By the way, if you’re on your way out to see us in Portland, and you decide – why, I don’t know – that you would like more ideas about what’s happening than we’ve provided here, I’ll share my three secret caches of information.

The first is Willamette Week, or Willy Week as it’s affectionately known. It’s our free weekly and can be found all over town. As well as some first-rate reporting, it’s brimming with ideas for how to fill your time when you’re not sipping cocktails in the Driftwood or sleeping.

The other is the Mercury. It skews a bit more on the edgy, underground-y side, but is also a great free resource for food, music, nightlife, movies, etc. You’ll usually find it on offer right next to Willy Week.

Finally, for those who’ve abandoned paper, there’s travelportland.com. It’s a virtual potpourri of stuff.

Have fun,

Emily

I don’t know what it is but I am just wiped out today. Not even my daily allotment of caffeine has done the trick. Can allergies do that? Maybe I’m allergic to staying up late watching Deadwood.

If it was Friday I’d head over to Pioneer Square because this week Flicks on the Bricks is showing an ’80s classic. Ghosts? Busting? Bill Murray? He and Harold Ramis are a comic duo genius on the order of Hope and Crosby, Martin and Lewis, Ernie and Burt.

Flicks on the Bricks is actually really close to Hotel deLuxe. Right down at Pioneer Square. What your literature will refer to as Portland’s living room. The last movie of the series is another ’80s gem, “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” On August 15.

Time for another latte.

Later,

Emily

OK, due warning here. You’re on your own on this one, but I had to mention it just because it, well, sort of surprised me that something of the kind existed. I’m talking of course about the Tualatin Crawfish Festival, which I just learned about.

Most amazing of all, it claims to be the nation’s old crawfish festival at the advanced age of 58 years! Where in the heck have I been? It’s not Portland, but you’d think an event with such a distinguished pedigree would have made its way to my ears. And I love crawfish!

I may just have to go to prove it’s not some sort of Internet prank by venturing over there (Tualatin Commons, Aug. 8-9). There’s apparently a cook-off on Friday, as well as music, a crawfish eating contest (of course), something called an “Atsa My Dawg” Show (hmm…) – even a crawfish parade.

OK, I’ll bite…

Emily