Double Club Trouble

Two downtown clubs have been hit by The Man this week—Bliss on NW 6th will close for at least a month after being denied a permanent liquor license by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which says Bliss has had "serious and persistent problems." The club has appealed the decision and asked for a hearing.

Meanwhile, Greek Cusina at SW 5th and Washington was fined $300 last Friday, February 23 by the city's noise control officer, Paul van Orden.

Van Orden says he has lost patience with Greek Cusina's ongoing noise problems. On Fat Tuesday, the Greek's bass was four times the legal limit, and audible four blocks away on Broadway, according to van Orden. "They have been warned a ton of times," he says. "But this is about more than just saying, 'we can turn it down.'" Next time, the club could be fined $1,000, then $3,000, then $5,000. Neither of the clubs returned the Mercury's calls for comment. MATT DAVIS

No Parking

Neighbors have opposed plans for a parking structure on NW Irving, just a few doors up from NW 23rd, for months. After getting the thumbs up from the Historical Landmarks Commission (HLC) in November, the garage proposal hit a snag—neighbors appealed the HLC's decision to the city council.

On February 21, Northwest neighbors successfully presented their objections to city council, citing their concerns for pedestrian safety and the garage's impact on their neighborhood. The commissioners voted 3-2 against the structure.

Though the developers have not yet decided on a course of action, an appeal to the state's Land Use Board seems likely. Garage architect Jeff Stuhr commented, "The design itself didn't get much of a hearing. The decision was purely policy centered." ERIN LACOUR