Homeless Man Found Covered in Cement in Lake Oswego

OK people. This is not funny.

Cement encrusted Hobo in LO

On our way to breakfast at a lovely local bistro, La Provence, imagine our horror just one block from home when we saw this....

Clearly a homeless man has been encased in cement and placed right on the main drag of A Avenue smack in the center of our quaint little village! And it seems...this horrible act was done WHILE HE WAS EATING!!

My daughter tried to tell me it was part of the local art that peppers the downtown area. Or, she mused...perhaps it's a reflection of our town's history??

A man eating out of a tin can? I'm not sure that's the history we're trying to preserve.

I would like to know the real meaning behind this Main Street Statement.

The man's final expression captured

Here are some thoughts:

1. Come to Lake Oswego. See? We like poor people, too.

2. Our past...we used to be poor like this man, but now we live in Lake Oswego, we're all rich now.

3. See? We DO have homeless people in Lake Oswego.

4. Caution: Homeless people NOT tolerated. (Just look what happened to this guy)

5. City Council gets revenge on previous Mayor.

There's one final possibility, however. Although I'm not sure about the message being conveyed; there's some crazy irony here. I'll leave you with your own thoughts with one final picture.

Marketing or Mistake? You Decide.

Thirst Quencher Thursday? Actually still a little parched.

One of the things that makes Lake Oswego special in the summer, aside from the market, is the variety of evening concerts and picnics in the parks. Foothills, West Lake, Millenium all have something going on although I have to say that you may need a spreadsheet to keep the schedules straight.

Wait..it's July and it's Wednesday so that's West Lake, right? No Foothills in July, Westlake in August...or was it June? And it's Friday night at Millenium. Right? No. Noon on Fridays at Millenium. But there's SOMEthing there on Sunday night I think.

Oh, nevermind.

As much as I really love the idea of a picnic dinner with some wine and music...keeping the schedule straight along with pre-packing the food so we can dash-grab the cooler and the soccer chairs and race to get a spot out of the blistering sun has just made it too much work.

Last time I went I was in my work clothes, still wearing my badge, dragging a wheelie cooler in circles as my heels sank into the soft well sprinklered lawn. I'm still trying to figure out if I looked pathetic or like a mom making a noble effort. (I prefer option B)

So you can imagine my delight when Lake Oswego announced a new event for the month of July. It's happy hour in the park with art and music and food. They have tables there. No cooler to pack...no chairs to schlep...no heels to sink...just stroll and enjoy. Right?

Well, almost.

Thirst Quencher Thursday turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. They have the right elements, but the execution is off.

The music was good. Check.

The art vendors were few, but it's new so we have to give it a chance. Check.

Mistake #1?

Placing the festivities at the wrong end of the park. I know why they put it down by St. Honore...people will see it more easily. But given the wonderful covered space at the OTHER end to let people get out of the hottest part of the day would have made more sense. Put giant HEY....HAPPY HOUR THIS WAY!!!! Signs up.

Mistake #2?

The food and wine selection...there wasn't one. Oswego Lake House was the only vendor with one or two food options....one or two beer options...and an "are you kidding" wine selection. Would like the crappy-way-too-cold white or the jam-on-your-toast sweet red?

What were the beer choices again?

Come on LO...I know this is the first year, but you can do better than this. Get some of your Saturday market food vendors in on a thursday...you'd knock that place flat...and getting a beer and wine vendor that sells a real selection of beer and wine should not be problem in this town.

I'm going again this Thursday...the last for this season. I'll be the one up on the lawn sunk up to my heels.

Location:2nd St,Lake Oswego,United States