Pink Martini’s China Forbes releases debut solo album
February 26, 2008
Portland’s own Pink Martini is a band loved round the world; living in France last summer I found several of their albums in the CD collections of many of my friends. Their music is global, bringing in rhythms from around the world while always sticking to a romantic sound. Today the band’s chanteuse, China Forbes, releases her first solo album, giving Pink Martini fans something new to be excited about. The new album ‘78 is a return to Forbes singer-songwriter roots, where she sings incredibly personal songs while showcasing her skills on a variety of musical instruments. Recorded in Portland, the album is being released by Heinz Records. Best of all, Forbes is playing at the Aladdin Theater on April 10th, so mark your calender
To download a free version of “Everybody Needs Someone” from the new album, check out the Discover.Music.Portland blog.
Article By Anna Brones, Intercrossings[image by localcut, flickr]
Portland is America’s #1 Greenest City!
February 21, 2008
[image of Eco Trust Building, Pearl District, by atduskgreg, flickr]
According to Popsci.com they have determined America’s 50 Greenest Cities, and guess what, Stumptown came in at the very top. The deciding factors were based on four categories: Electricity, Transportation, Green Living, & Recycling & Green Perspective.
Portland came out with a total of 23.1 points out of 30 possible points. This is the highest in the country. We showed that most of our power is coming from renewable resources, our biking community, our wonderful public transportation (Thank you Max & Street Car), and we have a total of 35 certified Green Buildings. This proves that our city has really embraced a green lifestyle and is making a change.
Check out this article to read more about other cities in America that made the list.
Lunar Eclipse
February 21, 2008
Last night there was a full Lunar Eclipse.
Smaklig Måltid! Broder does Swedish cuisine
February 19, 2008
Portland’s food scene is anything but bland; kitchens across the city are influenced by cuisine from around the world. There are the standards however. You can’t walk more than a few blocks without coming across an Indian, Thai or Vietnamese restaurant. And if you have a hankering for French crepes or Belgian waffles, the city has several different selections. Cafes and restaurants with Scandinavian food are however not so common.
Growing up with a Swedish mother and hence a very Scandinavian diet, I was therefore very happy to make my first visit to Broder this weekend, it felt less like a Sunday Portland brunch and more like a visit to some of my favorite casual restaurants in Stockholm.
Beyond a menu full of the best of Scandinavian fare — smoked trout, rye bread, meatballs and lots of lingonberry jam — the interior of Broder feels like a genuine Swedish restaurant. The design is simple but classy and standard colorful Swedish accessories — a blue and white vase, a red Dala horse, etc. — infuse the fresh atmosphere with a little bit of spunk. Read more
Take a Hike…..to Angel’s Rest
February 18, 2008
Angel’s Rest is the perfect trail when you need a quick hike with a little workout and great views of the Gorge. Just 20 minutes away, the trail climbs 1,540 feet in 2.2 miles to a rocky promontory jutting over the Columbia.
Start your hike by wandering through mixed forests that mute the sound of the interstate below. You’ll pass Coopey Falls in the first half mile or so, then the trees begin to open up and reveal ever more beautiful views of the river. You’ll want a camera, and besides, it’s a good excuse to catch your breath. As you gain elevation, the highway becomes visible far below; cars and trucks crawl slowly by as if to emphasize the scale of the mile-wide river and Washington hills beyond.
Keep going. You’ll enter a burn area with beautiful silver snags, and rising above it, your objective looms tauntingly. But you’re closer than you think. Loop around the ridge, cross a picturesque talus slope (go straight to find the trail), sweep up through a fun little scramble and wham! You’re there.
The top of Angel’s Rest is a broad open platform with sheer drops on three sides. The wind can be pretty strong up here, but a bench provides a nice picnic spot, and the views are incredible. On clear days, Portland’s west hills and the radio towers are visible to the west, and Mt. Adams peeks above the ridges overlooking Beacon Rock to the east. Read more
Helio Sequence ROCKS!
February 12, 2008
What can I say I was totally blown away by Portland’s very own local musicians, Helio Sequence. This duo takes their raw talent on the guitar and drums, mixes it with some funky beats, I am guessing they produce on the computer, and makes a melodic sound. I caught them last Saturday at Music Millennium on Burnside. It was a free show promoting their new CD, Keep Your Eyes Ahead. I won’t babble on about how talented I think they are, but they are definitely worth going to see at The Crystal Ballroom on March 7th at 8pm. So grab a friend, go there, grab a brew dawg, listen, dance, ……I promise you will have a good time. I’ll be there.
[images by rise888, flickr]
Zach’s Shack: Hawthorne’s Home of Hot Dogs
February 12, 2008
[image by socialendproduct, flickr]
Article By Anna Brones, Intercrossings
Hot dogs have always felt like a food stand item, not a restaurant one. So when my friend suggested that we meet at Zach’s Shack on Hawthorne for some “delicious dogs” (his words) I was just slightly skeptical. I mean, aren’t hot dogs basic sporting game food that you eat standing up?
Zach’s Shack however has banked on that sporting game food feeling that people love, turning their small, funky joint into a place where you really can slide yourself into a booth and order the most complicated of hot dogs, all for under $5. You can tell it’s a Portland joint; they’ll replace that meat dog for a veggie one free of charge.
Not wanting to overdo it on my first visit, I went with the Grateful Dog, covered with tomatoes, cucumbers and celery salt, and although on the verge of vegetarianism, I did not replace the beef dog for a veggie one. My friend ordered the New York Dog, a Zach’s Shack Classic, which cannot however be deemed the best “date food”; the hot dog is covered in onions, chili and cheese. Don’t expect a goodnight kiss after that one.
And just like a good sporting event, there is beer on tap as well as the classic cans of PBR and other quality beers. If you want to go all the way, order the cheese fries, a great addition to any dog.
Open until 3am, I am pretty sure that it welcomes many a stumbler in the wee hours of the morning, so go ahead and add it to your Portland Late Night Eats list.
Location: 4611 SE Hawthorne
[image by kevincrumb, flickr]
Portland Couple Reveals Their Green Confessions
February 8, 2008
Take a look at this ARTICLE. A Portland couple take a 1937 22 X 28 feet home and turn it into a modern efficient green living space. This article captures their true confessions at trying to make their home GREEN while staying within their budget and realizing that this was not a 3 month project but more like a 3 year project. So through patience, creativeness, innovation, and learning to be handy, I’d say this pair did a pretty darn good job. I love to see how other Portlanders are living and what ways they are coming up with renovating their homes. This is a glimpse at another creative couple and their adventure in home renovation.
[image by Apartmenttherapy.com]
Hot Deals at PDX Collective Sale
February 8, 2008
Article By Anna Brones, Intercrossings
Ladies: if you are feeling a little down, on account of the weather, it is definitely time to infuse your spirit and your wardrobe with a little visit to this Saturday’s PDX Collective Blowout Sale. A bunch of trendy stores like Moxie, Shoefly and Nolita are getting together at the Ace Hotel in downtown on Saturday February 9th just so you can spend a little and save a lot. All located in the same place, means finding that great deal on the wonderful sweater you’ve been eyeing might be the easiest thing you’ve ever done. Be sure to bring cash, the vendors prefer it, but some of them might be nice and take your plastic Amex, MC and Visa.
Bela Fleck & The Oregon Symphony, Wow That’s Gonna Be Good!
February 7, 2008
This duo is sure to blow your socks off. Grammy-award winning Bela Fleck and The Flecktones are joining up with the amazing Oregon Symphony on February 23-25. They will be performing at The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall . This should be quite a show with a unique sound of bluegrass and classical composition. See you there!
[image by flyin' dutchman, flickr]
