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

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

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.
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Related:
Tonight 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
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 »
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