http://www.portlandoctopus.com The Ultimate Portland Oregon Guide Covering News, Neighborhoods, Events, Music and More. Thu, 15 May 2008 20:58:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Mercato is vintage London mod meets urban contemporary. And it's very very orange. The dining area is really spacious and all the chairs and couches are orange, styled like something out of a 60's sci-fi movie. Even some of the industrial beams and structures are painted orange. The way ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/mercato/ I collect records and would have to say that among my favorites are a couple of early Dolly Parton albums. Not many people know this, but Parton has written and published over 600 songs in her career. What's up Dylan? So you can imagine how excited I got when I ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/dolly-parton-hoot-night-yes/ In early April, Jessica Osborne was hit on her bicycle while riding in North Portland. The driver fled the scene, leaving her for dead. What Jessica has been through since then can safely be described as a living hell. She suffered three broken vertebrae, two collapsed lungs and a ruptured ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/jess-oh-fundraiser/ If you've seen the huge yellow sun painted on SE Yamhill Street and wanted to create something similar in your own neighborhood, now is your chance. The Village Building Convergence 2008 (VBC8) is a 10-day event beginning Friday, May 23rd and going through Sunday, June 1, 2008. Neighborhoods activate to ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/village-building-convergence-2008/ Not many places roast coffee this way. Blue Gardenia buys their beans seasonally and from a "single origin," meaning all from one region. When we bought a pound of theirfreshly roasted coffee, we were advised not to grind or brew it for at least 24 hours, and to actually let ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/blue-gardenia-bakery-coffee-roasters/ Tony Smiley is one of the most entertaining and talented musicians in the Portland area. He is dubbed the loop-ninja and, when you witness his verbal throwing stars and his black belt in smooth riffs, you'll understand why. Tony plays every instrument by himself, one at a time, while his ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/tony-smiley/ OK, Grand Central Bowl is, cosmetically speaking at least, a huge step up from the old establishment. When you first walk in you could swear you're somewhere in the heart the Pearl District. The receptionists are well-coiffed and friendly. The bar area is good for a few happy hour cocktails ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/grand-central-bowl/ Barack Obama is not longer simply the precocious wunderkind of the Democratic Party, he is the presumptive 2008 Democratic nominee. And his momentum seems to be once again on the rise, as reflected by a poll recently taken of Oregon voters. What was supposed to be a hotly contested state ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/obama-gains-big-lead-in-oregon/ Some enterprising individuals have converted what was once an old electrical station on Alberta Street into a great Thai restaurant. The night my friends and I went to check out Siam Society, the food was great but the service was a little slow, albeit friendly and helpful. The cocktail selection ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/siam-society/ Summer's just around the bend, which means it's time to get your tickets for the 2008 Oregon Zoo Summer Concert Series. And, as always, there are some great acts lined up, with something for everyone. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. So without further delay, ... http://www.portlandoctopus.com/oregon-zoo-summer-concert-series/