Notes On A Napkin
It’s hard to say what was the best highlight of the last month, there were so many!
My monthly trip to Surfside yielded lots of garage sale treasures & many book bargains from the annual library sale. I drove to Seaside one day for dinner & a visit with friends Jan & Jean. The weather was beautiful most of the time, even though they predicted rain the whole weekend. On Saturday, I took the walking tour of Ocean Park, posed for the photo op of everyone gathered on the street at the beach approach & enjoyed the bonfire & s’mores on the beach at sunset. It did finally rain & thunder on Sunday, when it was time to come home.
Local icon “The Boogie Cat” Norman Sylvester’s Birthday party at The Tillicum was one of the most memorable events, with Norman dressed to the nines in his red & gold outfit (see photo on website). Staffer & friend Lauree Carlsen joined me & we enjoyed the delicious homemade seafood chowder & BLT. A couple of other fans were celebrating birthdays, so there were 2 wonderful cakes, carrot & pear. We tried a piece of both! The music was superb as usual with Phillip Tucker on drums, Pete Moss on sax, Frankie Redding on keys & of course Rob Shoemaker on bass. Norman always gives his band mates their chance to shine & this night was no exception with each one taking a turn on leads. Tunes such as We’re Havin’ a Party, Let the Good Times Roll, Walkin’ the Dog, Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf) and Fever (Dedicated to Norman’s wife Paula) brought dancers to the floor & everyone celebrated. Happy Birthday Norman! Be sure to check listings this issue as Norman plays the Tillicum regularly.
Another outstanding outdoor event was the Washougal Riverfront Concert Series w/Carrie Cunningham & the Six Shooter Six. The park is an exceptional venue with the Columbia waterfront as a backdrop, nice landscaping & lots of grass for chairs & blankets. Carrie blew everyone away with her sensational stage presence & vocals, her own originals, as well as covers. Don’t Make Me Want You & Huntin’ Season, both composed by Carrie, and Two More Bottles of Wine and Angel from Montgomery brought dancers out in force. Carrie’s interaction with her band mates on stage made for an entertaining show. All the little girls gathered ‘round after the set to talk to her & she was compared to Miley Cyrus! We predict that Carrie will be that famous someday. Then we can say, “We knew her when...” Shaka Sound did a marvelous job on sound for this show (See ad this issue). Watch for Carrie on the cover next issue.
KT, Lauree & I visited Ararat Nightclub on SE 92nd (just north of Foster) recently to hear the Gordon Herman jazz trio. Gordon is KT’s piano instructor & is an excellent teacher & player with years of education & experience. Watch for KT’s article in the near future. Ararat is still formulating their music calendar, so watch this space for more. See Gordon’s website at www.anothertimemusic.com for his schedule. On Thursdays, Ararat offers an all-you-can-eat buffet of delicious middle-eastern dishes. Also, their bakery next door is filled with an assortment of savory treats.
The car show at the Pink Feather was awesome this year. The expanded parking lot had more vintage cars than ever competing. The ’39 Woody won best in show...Manager Maggie said when she saw the Woody drive in, she knew it would be a winner! Check their ad this issue...they’ve got chicken & chili cook-offs in the works, as well as live music & Karaoke. Watch for new outdoor deck now in progress.
Lauree & I visited Burgadala Wines in Sellwood recently to hear Zenda Torrey (vocals) & Mike Doolin (guitar); the French wine that owner Didier Sudre chose for us was as smooth as the music. The duo performed tunes from It Had to Be You and Cry Me A River to Stand By Me and Girl from Ipanema. Watch for Lauree’s article next issue.
Other notable performances I saw included Lucy Hammond Band at Santorini’s; Ron Ruedi & The Hurricanes at Lydia’s; and The Rolling Tones at The Refectory (watch for article next issue).
An upcoming show not to miss is the Portland’s new all-star, all-women circus: Circus Artemis, Oct 16-18, at A-WOL Warehouse Space, 920 NE Flanders (10th & NE Flanders). The debut will feature the finest female circus acts Portland has to offer, not to mention live music & raffles. The performers have trained with instructors from Cirque Du Soliel & the Ecole Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, taught at the renown San Francisco Circus Center, performed nationally & internationally. Go to www.a-woldance.org for much more information on performers & tickets. Circus Artemis is set to become a bright new light in Portland’s entertainment scene...prepare to be dazzled & inspired! Watch for review next issue.
‘Til next time, pray for peace & prosperity......................Bonnie Carter, ed.