# Help me find a ladybug umbrella in Portland, Ore., STAT! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2007, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-ladybug-umbrella-in-portland-ore-stat/401274 "2007-04-23T06:09:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2007, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-ladybug-umbrella-in-portland-ore-stat/401274/1 "2007-04-23T06:09:54Z")
It’s a long story, but I need a ladybug umbrella (like [this one](http://store.ladybug-shop.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=156&categoryID=66)) for Mrs. Spittle. Tomorrow (Monday). I can drive to buy it (i.e., it doesn’t have to be delivered). Anyone have any leads? I thought maybe the OMSI museum store, but I’ve never been there, so I don’t know. (We just moved here a month ago.) Or any kitschy stores with ladybug umbrellas that Portlanders know about? I mean, it rains enough here. What are the little girls using to stay dry? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-ladybug-umbrella-in-portland-ore-stat/401274/2 "2007-04-23T15:46:23Z")
[Umbrellastand.com](http://umbrellastand.com/665.html) is located in Astoria. However, it sounds like they only do online sales. I’d call them, explain your predicament, and beg them to allow you to drive down there and buy one in the flesh. (Be prepared to pay with cash or plastic, as I doubt whether mail-order folks bending the rules will be happy about taking a check. A debit card would be perfect.) Also wish to point out that if the umbrella thing doesn’t happen, Target has a wide selection of ladybug-themed general merchandise. Better than nothing in a pinch. And while I was browsing, ran across [this.](http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Oregon/Portland-853010/Local_Customs-Portland-TG-C-1.html) Apparently only newbies and tourists use umbrellas; true Portlanders wear a rainjacket and tough it out in the teeth of the gale. FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-ladybug-umbrella-in-portland-ore-stat/401274/3 "2007-04-23T19:45:59Z")
Heh, it’s true about the umbrella thing–my last one blew out almost ten years ago. I do actually keep a dollar store one in the car, but that’s just for putting on chains or fixing a flat or something of the like. I don’t think it’s ever been deployed. We tend to wear sandals and shorts all winter, too. We’re weird like that! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-ladybug-umbrella-in-portland-ore-stat/401274/4 "2007-04-23T19:57:23Z")
Umbrella, umbrella, hummm the word sounds familar… Oh, maybe you mean [bumbershoot](http://www.bumbershoot.org/). See, your problem is, all the water soluble northwesterners melted years ago. 😃 Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Good luck on your search. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-a-ladybug-umbrella-in-portland-ore-stat/401274/5 "2007-04-23T21:39:39Z")
Ah! Found one at Finnegan’s. (The last one!) Thanks, folks.