I’m still waiting for Gus Van Sant’s new movie, Paranoid Park (2007), to come out!

It’s been awhile now since it opened at Cannes, and still nothing! I know it didn’t have a distributor at that point, but the great reviews changed that pretty quickly. So when is it going to actually be released to the non-French!

The movie is in the vein of Gerry (2002), Elephant (2003) and Last Days (2005) in that it’s about the “trials of youth”. It follows the lives of some skaters in Portland, Oregon after one of them accidentally kills a guy. (Gus actually did an open casting in Portland. My friend Melissa got a call back, but then got shutout I’m sorry to say.)

To make matters worse, The Hollywood Reporter said that Gus “has made one of his best movies yet, recapturing the magic of his fine earlier works such as ‘Mala Noche’ and ‘Drugstore Cowboy.’”

Enough - distributorture!

Lance

Don’t know if I mentioned it in an earlier blog but the Hotel deLuxe Sunday movies are almost every third Sunday. That’s important. Otherwise, you’ll do like I did and show up on the wrong day. Bonnie and I came over to the deLuxe on the 10^th, on my day off, for A Thing of Wonder. (If you haven’t been paying attention, the movie was on the 17^th).

Everyone got a good laugh out of that. Nyuk, nyuk. We just went and had some tacos and saw Knocked Up instead down at the Pioneer Place Regal Theaters, I definitely recommend the movie. I read some critic somewhere say that Judd Apatow (the director) is this generation’s John Hughes. A pretty fair assessment, says me. Also, I forget how close Pioneer Place is to the Hotel deluxe – just hop on the MAX and head 2 stops into downtown Portland - there is some good Portland shopping at Pioneer Place.

Anyway, every third Sunday is Movie Night at Hotel deLuxe, however the next one is on July 22^nd - technically the 4th Sunday…. so don’t let that confuse you. The next film will be From One Rose, the documentary about Portland’s Rose Festival, how appropriate with the event lingering in such recent memory.

See ya,

Lance

I just want to thank G.W. who emailed me about a Portland hotel movie connection I didn’t know about – and it’s good one!

As you probably know, Portland’s finest hotel, the Hotel deLuxe, used to be the Hotel Mallory, which had been around forever. My Dad used to say it sort of became the drunk uncle of Portland hotels: odd and somehow likable, but probably best kept close to the family.

Anyway, the point is I’ve got to go out and rent The Fabulous Baker Boys (Steve Kloves, 1989). Apparently part way in, Beau Bridges’ character (I think) actually makes a reference to the Hotel Mallory. Now that’s a choice one!

Makes me think I’ve got to work in a reference to Hotel deLuxe in my movie. It’s the least I can do…

Fabulously,

Lance

What you realize after watching a movie like last Sunday’s at Hotel deLuxe ( A Thing of Wonder, the Mind and Matter of Jerry Andrus ) is how many really creative people there are in the world just doing their thing. It’s amazing.

Jerry Andrus, the magician/inventor from Albany, Oregon who the movie is about, has had what looks to be a very interesting life doing magic all over the world. But the great thing is that at 83 he’s still curious, still exploring. I love that. Plus, he calls his house the “Castle of Chaos.” Makes me realize my house has gone too long without a name.

Then there are the filmmakers, who were there. They’re just three friends who happen to love movies. They’re not even film majors. They just decided they wanted to make a movie together, and then did it. Really inspiring.

And then there’s the Chicken Oscar from Gracie’s I had for dinner. Believe it or not it’s a grilled chicken breast stuffed with crab legs covered in béarnaise sauce, it’s like the Citizen Kane of chicken. Art you can eat.

By the way, you can see A Thing of Wonder on Google Videos.

Later,

Lance

Wanted to take a quick break to talk about something that’s really important: “The Simpsons”. I think we owe it to the visitors to our city.

You probably know that Matt Groening, hallowed be his name, (the creator of the Simpsons) is from Portland. But did you know that a lot of the characters’ names on the show come from Portland streets?

>Ned Flanders – Flanders St. (Check the sign in NE Portland. Usually someone has written in a “D” to read “NED Flanders St.).

>Reverend Timothy Lovejoy – Lovejoy St.

>Mayor “Diamond” Joe Quimby – Quimby Street (Supposedly the “Diamond” comes from a crooked Portland police chief with the same nickname.)

>Charles Montgomery Burns – An abbreviation of Burnside St.

>Robert “Sideshow Bob” Underdunk Terwilliger – Terwilliger Blvd.

>Milhouse Van Houten – Van Houten Ave.

From Hotel deLuxe, nearly all these streets are close enough for you to make your own Simpsons walking tour. Just tell people it’s part of the Lewis & Clark trail.

That’s all, folks,
“Diamond” Lance

OK, here’s another one. It’s not exactly a bar, but the Leaky Roof is a really great spot. I hadn’t realized till just a little while ago that it made a total 180-degree switcho-changeo at some point. It used to pretty much be a dive. Probably actually was leaking.

Now it’s this great, little place with awesome food, a nice inviting feeling and it boasts Portland’s largest selection of Irish whiskeys. I’m not even sure how many Portlanders know about it. Try their special soup. Just looked it up: It’s called Doukabor soup. Based on borscht apparently. Perfect for a rainy Portland day. I’m going to have to try it for lunch one of these days, it’s totally within walking distance to the Hotel deLuxe, yet another great Portland restaurant located in Goose Hollow.

Your trusted Doukabor resource,

Lance

I enjoy the local haunts you boys identified, but I like to have a bit of live music with my Manhattan. That’s why I must spotlight Wilf’s Restaurant & Bar as the most welcome of area watering holes. Go for the old-world charm, stay for the jazz.

The wingback leather chairs, the dark wood interior, the organic menu, I even enjoy being so close to Portland’s train and bus stations (it’s located inside of Union Station) with people passing by on their way somewhere.

But it’s really about the music, Wilf’s Live Jazz is always great. I recommend Tuesday nights when Ron Steen hosts his weekly open jams.

Have fun!

Emily

Love Goose Hollow Inn. You can’t go wrong there. And I can vouch for that Reuben! Or could until I went all veg.

I can’t call it my favorite, but I just went to Apotheke for the first time the other night and it gets points for uniqueness. It’s sort of a Sprockets kind of place. Think Sleeper (Woody Allen, 1973) with an “electronica” soundtrack.

Their deal is they serve all their drinks neat, no mixers. The idea is that the booze should do the talking, so they’re stocked in interesting liquors from around the world. I had a vodka from somewhere made from something. I’d have it again if only I could remember.

Prost!

Lance

Zach here. Lance said I should offer up a blog about my favorite bar in the Goose Hollow neighborhood here around Hotel deLuxe. Sounds easy, but in Portland that can be a tough call.

OK, partly because it’s almost summer I’ve got to go with the Goose Hollow Inn.

Goose Hollow is true Portland. It’s even owned by a former mayor, Bud Clark. Beer selection is good and so is the grub. (I’m not a sauerkraut person but people go mental for their Reuben.) I think it’s best on a warm night, or a sunny afternoon, when you can just kick back on the deck.

Ask me again next week, and I’ll have a different answer.

See ya,

Zach

I just realized I haven’t ever mentioned Hotel deLuxe’s monthly Sunday night movies! And I’m not talking about Dances with Wolves (Kevin Costner, 1990) here (which I actually didn’t hate, especially when compared to the locally filmed The Postman [Kevin Costner, 1997], which he, um, really mailed in).

These are small, independent films and shorts made in the area here. The first installment was last month: Painted Life by Jacob Pander. Really good.

This Sunday (June 17) at 6:30 p.m. we’ll be showing A Thing of Wonder, The Mind and Matter of Jerry Andrus. It’s a documentary about an 83-year-old magician, inventor and poet who lives in Albany, Ore. How can you not be grabbed by that? Plus, it’s free. Call (503.219.8627) to reserve a seat (there are only about 40). It shows in Hotel deLuxe’s Screening Room, which has a pretty awesome setup. And you can order food or drinks from either Gracie’s or the Driftwood.

End of transmission,

Lance

P.S. If you’re tall, love hats or have a pompadour, please don’t sit in front of the doorman.