Amber Case, Aaron Hockley, [Marshall Kirkpatrick], Scott Kveton, Don Park, Chris O’Rourke, Craig Schwartz, the Shizzow team, and many, many more.

Strange Love Live records every Friday night around 10-ish. And you’re always invited to join the taping via Mogulus.

I hear you. If it’s “recorded,” then why watch live? Chat room, my friend. Chat room.

Tonight promises to be a night to remember. Looking forward to seeing you at Strange Love Live around 10.

KGW Live @7: Must be a slow news day

KGW Live @7It’s no secret that I’ve been a fan of local NBC-affiliate KGW’s Live @7 show. I don’t even watch broadcast TV and I’m a fan. Why?

Because they’re approaching broadcast journalism in a way that I understand. They leave mics and cameras open during breaks. Both Stephanie Stricklen, the show’s anchor, and Aaron Weiss, the senior producer, use Twitter—and they use it very well. They swing by Beer and Blog….

In short, they get it.

Unfortunately, I may have been a tad too overt in my fanboi worship of their efforts. Because now, I’m going to be on the show.

That’s right, gentle reader. Tonight, you can tune in for my three minutes and 45 seconds of fame. I should be on around 7:10 PM for the “Hot Box” segment.

And while there’s no telling how it will go, it wouldn’t be the same without you.

So please feel free to jump on Twitter as you watch the live stream online (so you can see the behind the scenes stuff, too) and, of course, ridicule my stumbling delivery, predilection for the word “amazing,” and other foibles which will become all too evident on camera. Or catch it online later.

Either way, I’ll thank you in advance for letting me into your living room or laptop or whatever.