Hi there, OurPDX readers and fellow Fanadus!  This is morganpdx!  CamiKaos and I are back again, fresh from the Broadway production of Xanadu.  Remember our last blog post, where we announced the winner of our little Xanadu ticket giveaway?  Yeah, we’re gonna do it like that again.  Two OurPDX bloggers.  One blog post.  More fun than a bucket full of glitter!  Or a stage full of disco balls!  (Yeah, you’d get that if you saw the play last night.  What, you didn’t see it?  What are you waiting for?!)

morganpdx: What a night!  We seem to have survived our Xanadu adventures with only a mild hangover and…well, I don’t think I did anything too embarrassing, did I?  Cami?

CamiKaos: You mean aside from going out in shimmering clothing covered in glitter and quietly squee-ing from your seat?  No.  Not really.

m: Hey.  I’m not the one who brought a canister of glittery powder stuff.  And I seem to recall that you were a bit overzealous with the glitter on the left side…

c: I brought the glitter to share in case for some reason I was the only one wearing sequins and big hoop earrings.  Oh and the necklace.  And the bracelets.  And the glitter….

m: And the jacket…it was pretty damn sparkly too.  And silver.  No I mean SIL. VER.  But we should probably talk about the show, and not the fact that we could probably be spotted from space.

c: Fine… you want to talk about the fact that the cast could probably be seen from space?

m: Yeah.  The cast actually out-glittered you.  YOU.  You and your silver sparkly flashy glittery big earring-y getup.  Seriously, I don’t want to give anything away, but at one point there were probably 30 disco balls on the stage.  AT THE SAME TIME.   But guess what, Cami?  I actually interviewed people!

c: YES!  YOU DID!  And do you know why you did that?  Because #morganisasocialite…  or because aside from the whole “watching the show” part, that’s why we were there.

m: I don’t know why you’d think that.

c: Why I think you’re a socialite?  Or why I thought that’s why we were there?  You kind of walked around shoving a voice recorder in peoples’ faces while I thought about my shiny jacket…  that’s why I think that.  I mean the only people I talked to before the show were @dieselboi and @Anna_V.

m: I can see your point.  I didn’t think I was shoving my voice recorder though; more like gently placing it close enough to capture their precious impressions.  So what where people thinking before they stepped into the fantabulous world of Greek gods and demigods, roller skates, bad 80’s fashion and true love?  Well, we, or at least I, interviewed some people.  There were lots of season ticket holders, some of whom had seen the movie ages ago and didn’t remember it (which is probably why they were there) and some of whom hadn’t (ignorance is bliss?)  One young theatre-goer named Lizzy, when I asked her what she thought it would be like, said “Um…it’s in a roller disco?  And there’s gonna be some legwarmers.”

c: Yeah… Lizzy was particularly insightful… I have to say though aside from one other Fanadu that you spoke with I don’t think a lot of people knew what to expect outside of disco balls and roller skates.  What I want to know is what you thought of the production.  I mean I was sitting there so I know you giggled and sighed and made faces…  You got some post show reactions as well, didn’t you?

m: Well, since Robin and Dave (@mizd and @chefchopper) were sitting right next to us, I asked them what they thought.  Robin said it was “Xandalicious!”  And Dave said  he was “Xanadoomed”.  I expect because since he liked this, Robin is going to drag him to all sorts of musicals now. 

Some of the other audience comments:

“Great, ton of fun, very exciting!”

“Exceeded my expectations”

“We want to rent the movie now!”

“I didn’t expect to be sitting on stage – it was fun!”

“I like the show better than the movie.  I loved the show!”

c: How many of those people did you offer to loan your copy of the dvd to?

m: Not all of them.  Only the ones who didn’t own it already.

c: I think that WAS all of them.  But now… the big question: How did it measure up for you?

m: Oh I see how it is.  Putting me on the spot, are you?  I thought the play was hilarious.  There were definitely a lot of inside jokes that would make sense to someone who’s a fan of the movie.  One that I’m sure a lot of people have heard about is the super-contrived Australian accent that Clio/Kira — the fated muse — used to “disguise” herself from the mortals.  And of course the 80’s references were super funny, and they certainly took advantage of the generation gap between Sonny and Danny.  The only criticism I’d have is that the sound quality at the Keller seemed to be a bit off, as it was hard to distinguish what the cast was saying at times.

c: I don’t think they really had the levels worked out…  But the show?  It was a 90 minute giggle fest.  It was made to be silly.  And MAN, can a disco ball light up a room or what?  Wait… not that I like disco. I mean it seriously was really bright.  I think I was temporarily blinded in my left eye.

m: Probably from all the over glittering you did on the left side.

c: I was trying to blend in.  You know… not draw attention to myself.  Be at one with the show.  I don’t know about these things…  I went because you made me.

m: It’s true.  I did make you.  And soon I will make you watch the movie too, just so you can get the Full Xanadu Experience™.

c: I thought you said I didn’t have to watch the movie.  We wrote a post the other day… I’m sure there is something in there about me not having to watch it.

m: I only said you wouldn’t have to watch it before the show.  I said nothing about afterward.

c: And by afterward you mean…?   That’s anytime later, right?  Like next year for your birthday?  That’s still after.  I don’t have to watch it now, do I?  Shouldn’t you wait to watch it until after you’ve seen the stage production again?

m: Oh, I have a feeling it will be MUCH sooner than that.  But we did have a great time after the show too, didn’t we?  There were more interviews!  And more martinis!

c: Yes there were both of those things.  With friends, and fans and you even had a chance to reconnect with Annie Golden!  I can’t believe I’m telling you this, and you better not repeat it to anyone…. But Ihadagoodtimelastnight…

m: It’s ok.  I won’t tell anyone.

You heard it right here folks!  Cami LIKED IT.  And she doesn’t like disco, hasn’t seen Xanadu, and truth be told, she is not a big fan of crowds.  Shhhh, you didn’t hear that from me.

c: You’re a good friend Morgan.  I appreciate you keeping that between you and I.  And in exchange… I won’t show anyone that photo I have of you in my basement.  With that thing.  You know the one.  Maybe I’ll just burn it.

m: Yes, I think you should burn it.  Didn’t you tell me you already had?  I could have sworn you said you would.

c: Well, to be fair it’s a digital image.  If I burned it, that would mean I put it on a CD or something for safe keeping… you know.  In case you ever went back on your word.

m: Crap.

c: On that note, shall we let these lovely ladies and gentlemen have their days back… I mean they already know we think Xanadu is worth going to see, what else is there?

m: Just this:  GO SEE IT!

Related Posts

• January 9, 2010 -- Xanadu: And The Winner Is… (4)
• January 3, 2010 -- Free Inspiration! (6)
• January 8, 2010 -- Xanadu is Muse-ical! (1)
• January 6, 2010 -- Did You Know… (0)
• September 25, 2009 -- Pre-Show Backstage Tour at La Boheme (0)

STOP!  Before you read any further you should know that this particular post?  Is not written by only one OurPDX author… but 2.  That’s right, TWO of us.  You can see that morganpdx is the one posting this…  but did you know that I, CamiKaos, am actually typing this intro? (m: This is so cool!! This is like…OurPDX history in the making! I’m so excited! c: Quiet Morgan. Let me finish the intro will you? m: Oh right. Sorry. Go ahead.)  You should know that, otherwise the following post will make less sense. Here we go…let’s pick the winner of the Xanadu tix!

m: Hey Cami!

c: Hi Morgan!!!

m: We have a very important thing to do today, don’t we? The fate of 8 people’s next Tuesday night is riding on our actions. I’m trying not to let this power go to my head.

c: I don’t think either of us can actually be trusted with this power.

m: Truer words were never spoken.  People don’t realize what loose cannons we are!

c: I know, right?  So how should we do it?  I could put all the names in a bag and draw one out at random.  And try not to randomly pick the name of someone I really really like?

m: Seriously?  I don’t know, Cami.  I think we may need to find someone a bit more impartial for this.

c: Does your dog know anyone on twitter?

m: Jessie?  Hmm.  She does know people on twitter, but not any of the people in this contest.  I mean, if @jarvitron’s name were in the bag we would have trouble.  But I think he’s still scarred from my Xanadu birthday party in November, so he didn’t enter.

c: Do you think she’d be willing to come over to my house and paw through this bag of names I made?

m: She’d be all over that!  We’ll…um…wait.  Paws aren’t very good at picking a single name out of a little bag.  That whole “no thumbs” thing is just such a drag.

c: You know who has thumbs?  My kid.  And I don’t think she actually knows any of the people who entered the contest.  I mean if you or @verso or @turoczy had been in the running it might be an issue… but I think we could trust her.

m: That is a BRILLIANT idea.  Just…brilliant.  I knew I hung around with you for a reason.  Alright!  Let’s put the names in the bag.  You have a bag?  Right?

c: I have it right here.  With the names of all 8 eligible finalists in it. I actually made the slips of paper out of the top of the bag to be all eco-friendly and shit.

m: Way to be a role model for the community, Cami.

c: Yeah.  I’m good like that.

You don’t really need to hear the whole conversation where I explained to my 7 year old that we needed someone more impartial and um… ethical than morganpdx and I.  You also probably don’t need to know that I had to bribe her with a mystery bag of some gummy candy…  but the end result was that she was happy to help us out…

K swished her hand around the little paper bag and pulled out a slip of paper which she handed to me with a great sense of purpose as she asked “What’s this thing for anyway?”

To which Morgan yelled over the phone “It’s for Xanadu tickets K!!  XANADU!” and then K shrugged, rolled her eyes and walked away.

m: Ok.  I’m ready.  This is so exciting!  Initiate Xanadu Winner Selection by 7 Year Old…Now.

c: I know who won!  I have the slip of paper right here in my hand.  I don’t even know this person.  Way to be impartial, kid!

m: OMG WHO IS IT?  WHO WON?

c: And the winner is……

m: Uhm.  Well.  That’s kinda hard to read, Cami.  And I have 20/20  vision.  I know, I was just at the eye doctor yesterday.

c: Oh.  Really?

m: Yeah.  I mean…I see a b in there, and an @ symbol, but…it’s kinda hard to make out the rest.  Can you read it?  You know, in your out-loud voice?

c: Fine.  Whatever.  Sure.  it’s @blabbey.

m: CONGRATS, @BLABBEY!!!!!!  I wonder if she’ll want an autographed picture of us.

c: Why would she want that?  We’re kind of jerks.

m: Yeah, but people like jerks.  I mean, that’s what that “women who love too much” book was about, right?

c: You read?

m: Who, me? Read?  No.  I don’t read.  Reading is for losers.  And jerks.

c: Should we really be saying that in front of the R-E-A-D-E-R-S?

m: Oops.  Yeah so anyway, we’re going to see Xanadu Tuesday night, right?  OMG how FUN WILL THAT BE?!

c: I’m still a little scared Morgan…  I know you’re a big Fanadu, but this will totally be my first time.

m: It’s okay. I won’t even make you watch the movie beforehand.  Plus we’ll go have a martini first.

c: Okay.  It’s settled.  We’ll be there.  Will you guys?

Related Posts

• January 13, 2010 -- There Were Disco Balls and Legwarmers of Power (3)
• January 8, 2010 -- Xanadu is Muse-ical! (1)
• January 3, 2010 -- Free Inspiration! (6)
• January 6, 2010 -- Did You Know… (0)
• December 8, 2009 -- SLL: Get Your Geek on With Foodgeeks (0)

Hallo Internets. I’m having such a very busy week this week. I’ve been TRYING desperately to give away a free pair of tickets to Xanadu’s opening night at the Keller Auditorium! (Congratulations to @taradublinrocks, @blabbey, @ladygeek, @stevenguymcdade, and @divebarwife for getting the correct answer, and getting a shot at the free tickets on Saturday!)

For all my hard work, I got a prize!

Yes, yes, I did get a pair of tickets. @camikaos and I will put them to good use however, and blog our little hearts out to let you know how awesome a time it will be. It will almost be like you’re there with us! Almost. And then you’ll feel like you missed out on something amazing, and will go get your very own ticket. Because you don’t want to miss this much awesome. Seriously, people.

But that’s not the prize I’m referring to. No! I got to interview Annie Golden, who plays Calliope in the musical, to get a first hand feel for what the show is like. I know, right? How lucky am I?! So without further ado, here’s our conversation:

morganpdx: Ok, so first of all. Would you consider yourself a fan of the original movie? It’s become quite the cult hit these days. Did you watch it when it first came out?
Annie Golden: I actually didn’t watch it when it first came out, because I wasn’t a disco person, I was actually more of a ‘death to disco’ person. If you know anything about me I was discovered at CBGB’s. So I never really saw the movie when it came out. In preparation for the show – I was part of the original Broadway cast — we had a screening of it. I actually watched it recently, like at 4 o’clock in the morning, and it was just so hard to watch, it’s just…really not happening, whoever put it together. I felt that Olivia Newton John was beautiful, she always was, and Michael Beck…I remember when I did “Hair” in 1978, he had just finished “Warriors”.

mpdx: Yes, I heard that “Warriors” was a great entrance into movie acting for him, it was really well received.
AG: I know, so to do Xanadu next, it was like “What? What happened there?”

mpdx: ::laughs:: I saw a quote from Michael Beck that said “The Warriors opened a lot of doors in film for me, which Xanadu then closed.”
AG: Awww, oh boy. Well, the music is fantastic, so that’s the best.

mpdx: Right, right. How did you get involved with the Xanadu Broadway production?
AG: Well, I’m a Broadway actress, and a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn, so I got involved when they were putting together actress auditions and readings for the show. I was involved at the very beginning. Douglas Carter Beane wrote this screenplay, and it originally had 9 muses, and I was one of the 7th-8th-9th muses, which eventually got cut. I represented 80’s icons like Patti Smith and Tammy Faye Bakker in the original concept. There were so many configurations that we tried, but ultimately Douglas Carter Beane started to trim down the script, and Chris Ashley, our director, started to get a concept for it, and when they went to Broadway it was Jackie (Hoffman) and Mary (Testa) as Calliope and Melpomene. So then they asked me if I would pit sing so they could have my voice on all those rock songs, and if I would cover the two evil women. I was so happy to be asked along, and I had never understudied before, so I said you know what? If you’re ever gonna do it you should do it with people who love and respect you. So that’s what I did, and Xanadu continues to be such a good experience for me, because Jackie is doing Addams Family, so I’m out here doing the role that she created on Broadway.

mpdx: That’s awesome. It’s always great to do things with people who you really enjoy working with.
AG: Absolutely.

mpdx: I haven’t seen the play yet, but from what I hear you play one of the evil muses. Can you tell me a little more about that part?
AG: Yeah! The setup is that there is Father Zeus, who is the father of all the muses, and he has a favorite daughter, and her name is Clio (Cligh-oh). And as with all families, there’s gonna be jealousy, and there are two sisters who are very jealous because they’ve been passed over, named Calliope and Melpomene. They’re the two evil women. They start to put a wrench in the magical works of Xanadu, and a love story ensues, and they try to set Clio up, and basically keep trying to make trouble for her.

mpdx: Isn’t it true that there’s a prohibition against falling in love with mortals, and that’s what they try to do to Clio?
AG: Exactly! There’s a lot of forbidden things, and some of them are that you’re not allowed to create art, you’re not allowed to create music, and you’re not allowed to fall in love with a mortal.

mpdx: That’s interesting. I studied greek mythology in school, and if memory serves that is actually pretty correct – the muses were allowed to inspire but not to create.
AG: Yeah, exactly. So, I think you’d be very impressed with how Douglas Carter Beane has adapted the movie into this silly, delightful, entertaining musical play! It’s very clever and he does use mythology – just when you think the mythology is written in stone, he’ll do something twisted with it. If you do know anything about Greek mythology, some of the things in the play are right on.

mpdx: That’s awesome. I think that would make the play that much more enjoyable, for me at least!
AG: Oh yeah! If you’re a Xanadu fan, you’re gonna just love this play.

mpdx: My next question is a little different. Portland is known for being a pretty social-media crazy town. We have blogs and Twitter and Facebook all over the place. What is your take on all that stuff?
AG: I don’t even have a computer, Morgan.

mpdx: ::laughs:: That pretty much answers that, doesn’t it?
AG: Doesn’t it? It certainly does!

I didn’t even have a cell phone until a couple of years ago! I’m one step behind in everything, I really am; and so the texting, and the twittering, I just don’t do it. In fact I visited with a friend of mine from Costa Mesa on my day off on Tuesday, and when she was driving me back to Santa Monica her husband asked her to investigate something, so she handed me her iPhone and asked me to google the answer. I had to hand her the phone back and say “honey I’m sorry I just don’t know how to do that.” If she’d had a different person sitting next to her she could’ve been multitasking!

mpdx: Well, I have a friend who still doesn’t have a cell phone, so you wouldn’t be totally out of place here.
AG: Wow…

mpdx: So the show itself. What is your favorite part about it?
AG: My favorite part about it, aside from the music, because we have some really strong singers – not everyone from Broadway can sing this kind of music – what I like about it aside from the music is the presentation of the piece. I also like the choreography, which is based on Martha Graham and Isadora Duncan, and was nominated for a Tony for Best Choreography which is just amazing. I love the costumes – they’re very diaphanous, very delicate and pretty. I love the makeup, it’s specialty makeup, very glittery and shiny, a lot of glitter and gems. It’s a very heavenly show, really very heavenly and otherworldly, with a rockin soundtrack!

mpdx: That’s awesome. I do love the soundtrack, that’s my favorite. The music is one of the things I like most about the movie.
AG: Yeah!

mpdx: Another question I have is Portland tends to get written up in the NY Times a lot, at least recently, so we’ve gotten a big head about how cool we are. Have you ever been to Portland before, and what are your impressions of it?
AG: I’ve never been! I can’t wait, I hear such wonderful things about it! All the kids on the tour, they – this is my first tour, like I said I’m a native New Yorker, so I’ve always worked on Broadway or off-Broadway, so I’ve never toured – so the kids on the cast who have toured before, they *all* love Portland, and they all talk about how they can’t wait to take me around. Actually, everywhere I’ve been on tour so far – Costa Mesa, I had friends come from LA, and then in Sacramento I had friends coming from San Francisco; Portland I don’t have anybody coming, but then in Seattle I have friends, and North Carolina I have friends, Pittsburgh…everywhere on the tour I have friends to come and see me, but not Portland, Oregon; I don’t know anybody there. So, I’m so looking forward to just…being on vacation, as it were.

mpdx: Right, well if you need any tips on where to go or things to do, let me know.
AG: Yeah, that would be great! So now, why are you a Fanadu?

mpdx: Oh heck…I grew up with this huge crush on Olivia Newton-John.
AG: Oh, well that says it all then!

mpdx: It does, really. I loved her music, and I really loved that 50’s style grand musical feel that it tried to bring back, with having Gene Kelly involved. My favorite scene is the one with him and Olivia Newton-John when they do that dance scene…
AG: Oh, “Whenever You’re Away From Me”?

mpdx: Yeah, I love that song, it’s my favorite scene in the movie.
AG: You’re gonna love it in the show! It’s like an MGM musical, that moment. You’re gonna be so excited! Xanadu the musical will not let you down.

That’s pretty much it. Interviewing Annie was an absolute pleasure, and as she put it when I told her I was somewhat new to interviewing, “Don’t worry, I’m an old pro.”

Thanks so much to Ms. Annie Golden, and the whole cast of Xanadu for bringing some sparkly glitz and flashy glamour to Portland. We’re gonna soak it up!

Related Posts

• January 3, 2010 -- Free Inspiration! (6)
• January 13, 2010 -- There Were Disco Balls and Legwarmers of Power (3)
• January 9, 2010 -- Xanadu: And The Winner Is… (4)
• January 6, 2010 -- Did You Know… (0)
• September 25, 2009 -- After the Performance: Did I Cry at the End? (2)

Has your writing been weak? Do your paintings lack pizazz? Did the last 200 digital photos flop? Are your jam sessions just not jelling? Is your podcast pathetic? Or maybe your film is a feature length failure?

In other words, is your creative juice-maker dried up like a Saharan riverbed? (I was gonna use another analogy with strippers, jello and a couple hamsters, but we try to keep it *somewhat* PG-13 here.)

Well you are in luck, Portland, because I have just the lube all us creative types need to oil up that artistic muscle. That’s right! What you need is a little inspiration of the divine kind! Just a touch of demi-god artistic intervention. And for a few lucky ones, it’s free!

You’re probably wondering just where this inspiration will come from. Have you ever heard the phrase “kissed by a Muse”? Well it just so happens that those 9 stimulating sisters will be making an appearance at the Keller Auditorium when the national Broadway tour of Xanadu opens on January 12th and runs through January 17th.

Xanadu. Seriously.

Now wait. I know what you’re all thinking. “Xanadu? OMG that was the worst movie! Wasn’t it some sort of disco roller dance thing?”

Well yes, yes it was. But this is Xanadu, the Broadway musical, nominated for four – yes, FOUR – Tony awards in 2008! The New York Times called it “Heaven on Wheels!”. And we all know what good taste the NY Times has. Look at how much they love Portland, right?

But then you’re thinking “Heeeey waitaminit. Aren’t you that chick who had a Xanadu-themed birthday party a month ago? Are you biased much, hmm?”

Yes. Yes, I am a fan of the movie. Yes I love its lame plot, its fabulous music. Yes I have had a huge crush on Olivia Newton John. Yes, tickets went on sale on my birthday! (How’s that for preordained? Ha!)

Did I mention Douglas Carter Beane, the screenwriter for Xanadu, wrote To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar?

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

I and my lovely fellow OurPDX blogger and fantabulous podcaster Cami Kaos will be at the Keller on opening night, grabbing on-the-scene pre- and post-show crowd reaction for an amazing OurPDX first: an OurPDX blog-uet! (That’s blog + duet. Work with me here, people.) Yep, Cami, a Xanadu newbie and I, a tried and true Fanadu, will be co-blogging about all the glitz, glamour and gloriousness of Xanadu’s opening night. If you’re going, keep a sparkly eye out for the OurPDX banner and come say hello!

Go now. Go get tickets!

AND NOW, FOR THE FREE.

You’ve been waiting for it. You read through this whole post lookin for the Free. YES, Portland. I’m gonna give away free stuff! On the Twitters. Free Inspiration in the form of two tickets to the show! This is how it’s gonna work:

We’ll post a Xanadu quiz question at NOON every day this week, Monday through Friday. The first person to respond with the correct answer gets their name in a hat. On Saturday, we’ll select the name of the lucky winner! And that lucky winner will get to go see Xanadu for FREE. How’s that for inspiration? So start studying up, all you PDX Fanadu’s, and watch the OurPDX twitter account for more info.

Olivia Newton John in her fabulous Xanadu outfit. Sparkly!

Just be sure to remove the roller skates when you get to the Keller, ok? I don’t need you rollerskating me over, I might spill my wine. Those little plastic cups are not very resilient, you know.

Fred Meyer Broadway Across America Portland presents
Xanadu
Keller Auditorium
Tuesday, January 12th – Sunday, January 17th
Tickets $28.75 & up

Related Posts

• January 13, 2010 -- There Were Disco Balls and Legwarmers of Power (3)
• January 8, 2010 -- Xanadu is Muse-ical! (1)
• January 9, 2010 -- Xanadu: And The Winner Is… (4)
• January 6, 2010 -- Did You Know… (0)
• September 25, 2009 -- Pre-Show Backstage Tour at La Boheme (0)

The faithful started gathering shortly after six, standing in the cold rain outside the studio in Pioneer Courthouse Square. As the downpour increased in intensity, some moved down the steps under the shelter of the overhang. A crowd standing around outside a television studio is nothing that unusual — it happens all the time when some celebrity is making the rounds, pimping their latest movie, or tell-all book. But this time the center of attention was a news personality herself: As Charlie mentioned earlier, Steph Stricklen was coming back to work.

When Steph arrived, she greeted the onlookers she knew, confessed that she’d already been crying about leaving her infant daughter at home, and ducked into the studio worrying out loud about whether her computer would still be functional.

As the clock counted down to the seven o’clock broadcast, more folks arrived, swelling the numbers of the soggy crowd. And then the show began. Folks chatted as the show progressed, waiting for Steph’s next appearance. She braved the inclement weather to come out and do some live shots from the Square, and her soggy fans gathered close.

Why? Why did so many people come out on such a wretched night to welcome a local anchor back from maternity leave? To see the answer, you need to know that unlike many users of Twitter, Steph has genuinely embraced the concise new social medium. Her followers have listened along as she discovered the absolute unconditional love of a parent, plodded through the trials of sleeplessness, and we winced at our own memories of having to put down the baby, walk out the door, and go back to work. She twittered about it, every challenging step of the way. She shared of herself, and because of it, her many followers enjoy a real relationship with her that goes beyond her day job.

This becomes obvious when you look at the people who came down to see her: They’re standing in a genuine downpour, umbrellas and hoods providing scant shelter from the wind and rain. As the time for her outdoor segment approaches, Steph comes back out onto the Square, and encourages everyone to come closer. Wet parkas converge around her, the bodies defining a small space on the bricks brilliantly lit by high-wattage lamp.

Steph turns around and chats with the crowd as she reviews her script, and watching her easy interaction with them, their mutual affection is obvious.

At some point it becomes easy to see why all these folks have come down here to stand in the rain: They really love her.

We really love her.

Related Posts

• February 4, 2010 -- Winter Olympics in the NW (2)
• January 20, 2010 -- Fitness Role Models? How’d *That* Happen…? (3)
• November 5, 2009 -- Twitterpated Over Stephanie Stricklen (1)
• March 4, 2009 -- Live [insert something here] at The Square (2)
• January 18, 2009 -- SLL: It’s Hip to be The Square (0)

I know what you did last night…

Well, I know what some of you did last night. For the first time since 1998, Halloween fell on a Saturday night. Portlanders seemed to treat it accordingly.

I skipped dressing up this year. I had no real inspiration, no event to go to. I attended the Paranormal Party a few years back, dressed in Little Orphan Annie wig, red pearls and pink muu-muu. (Not tutu, as a co-worker tells everybody. There is a difference.) It matched my beard. Last year I did an evil clown thing. This year I was an observer.

And still I managed to scare.

Courtesy of Outlaw Vern

The last few years you’d think Freddy Krueger lived on our street. The next-door neighbor kids would knock, but most would pile into cars and go to richer neighborhoods. I bought two bags of candy, figuring we’d have one and three-quarters bags left over, plus what the kids scored.

They were gone in an hour.

My niece, a Purple Witch, stood at the driveway entrance, handing out Snickers and Milky Ways. Our killer attack dog would go nuts with every group, adding to the effect. I watched from out of sight, ready to get truly scary should anything inappropriate happen. A couple of punked-out teenagers complimented her on her get-up, and gave her some of their candy. Sweet!

Soon we had to kill the lights and hide in the dark. The groups of trick or treaters lasted two hours longer than our candy stash. The kids took to the streets; it was their turn.

I did my part for the parents. I’d switch from Ducks game to Blazer game to World Series, and hear hootin’ and hollerin’ from outside my window as mom and dad caught the score. There were years that I would offer shots and beers to parents; but having kids put an end to that. Effin’ responsibility. Got to put on a good front.

After things quieted down, I hopped a bus to downtown. Hawthorne didn’t look that much different than usual. I saw Japanese girls in bee costumes, many six-foot-plus trannies-for-a-night, and more blood-soaked brides than Henry VIII. I’d like to give a shout-out to the gal in the gold lame mini-skirt that was just a size too small. The curtains matched the carpet. -

The place to be? Down near the waterfront. Paddy’s and Jammin’ 107.5 had a tent on SW 1st and Yamhill, and the line to get in was a block long. Club Sesso had events going on, tied in with the Crystal Ballroom’s Annual Erotic Ball. I was offered a free admittance pass from a friend, but had to politely decline. I had no date, no costume. (What was I gonna do, go as a Road Warrior?) As much as I’d love to meet (and write about) Ron Jeremy, I’ll try to do that on a quieter night.

The bus ride home was full of drunks. One kid had peed his pants and was using his bicycle for stabilization. I must say, the partiers of the female persuasion were looking exceptionally nice. It would be just fine with me if y’all showed that much leg every Saturday night!

It was kind of odd for me, seeing so many folks out and about. The walk home is usually devoid of human contact in the wee hours. I walked past a young mother and her son, who looked about five. She shied away, giving a cautionary hello. The youngster, who caught no evil vibe, said, “Happy Halloween, mister!”

Aww.

So we are done with Halloween for another year. (Most of us anyway. Some of us like doing the spooky thing year ’round.) Now the only thing you have to worry about going bump in the night is me…

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I’ve never been bitten by the gambling bug. I learned early on in life that I should never bet anything I’m not willing to lose. Ten bucks? I can afford to lose that once in a while.

The Oregon Lottery has a new game out, and tickets are going fast. The Thanksgiving Raffle is the second of Oregon Lottery’s raffle-style giveaways. (The last one was St. Patrick’s Day. I lost a tooth that day, not gambling. But I digress.) Here’s the dilly-o: You plunk down $10, and get one of 250,000 tickets. One person wins a million bucks; a few others win smaller prizes.

If you want in, you’d better hurry. A casual inquiry last night says tickets are well past half gone. I’ve already got the winning ticket, which you can look at and drool over. But please, don’t quit playing because of that. Your contributions will not only insure I get a full jackpot, but maybe keep a school or two open.

And really, how many ten dollar dreams are you gonna have this year?

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Flickr member F18E777 captured this photo today of the final Portland-to-Frankfurt Lufthansa flight. As announced in July, Lufthansa is canceling its Portland service due to declining travel numbers. This leaves Northwest’s flight to Amsterdam as Portland’s only direct European connection.

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Hey You!

Do you love your city? Want to help make sure it’s got the right kind of leaders for years to come? Do you worry about the influence of money in politics, or that your City Council is out of touch? Maybe that the wrong people get elected, or maybe that they’re just not listening to the right people or ideas? Or of we’re doing OK right now, do you worry that they might stray in the future, if the public doesn’t have enough of a voice in their elections?

You’re probably aware we’ve got a pretty innovative public financing system here in Portland. In broad strokes, the system allows people running for Mayor, City Commissioner, or City Auditor to make a deal: after qualifying for the system by gathering 1000 (1500 for mayor) $5 donations, they voluntarily give up any fundraising. In return, the City gives them enough money to run a basic campaign.

The basic idea is that it encourages candidates to seek broad support, rather than seeking a base of support by catering to the interests of a narrow but influential segment of the community.

The system was initially established by City Council, but it will referred for a general vote by the public soon.

In practice, the system is more complicated than you might think. There have been a number of refinements made to the code governing the system over the several years it’s existed, and a number of judgment calls about how unusual situations are handled.

Who makes those calls? City Council. But those folks are busy, and they need your input!

For the past two years, I’ve served on the Citizen Campaign Commission. Appointed by City Council, we are an advisory panel made up of seven volunteers, and we track these issues and make recommendations to City Council.

Of our seven positions, five are opening up.

Want to join us?

Submit an application by 5pm tomorrow (Friday), and maybe you will!

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I’ve been called cranky more times this week than I have in my whole life. If I wanted to live in a goddamn desert, I would move to Vegas!

Now that we’ve established I’m tired of all the hot weather… How to cope?

I’m pretty good at suffering through the hot days of summer. I have fans, shade trees, work in A/C, etc… But since I’m of the low-income echelon of society, an air-conditioner seems a waste of money for the few days I’d actually need it. A/C costs TEN times the electricity of a fan. (Suddenly I feel better…) But others have A/C, and I’m not shy about using it.

75% of TriMet buses are air-conditioned. That’s three out of four. Thursday I decided to play those odds, squeeze the last few cents out of my bus pass and go for a bus ride. I had a plan, albeit a loosely defined one. An apartment building in Northwest Portland had burned, and I wanted to see which one it was. Back in the day, I lived in or knew folks who lived in most of the apartment buildings between 21st and 23rd. Had to see for myself.

I chose the #17 Holgate/NW 21st bus, in part because one of my favorite bus drivers is on that route. (Hi Teddy Ann!) I found a shady stop with views, watched a couple buses pass by with no Teddy Ann, and decided it was time to get back to the cool. Onto the bus, and off to Northwest Portland.

The #17 cruises down Holgate, crosses the Ross Island Bridge, passes through PSU, downtown and Old Town/Pearl before taking a right on 21st. I made mental notes of changes as we went. I saw the burnt building, it wasn’t the one I thought it was. The changes were small, but noticeable. Swagat has a new sign. Garbanzo’s has left the building, replaced by Laughing Planet. The sign says Swagat still has lunch buffet, where we once sat across from Matt Groening. A great bargain, always hopping.

Joe’s Cellar was busy. Guess the smoking ban hasn’t killed ‘em yet.

Wacky Willie’s is long gone. (Pout.) But there’s a Jack in the Box across the intersection now.

I was glad to see A-Boy plumbing & hardware reopening. It’s a necessity up in that neck of the woods.

Acapulco’s Gold was doing a big business in the early afternoon. It’s always a stop on my infrequent drinking days. Any place I can get a shot of tequila, a glass of beer and leave a dollar tip with five bucks, then walk right outside and catch any of 3-4 bus lines? It’s a booze-hound’s dream, and the clientele is always entertaining. No need for formal wear; flip-flops, never-nude denim cutoffs and Hawaiian shirts are the uniform of Acapulco’s. At least that’s how it used to be.

Montgomery Park is for lease. I’m guessing space inside is for lease, but in this economy one can not be sure. The sign didn’t specify. I once witnessed a taping of Geraldo! there. It’s the building Mr Burns is named after on The Simpsons.

Around the corner and down the hill. The view is a killer. You can see almost to Scappoose. The train yards and beer distribution warehouses eat up the land. It seemed quiet for a Thursday afternoon.

There were signs of life at one spot: Handy Food Mart!

I worked there until about five years ago. (Spent that September 11 working the counter. It was surreal, watching usually hardened men on the edge of tears.) It was a fun place to work. In the daytime, worker drones would flock to the store for made-in-store sandwiches and burgers. After work, the same folk would come in for their evening beers. It was a handy stop on the way to Highway 30, St Johns or other points west. HFM caters to the working man.

After dark, the old building across the parking lot turned into a music rehearsal space. A lot of up and coming indy bands practiced there, and kids I sold PBR to are now popping up in the weekly alternative newspapers and on light poles in the Hawthorne district. A little group called Everclear used to rehearse there, or so the gossip goes. That was before my time.

I’d love catching the bus home late at night. A part of the city that was actually quiet, and you could see the stars. The planet Mars was my friend for a month or so a few years back, its rusty red glow looking down. It wasn’t uncommon to cross paths with raccoons or the occasional coyote. They didn’t want anything to do with me either.

I poked my head into the blissfully air-conditioned store and said hi to Gayle, who keeps the store functional in the daytime. She makes the sandwiches and runs the till, while keeping the drooling worker-types at arm’s length. We caught up on the dirt. Times haven’t been easy. Most of the neighborhood jobs have dried up, and now the formerly 24-hour store closes at 2:30 AM. It opens for breakfast during the weekdays.

Oh, and bring cash. They don’t do plastic, and the ATM is at Montgomery Park. FYI.

After cooling off, (and saying HELL-LO to a bunch of glad-to-see-me former regulars) it was time to reboard the air-conditioned bus back to the ant farm. I took a slow, ice water-fueled mosey to the top of Montgomery Park and caught a window seat on a #15 23rd Ave/Belmont bus. Time to check out what else has closed, and what has survived. In all, a great way to beat the heat on a 100-degree day.

And a hell of a lot cheaper than paying for my own A/C!

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