Caught the O.

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September 12 was an historic day in Portland: the new TriMet Orange Line and Tilikum Crossing finally opened to the public. As transportation enthusiasts, and since our office is right on the Orange Line, we had been looking forward to this for a long time. Joshua got to tour the project earlier in the summer, but this was the first chance the majority of Portlanders had to experience it. TriMet went all out: all rides were free and there were all sorts of festivities—music, food carts, climbing walls, crafts, free stuff—at each of the Orange Line stations. They even hired my band, the Waxwings, to play!

It was our honor to serenade not only the throngs of people riding the new MAX trains, but also Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba, as he was repeatedly dunked in the dunk tank. Considering the heat, I think he got a pretty good deal.

All in all it was a thrill to be a part of such a big occasion. After the show, I rode the MAX across the river and into downtown, enjoying views of Portland I'd never seen before.

Ady Leverette was a designer and a principal at Fat Pencil Studio between 2011 and 2018.