An interesting post in PDXArtWork about the battle for broader rules for murals in Portland. I for one say bravo. Murals are a positive expression of civic pride. When is public art a bad thing?

(Though I guess people weren’t so happy when Diego Rivera included Lenin in his mural at the RCA Building… Bad Diego.)

But if you’re a fan of the mural, and think a vibrant, modern city is not quite as vibrant or modern without them, then here are a couple not far from Hotel deLuxe to check out. Now, the skill is, um, relative, but the heart is there.

Beneath the Urban Canopy (2375 NW 23rd Place)
Friendly House Mural (2617 NW Savier) – Says even passersby helped.

See these and others at Metro Murals.

Cheers,
Emily

If you need an old school gaming fix, I have a plan for you. First, rent “King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.” It’s about Donkey Kong championships. Sounds lame but it’s hilarious.Then, get yourself over Ground Kontrol, which is on N.W. Couch. It’s full of old school arcade games like Donkey Kong, and also Galaga, Pac Man, Defender, Centipede, Tron. If it was from the 70s to 90s they’ve got it.

And if all that wasn’t enough, they serve beer. Games and beer. Yup.

Play on,
Keith

Reading Amy Ruiz’s post in the Portland Mercury blog about the lamentable absence of WiFi access in Tualatin got me thinking: What about PDX?

Well, if you live in Portland you probably remember all the talk about the city turning into one big free WiFi hot spot. But I haven’t heard anything in awhile. Here’s the situation these days:

According to MetroFi, Portland now has more than 550 live outdoor “access points” in more than 25 neighborhoods. And they say they’re growing all the time. I am told, however, that connecting indoors can be dodgy.

Not a problem. Just step into one of the city’s innumerable bars or coffee shops with free WiFi. WiFi PDX can tell you where the closest one is to where you’re standing. Whew.

Cheerio,
Emily

My apologies, everyone. I’ve fallen down on the job. I’ve failed to keep you updated on the movies in our monthly Sunday night series. I’m hoping some of you have kept up by checking the web site. To the rest of you, mea culpa.

So, I wanted to get this notice for our March screening in early. To give you time to plan. This month’s installment is right up my personal alley. Called Hurricane Heroes, it’s a documentary about the massive animal rescue effort after Katrina. And Mike Shiley, the filmmaker, is, like most in our series, a local. Kudos, Mike.

RSVP to 503.219.2093 and then come on down. It’s free. The Screening Room, located off the hotel lobby, opens at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 6:30 p.m.. Oh, and you can get dinner and drinks from Gracie’s or the Driftwood.

I guarantee it’s better than what’s on TV.

Cheers,
Emily

This may be my last post for a bit as I have to get training. It’s going to keep me pretty busy. Cue the inspiring montage in Rocky when he’s punching hanging slabs of meat and racing up the steps triumphantly.

Why, you ask? Portland marathon? Hood to Coast? Tropical Speedo-wearing vacation? Nay. Willamette Week’s first annual Wii tournament! You read it right, a Wii tournament. What’s up, New York Times!

They’re calling it a Wii showdown. We’re going to throw down at the showdown. Our weapons will apparently be bowling, tennis and, tool of my eventual glory, Guitar Hero. They’ll be hearing Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” in their nightmares!

If you’re interested in joining the melee, it’s on March 27, but you have to register. Act fast because it could already be full. Your $5 entry fee apparently also gets you snacks and drinks.

Rock on,
Keith

It’s that time of year. Finally. Time to welcome back Saturday! In the winter, Saturday hibernates around here. It gets movies from Netflix and plays online Scrabble. It wears sweats all the time and promises to get in shape in the spring.

But now it’s back, and it’s open for business under the Burnside Bridge between S.W. Naito and S.W. 1st. If you haven’t picked up on my clever allusion, I’m referring to the Saturday Market. Oh, how we have missed ye, Saturday.

If you’ve never been, the market is sort of a Portland landmark (and actually open Sunday, too). In its 25th year (so says their web site), it started as an artists’ cooperative but has grown to include food, music and some of the best people watching in the city.

And it’s right on the Max line. When you smell the kettle corn, get off.

Cheerio,
Emily

About this place Henry’s. If you haven’t been there you have to know they have more than 100 taps! It’s got to be the widest selection of beers in town. It’s like a forest of taps in there.

They separate out the different style on the menu for you, which is nice. From ales to lagers to stouts and whatever. There are even half a dozen fruit beers! And about 20 seasonals. Most from the west and NW. It’s like some kind of beervana in there.

Apparently it used to be the old Henry Weinhards brewery. It’s more of a pick-up sort of place than I usually go to. But man that selection… Oh, and get this, they even have a frozen strip on the bar to set your beer on to keep it cold! Beervana indeed.

Cheers,
Keith

I know it’s still winter and all, but this is going to be an ice cream post. I can’t be stopped. There’s this place that just opened over in the Pearl called Cool Moon Ice Cream that demands your attention.

We’d gone to Henry’s for a drink after work, and waling back to the car we had to go a different way so my friend could look at this lighting store. And there it was, like a sweet beacon of love.

The flavors are unbelievable. I had the coffee caramel that I’ve bored everyone at Hotel deLuxe talking about ever since. Crazy good. The girlfriend had this coconut business that also had jalapeno in it. All made right there. And no plastic spoons!

Later,
Keith

I’m putting it out there. Those who know me ― and even if you don’t ― should know that this time I will not miss Cirque du Soleil when it’s in town. Enough of just dropping hints.

So, this time I’m saying it clearly: ahem, Cirque du Soleil, people. Who’s taking me? I’ll be honest. I don’t even know what the theme of the show is. But does it really matter? It’s people flying and somersaulting and whatnot. In crazy, fantastical outfits. What more do you want?

I don’t even have a birthday or anniversary coming up. But my calendar does tell me that March 21 is former Mexican president Benito Juarez’s birthday. I think he would want me to go. But act fast, my generous benefactor, the show only runs till April 6.

Gratefully yours,
Emily

Someone was just telling me about that place (Stand Up Comedy)! I was very confused. I couldn’t understand that it was a store. It was a like a Laurel & Hardy bit. What’s it called? Stand Up Comedy. No, what’s it called? Stand Up Comedy.

It’s actually in the same area as a favorite place of mine. Moshi Moshi. That east Burnside neighborhood is really becoming quite the bastion of the avant garde these days. Lookout, Paris. Watch yourself, Berlin.

But Moshi Moshi. It’s this incredibly cool little shop full of vintage Japanese toys, art, t-shirts, bags, all kinds of different stuff. The bad news is they recently closed. The good news is I just read on their blog that they’ll be reopening at 916 West Burnside on March 6th for, and I quote, “a Mr. T themed group art show.”

Say no more.

See ya,
Emily