A great weekend in Portland, Oregon

A great thing to do this weekend is to check out Portland's Waterfront, the old town, and of course the popular Portland Saturday Market that's also open on Sundays.  Walk through the Esplanade, relax on the lawn, checking out the massive steel of the double-deck, vertical-lift bridge . . . the Steel Bridge as the name indicates . . . have a bite at Portland SaturdayMarket's food court, then find some original, handmade souvenirs at Portland Saturday Market, or find a new creative piece to decorate your home . . . and since we are in Oregon, there is zero sales tax.

·

Weekend at Portland Oregon's Waterfront

Did you know that there are actually three different weekend markets at Portland's Waterfront?

The oldest, existing since 1974, is the only juried one.  Portland Saturday Market (open on Sundays too!) doesn't allow imports from China, nor can its vendors sell items that aren't handmade or selfmade.  Portland Saturday Market is not to be confused with the Skidmore Market and World Market, both of which are set up right next to the Portland Saturday Market, and selling items originating from anywhere in the world.

Check out the quality of the creative items sold at Portland Saturday Market  (Sat10am to 5pm and Sun 11am to 4:30pm)  and come visit us at the Mesman Images booth on the waterfront space 216 near the food-court and get 10% off any purchase.

Fall at Portland Japanese Garden, photographed by Yvonne Mestre - available as a canvas or fine art print

Taxes are in the mail - how about doing them differently next year?

HEAVEN!! . . . THE TAX RETURNS ARE IN THE MAIL!!

When money is tight and - - having a small business, time is scarce - - the workload suddenly triples when you're forced to be your own accountant.  We've spent countless hours crushing the cushions on our seats while entering mountains of COMPLICATED data into TurboTax.

Tuesday night on "All In With Chris Hayes", Ezra Klein discussed a solution that could end all of this madness: Uncle Sam should fill out our taxes for us!  The IRS already has most if the info it needs to do this, anyway!  One study that Klein cited found that such a system would save 245,000,000 hours that Americans waste doing their tax returns and would save over two billion dollars spent on  accounting fees and software.  The taxpayer would have final say on whether to sign the return or opt to file one on their own.

Following a test run of such a program in California, 98% of participants liked it so much that they said they'd do it again.  Count us in! Mesman Images

                                                                                                                                    

                        

Hand-made products at Portland Saturday Market - Open on Sundays too!

Saturday and Sunday . . . are you looking to do something different this weekend?  Check out  Portland Saturday Market where imports from China and mass-produced products are banned and hand-made original and creative products are the norm.  Pass by the Mesman Images booth space 216 near the food court and check out our new photographic and digital painting panels . . . they are printed on canvas and adhered to birch and are ready to hang.  Mention this blog and get 15% off.

Check out our new Panels at Urban Art Network's "First THursday" of the year

Today is the "First Thursday" of the year in Portland, Oregon.  We will be at NW 13th between Irving and Johnson in the Pearl District.  Come to see us at our booth "Mesman Images" and check out our new canvas panels.