The last time I talked to the folks at PICA about TBA:08, they were still scouting out locations for the Works, TBA’s late-night music/performance mixer. Then yesterday this hit the inbox: Leftbank goes live Web site launched, TBA’s THE WORKS, and Bike Oregon’s Oregon Manifest to be held at Leftbank Wha? At where now? Leftbank, […]
Blogs
Posted inArtsy
Visual Arts Blogger Wanted
Art? So: I don’t know any thing about visual art. (The irony of the title “Arts Editor” is not lost on me.) And I would like to up our coverage of the visual art world here on Blogtown—it’s been getting short shrift since Chas Bowie departed. (If you miss him, he’s got a new website). […]
Posted inMusic
Starfucker Sings About Something Called “German Love”
When I hear about “German Love,” I immediately think about Hasselhoff fetishes, those sexy scenes in Das Boot, and my German safe word (“Uwe Ochsenknecht”). But when local band Starfucker—posing above with a Celtics-colored basketball in loving tribute to the long struggle of NBA champion Brian Scalabrine—sings about “German Love,” things are far less creepy. […]
Posted inMusic
The Explorers Club are GO for Tonight
Yesterday, an unfortunate message appeared on the MySpace blog of Charleston, SC band The Explorers Club: As it so happens, misfortune has struck The Explorers Club. Just outside of Forsyth Montana (which is in the middle of nowhere) our big green monster of a van came head to head with a 250 pound deer… We […]
Posted inFood and Drink
Nothing Good at Denny’s After Midnight?
I could sooo go for some Potachos right now! What’s a potacho, you ask? Well, according to Denny’s hip new late night menu, it’s nachos made from potato slices! Get it? Potacho? No? In an effort to harden the “food-that-old-people-don’t-need-to-wear-their-teeth-for” vibe, Denny’s has launched an effort to woo the post-nightclub youth market with Denny’s All […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Bangkok! Verrrrrry Dangerous.
Lionsgate Films has released a clip from their new Nicolas Cage movie Bangkok Dangerous (due out in September), which at first blush looks like the most awful movie ever… until it quickly turns into what could be the most AWESOME film ever! Why so awesome? Nic plays a mulleted hitman (awesome) in Thailand who isn’t […]
Posted inBlogs
Ask A Brit: What’s A Rent Boy?
Shockingly this morning, I drew a blank when telling the Mercury‘s editorial staff I was interested in writing about the history of Portland’s rent boy scene. “What’s a rent boy?” people asked. Rent boy=”hustler”, “working boy”, “trade”, “call-boy.” Then there’s “gay for pay” or “rough trade,” just hit up Wikipedia. Given Portland’s reputation as one […]
Posted inMusic
Paste Pays Tribute to Music Millennium
The latest issue of Paste (which you can read online via this handy magazine-style web format thingy) has named Portland’s Music Millennium as one of “America’s Finest” record stores. Hot damn! Well, that’s not news to us. It’s also not news that they call MM owner Terry Currier a “Weird Al doppleganger,” which I assume […]
Posted inPortland
Fly Through Downtown
If you can ignore the terrible and repetitive soundtrack (I suggest hitting mute), this is a slick video—fly through Portland’s forthcoming shiny new transit mall: Who put the video together? I don’t know, but the site is registered to Adjustech, LCC.
Posted inTV
The British Don’t Have “Bleeps.”
They may have fish and chips, but one thing the British don’t have are “bleeps.” This unfortunate fact was revealed on England’s version of The View, when the absolutely horrifying JOAN RIVERS appeared and had some very choice NSFW words to say about actor Russell Crowe. If you love awkwardness, then ENJOY!
Posted inBikes
Sexy Bike!
Every Wednesday, the Mercury hunts down a sexy bike and conducts a mini-interview with its sexy rider. This week: Goosefeathers Riders: Nicole Lavelle (left) and Elizabeth Jaeger Bike: 1970s French Motobecane Grande Jubile with silver and red frame, red brake pads and goosefeathers. Spotted: Under the Hawthorne Bridge I like this bike because it looks […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News
Old Man River: Floodwaters are inundating counties in Illinois after breeching (or breaking through) levees there. Thousands of acres of farmland will be flooded. Downstream, Iowans breath a sigh of relief, “Thanks for taking that sewer infested soggy bullet for us, neighbors.” Oil: Bush wants congress to okay offshore drilling. The idea would be to […]