My parents were in town this past weekend, which means I had to explain certain local situations, such as why a steady stream of 99% white, naked people were streaming past their hotel on bicycles, and the fact that, yes, while Portland is well known for its food carts, there is also a fierce little […]
Portland
Posted inPortland
Cast Your Vote for Your Faves! Take the PDX Approved Survey!
Let’s cut the poop, shall we? It’s a well-known fact that YOU are a Portland expert. You have strong opinions on where to eat, where to buy records, what sex shop is best… all that stuff. So why not put that big brain of yours to good use by taking the PDX Approved Survey? You […]
Posted inPortland
Today in Portland “Turf Blisters”
According to this video’s YouTube page, Portland’s Urban Garden Supply discovered this “turf blister” behind their store—which acts super freaky when you step on it. And if you’re thinking what I was thinking, don’t bother. It already popped. 🙁
Posted inPortland
Five Reasons Why Fleet Week is Terrible
Hey, it’s almost summer! It’s sunny-ish! What a wonderful week to be alive in Portland, Oregon—oh wait OH NO HERE COME THE BATTLESHIPS, IT’S GODDAMN FLEET WEEK. Fleet Week is not a treasured Portland celebration. It’s a huge fuckin’ hassle. I’m not saying the ships shouldn’t be able to dock here and give the sailors […]
Posted inBikes
Chrome and Yo!: The Next Downtown Retail ‘Splosion
Conspicuously timed with the launch of the 2012 Pedalpalooza, Portland gets a Chrome store of its very own this week at 425 SW 10th, with a grand opening on Thursday featuring beer, tacos, and—since most parties devolve into it anyway—an arm wrestling tournament. Chrome is best known for their heavy duty messenger bags, but have […]
Posted inArtsy
Portland Parks Get Branded
Portland State University graphic design student Jeffery Frankenhauser loves his city’s parks. So much that his thesis project relies primarily on their existence. To illustrate his love of Portland’s 279 municipal parks, Frankenhauser is creating a unique “brand” for each spot, drawing from each park’s history and individual culture to make it fit. Here are […]
Posted inPortland
Fun with Needles: Acuparty!
So here’s a twist on the Tupperware parties and sex-toy parties of yore: My friend Beth Griffing is a licensed acupuncturist who recently began offering at-home “Acuparties”—round up a group of 7-10 friends, and for $10 a person she’ll come to your house, give an introduction to acupuncture, and do some basic treatment. I hosted […]
Posted inEvents
North Coast Seed Studios
It was only relatively recently that I was formally introduced to the hive of artists’ spaces housed within North Coast Seed Studios, just off N Interstate, and little did I know it had such a storied past as a creative enclave: The North Coast Seed Building is actually three separate warehouses constructed over a thirty […]
Posted inPortland
Best Buns at the Starlight Parade
Princess Leia FTW. This Saturday was the first time I’d ever been to the Starlight Parade and I have to admit that standing in the cold on a downtown street corner for two hours was more fun than I thought it would be. The thing I liked about the Starlight Parade is it has no […]
Posted inPortland
Newsflash: Mutant Ducks in Laurelhurst Park
Hi again, friends. I have been on hiatus from the Mercury for three months working on a book. But now I am back! Just in time to break wide open the news of Laurelhurst Park’s mutant duck pond. The tiny son of our art director, Scrappers, posed this morning with a sign warning visitors to […]
Posted inPortland
Mayor Adams Asks You to “Put an Emmy on it.” Excuse Me for a Moment… GAG!!
Mayor Adams—who plays the mayor’s assistant on Portlandia—shot this admittedly kind-of-cute promo video asking Emmy voters to show their support for the show, by “Putting an Emmy on It.” (I know… OUCH.) IFC is entering Portlandia and its creators Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein into categories such as “outstanding variety series,” “supporting actor/actress in a […]
Posted inPortland
Portland… IN THE FUTURE.
Wouldn’t it be cool to see Portland… IN THE FUTURE?! Well! Now there is a movie that features Portland… IN THE FUTURE. The acting and story of the locally produced sci-fi action flick Ambrosia are, shall we say, somewhat lacking. By which I mean they’re pretty terrible. However! Ambrosia‘s impressive for a couple of other […]