I, Anonymous Live! Featuring Matt Braunger, Arlo Weierhauser, Shain Brenden PLUS Kate Murphy!

BLOGTOWN

Comedy

This Wednesday! It's the I, Anonymous Show with Special Guest Matt Braunger!

by Wm. Steven Humphrey • Saturday at 12:47 pm

1920x1080_IANON.jpg

HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Do you miss live comedy? ("YES!") Do you want to support the Mercury AND laugh your buttz off in the process? ("YES! YES!") Then the upcoming Wednesday, March 3, I, Anonymous Show (Livestream Edition) is for you! Here's how it works: We get the funniest local and national comedians to riff and heckle the wildest, jaw-droppingly wrong, and uncensored I, Anonymous submissions from the famous Mercury column, and in return you get a jam-packed evening of laughs!

The previous I, Anonymous Shows have been wildly funny and entertaining (and included some fun audience participation!), so you truly do not want to miss this one! Joining your delightful host Kate Murphy (a Mercury "Undisputable Genius of Comedy") will be the following murderers' row of hilarious comedians:

• ARLO WEIERHAUSER (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Portland's Funniest Person 2017, Lez Standup, Mercury Genius of Comedy, and former I, Anonymous Show host)

• SHAIN BRENDEN (Mercury Undisputable Genius of Comedy, WW's Funniest Five, Portland's Funniest finalist, San Francisco Sketchfest, 10,000 Laughs Comedy Festival)

• And the fantabulous MATT BRAUNGER (MADtv, NBC's Up All Night, BoJack Horseman, Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, The Late Late Show, Comedy Bang! Bang!)

Dang, folks! That is one helluva lineup right there! So if you need some guaranteed laughs, the I, Anonymous Show is the cure you've been looking for. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW for the livestream I, Anonymous Show—coming at ya WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, at 8 pm! IT'S A LAFF RIOT WE'RE TELLING YA!

EverOut

Your Guide to a Socially Distanced Weekend in Portland: Pittock Mansion's Reopening, Black-Owned Shops, a New Food Cart Pod, and More

by Mercury EverOut Staff • Friday at 4:30 pm

Portlands most famous house on a hill, Pittock Mansion, is back open for in-person visits! Be sure to mask up and reserve a timed ticket online.
Portland's most famous house on a hill, Pittock Mansion, is back open for in-person visits! Be sure to mask up and reserve a timed ticket online. Pittock Mansion via Facebook

EverOut is The Mercury's new website devoted to things to do in Portland and across the Pacific Northwest. It has all the same things you're used to seeing from Mercury EverOut, just in a new spot!
We're back with more suggestions for activities and IRL events to help you give February a proper sendoff, from a Westside city hike linking the Hoyt Arboretum and the newly reopened Pittock Mansion to Black-owned businesses and brands to shop from to cap off Black History Month, and from a new Northeast food cart pod to visit to things to do on a day trip to Salem. For even more options, read our guides to the best online events this week, the best movies to watch this week, and our complete, ever-evolving guide to in-person things to do in Seattle. 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Support local Black-owned businesses. For the last days of Black History Month (and every day after that), make a point of shopping from Black-owned brands and businesses based right here in Portland. An incomplete list of spots to hit up might include Cole and Dayna Reed's Greenhaus Gallery, which, in addition to displaying work by local artists on its walls, also sells things like woodcarvings, textiles, and vintage goods. If your home is a veritable greenhouse and you'd like to keep it that way, find new leafy friends and other gorgeous home accessories at EcoVibe Home, whose Northeast-native owner, Len Allen, runs the shop (along with the temporarily closed EcoVibe Apparel) with his wife, Dre. Speaking of plants, teen brother-sister duo Jaylen and Kyla Palmer make raised garden beds under the moniker J&K Partners, which they run via Facebook (send them a message to place an order). For a plethora of goods from Black makers in one parcel, check out With Love, From PDX, which curates gift baskets with themed products from nearly 100 local vendors. If you're in the market for some new reading material, stop by Broadway Books after checking out their list of books about the Black experience currently on its shelves, like Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham's Black Futures and Ijeoma Oluo's Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America.

Read on EverOut »

Sponsored

Hawthorne Businesses Are Open, Safe & Ready For You.

Hawthorne is one of Portland's most vibrant districts, offering a diverse mix of retail, bars & restaurants, arts and services. These businesses could use your support now more than ever and are offering safe visitor experiences:

Imelda's & Louie's - A Portland favorite for 26 years and counting, Imelda's and Louie's Shoes carries an unmatched selection of shoes and accessories for men and women. Explore their new Apparel & Gift store for delightful home goods, and chic, wearable clothing.

Memento pdx - Memento pdx, is a locally owned gift shop, that carries something for everyone! A mix of cute, curious and collectible.’ @memento.pdx

Altar - Altar is a flagship apparel company and retail store featuring independent artists! We proudly make our Houseline clothing in the USA and celebrate handmade design!

Echo Theater Company - Echo Theater Company resumes in person camps & classes this February with limited class sizes. Private and semi-private lessons, and virtual classes also available.

37th Street Salon - Serving Hawthorne and Portland since 1978, we are experienced professionals offering sophisticated, creative hair styling. Open 7 days a week, we are located in the iconic Bagdad Theater Building and offer products from AVEDA and MoroccanOil. 1512 SE 37th St 503-238-4056

Presents of Mind - Dedicated to carrying and supporting many local and independent designers, our goal is to enhance people's lives by offering high quality, fun & affordable goods while providing quality service in a fun atmosphere.

Adorn - With award winning artists, highly trained piercers and the PNW’s largest selection of fine quality body jewelry Adorn has been proudly serving the community for over 20 years.

Savvy Plus - Located in Portland's famous Hawthorne shopping district we provide beautiful clothing for everyone. Featuring plus size up to 3X high-quality women’s clothing at great prices. Our friendly staff is here to help you find that new outfit you have been wanting. Visit us today!

News

Good Afternoon, News: New Oregon Vaccine Timeline, Johnson & Johnson Approval, and Biden's First Airstrike

by Blair Stenvick • Friday at 3:36 pm

Screen_Shot_2021-02-26_at_2.47.22_PM.png
johnson & johnson

Here's your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

In local news:

• HOT VACCINE NEWS: All Oregonians aged 16 and older will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by July 1, according to the state's latest timeline. August is gonna be fucking lit.

• After a week of mixed messaging from City Hall, Hazelnut Grove residents have received some good news: The city will not be cutting its current services to the North Portland tiny home village for formerly houseless people in the "foreseeable future."

• Hector Calderon had Oregon's first documented case of COVID last year, and spent two months using a ventilator. KGW recently caught up with Calderon a year after he contracted the coronavirus—he's now recovered, and back at work as a school janitor in Lake Oswego.

Continue reading »
Housing

In Another Reversal, City Says Hazelnut Grove Can Keep Additional Services

by Alex Zielinski • Friday at 3:01 pm

A pathway through Hazelnut Grove.
A pathway through Hazelnut Grove. Alex Zielinski

After a week of mixed messaging from City Hall, Hazelnut Grove residents have received some good news: The city will not be cutting its current services to the North Portland tiny home village in the "foreseeable future."

That means the city will continue to provide trash pickup, porta-potty services, and an on-site storage unit to the village, which occupies a triangle of city-owned land between N Greeley and Interstate. Perhaps of most importance to the 17 formerly houseless residents who call Hazelnut Grove home, this also means the city will not be removing the chainlink fence that runs along the perimeter of the property and provides a sense of security to the villagers.

Residents were alerted to this news in a Thursday letter signed by Mayor Ted Wheeler and City Commissioner Dan Ryan, whose office oversees the Joint Office of Homeless Services and Portland Housing Bureau.

This update contradicts with plans announced by Wheeler late last week to sever these services by the end of March, in hopes of forcing residents to relocate. While the city has allowed the self-governed village to casually occupy the property since 2015, increased pressure from disapproving neighbors and a growing concern about potential environmental risks has motivated Wheeler to close the village.

Continue reading »
News • Coronavirus

All Oregonians Will Be Eligible for COVID Vaccines by July

by Alex Zielinski • Friday at 12:56 pm

GettyImages-1231388585.jpg
Billy H.C. Kwok / Getty Images

All Oregonians aged 16 and older will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by mid-summer, according to the state's latest timeline.

"Today marks a major turning point in Oregon’s vaccination program and our state’s ongoing fight against the coronavirus," said Pat Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), at a Friday press conference.

Oregon's updated vaccine rollout timeframe follows news of an uptick in vaccine shipments from the federal government and vaccine manufacturers. According to OHA, this expected increase will allow the state to have enough vaccine supply to give at least 3.5 million people their first doses by June 1.

Continue reading »
Food and Drink • EverOut

This Week In Portland Food News: Reel M Inn Tavern Is Back, Kansas City Barbecue Arrives, and Capri Sun Cocktails Are Coming

by Mercury EverOut Staff • Friday at 12:00 pm

Portlands favorite fried chicken and jo-jos are back on the menu: Reel M Inn Tavern re-opens for takeout and outdoor dining this Saturday.
Portland's favorite fried chicken and jo-jos are back on the menu: Reel M Inn Tavern re-opens for takeout and outdoor dining this Saturday. Reel M Inn Tavern

EverOut is The Mercury's new website devoted to things to do in Portland and across the Pacific Northwest. It has all the same things you're used to seeing from Mercury EverOut, just in a new spot!
This week brings some welcome news: A crew comprised of employees from Deadshot, Magna Kusina, and Pono Brewing are opening a tropical bar with boozy Capri Sun cocktails and fun Filipinx snacks in the former space of Bit House Saloon, and the well-loved dive Reel M Inn Tavern is slinging fried chicken and jojos once again. Plus, a new takeout- and delivery-only kitchen is serving up Kansas City-style barbecue, Diane Lam's fried chicken pop-up Prey + Tell gets a permanent home inside Psychic Bar, and a new taphouse with over a dozen food carts opens in Oregon City. Read on for that and more culinary updates. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide.

NEW OPENINGS AND RETURNS
Bit House Collective
Deadshot bartender Natasha Mesa, Magna Kusina chefs Carlo Lamagna, Dante Fernandez, and Roberto Almodovar, and local brewery Pono Brewing are coming together to form a dream-team collaboration. The group will open their new project Bit House Collective, which they jokingly refer to as a "Michelin-starred dive bar," in the former space of the historic Bit House Saloon next Wednesday, March 3. You can look forward to a menu of playful drinks from Mesa, such as boozy Capri Sun-esque cocktails served in pouches, fancied-up flaming Dr. Peppers, and a gin-spiked version of buko pandan (a Filipinx "dessert salad" with coconut milk and fruit jelly). Some other draws? Beers from Pono Brewing, like a hazy pineapple IPA and a blackberry-raspberry stout, and Filipinx-inspired bar snacks, like crab fat gravy waffle fries and pineapple barbecue-glazed burgers with atchara (pickled papaya).
Southeast
Outdoor seating and limited indoor seating

Read on EverOut »

Movies & TV

Review: Inside The Vigil's Dark, Delicate Horror

by Chase Hutchinson • Friday at 11:07 am

Dave Davis gives a dedicated performance as Yakov, a shomer disconnected from his faith.
Dave Davis gives a dedicated performance as Yakov, a shomer disconnected from his faith. IFC/The Vigil

Honesty in horror is tricky. It's a genre premised on misdirection and subterfuge, and horror films will often point in one direction only to sneak up from an entirely different direction. To balance that act with a truthful core and compelling narrative is rare and special, but that is what The Vigil does. The film, available on-demand starting today and the debut feature from director Keith Thomas, draws viewers into a well-constructed, honest house of horrors.

Taking place over one night in Brooklyn's Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood, The Vigil follows a struggling Yakov, played by a delicate yet dedicated Dave Davis. Yakov accepts a job to be an overnight shomer to watch over the body of a deceased man. He has never met the man, but he soon discovers more sinister forces threatening to consume him unless he can make peace with his past.



To be a shomer is to take part in the religious ritual of being present from the time of death until the burial. Yakov is disconnected from his faith, having left the community after a traumatic anti-Semitic attack. He insists he is only doing this for the money and even bargains up the price with his former rabbi, Reb Shulem, who begrudgingly agrees. The ever-charming Menashe Lustig plays the rabbi.

Continue reading »
HUMP!

THIS WEEKEND! Get Naked and Join the HUMP! Film Festival's ALL-NUDE Watch Party!

by Wm. Steven Humphrey • Friday at 10:04 am

HUMP__Tix.jpg

HEY SMUT LOVERS! There are only TWO WEEKENDS LEFT to catch the 2021 HUMP! Film Fest, and this Saturday is extra special because we're throwing an ALL-NUDE WATCH PARTY in which you can watch the show buck-nekked along with tons of other nude HUMP lovers! For this one-time only offer, we've set up a Zoom room for you to join other HUMP fans—or you can watch the show clothed and by yourself... it's your choice! If you do decide to join, you gotta be in the buff, but don't sweat it, because there are rules that will keep you and your naughty bits safe. Read about it here!

As a reminder, HUMP! is the annual film festival where sexy amateur filmmakers share their lustiest five-minute dirty movies with the world. This delightfully sex-positive fest features all sorts of horny fun, including hardcore, softcore, live action, stop action, animated, musical, kinky, vanilla, straight, gay, lez, bi, trans, and genderqueer flicks that are guaranteed to have you squirming in glee!

So feel free to watch Saturday's screening with fellow nudies (or by yourself), but don't miss out on Sunday's screening where you can watch HUMP! with a select group of the festival's directors and performers, in which you can ask questions and get a real behind-the-scenes peek at how HUMP flicks are made. SO! MUCH! FUN! And, looking into the future, here's what you can expect for the final weekend of HUMP 2021:

Continue reading »
News

Good Morning, News: $15 Minimum Wage Hike Scuttled, Deadbeat Oregon Republicans, and the CPAC Superspreader Extravaganza!

by Wm. Steven Humphrey • Friday at 8:57 am

We need your help. The economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis is threatening our ability to keep producing the quality reporting you've come to love. If you’re able, please consider making a monthly contribution to the Mercury.

Ted Cruz abandons suffering Texans AGAIN—this time to help spread COVID at CPAC.
Ted Cruz abandons suffering Texans AGAIN—this time to help spread COVID at CPAC. Joe Raedle / Getty News

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! I'm tired of listening to you talking in rhymes, twisting around to make me think you're straight down the line. LET'S GO TO PRESS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• In Republican drama queen news: Yesterday, shortly after Gov. Kate Brown extended Oregon's state of emergency orders to May 2—because, hello, PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING—crybaby Republicans staged another walkout (FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR), thereby grinding the legislature and the votes needed to help ALL Oregonians to a sudden halt. (Huh, I wonder what would happen to me if I repeatedly refused to show up to work?)

• In "light at the end of the tunnel" news: If all goes right, and the state gets the doses we expect, it's predicted that every adult in Oregon will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine by July 1.

Continue reading »
EverOut

Weekend Watch List: Night of the Kings, Minari on VOD, and More

by Mercury EverOut Staff • Thursday at 5:30 pm

Philip Lacôtes Night of the Kings, streaming via Northwest Film Center starting Friday, is this years official Oscar submission from the Ivory Coast.
Philip Lacôte's Night of the Kings, streaming via Northwest Film Center starting Friday, is this year's official Oscar submission from the Ivory Coast. Memento Films International

EverOut is The Mercury's new website devoted to things to do in Portland and across the Pacific Northwest. It has all the same things you're used to seeing from Mercury EverOut, just in a new spot!
Buckle in for another COVID-era award show: the Golden Globes are streaming on NBC this Sunday. Though they're not without their share of controversy (see: Music, Emily in Paris), many of the nominees are worth watching and are currently streamable, like Nomadland and Trial of the Chicago 7. If you've already seen those and are looking for some fresh options, we've got picks for you, too, like Night of the Kings (streaming via Northwest Film Center) and Seventeen (streaming via Hollywood Theatre). We've also included some films playing in theaters at Living Room and, starting Friday, Century 16 Cedar Hills and Eastport. Plus, don't forget that the Mercury's amateur stoner short film fest SPLIFF is accepting submissions through March 5! And while we're giving reminders, be sure to get tickets for next weekend's Cinema Unbound Drive-In and its affiliated Portland International Film Festival. 

LOCALLY STREAMING: NEW & NOTEWORTHY
Night of the Kings
A young man is sent to a prison in the middle of the Ivorian forest ruled by its inmates and, as tradition goes with the rising of the red moon, must tell a story to the other prisoners. Learning the tragic fate that awaits him if he fails to engage his audience until dawn, he settles on the mystical life of the legendary outlaw Zama King. Philip Lacôte's Night of the Kings is this year's official Oscar submission from the Ivory Coast. 
Northwest Film Center
Starting Friday

Read on EverOut »

News

Good Afternoon, News: Equality Act Passes, Another Capitol Threat, and Oregon's Crybaby Republicans Run Home to Mama

by Wm. Steven Humphrey • Thursday at 4:30 pm

Capitol police warn of a second attack from right-wing domestic terrorists.
Capitol police warn of a second attack from right-wing domestic terrorists. Tasos Katopodis / Getty News

Here's your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Today in useless, crybaby Republicanism: Shortly after Gov. Kate Brown extended Oregon's state of emergency orders to May 2—because, hello, PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING—Republicans refused to show up to work (FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR), thereby grinding the legislature to a halt. However they did send a letter demanding that the Governor immediately reopen all schools to in-person learning... something that's decided by individual school districts, not Brown. To paraphrase Dean Wormer from Animal House, "Stupid and lazy is no way to go through life."

• Thanks to a quirky Oregon law, around 877,000 of us can expect to pay higher taxes on the stimulus checks we received last year. Of course, problems like that could be easily fixed by the state legislature, if obstructionist, crybaby Republicans would stick around and do the job voters pay them for.

• Speaking of being right on brand: Tusitala “Tiny” Toese—the Proud Boy and Patriot Prayer follower who was convicted of assault for attacking Portland protesters—has apparently been appointed as the "sergeant-at-arms" to protect meetings of the Clark County Republican Party.

Continue reading »
Savage Love

New Savage Lovecast: With Charles M. Blow

by Mercury Promotions • Thursday at 2:00 pm

savagelovecast.jpg

Is it wrong to suggest to your unsuccessful internet date that she start seeing your roommate instead?


A woman's friend-with-benefits pal is becoming obsessed with sex! He fills her drawers with sex toys for her to use on him. But he pays scant attention to her pleasure. What's the next step here?


On the Magnum, Dan interviews Charles M. Blow- the acclaimed journalist and op-ed columnist for the New York Times. They discuss his new book The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto.


And, a man's girlfriend is considering becoming a sugar baby. But he's worried about it, and doesn't quite understand why.


Listen here:

Movies & TV

Six Years in the Making, Lupe Drops on HBO This Friday

by Chase Hutchinson • Thursday at 1:00 pm

Six years in the making, Lupe drops on HBO this Friday.
Courtesy Lupe/HBO

The new film Lupe has had a long journey to getting seen. It originally premiered at Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose back in 2019 and now will be available to stream this Friday on HBO.

The directorial debut of André Phillips and Charles Vuolo, the film tells the story of Rafael (Rafael Albarrán), a Cuban immigrant and boxer who must search for a missing family member in New York City all while coming to terms with their transgender identity. It also features Celia Harrison as Lana, a transgender artist and performer. In addition to playing a role, Harrison serves as a thematic advisor to the film.

Ahead of Lupe's Friday premiere, I spoke with directors André Phillips and Charles Vuolo, actor Rafael Albarrán, and executive producer Kerry Michelle O'Brien.

Continue reading »
Music

Get Your Tickets Now for a Livestream Concert from Rapper/Singer/Producer FOUNTAINE!

by Jenni Moore • Thursday at 12:04 pm

3000x2250.jpg

If you miss the live music experience, listen up: We're thrilled to announce that our third edition of the Mercury Music Series will showcase the solo talents of the multi-talented Fountaine.

In case you missed the first two installments, the Mercury Music Series is a new virtual streaming showcase featuring locally-based artists, providing a rare chance to experience concerts (in some form) during the continuing pandemic. The series, curated by yours truly, will also provide our featured Portland-based artists an opportunity to earn cash from performing, while simultaneously raising much needed funds for the Mercury. And because we know that times are tough, ticket prices are available on a sliding scale. Through your support, the Merc hopes to continue producing this series until live venues are able to open again, while also supporting artists during this difficult time.

This is why we're extremely excited to feature rapper/singer/producer Fountaine (AKA Mikey Fountaine), who has established himself as one of Portland hip-hop’s most integral and versatile figures.

Continue reading »
Food and Drink

Cocktail To-Go Club: “Get Fixed” With a Car Themed Drink at Shifters

by Janey Wong • Thursday at 10:00 am

Drinkers, start your engines!
Drinkers, start your engines! Janey Wong

Newly opened (like really new... I happened to go in on opening day last Wednesday) Shifters is the sister bar to next door pizzeria Humdinger. The properties are connected by a hallway and an ode to car culture, with all the pizzas and drinks bearing motor inspired names.

Humdinger and Shifters were opened by long-time residents of the Lents neighborhood Chad and Dana Rennaker. The neighborly vibe comes through from appearances by brewery-around-the-corner Zoiglhaus on the tap list and in the grab and go cooler, and a Dillon the Pickle bobble head perched on the cash wrap. (Dillon being the briny mascot of the Portland Pickles baseball team whose home turf is Lents Park’s Walker Stadium.)

When the owners’ other business Ascendant Beer Company went into a furlough, they tapped bar manager Amy Villarreal to head up the bar program at Shifters. Fresh squeezed juices play a starring role in her modern twists on Prohibition-era and old school cocktails. “We want them to pair with the pizzas but also stand apart from the pizza,” she says. Currently also the only bartender, Villarreal is having fun shifting gears in her new playground.

Continue reading »

Next