Music or a movie? | The Reel Film Festival

By Stacy Day:
anvil_300_2

If you find yourself pondering that this weekend, Northwest Film Center asks “why not both?” and answers with the 26th Annual Reel Music showcase.

This year's line up of musical films showing now until February 1st, is like surfing from one end of the radio dial to the other at the hand of classic and contemporary directors.

Opening, an altar to the “demigods of Canadian metal”, Anvil! The Story of Anvil is the side-splitting story of a fantastical rock band lost to obscurity but whose friendships and dreams are bigger than their hair in 1984. Fans of the cult classic This is Spinal Tap will laugh at the surreal absurdity of this musician named “Lips” rocking the guitar with a dildo and choke up as he struggles to live as large in life as he does in his dreams.

A myriad of musical movie madness, the next few weeks brings bounties of big screen works with:
*wild west musical scores, just to get started…

And if, like Lips dogmatically declares in that first movie of the Reel Music showcase “It can only get better from here”, Portland music and movie lovers alike need not dream about nirvana.  Or weekend plans.

Read the rest of this entry »

O-Shogatsu (New Years) Celebration at Japanese Gardens | January 11

Tomorrow is a O-Shogatsu, a family-friendly* New Year celebration at the Japanese Gardens. Here is info from the website:

Japanese New Years, Japanese Gardens

This year the Portland Japanese Garden will celebrate O-Shogatsu (New Year's) with a special Family Day on Sunday, January 11 from Noon-3pm. The event will be held in the Garden's Pavilion and will include tea, sweets, traditional New Year's activities for kids, and calligraphy writing.

Families and friends are welcome to participate in a hands-on experience with Kakizome, the traditional custom of writing of the first calligraphy characters of the New Year. Children in Japan are encouraged to write a few characters with brush and ink in the very best style they can for good luck with their studies over the coming year. Beautiful calligraphy is as highly appreciated as painting in Japan. Guided by Master Calligrapher Sekko Daigo and Japanese teachers from Richmond Elementary School, participants need no experience writing in Japanese to enjoy this traditional New Year's practice.

Sunday, January 11, 2009
Noon-3pm
Free with Garden Admission

Read the rest of this entry »

Your Baby Is An Asshole — check it out!

I like to surround myself with talented people. It gives me hope for my pathetic future.

Nathalie (Portland) is one of my long time friends from college, and though I hate her for her delicious bone structure and ballerina thin body, I love her for her wit and creativity.

She, along with her friend Nicole (L.A.), have started a new blog called Your Baby Is An Asshole. And you know what – they're funny – and right. Babies are assholes.

My favorite YBIAA is here, and references The Little Mermaid. Which is, of course, my favorite movie of all time.

I spent approximately eight months at age five responding only to “Ariel” rather than “Meagan” – and if my parents attempted to call me by my God given name, I threw a giant hissy fit of ginormous proportions.

Go check out the blog, comment, and be jealous that you didn't think of it first.

————————–

Related:

Posted in Stuff. Tags: . No Comments »

Atlas Returns to Holocene | January 10

Atlas at Holcene, Portland, OregonTonight at Holocene, one of the most unique dance parties in Portland returns — Atlas.

Atlas co-founder, DJ E3 will be back bringing us the hottest Afrotech, Arabica, Asian 2-Step and Drum'n'Bass, Balkan Beats, Bhangra, Funk Carioca, Grime, Reggaeton, 4th World/ International Hip-hop and more.

DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid (Atlas' other resident DJs) may still be in India, finding the hottest new tracks to bring back to us – but tonight's show will have special guest DJ Magneto to spice things up, and keep the beats flowing.

Doors open at 9am. $5 cover.

Rumble At The Roseland Choke Hold | Daily Stank Image Bank

Ryan Cribba v. Jake Richmond
Rumble at the Roseland
Ryan Cribba v. Jake Richmond
Roseland, Portland, Oregon
Taken on December 6, 2008
Photo By David Lawrence

Tonight is another Rumble in the Roseland. Geoff K, from OnPDX wrote this in his preview last month's event:

Portland is a huge city for Mixed Martial Arts, with Team Quest in town, some of the best world class fighters fight out of Portland. One of those great fighters Chael Sonnen, gives back to the Mixed Martial Arts community in Portland by putting on Rumble at The Roseland (along with Kevin Keeney). This regular showcase of up and coming fighters gives local fighters a chance to start their careers and make a run at professional careers in MMA.

Read his review on Rumble at the Roseland here. Read the rest of this entry »

Portland Saturday: No Pants on the Max | Quasi | Many More | January 10

This list is from Leigh Feldman of Hot Mess, SNAP, and Massive fame. I met with him yesterday at the new Floyd's coffee in Old Town (fantastic), to discuss his upcoming Massive event at Crown Room.

Leigh sends out an email of weekend shows going on in Portland every Thursday. I definitely have found some shows that I had not known about due to the list.

In this one, I found out there is another No Pants Party on the Max today (the “sekrit”event where photographers outnumber participants). I am also wondering…what is this Girls Skate Party at Department? Leigh?

Anyway, if you want to receive Leigh's weekly party notices, email him at leighfeldman3 @ gmail and join

Saturday Jan. 10th

  • Ghost Town Soul Club Party @ Fez Ballroom (dj / soul funk r&b)
  • Reform at Victory @ In Other Words (art / writer reading)
  • King Fader @ Berbati's (dj / hip hop)
  • Tim Connell Brazilian Ensemble @ Press Club (live band / jazz)
  • Chata Addy @ Jolly Roger (live band / reggae)
  • Bad Mitten Orchestra @ LaurelThirst (live band / abstract jazz strings)
  • Small Axe Sounds Dub @ Calabash (live band / reggae dancehall)
  • Tara Jane O'Neil, Dragging An Ox Through Water @ Sorority House (live band / indie rock)
  • LA Riots @ Rotture (dj / electro dance)
  • Fishbowl Party @ Alibi (live band / karaoke)
  • Solidity and DJ Shortchange @ Redbrick (live band / dj / reggae dancehall)
  • Girls Skate Party @ Department (dj / skating)
  • Solar Party @ Mt. Tabor Legacy (dj / live band / dance)
  • Blow Pony @ Eagle (dj / hip hop dance electro party)
  • NO Pants on the MAX Prank Event @ Gateway Station (Kelly Clarke of WW has article about this here)
  • Bob Marley 'Exodus' @ NW Film Center (film)
  • Reporter, Typhoon @ Backspace (live band / indie rock brass)
  • Chicharones CD Release Party w/ Braille and guests @ Berbati's (live hip hop)
  • Tyson Stubelek Trio @ The Cave (live band / jazz)
  • Thumbers Photography Showcase @ Pampo Space (art)
  • Quasi, Eat Skull @ Doug Fir (live band / indie rock) Read the rest of this entry »