The Dream of the 90s...

... is alive in Portland.

You know you're in Portland when:

* Airport toilets include detailed flushing instructions for saving water and specially treated, non-germy handles.

* You don't bother with tickets for the interconnected system of light rail, street cars and buses as long as you're in the downtown "free rail zone."

* You eat at stationary food "carts," not mobile food "trucks."

* Food carts appear in narrow sidewalk spaces in between buildings. Who needs waivers or permits when they make the most delicious homemade peanut-butter, cherry jam, jalapeno and bacon sandwich on grilled challa bread you've ever tasted!?

* Community gardens spring up in vacant lots. Instead of complaining, the neighbors donate water.

* Community gardens spring up on construction sites, with cisterns to collect rainwater. Homemade signs thank the developers for the space.

* Instead of for-sale flyers in plexiglass in front yards, you find poetry flyers.

* The beloved visionary governor who restored open space and limited development was both a journalist and a Republican.

I was raising kids and missed the '90s zeitgeist, but Portland is definitely weird. In a good way.

Check out this photo album that Steve put together.