The blues festival is a good one. Charlie Musselwhite is definitely worth two cans of food. Great location there, too, beside the river.
After Rose Festival and then four days of blues guitar and harmonica, you might be ready for something a bit more on the sedate side. I know I will be. You need to decompress. Clean the palate.
So I’m thinking the Star Festival at the Japanese Garden might be just the ticket. Also called Tanabata, this event is traditionally celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year, when the two stars Vega and Altair come together.
Well, the Japanese Garden, ever the rebel, is having it on June 6 instead. Guests can take part in the tradition of writing one’s wishes, called tanzaku, and hanging them on a tree, enjoy picture storytelling, or kamishibai, as well as music and activities for the kids.
OK, so I’ve never heard of it, but it sounds really cool. (Thanks to the Portland Mercury blog for schooling me.) They block off Main Street between SW Broadway and Park for the show, which, by the way, costs nada.
The list of acts looks really interesting, too. All shows are Wednesday and early, starting at 5 p.m. and going until 7 p.m. Here’s the lineup:
July 9 - Fernando
July 16 - All Girl Summer Fun Band featuring the Dirty Mittens
July 23 - Freak Mountain Ramblers
July 30 - National Flower
August 6 - Lions of Batucada
August 13 - Stephanie Schneiderman with Keith Schreiner
August 20 - Jackstraw
August 27 - Mary Flower and Reggie Houston
Here’s something cool I just learned about. If you’re into tai chi, or want to learn, head over to the North Park Blocks at 8th and Everett Tuesday or Thursday night from 6-7 p.m.
Every week classes in tai chi and qigong are held there for a suggested donation of $5 to $10. They’re open to anyone and you can apparently just show up whenever you want and join in.
There are other locations as well. Check out the web site at PDXtaichi.com. The site also has information on David Vanadia, the instructor, and background about tai chi, qigong and other related subjects.
So if you’re feeling stressed now there’s now another option rather than just a few beers and tater tots at the Low Brow Lounge. Though that’s not affected by the weather…
If you spend anytime downtown you no doubt know about First Thursday. I’m assuming I’ve probably done a post or two about it. If I haven’t, shame on me. Just to make sure, I’ll do another one soon as tis the season.
In the meantime, I’d like to introduce you to the art-walker’s more eccentric route down Alberta on the last Thursday. I’ll admit I don’t get over there as often as I do First Thursday, but it’s truly a spectacle worth beholding.
While First Thursday spotlights your high-profile galleries – being downtown and all – Last Thursday is younger and edgier. In addition to the galleries, there’s lots of stuff displayed on the sidewalk, tattooed drummers, bands playing in storefronts and great people watching.
Alberta is one of the most interesting streets in the city, and never more so than the last Thursday of the month.
I can’t believe you guys (other Hotel deLuxe bloggers) haven’t given a shout out to the tapioca in the Portland theater Hungry Man Meal at the Clinton Street Theater. It’s deliciously good. Like one of Voodoo Donuts’ Cap’n Crunch donuts.
The Clinton is your choice if you’re into more, let’s call it, unusual fare. The new Indiana Jones movie is never going to play there. Chronicles of Narnia is never going to play there. But a “Maximum Car-nage Double Feature” is (“Maximum Overdrive” and “Repo Man” July 11-17).
And there’s probably no better introduction to the theater than the upcoming Portland Underground Film Festival from June 12 to 15. These are not your mall movies. This year there are even a couple of openings and one world premiere.
I should also mention that the Clinton serves beer.
I don’t know what’s going on at Powell’s these days, but they’ve really stacked their upcoming calendar. Do writers get summer vacation? I haven’t been able to keep up! That is going to stop now.
Because in early/mid June Powell’s is looking to host an especially rich run of novelists and speakers I’m really looking forward to seeing. Here’s the highlights: Russell Banks on the 8th, David Guterson and Richard Bausch on the 9th, and then Salman Rushdie on the 13th.
I have Russell Banks’ new one, but haven’t read it, and have read a review of Richard Bausch’s new one. I’ve apparently got some catching up to do on the reading front. No more magazine subscriptions! Especially the New Yorker. Every week, New Yorker? Is that really necessary? I live in Portland!
OK, I’m going to make a confession: I’m not a huge fan of the Rose Festival. I’ve lived in a Portland a long time. I’ve seen my share of drunken sailors come and go. Endured my share of traffic jams during parades.
Having said all that, I like that it’s part of the city. Every city should have at least one dusty century-old festival. For continuity, and to prove it has traditions. But mostly I love the dragon boats.
If you’ve never seen a dragon boat, they’re like these ornate-y dugout canoes with maybe 10 paddlers. Seeing them on the river is like spotting budding spring blossoms.
If you want to take a gander yourself, check out the races on June 7 and 8 near the Hawthorne Bridge. Teams from all over the world compete in heats of four about every 10 minutes. Wagering is optional.
The beginning of summer in Portland can be reduced to two words: Rose Festival. This century-old event is as Portland as latte-stained clothing. This year it runs from May 29 through June 4.
It starts with Fleet Week, which brings navy ships to dock in the Willamette. This year we’ll also see the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, two double-masted brigs that appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean.
Word is the brigs will host cruises on the river and take each other on in mock cannon battles. Nothing says summer like a cannon battle. I hope they’ve alerted the competitors in the dragon boat races…
And then there’s all the stuff on land, like the WaMu Waterfront Village with rides, food, and music; at least three parades; car races, though not at the same time as the parades; fireworks; concerts. It’s bona fide extravaganza.
I just learned about this cool ongoing film series the Broadway Metroplex is doing. They’re calling it a “revival” because every Monday night at 7:30 they’re showing some indie classic from the last few years.
Yes, you can get these movies from the video store or whatever, but here’s a chance to see them on the big screen. And there are some great ones on the list. I was bummed that I missed Trainspotting, but am looking forward to Rushmore on May 26. That’s a classic.
Here’s the rest of the schedule:
May 26: Rushmore
June 2: Annie Hall
June 9: The Squid and the Whale
June 16: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
June 23: Punch Drunk Love
June 30: Secretary
July 7: Foxy Brown
July 14: In the Company of Men
July 21: Storytelling (may change)
Forget Napa or Burgundy; they’ve had their day. Try our own promised land of wine right here in the Willamette Valley. In honor of our ascending star in the wine world, Hotel deLuxe is offering a special package called “Sniff, Swirl, Sip.”
This overnight offer helps you start your taste of Oregon wine country with a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir and a cheese plate handpicked by our chef and cheese connoisseur, Chris Carriker.
When you’re ready to get tasting, we’ve prepared a detailed wine guide on which we’ve mapped out the perfect route for an ideal day in wine country. Recommended stops include Archery Summit, Argyle and Sokol Blosser wineries, all in the beautiful Dundee area.
Close it out with breakfast the next morning at Gracie’s restaurant or, if you can’t quite be bothered to get out of bed, order it up from room service. Perfetto!
