OK, all, just a reminder that this year’s Top Down Film Festival is about to finish up this coming Thursday, Aug. 28.

The finale arrives in the form of “Super Argo and the Faceless Giants.” What in the world is that? Well, I don’t know exactly, but it involves a professional wrestler turned superhero/spy who fights a mad scientist who plans to kidnap the world’s best athletes to turn them into robots. I’m in.

The Top Down festival is put on by our friends at the Northwest Film and held on the rooftop of our parking garage. If you’ve never seen a movie on a garage, don’t miss this last installment. The evening also includes a live music pre-show at 8 by Will Carpenter’s Towering Trees as well as food and drink. Our grappling hero gets started at dusk (9ish).

See you there,
Emily

I don’t think Emily has probably got this one circled on her calendar. But if you’re into skateboarding, BMX or freestyle motocross, doing it or just watching it, you’ll want to know about the Dew Tour.

Basically it’s all the crazy tricks and reckless behavior we expect from extreme athletes. And to see it live and in person gives you a whole new appreciation for the kind of brain ailment you need to do what they do. Especially the motocross. Insane.

There’s also other stuff to keep you busy between events, like you can get autographs from competitors, try out video games and interactive displays, and even test ride some 2009 bikes. And then on Friday Gym Class Heroes perform. (I hear their also playing Sat. at Satyricon if you miss them Friday.) Oh, it’s Aug. 21-24 at the Rose Quarter.

Later,

Keith

I’ve got to put a plug in for a place I found last week. It’s actually pretty hard to miss because it’s right downtown (across from Saucebox on Broadway), but somehow I didn’t see it till the other day. What kind of beer fan am I?

The place is called Bailey’s Taproom and I admit I got all giggly when I saw that they were serving some of my favorites from the Brew Fest. I volunteered this year for the first time, which was fun. I poured the Caldera Ginger Ale. If you came on Saturday, maybe I served you.

Anyway, Bailey’s has a nice big space with good people watching out the window and rotating taps for your tasting pleasure. If you go soon, try the Green Flash Hop Head Red. That was probably my top. Though Bridgeport’s Hop Czar was surprisingly good too.

Later,

Keith

It’s funny that you mention the dearth of riverside dining in Portland. Sadly, you speak the truth, young man. I was just thinking that this weekend when a friend of mine dragged me to this place in Vancouver called Joe’s Crab Shack.

We went because she is working on a book about kid-friendly places in the Portland area and it’s a good family spot. But the best thing, aside from the Dungeness crab, which was surprisingly good, was sitting out on their deck right on the Columbia.

It’s a pretty spectacular view, I’ve got to say. You have the bridge to the right and the sailboats floating by. The buildings on the Oregon side are actually pretty depressing by comparison. I’m not a build for building sake kind of girl, but where are the developers when you need them?

Have fun,

Emily

It’s come and gone but I feel bad for anyone who didn’t make it down to the Flugtag on the 4^th. That was absolutely the nuttiest bit of nutty nonsense I’ve had the joy to watch plunge 30 feet off a platform into the river. Awesome. Next year, maybe Hotel deLuxe will have to get its own contraption together.

And thanks to Flugtag I probably never would’ve gone into Newport Bay otherwise and discovered their little balcony bar overlooking the marina. Eating there is up to you, though I’ve heard they have a good happy hour.

But amazingly it’s really the only bar I’ve found right on the river in Portland. The other options are over on the harbor side on the walkway there. They have outside seating so you can sit and watch the boats bob around.

Later,

Keith

Nah, I’ve got the cool thing to add to your agenda while you’re here. Even if you’re not bringing your bike. Which more and more people seem to be doing these days. Which is great.

It’s called Tour de Fat. It’s going to be total bike mania. People dress up, decorate their bikes and then ride around town in a big spectacle of a parade. It all wraps up with a party put on by sponsor New Belgium Beer. Fat Tire. Get it? Beer, music and food is the reward.

The whole point is to raise people’s environmental awareness, get them thinking about how a bike can become a great way to get around. But it also raises money for local charities.

So dress up and pedal yourself over to Waterfront Park on Aug. 16 and join the madness. Should be a blast. Oh and it’s free.

Later,

Keith

Ha. You owe me, Keith. I, too, learned a couple of things last week that made me quite happy as well.

1. I don’t know if you remember but I did a post awhile back lamenting the sad passing of Portland’s Nau clothing. Alas, I was not the only one and Nau really announced that they had been purchased. By a company in Santa Barbara. Good news, and good luck, Nau!

2. You know about the first Thursday artwalk downtown and the last Thursday artwalk in Alberta. But did you know there’s a first Friday artwalk? Me either! It’s sponsored by the Central Eastside Arts District and includes over 30 galleries around SE Sandy. See their site for a handy map.

Ta Ta,

Emily

The best advice I can give you in preparation for the upcoming celebration of our nation’s 232nd birthday is to remove yourself from the hysteria that is the waterfront. Remember, many of those folks discovered the beer tent much earlier in the day.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the blues festival as much as the next person. I just prefer to enjoy explosives from a safe distance. Like a table at the Portland City Grill. So there’s my Portland insider’s secret. Now it’s out in the open.

Call this instant and get a table facing the river. Believe me, once you’ve enjoyed the fireworks alongside a plate of shellfish risotto and a nice glass of pinot grigio, you’ll wonder why anyone ever opts for the sweaty mass of humanity down below. Yeah, America.

Enjoy,
Emily

Hey doughnut lovers, I have an update on Voodoo Doughnuts. When I wrote my post the other week about them I didn’t know they were on their way to a new location. So sorry if you headed over to the spot on S.W. 3rd. Oops.

The worst part is I missed their doughnut parade from the downtown store to their new place at N.E. 15th and Davis! It’s not every day you see a doughnut parade.

Word is they tied up traffic on Burnside with the Regiment of Syncopated Drummers and I don’t know who and what all else. They must’ve looked like some kind of doughnut Mardi Gras celebration. I guess they even transported their secret doughnut grease in a coffin.

Anyway, I’m sure it’s new place, same doughnut deliciousness. But what about the Voodoo Wedding Chapel…?

Later,
Keith

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.

Cheers,
Keith