Ben Franklin: Unplugged
Who exactly was Benjamin Franklin? Was he the randy old guy who jet set to Europe, flew kites and signed the declaration of Independence? Or was he an egotistical grump who feuded with his son and ultimately let him rot in jail? In his [...]
PORTLAND MUSICIANS LAUNCH
“FAIR TRADE MUSIC” CAMPAIGN
Project Seeks to Establish Minimum Pay Guarantees for All Working Musicians
Portland, OR – September 8, 2009 – A coalition of Portland musicians has launched the “Fair Trade Music” campaign, which is seeking to establish minimum pay guarantees for all performing musicians in the Portland [...]
You’ve no doubt by now noticed that the sites got a bit of a re-design and some things got changed around last week. We wanted to highlight two changes to make sure everyone knows what changed.
The first and biggest is COMMENTS! Registration is no longer required to [...]
Burgerville, the Pacific Northwest’s environmentally-conscious quick serve restaurant company, today announced it will allow bicyclists to order and pick up food through its 39 drive-thru lanes, making it the company’s latest sustainability innovation. The company will announce a formal bicycle drive-thru program within the next two weeks.
Burgerville is [...]
Nice to see the Oregon Cultural Trust Back in Action:
Oregon Cultural Trust Announces $1.45 Million in Grants
Cultural Grants Benefit 48 Heritage, Arts & Humanities Nonprofits,
39 County and Tribal Coalitions and Five Statewide Partners
Day of Culture 2009, a Statewide Celebration, Confirmed for Thursday, October 8, 2009
July 27, 2009. Salem, ORE [...]
***ACTION ALERT from The Regional Arts & Culture Council ***
Help Preserve Oregon Arts, Culture, and Humanities Funding
If you read the newspaper and listen to broadcast media, you know that Oregon is facing one of the most significant budget shortfalls in its history. The State issued its revenue forecast on [...]
Some films just need to be seen, and Dairus Goes West is one of those films.
Local filmmaker and former WWeek film editor David Walker is presenting two screenings of this incredibly moving film.
Here are the complete details:
The critically acclaimed documentary Dairus Goes West returns [...]
Here’s a video tour of The Roseway Theater, an all digital, single screen theater in Portland which was amazingly restored to it’s 1924 glory:
If you can see this, then you might need a Flash Player upgrade or you need to install Flash Player if it's missing. Get Flash' [...]
In a highly unusual event for Portland, it appears that most of us are going to have a white Christmas this year. There’s still a good amount of snow on the ground, and there may be more tomorrow.
Luckily, the Portland Office of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Transportation [...]
It’s on everyone’s mind right now: Snow has come to Portland.
Snow in the Colonial Heights neighborhood.
The Auteur at Cinema 21
The Auteur, a new film by Portland filmmaker James Westby has its big Portland premiere this Friday at Cinema 21 (8:30pm).
The film is a mockumentary of Arturo Dominingo, an aging porn director trying to make sense of [...]
Have You Seen The Horizon Lately by Jamie S. Rich
Giving someone a good book for a holiday gift is giving them something that they’ll experience for hours. A good book can also be an amazing experience, and [...]
Serenade Someone Special in a Private Room
There are many great Karaoke options in Portland and some of my most enjoyable evenings out have been spent with friends at places like The Alibi, The Ambassador Restaurant and The Galaxy.
In Portland karaoke is a pretty big [...]
This Friday, November 14th, the enormous tree (donated by Stimson Lumber) will arrive at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The tree will follow a parade route, complete with Santa Claus, seasonal music, and local dignitaries. The tree will be lit on the 28th.
[...]
Noted author, columnist and film director Tristan Taormino is coming to Portland for a number of sex positive educational events.
Taormino was recently named one of the Top 10 Women Directors in Adult Entertainment and just released her book Opening Up: A Guide to [...]
I’m a huge fan of Belmont Station. Their tap line up is consistently the most enjoyable in Portland.
Tonight they’re doing a tasting of a huge variety of Rouge Beers.
Here are the details:
6-8PM ROGUE TASTING. Taste the brand new Yellow Snow IPA & 2008 Santa’s [...]
The Amazing Potato Champion
Despite our often wet weather, Portland has a phenomenal selection of food carts. Some of my more memorable Portland meals have been at carts.
Now there’s an online resource totally dedicated to the Portland Food Cart phenomenon: Food Carts Portland.
The [...]
Local Wiki company About Us continues to enhance it’s local relevance with a new section devoted entirely to Portland Cofffe Shops. (Created by Bram Pitoyo)
The list, which is constantly growing and updating is a fantastic resource to quickly get info on the [...]
With the presidential election looming most people are myopically focused on voting for president, but the second most important vote you can make right now is with your dollars. Times are tough and not all businesses are going to survive this recession. Already this month several [...]
I’m quickly becoming a fan of The West Cafe. My wife and I stopped in a couple weeks back for some drinks and Jazz. Excellent drinks, excellent music and perfect service.
Shortly thereafter I started following The West Cafe on Twitter and relized just how [...]
This Saturday, October 5th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in the OMSI main auditorium there will be a FIRST Robotics Competition scrimmage. 15 teams from area high schools will be competing with 120 pound robots in a competition that involves racing, herding a swiss-style exercise ball around a track, [...]
Amazing opportunities don’t come around everyday, so this is one you shouldn’t miss:
Spring Awakening, the Tony Award winning musical, has just released a block of On Stage Tickets for its run at The Keller Auditorium (as part of the Broadway Across America Series). These tickets [...]
I’m sure this will break many hearts (probably not as many as when they canceled the Kelly Clarkson Tour last summer) but…
Due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict the New Kids on the Block concert, originally scheduled for Rose Garden Arena on Sunday, November 23, 2008 has been canceled.
Refunds are available [...]
Someone with a lost dog wanted a big sign. And apparently had a door lying around.
I saw this at the corner of 52nd and Division and found it rather humorous. It’s a lost dog sign painted on a complete door, with knob and frame.
[...]
Henry Rollins is almost 50, and that’s both exciting and frightening. No longer an ‘angry young man’ Rollins performed a two hour and forty five minute set that was much more self confessional than angry, much more story telling then rant and a little [...]
Santogold Brings Fans On Stage
The show Sunday night at the Crystal Ballroom was billed as “Goldrush” and featured four ‘Myspace buzz bands’ including: Low v. Diamond, Alice Smith, Mates of State and headliner Santogold.
In an evening with four [...]
Mythbusters Adam and Jamie with Rich Emerson
Let me get this out right from the start, in their live appearance the Mythbusters DO NOT Blow stuff up. Sitting in the sold out crowd at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall you could feel the collective hope that [...]
Monotonix at The Wonder Ballroom
Back in early September I had the fortune of attending Monotonix’s show at MusicFestNW. Their short and explosive set was one of the most impactual concerts I’ve attended for a very long time. When I heard that [...]
Had very fine salami, cheese, hot pepper & tomato plates at Bar Avignon on Division. Then off to see Calexico at the Crystal Ballroom, a Arizona-based Yo Lo Tango style band. I’m a sucker for live trumpets! [...]
They're In There Somewhere - Shiny Toy Guns Hides Behind A Mountain of Smoke
I’m sorry to report the shine has come off the penny. Shiny Toy Guns has effectively gutted itself, replacing lead [...]
guest blogging from SF
I just arrived here for a short conference at my old school- Reed- and thought I’d write my 90s-to-00s observations.
- There’s nothing quite like seeing a new public system transit at work- that aerial [...]
Riding the bus home today, I was surprised to see a row of people waving Nader/Gonzalez signs right in front of the Obama and Merkley campaign office.
A group of Nader supporters in front of the [...]
I’d forgotten about this annual event until a co-worker mentioned to me that he was taking his whole family to see a movie and eat popcorn for the meager price of 3 canned goods each.
So DVR the season premiere of The Office, Survivor or whatever your TV vice [...]
Funny thing is, I was coming on here to post about the Shiny Toy Guns when I see Geoff’s post! Too little too late?
Eh, maybe…
Here’s the thing, unlike Mr. G, I was going to come here and confess about my guilty pleasure, Shiny Toy Guns.
You see… I’m that [...]
The New Shiny Toy Guns
I’ve been a fan of Shiny Toy Guns for quite some time. Back in 2006 the band played a show at the Aladdin Theater for a crowd of about 10 people. They played their hearts out.
They’ve [...]
As anyone who has driven I-5 south out of Portland during an election season can tell you, from the look of the highway you would never know that Portland and Eugene are overwhelmingly liberal. Typically, nearly every farm along the drive has political signs for the Republican candidates and [...]
So for those of you who didn’t know… or didn’t remember, Friday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Oddly enough, the boyo and I had learned at Guardian Games the night before where he learned how to play a large scale game of the Pirates Constructable Strategy [...]
Sportfight 24 - Photos by David Lawrence
It’s beyond me why the Rose Garden Arena isn’t completely packed for SportFight 24. For four and a half hours fighters pounded it out in an evening filled with action, sport and blood. What more could you ask for [...]
Damaged Goods
This Sunday (9/21) at 5pm, David Walker (former film critic of the WWeek and editor of Bad Azz Mofo) is throwing a DVD Release party for his ‘tribute’ to messed up, complicated and completely insane relationships: Damaged Goods.
Shot in and around [...]
Sportfight XXIV 9/17 7pm
It always surprises me that more people aren’t buzzing about Sportfight. Portland is at the epicenter of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) with internationally famous gyms Team Quest, Xtreme Couture and local buzz-worthy gyms Braveheart MMA and [...]
Mike Daisey in If You See Something, Say Something
This year at TBA I had a little mini “Mike Daisey Festival”. I saw Mike Daisey perform his ‘MONOPOLY!‘ early on in the fest (read my review [...]
Belmont Station (4500 SE Stark St) is one of my very favorite spots for beer in Portland. It’s a great store and pub where the focus is on great tasting and unique beers. In a move that shows the absolute difference between being a beer [...]
A few notes from last night’s fantastic Bad Religion show - I can’t decide which entertains me more…
The Prids
This summer Portland band The Prids were in a horrible auto accident while their band was on tour.
Here’s the account from their site:
“A tire blew and they lost control of the van and it rolled several times. David was airlifted from the [...]
It’s that time again!
The Institute for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (ISEPP) and sponsors are bringing a variety of influential and interesting scientists and philosophers to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for the Linus Pauling Memorial Lectures. The Pauling memorial lectures include a wide range of subjects. This year [...]
I have once - many, many years ago. I was in New Orleans for a business conference. It was the early 90s when every trade show or conference event involved huge parties nightly for the attendees. This one was held on a casino riverboat and in addition to the free [...]
Leesaar The Company - Geisha
The buzz you’re hearing about TBA is all true. Portland’s Institute for Contemporary Art has continued to build on its success by attracting world class talent and creating an artistic epicenter that should not be missed.
This [...]
Tonight MusicFest NW featured of the best shows on a stage in Portland. It was truly punk. It was crazy, wild wonderful and simply amazing.
I’ll have a complete report soon. Here’s a sampling from the show.
[...] 
The Battles at MusicFest NW
Tonight two major arts and entertainment festivals had their kick-off events. Both showed that Portland is big enough to support two huge festivals, even when they run at the same time.
I started the evening at MusicFest NW, [...]
There’s way too much going on this week. The activity gods have aligned MusicFest NW, TBA and First Thursday into a head spinning, no-way-you-can-do-it-all night. If you want to get your First Thursday fix while dashing between bands or performances I highly recommend you make [...]
Portland Public Schools is officially in session as of today, Wednesday September 3rd.
Many high schools have Freshmen come in Wednesday, while older students come in the next day, Thursday the 4th. This allows time for the freshman to become oriented in the new buildings and meet the school staff [...]
Thanks to keepin’ on with the keepin’ on, we’ve finally got our own little place to call home and it’s FINALLY fully moved in and put together (also, thanks to those that offered advice about stalking/calling/harassing future landlords in order to get a place)!
The problem with moving is that it’s [...]
Powell’s on Burnside doesn’t need any press from a lowly metblog private eye like me, but have you heard of this deal? Buy 2 books from their hip summer reading list, get a 3rd free! What! (And yes, Dreams From My Father is first on that list; it’s [...]
Musicfest NW hits town this week (Sept 3-6) and the lineup has some promising names. I’m sure the crowds will be swarming over radio friendly Vampire Weekend (9/5 - 10:30pm @ The Crystal Ballroom) and all the cool kids will be at [...]
The restaurant started out of a simple proposition - create a unique place which served gourmet food that used fresh local and natural ingredients and didn’t have any animal products. The words VEGAN weren’t plastered across the sign or on the menu. The food was just Vegan by nature. The [...]
It’s the first day of the three-day weekend, and the last official weekend of summer. The weather is beautiful and the smell of freshly baked pies is in the air.
Yep - after weeks of hype in the Portland internets, the (first annual?) Portland Pie-Off is getting underway today [...]
Both my husband and I both work downtown, so we carpool. Every afternoon I pick him up from his office over in the Pearl, a block or two down from the 24-Hour Fitness on Irving & 12th. And everyday there is at least one car - sometimes three or four [...]
So it’s been about 2 months since I moved here. Things are starting to settle down and I’m getting to know my new city a bit better. I’m still learning streets and sections and all that, but I can get by.
In learning a new city, there’s a lot involved! [...]
We are truly blessed in Portland. We have over two dozen craft breweries that call our city home. At a moment’s notice, we can enjoy beer from the likes of Roots Organic, HUB, Hair of the Dog, the Old Lompoc, and many, many others. But even the most obnoxious beer [...]
This is a fantastic idea. I actually can’t believe that students had to pay for buses in the first place. Having grown up in a considerably smaller city than Portland I rode a yellow school bus in elementary and middle school - and then drove in high school. We [...]
According to the latest issue of the Portland Tribune, police are cracking down on single-passenger cars in the HOV lane. This is a good thing. Back in my ‘couve dwelling days, I can recall seeing way too many single passenger cars using the lane (for the curious - I used [...]
Hooray!
I love a good patio, and I love that more and more of my favorite places have them. I am NOT a fan of places that have a few tables on the sidewalk and try to call it a patio. I want a dedicated space where buses and cars [...]
So on Monday I went to the Broadway Metroplex as I heard that there was screening of The City of Lost Children (I’m a big Jean Pierre Jeunet fan, despite Alien Resurrection… heh ). Turns out that Monday at the Broadway Metroplex, the Independent Film Revival, has some new fare [...]
For the past four years, the Grindhouse Film Festival has been presenting a wonderful assortment of good, wholesome exploitation flicks from the 70s and 80s. Their offerings have run the gamut from the deliciously cheeseball (”Alligator”, a film written by John Sayles - the best “killer Alligator” movie of [...]
You may know Jason Simms as a Willamette Week music writer. You may know him as a member of Portland punk group Shock Troops. Or maybe you know him as part of the team from Englishbaby.com who’s headed to Beijing during the Olympics to further their [...]
Last year we had Illume - this year the Flutag is BACK!
Teams from the all over the Northwest made up of Starbucks employees, dragon-boaters, Kells staff, computer geeks, and students built flying machines shaped like underwear, Chinese takeout boxes, a Winnebago, Godzilla…. and will launch themselves off [...]
We’ve raved here before about the North Portland Tool Library - a very cool place and an awesome concept - and this Sunday they’re having their second planning meeting to help them decide how they can improve their services, what YOU want from them, and how you - [...]
If Metblogs is a city, hub.metblogs is the playground. We kept hearing from people that one of their favorite parts of Metblogs was meeting and interacting with readers and writers from other parts of the world, as well as getting requests for more ways [...]
I’m back! From a hopefully short-lived extremely busy time at both work and home and everywhere in between. And yes, I have some new exciting information for you. This will likely not be a surprise to most anyone, but Portland has come in as number 10 on Walk Score’s [...]
According to The Prids’ myspace page, here’s the latest posted on there:
“Our dear friends The Prids - David, Mistina, Joey and Maile - and two of their significant others - Kristin and Chris - were in a serious accident early Sunday evening while en route to Los Angeles on [...]
In general I am not a sports fan - I can have fun at a game or out with friends at a bar or a Super Bowl party, but not really because of the game, I’m there for the social aspect. I went to every one of my high school [...]
Don’t forget - well be drinking tasty beverages and having a good time socializing tonight at Plan B on SE 8th & Main.
Come on by anytime after 5pm - we’ll snag a table on the patio and save a spot for you!!
So the International Brewfest this past weekend was again a great success. I have a feeling they may soon outgrow that location if the popularity continues to increase the way it seems to.
I discovered a new favorite style of beer though - something I’d seen in bottles at [...]
You know, the iPhone is a neat little thing. The boyo and I like to think of it as the Douglas Adams’ Guide come to life. Have a question? Ask The Guide (as we’ve come to refer to it). What time is the movie? Ask The Guide! What is the [...]
According to the folks over at KGW, there is currently a proposal requiring chain restaurants to include nutritional information on the menu.
I’ve got a couple of problems with this.
First of all, nutritional information is already available for just about any chain restaurant I can think of (warning - here [...]
So thanks to my friends at filmfeverradio.com (and yes, they are long time friends), the boyo and I enjoyed a screening of The Dark Knight tonight.
Can I just say…
Oh.
My.
Gawd.
!
I’ll leave the reviews to them, but it was seriously f#$%ed up and seriously cool. I’m [...]
Seems like it’s only been a few weeks since we had a beerfest - actually, it has! The Organic Beerfest was held a few weeks back, and was a thing of beauty (and heat). Coming up this weekend is the International Beerfest. Out of Portland’s many beer festivals, I think [...]
Yup - it’s the time again!
Tuesday, July 22
5pm - ???
Plan B
SE 8th & Main
We had a great group of people last month - including several of our new authors and commenters, as well as our old friends and regulars. And what do we do at [...]
So last night was the first of a 2 night stint for Eddie Izzard playing here in Portland. From what I know, it’s sold out, but I’ve still heard that a lot of people are looking for tickets. If I wasn’t so broke from my move here, I’d go again!
That’s [...]
Yesterday, the main headline in the New York Times read “Senate Approves Bill to Broaden Wiretap Powers”. Pretty important story involving the government expanding surveillance powers against citizens and simultaneously granting telecoms immunity from civil suits initiated by said citizens. Here in Portland the main headline read “Cyclist Clubs [...]
So today was one of those days that most people would say was a “nice” day. I’m going to have to disagree here because a)I got a sunburn, despite the sunscreen I put on, b) it was horribly hot when not in the shade and c) the allergies kicked up [...]
My grandparents lived in a small town in southern Minnesota where one of Birds-Eye’s plants was. Trucks came in everyday from the fields of Minnesota and Iowa loaded down with sweet corn. Locals would drop by the backdoor of the plant a couple times a week and pick [...]
So it’s time again for my annual DCI post - this year we are lucky enough to have both the Blue Devils - the 2007 champs - and Phantom Regiment who brought in 4th place last year. Our own Oregon Crusaders will of course be there, [...]
It’s obvious that something’s gotta give. Anyone who’s made the drive from Vancouver in the morning or to Vancouver in the evening knows that. On bad days, it can take more than an hour to cross the span. It’s a headache for both commuters and trucks making shipments. But is [...]
Saw this yesterday morning on Sandy Blvd. while out getting a coffee… perfect Americana for the holiday weekend!
[...]Most of us should be used to the overcast-ness and rain-ocity of the great northwest, but holy smokes! The storm last night was fantastic! And forgive me for speaking of weather, because I know that it’s the most boring thing ever, but I really truly thought that thunderstorms didn’t [...]
There are only about 10 people in my office today - normally there are about 40. We have tomorrow off as well as Friday - so many people took advantage of using three days of PTO to get nine days off. I decided to work because my husband wouldn’t have [...]
Photo by Rich Oskin
As gas prices are rising local Portlanders are looking for alternate means of commuting around town. Bicycles are a number one as far as this city goes (we all know that!). But have you noticed more mopeds on the road? We’re talking [...]
Writing for 
