Centerstance

Artisan Spirits Event

Join Artisan Spirits and Gran Prix Imports for
an afternoon of Lamborghinis and martinis

January 17th, 2008

2–4 p.m. Lamborghini Test Rides
4 p.m. Spirits Education and Invitational Social

To R.S.V.P, call Artisan Spirits @ 503 957-0404

Sample Portland’s newest, most unique small batch vodkas and meet the distillers.

Apia Artisan Vodka distilled from Buzzing Canyon Apiary’s raspberry
blossom honey from Eugene

Martin Ryan Handmade Vodka distilled from Columbia Valley Syrah

If you are a qualified interested
Lamborghini fan then this event is for you.
All participants must be at least 25
years of age and have a valid unrestricted
drivers license.

$65 includes admission to the social and a bottle of Artisan Spirits Vodka
$100 includes admission for two and two bottles of Artisan Spirits Vodkas

To R.S.V.P, call Artisan Spirits @ 503 957-0404

Artisan Spirits Distillery
1227 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97214

Movies in the Park

Check out the movies showing in Portland Parks

AUGUST

TUE, Aug 12 A Few Good Men (YA)
Includes music by Cloud 9, Portland Teen Idols Sellwood Riverfront Park
WED, Aug 13 Jerry Maguire (YA)
Includes music by Cloud 9, Portland Teen Idols Colonel Summers Park
THU, Aug 14 Spider-Man 3 (FM)
Includes music by Rose City Band and the Rose City Trio, face painting Brooklyn Park
FRI, Aug 15 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (FM) (1971 version)
Includes Portland Teen Idols, Elvis impersonator, climbing wall, Rec ‘n Roll bus, face painting Kenilworth Park
SAT, Aug 16 Shane (YA)
Includes music by Old Yellers, climbing wall, pony rides Sewallcrest Park
WED, Aug 20 Field of Dreams (YA)
Includes music by Cloud 9, Portland Teen Idols, face painting Sellwood Park
THU, Aug 21 Dirty Dancing (YA)
Includes music by Rose City Band and The Dimes, dancers, face painting Colonel Summers Park
FRI, Aug 22 The Mask of Zorro (FM)
Includes music by Wood Vibrations, Elvis impersonator, climbing wall, Rec ‘n Roll bus, face painting, sword performance Irving Park
SAT, Aug 23 The Princess Bride (YA)
Includes music by Summer, clown, pony rides Lents Park
SAT, Aug 23 Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who (YC)
Includes Rec ‘n Roll bus Hazeltine Park
FRI, Aug 29 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (YC) (1971 version)
Includes music by Rose City Band, Portland Teen Idols, Elvis impersonator, climbing wall, face painting Holly Farm Park
SAT, Aug 30 The Sound of Music (FM)
Includes music by Rose City Band, face painting, climbing wall, Rec ‘n Roll bus, and a special appearance by Charmian Carr who played Liesl in the original 1965 movie cast Laurelhurst Park

SEPTEMBER
FRI, Sept 5 Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who (YC)
Includes Portland Teen Idols, Elvis impersonator, climbing wall, face painting Berkeley Park

Happy Hour at Kell's

Last night a bunch of us got together for Happy Hour and had a great time! We will be planning more of these in the future, so don't worry if you couldn't make it out.

I somehow managed to take a ton of REALLY unflattering photos of everyone, so if you posed for a picture that didn't make it on this post, you should be thankful. :)


Mike REALLY likes hot wings....notice the sauce on his face

Shane and Marc in their almost matching Hawaiian shirts

Greg apparently forgot to tell Pat it was Hawaiian shirt day

Janwyn, Liz, and Denise hanging out


Mike and Liz like to stab each other at events. Click here for more evidence.

Concerts in the Park

   

Looking for something fun to do after work. Check out all of the concerts going on in the local parks. Here is a link to Portland Parks and Rec for all of the details.

SELLWOOD RIVERFRONT PARK *Mondays 6:30 PM
SE Spokane at Willamette River
July 7 Paul Thorn (gospel infused blues)
July 14 Renegade Saints (NW rock)
July 21 Caña Son (Cuban dance party)
July 28 Tony Furtado (contemporary Americana) 

MT TABOR PARK *Tuesdays, 6:30 PM
SE 69 & Taylor
July 8 The Insomniacs (jump blues)
July 15 Jackstraw (bluegrass)
July 22 Connie Bieberach & Armonia Latina (Latin American pop)
July 29 The Menace Band (classic rock)

KENTON PARK Tuesdays, 6:00 PM
N. Delaware & Kilpatrick
August 12 Pete Krebs Gypsy Jazz (hot club swing)
August 26 Lewi Longmire Band (down-home rock)

DAWSON PARK *Wednesdays, 6:30 PM
N. Stanton & Vancouver Ave
July 9 Voodoo Bar-B-Q (zydefunk)
July 16 Patrick Lamb (R&B soul)
July 23 Aguamiel (salsa)

WILLAMETTE PARK *Wednesdays, 6:30 PM
SW Macadam & Nebraska (south end picnic area)
July 9 Michael Manning & the Carolina Pump Station (5 speed originals)
July 16 The Buckles (country)
July 23 The Touchables (classic rock ‘n’ roll) 
July 30 Freak Mountain Ramblers (country rockabilly)
Tuesday, August 5 Celebrating National Night Out with Koral Jam (Hawaiian)

WALLACE PARK *Thursdays, 6:30 PM
NW 25 & Raleigh
July 10 Chata Addy the Music Man (Afro highlife)
July 17 The Quick and Easy Boys (funky tonk)
July 24 Brian Wait Band (family fun)
July 31 Dirty Martini Trio (acoustic pop)

COUCH PARK *Thursdays, 6:30 PM
NW 20 & Glisan
August 7 The Stolen Sweets (‘30s swing jazz)
August 14 The ChaPMan Swifts (alt blues rock)

VENTURA PARK Thursdays, 6:00 PM
SE 117 & Stark
August 21 Gordon Neal Herman Trio (jazz), Fred Sanchez (classical piano)
August 28 Melao de Caña (Cuban dance party)

FERNHILL PARK *Fridays, 6:30 PM
NE 37 & Ainsworth
July 11 The LaRhonda Steele Band (soulful R&B)
July 18 Vagabond Opera (Bohemian cabaret)
July 25 Casey Neill and the Norway Rats (Americana rock)
August 1 Grupo Antifaz (regional Mexican)
Tuesday, August 5 Celebrating National Night Out with Trashcan Joe (old-timey strings)

POWELL BUTTE NATURE PARK Saturdays, 7:00 PM
SE 162 & Powell
July 19 Rich Halley's Outside Music Ensemble (original jazz)
July 26 Pan Gypsies Steel Drum Band (Caribbean fun)

ROSE CITY PARK Saturdays, 6:30 PM
NE 64 & Tillamook
July 12 Sassparilla (insurgent blues)
July 19 Chica Marimba (infectious rhythms)

McCOY PARK *Sundays, 6:00 PM
N. Fiske between Trenton & Fessenden
July 13 Rhythm Culture (reggae meets blues) 
July 20 Django’s Cadillac (hot swing)
July 27 Linda Hornbuckle (soul-tinged R&B)
Aug 3 Stephanie Schneiderman Band (indy pop)

PORTLAND FESTIVAL SYMPHONY SERIES 
Lajos Balogh, Music Director & Conductor
6:00 PM

July 30 Peninsula Park (N. Albina & Rosa Parks Way): Thara Memory, guest conductor, with Peter Piazza and Gutfeelings (jazz ensemble)
August 2 Cathedral Park (under the St Johns Bridge, N. Lombard at the Willamette River): Michael Allen Harrison, guest artist
August 3 Washington Park
August 9 Grant Park (NE 36 & Brazee)
August 10 Washington Park: 3 Leg Torso, guest artists
August 17 Laurelhurst Park (SE 35 & Oak)

WASHINGTON PARK SUMMER FESTIVAL
Washington Park Amphitheater Stage, 6:00 PM

August 2 Norman Sylvester Band with Gretchen Mitchell & Renato Caranto (original R&B)
August 3 Portland Festival Symphony
August 4 Lions of Batucada (a festival of Brazilian music and dance)
August 5 Jim Beatty Jazz Band (mainstream/swing)
August 6 Pride of Portland (a cappella harmonies)
August 7 Yes Indeed! Charmaine Neville & Reggie Houston (N'Awlins music y'all!)
August 8 The Balkan Fusion Project (lively dance orkestar)
August 9 Sanyu! An Evening of Gospel and Much More
August 10 Portland Festival Symphony with 3 Leg Torso
August 11 Los Cowtones (cowboy swing)
August 12 PDXV (straight ahead jazz)
August 13 Locust Street Taxi (eclectic horn rock)
August 14 Ellen Whyte Band (heart rockin’ blues)
August 15 Portland SummerFest Opera in the Park: Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti
August 16 Conjunto Alegre (Caribbean dance party)
August 17 & 18 Rain Dates

OTHER SPECIAL CONCERTS
Washington Park Amphitheater Stage - Friday, August 1, 6:30 PM
Metro Dancers Under the Summer Sky (classical to contemporary dance)

Laurelhurst Park (SE 35 & Oak) - Saturday, August 23, 5:30 PM
Providence Stage Band (40s big band)

Mt Scott Park (SE 72 & Harold) - Saturday, August 23
Family Festival, 2:00 PM
Oregon Symphony, 7:00 PM

Waterfront Park (SW Naito Pkwy) - Thursday, August 28
Portland Youth Philharmonic, 5:00 PM
Oregon Symphony, 7:00 PM

Liz Dooley's Favorite Restaurants

For those of you that don't know me well- I LOVE eating out. I am the girl that reads all of the reviews and has lists of restaurants I want to try. I am always looking for the next great restaurant that I can add to my favorites. I have a list of the places I love, places I need to try, and places I have been once and probably won't return unless a friend insists. Here are my thoughts of the moment on gastronomical delights in PDX.

MY favorite Portland restaurants as of right now......

Fenouil
Best scallops and french onion soup in town. This is usually our birthday/anniversary destination.

Andina
The pisco sours, the tapas, the music- I am addicted!

Mothers
Honestly, hands down amazing comfort food. The staff is top notch too!

Screen Door
I am a sucker for southern cuisine and if you add to that local and seasonal fare- you can't ask for any better. Must have the fried catfish! And don't even get me started on their desserts.

Sin Ju
My favorite sushi place in town. Wonderful fresh sushi and a non-tacky decor. I usually go somewhere else for dessert.

Swagat
Sure there is fancier Indian food in town, but the Swagat in Beaverton makes the best Samosas and Chicken Tikka Masala, so I have a hard time seeing the need to go anywhere else.

Best new-to-me restaurants

Lucier
This is high end dining, so probably save this one for a special occasion, and definitely do a tasting, multi-course meal. Amazing flavors- I will be thinking about this meal for years to come.

Trebol
I have been there 3 times this year and haven't had a bad meal yet.

Pok Pok
Jenny and I had dinner there a few weeks back and I can't stop thinking about the chicken wings.

Toro Bravo
I had a great meal there, have tried to return but they have a crazy wait. Go early.

AquaRiva
Dan and I had a business lunch there and it was superb. I think the location seems to be cursed, go soon before they close. Apparently, their Sunday brunch is still a best-kept-secret, must check that out soon....

Next time I will give you my two cents on best desserts in Portland......

Thanks Liz!!

CV's Guide to Hiking and Biking

Itching to get on a trail, but don't have a lot of time? Check out these spots around Portland and Vancouver.

SW Suburbs-Fanno Creek Greenway Trail
I like to go for a bike ride or a run in Tualatin when my kids are in Tae Kwon Do Class. I discovered this trail by accident while exploring for good running or biking spots there. The southern end of this trail is at Tualatin Community Park. The top end of the trail is in Garden Home. I brought the family back later that week for a nice bike ride.

The trail is not continuous from end to end, requiring you to walk or ride on streets between trails. Check out the map at everytrail.com link and find a stretch that suits you.
Fanno Park Greenway Trail
Fanno Creek Map

NW-Forest Park
For a close-in mountain biking spot, Forest Park is a blast. Try and out-and back on Leif Erikson starting from the Salzman Rd entrance. For downhill thrills, go with a buddy and park one car at the bottom of Firelane 1 at St. Helen's Rd. Then haul the bikes up and around to the Green Gate Entrance. There are a couple of short climbs, but it is mostly coastly.
Forest Park
Forest Park-Biking

Eastside-Powell Butte Nature Park
Just a couple of miles east of I-205 off Powell. Hiking, biking, and equestrian trails criss-cross this 600 acre park on top of an extinct volcano. What are you in the mood for?
Powell Butte Park

Downtown- Tom McCall Waterfront Park
When was the last time you walked this classic Portland park? Not exactly a hike, but it is always a fun outing. Pick a weekend where there's not a festival and enjoy the people watching. Maybe, run through the fountain.
Tom McCall Park

Vancouver- Vancouver Lake
A 3.7 mile trail connects Vancouver Lake with Frenchmans Bar Park. This hike is mostly exposed meadowland. Bring your hat and sunblock.
Vancouver Lake
Vancouver Lake Map