Marissa's Musings: Pop-Up Pool Party at PDX Meadows

Wednesday, 22 August 2012 10:05 | Written by Byron

Marissa on the track at Portland Meadows

MARISSA'S MUSINGS: With two very specific times to get in - 11:30 am or 2:30 pm - as not to get trampled by horses. I could've seen the 3rd annual Pop-Up Kiddie Pool Party at The Portland Meadows presented by Willamette Week and Sticks & Stones going one of two ways, total fun in the sun, or total dud. What can I say, it's hard to get people to show up somewhere on time! Luckily for everyone that "made it their beeswax to be there on time" it was the former not the latter that, and luckily despite it being cloudy for the 11:30 am-ers my wanting to catch up on True Blood made it so that the 2:30 pm-ers (degenerates, all of us) got nothin' but sunshine, not a cloud in the sky! The Slip N' Slide was in full force, there were people in and out of the many "kiddie" pools, and there wasn't as many Super Soakers this year, meaning I didn't have to keep my guard up for fear of being drenched.

Big ups for pulling this off, but the presenters did take a risk by having it IN THE MIDDLE of Portland Meadows race track, not only did that mean you could only get just across at two very specific times, it also meant that for people who didn't know or like betting on horses you risked having them feel alienated. Fortunately for me I am not one of those people, I've been betting on ponies since I was a little girl, and loving it. Now I'm no addict, I make $2 bets, but man if that $2 investment doesn't make everything more fun! And as for the novices at the party, they either got really into betting or found something else to do like, chatting with friends at a picnic tables, wadding in the water or sliding through a rainbow.

The highlight of my day happened when I found out that for $1.00 you could have four bags to throw at the Corn-Hole booth, and if you got a bag in you'd get a $10 betting voucher - I made two in! With two races left in the afternoon I was able to make $10 bets on both races and even made my money back on the last race!

The Miller Light and Sparks were flowing, a photo-booth with props was set up, Stick & Stones jewelry was for sale at a discount, and plenty of eye candy was walking around - all and all the party was a total success. Hot fun in the Summertime indeed, I can't wait to see what the guys bring to the table for year four!