“Ease on down, Ease on down the ro-oad….” Sing along will ya? You remember “The Wiz,” the Broadway musical that won numerous awards and went on to be made into a movie by none other than Michael Jackson at the height of his career. Well, now you get a chance to see it again at Jefferson High School being produced by Stumptown Stages. It has been running since Feb 13th and has received good reviews and writeups. This is the last weekend and there are still tickets available for tonight, Saturday and Sunday.

Stumptown Stages, led by Kirk Mouser (he and I attended Centennial High school together), moved his production from the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center to Jefferson to help revitalize Jefferson’s storied past as a performing arts magnate school. I remember when I was in school how the Jefferson Dancers were the talk of the city and that was only 20 yrs ago.

I am excited to see that this production is happening this month and will be attending Sunday night. I’m also excited that it is at Jefferson, only a stones throw from my house. If you are coming, know that there are 20+ great restaurant/bar choices for before and after dining and drinks within walking distance of Jefferson (and I’m not even counting McMenamin’s which is across the street.)

“The Wiz” produced by Stumptown Stages
The Robert Ford Auditorium, Jefferson High
5210 N. Kerby – between N. Alberta and Commercial
More information on showtimes and tickets.

Related Posts

• June 24, 2009 -- RENT at Keller Auditorium (0)
• September 11, 2008 -- New New Seasons for North Portland? – w00t! (19)
• July 8, 2008 -- Don’t take my liquor store away! (17)

This morning’s feeds and Twitter bring news that New Seasons is planning on building yet another store in North Portland. At this time, they have 1 store in Arbor Lodge. According to Food Dude and a tip from @suzame on Twitter, New Seasons will build another store on the corner of N Fremont and Williams. This is just down from PIX, Lompoc, Lincoln and Nutshell. Wow, that area – everyone said it would boom – and it is.

I wonder if this is part of the original project called the Backbridge Lofts. See, they leveled the old Franz Bread building in order to build and then the bottom dropped out of the credit market. Ergo, nothing has been happening at that corner for over a year.

This is great news for the neighborhood. While the other New Seasons isn’t that far away (maybe 2 miles,) there really aren’t any other choices for this neighborhood other than Safeway up on MLK and Wild Oats out on NE Fremont.  New Seasons will be very very crowded.  I’ll post more info as I find it.

Related Posts

• September 19, 2008 -- New New Seasons? Maybe not. (1)
• May 26, 2009 -- Have a Tasty Adventure This Weekend (0)
• February 27, 2009 -- “The Wiz” at Jefferson High School (0)
• December 16, 2008 -- OurPDX Shared Links (0)
• December 2, 2008 -- OurPDX shared links (0)

DSCN9753.JPG

Originally uploaded by dieselboi

In my neighborhood, where I have lived now for 10 years, things are changing rather quickly. I live 2 blocks off N Interstate and the new zoning proposal is really going to change the landscape. Where single family homes currently stand, high rise apartments and/or condos will soon dominate. Boy, the ghosts in my 1890s home would be miffed.

I’m not against development. I am actually for it in my little neighborhood. I want to see some of the detritus removed and if condos come in as the replacement, so be it. Slowly the neighborhood cleans up. [For all you haters who think I'm supporting the negative side of gentrification, email me offline your home address and I'll send over some of my neighbors and neighbor's "friends" to come over and shit in your lawn, steal your flowers and plants or knock on your door @ 1am looking for cans.] Change can be good.

And yet…. The photo to the left is of a couple of houses just a block from my house which are boarded up. In total, there are currently 7 single family homes on that block of 9 that are boarded up. These houses range in age from 54-104yrs old. Seriously, one of the houses was built in 1904 and will be razed in a few short weeks. See, they are razing the entire block in order to build a mixed use complex with condos, apartments and retail space right off the Prescott MAX stop. An amazing location for anyone to be sure. It saddens me to see these old houses go, but it saddens me more to see my liquor store go.

Yep, the liquor store! I live 2 blocks from a prime liquor store, the only one within many miles. There are no liquor stores on NE MLK, nor on N Interstate. Whole neighborhoods are going to be left wanting when this liquor store closes in a couple of weeks. All in the name of development. Where will I get my whiskey now?

Related Posts

• September 20, 2009 -- Don’t Mess With The Mouse (0)
• April 6, 2009 -- Rediscovering Portland (14)
• February 27, 2009 -- “The Wiz” at Jefferson High School (0)
• November 17, 2008 -- A house saved? (4)
• October 26, 2008 -- Last remaining TriMet shelter… (2)