Meanwhile, in one of Portland's coolest (and haunted) parks this weekend it's the Cathedral Park jazzfest
There's tunes, food, brews and wine. I think you can bring the dog too.

Opened with the Star Spangled banner on the harp, went into all the early 70s stuff, some songs from his excellent last album A time 2 Love, and even previewed his forthcoming gospel record. Just looking up and seeing Stevie gave me chills.
He's playing Friday night up in Washington at the White River amphitheater.
You better go.

So tonight is the Foo Fighters and Supergrass at the Roseland, plenty of big shows.
I'm told there are still tickets also for Elvis Costello Friday night at Clark County Amphitheater. Oh and there's some English band called the Police on that bill too.

Saturday, it's crowds, bands, BBQ, crafts, parades and pooches at the Mississippi Street Fair. Now in its like, fifth year (I could be wrong on that one) it's become huge. They close the street from Skidmore to Fremont.

Neville Brothers and Dr. John bring a taste of the bayou to the Oregon Zoo on Tuesday.

Stay cool Portland.

One of the coolest things I've ever done was cover the Olympic Trials under way in Eugene this week. Oregonians pad the ranks for team USA this year, check it out, it'll be a great way to celebrate the holiday too.

(By the way, if I were forced to change the national anthem, it would be Ray Charles doing America the Beautiful)

Here in town, on Thursday night Isaac Hayes keeps it steady and sizzling as he rolls into the Waterfront Blues Festival.

And of course, the Fort Vancouver extravaganza, which if you didn't know, is the biggest show west of the Mississip.

If you're into Americana check out the Legendary Shack Shakers at Dantes, dude sings through a harp microphone, they got a bucket of hillbilly soul, and rocking gospel.

Bustin out Lucille - Saturday night the Maryhill Vinyard in Washington is hosting BB King, fireworks and BBQ too.

And remember kids - be careful with the explosives.

MOVIES!

Cinema 21 starts the run for director Alex Gibney's latest 'Gonzo: the life and works of Hunter S Thompson.' See the foul and terrifying world of journalism from those that knew him.

At Clinton St. - It's been 15 years since singer Mia Zapata of Seattle's The Gits was murdered, and now a film follows the band from their Antioch beginnings through that dark period, but really, this was the town's killer up-and-coming band and it's the music that will stay forever strong. The Gits Movie - July 4-10.

Friday at the Tonic Howie and the Hot Knives, the Decliners, and denim vested swamp garage of the Muddy River Nightmare Band.

Over at the Wonder Ballroom, the Lions of Batucada bring a world beat flavor.

Oregon Zoo the one and only Timmins family singers the Cowboy Junkies will chillax you right back along with the Indigo Girls outside on the lawn among the beasts.

Saturday night at the Tonic Pure Country Gold has a new 7" release, the Flip Tops also on the bill - good to see you out boys.

Artichoke Music is hosting the HUGE community folk festival on Hawthorne.

Also all weekend long it's the Good in the Neighborhood in Northeast Portland - parades, kid stuff, music food and ethnic marketplace. This is getting bigger every year.

Here's the ART - At the Olympic Mills Commerce Center it's the mural show, featuring that's right, BIG paintings. But wait - also playing will be MDC (Millions of Dead Cops), DJ Clean, Hello Cleveland, Paulrus Is Dead and The Chesstones

I had never heard of the Orange room before, but looks like a totally cool place to check out - the address is 10818 NW St Helens Road

Playing is:
Rifle
Reporter
Fist Fite
Old Growth
Science of Yabra
Vanishing Kids
Dudelord
Experimental Dental School

Holy hotel rooftops - the Top down filmfest from NW Film Center has a great outdoor up high line up starting next month - Tom Waits' Big Time among them on July 24. Says there'll be grub and cocktails too!

... More to come

It's the U.S. Air Guitar rock-off at Dante's TUESDAY NIGHT.

Deadline to enter is 2 p.m. Tuesday, but headbang on down there tonight to check out the metalmayhem.

To enter, pick a stage name, have your 60 second song clip nailed down, and pay $20 before spraying on the hair and spandex.

Finger flying finalists head to San Francisco August 8 for the title.

Suds alert - Sun's out, and it's time for Portland Roller Girls the Wheels of Justice to wash your car.
They'll ask for a minimum donation of $5 per car. All proceeds will go towards airfare cost for their match against Philly this July.
It's Saturday from 12-4 at Voodoo Doughnut Too, 1501
NE Davis

So much action and summer is only starting! Well, technically, Portlanders -- you're just getting more winter so forget about sunshine.

A couple more nights to fill -- the the Hold Steady (July 27, Crystal) and the Melvins (July 25, Wonder) have added Portland shows.

If you've never checked out the Mel Brown Quartet at the somewhat-new Jimmy Mak's it's recommended highly - Thursday is Mel Brown B3 night, EXCELLENT.

Hot DOG! - A Midwesterner can finally get a good weiner scene - Wayne's Chicago red hots on MLK and NE Failing, REAL Vienna beef, peppers, and the works, plus during Cubs games there's discounted Old Style tall boys. Go Twins!

Theater - Look at the breadth of coverage here at the KGW Scene - the hands down funniest musical ever written is coming to the Keller - Broadway's Avenue Q. It's like Sesame Street+Rent written by Lenny Bruce and Lisa Lampinelli. Not exactly for the kids, but gut busting.
Starts on June 24.

Oh and over at Music Millennium they're having a VINYL sale - 20 and 25% off used and new records through Saturday.
Must be all the good press stacks of wax are getting lately.

Dudes, seriously, it's almost hard to think of going to shows when it's like this outside. May go and whack some around, I like hitting up Portland meadows (no woods) driving range, or check out Heron Lakes.

Then it's off to Farmer's Market for sure to get the fresh MEAT and fixings for a long late afternoon grilling.

Also found some great and newish patio spots also on the east side.

Check out the Standard on 22nd and Burnside - happy hour food deals, cheap drinks, pinball, pool, killer juke and a nice fenced in patio. Not too far away - the East Burn has swinging shairs and fireplace table, an impressive list of drinks and fine food menu that feels like fancfancy dinin' but not so pricey. Pinball too.

Say farewell to the Ole' Miss for awhile - after tonight the hammer goes down on Mississippi Studios - they're really gonna tear up the joint. no, they literally going to destroy it - to make way for the NEW and three-times larger venue. Storm Large swung the hammer Wednesday night after a two-show run, tonight it's the Dimes, Jon shipe and Ehren Ebbage.
Recording continues in the old Masonic Lodge - read more about it all here.

Seriously, if summer ever starts it better dang well last until Thanksgiving.

Very busy with all things festival this weekend, so when you're not mixing it up with the rose court, floats, sailors or carnies, check out these:

Doug Fir will at least sound like summer with this Sly and the Family Stone tribute: Dance to the Music and Excellent Gentlemen play.

And over at Duff's the legendary swamp master Dale Hawkins! you may know him as Ronnie's cousin and the guy who hit it big with his recording of Suzie Q.

An intimate venue for juke stomping rockabilly.

PLUS - classic early 70s jazz fusion masters Return to Forever play the Schnitz. It's that killer electric piano-driven sound with Chick Corea on keyboards, Al Di Meola on guitar, Stanley Clarke on bass and Lenny White on drums.

Anyhoo - a bevvy of spots to hit this first weekend of unofficial summer. Start off at noon Friday with one for the kids -- Lakeridge High School's Jazz Band will be smoothing you right back downtown at Wells Fargo plaza for your lunch break.

Portland's most famous holes are crossing over to the eastside - A SECOND Voodoo Doughnut is coming -- and it's right across the street from the Sandy Hut!
They'll be doing a parade to the new location from the old store to the new one at 6:45. Don't forget kids -- normal is the new weird.

Amid the Waterfront rides, food and craziness, more local young jazz talent with the Blaine High School Marching Band, Mt. Tahoma High School Marching Band, Beaverton High School Marching Band.

For rock's sakes -- Ethos is dedicated to opening more young minds to music in schools and out. A benefit at Berbati's will help them out and you get to catch The Slants, Sandpeople and the Paul Green School of Rock.

Ale with animals -- the Oregon Zoo hosts Zoo Brew 2008. From 5 to 10 check out Sam Bamboo and Pat O'Neal's Dixieland Jazz Band perform on the concert lawn while sipping on -- Alameda Brewhouse
Blue Mountain Cider
BridgePort
Crater Lake Root Beer
Deschutes
Double Mountain
Fish Brewing
Full Sail
Hopworks
Kona
Laurelwood
Lompoc
MacTarnahan's
New Belgium
Pyramid
Raccoon Lodge
Redhook Ale
Rogue Ales
Trumer Brauerei
Widmer Brothers

Whew! Who knew?

On Saturday -- yes, the troops ARE coming home! Local vets will be honored at a Welcome Home ceremony from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oaks Amusement Park, Picnic Area # 6 located at 7805 Oaks Park Way, Portland.

After that, you can stick around and hit up the Rose City Rollers scrimmage at the Oaks Park rink.

It's from 6-8 p.m. and Heartless Heathers take on Tacoma's Dockyard Derby Dames. That's FREE.

All of course before you head downtown to check out the Rose Fest's Starlight Parade.

If you can't make it to the parade or to a TV -- you'll be able to see al the action streaming live here on kgw.com

Some people are staying home because of gas prices this year. Me, I'm just not going to fight the rest of the traffic since there's cool stuff to do at home and on the cheap. Ya know, Stretching Your Dollar and all.

But before the fun -- let's not neglect the brave many who have allowed us to live as well and as free as we do. Cause when you think about it -- we really do.

In Portland, OMSI is having a Memorial Day ceremony to commemorate those who served on the USS Blueback and local veterans on Monday, May 26 at 1:00 p.m. in the courtyard behind OMSI. It's open and free to the public.

In Gresham -- there's a service at the corner of Powell and Roberts, where honorees will break ground for a new memorial. It starts at 10 a.m.

Thank you American heroes - you are not forgotten.

On Sunday, the West Coast's Urban Assault Ride comes to town. This ragged romp through the Rose City's downtown and eastside will feature big wheels, bike obstacle courses, jousting, scavenger hunting and of course - BEER. It starts and 9 a.m. in the living room with party afterwards.

You have to sign up ahead of time for your two-person team and be older than 7. Check the link for more info.

Spectators can check it out at a number of checkpoints around town, so don't be surprised to wake up to weirdness.

The whole shebang is sponsored by New Belgium Brewing and benefits the Bicycle Tranportation Alliance.

On Friday, it's a non-downtown club I've only been to once -- but had a blast watching bands there is the Red Room. Great service, plenty of room in this renovated space on NE 82nd. They have Guitar Hero tourneys too.

Unfortunately for the Straightedge Buddhist Strippers, it's their last show in Portland, if you like the razor punk come on out, they oughta be wild.

Up north at the windy Gorge in George, it's Sasquatch. It seems like wherever you look now, the overwhelming trend is big name bands doing all they can to bring themselves down to the level of the self-made-facebook-indie-itunes set

And looking at this festival lineup, I see names of very green bands that I wouldn't previously have imagined playing alongside stalwarts of industry.

Anyhooz, peeps include REM, New Pornographers, Modest Mouse, Fleet Foxes, the Whigs and a ton more.

Oh and check this, it's not Portland, not this weekend, but Seattle mega coffeemonger Starbucks is putting out a Sonic Youth compilation! Hawhaw

Nevertheless, Saturday morning the Oregon Humane Society hosts the Doggie Dash run along the river downtown. But the best part is after with the doggie Musical Chairs, Best Dog Kiss, So Ugly I'm Cute contest and even frisbee clinics.

Anyone who wants to register for the run should be there by 7:30.

Over where the weirdos rule the No Po the St John's Bizarre and Parade takes over the heart of the burg. Here's just part of the lineup (parade starts at noon)

Professional Wrestlers-Wet Beer Belly Contest-Dysfunctional Jazz Band-Roller Derby Pirates-Karaoke The Underscore Orchestra

Plus beer garden and feeding pit! I hear it's safe, even encouraged for the kids too.

Slabtown Saturday night has this year's Nuggets tribute. It's a marathon of garagey psych and stomp honoring the series of Rhino Nuggets box sets of 60s-early 70s dirty underground pop gems.

The first Deschutes Brewery in Portland officially opens Friday, May 2 and some of Portland's media got a sneak peek last Friday night as they busted out their signature - and some new - beers and gourmet Northwest cuisine.

Built in the former Jim Stevens auto building, the outside looks still familiar, as the neon reminds you of the old shop. They also reused a lot of the timber and other materials for the structure and bartop.

Beavers and Urinals

Really. One of the first things that strikes you are the intricate beaver sculptures in wild poses that adorn some table tops and an arch separating the standing bar from the dining area.
Wow, those are some beavers doing crazy things man. They were done by Sisters woodcarver J. Chester Armstrong and feature all kinds of NW wildlife scenes.

Renovators spent about $5 million. It kind of feels like Central Oregon too.

The author, beer, beaver. Photo courtesy Kristina Baesler/Pearl District Business Association

In the men's room, the turn-of-the-last-century sarcophigi urinals were salvaged from New York. They're huge porcelain reverse thrones. I only mention this impressive architectural detail since they make a point of it in the press pack. And they're cool.

It's a pretty big place too, you can't really tell from the outside or the dining room, until you slink back to the brewery area. Almost the whole block and much spacier than the Bend brewery, though I do love that one so too. That may not last long though, I can see Deschutes being a very popular place to drop in for a quick one with the workmates on Fridays or First Thursdays.

More: KGW's Joe Smith checks out the new Deschutes

The menu has pub favorites and some more gourmet-type items aimed at the denizens of the Pearl no doubt. But -- haachi maachi, man, good stuff by top notch chefs. Ale-fried fish and chips, braised Obsidian Stout beef, baby back honey porter BBQ ribs ... whew.

You also may have noticed the Green Lake Ale popping up around town, it's their newest cure for spring summer envy.

Welcome Deschutes, it's good to taste a part of our wild Oregon right here downtown.

Friday:
At Ground Control the kiddies from Portland State are having some tunes for their KPSU magazine release party. It's a benefit/pledge drive for this indie student station that's grown a lot since I graduated. OK, ten years you can get a lot done, I guess.

Salem's very own The Buttfrenchers rule this lineup, along with Dance Terrør, Strangers Die Every Day, New Century Schoolbook, DJ Moonchild (7 pm)

Over at the Dantes, The Minus 5 are back, sheesh ya'd think they lived here or something. playing with the Dimes and Heavenly States.

At the Towne Lounge if you like your piano banged, your songs simple and brilliant, you'll want to check out Minneapolis' Mark Mallman. Rocking-to-sweet melodies as a true troubador.

Saturday splash kicks off with the fifth annual Stumptown Comics fest at the Lloyd Center Doubletree. Also -- Dark Horse could be looking for YOU. Apparently, an editor will be looking for portfolios to fill the "newbie" slot for the next two months in Myspace Dark Horse Presents.

And for all of you who just LOVE clowns a new Rose Festival program called Character Clown Corps train ordinary folks to not creep out the kids -- you get a makeup kit and costume as well as tips to develop your very own clown character at the World Trade Center

You may well get a chance to show off in front of the Grand Floral Parade, since 20 people will be selected

Up on the mountain, winter turns to spring literally, at the second annual Pond Skim at Mt. Hood Meadows.
Kona Brewing and All About Hawaii Travel put on the slide as participants fly down the hill and try to scoot the 80-90 foot long pond.

Also -- Polynesian drinks and Hawaiian food. It's $25 to play. And our own Matt Zaffino is judging!

OK, I know I rant about vinyl a lot, but I have to some more all because this weekend the focus is on independent record stores - of which Portland has several fine varieties.

And if you thought you were going to get yardwork done,or lounge on a patio barbecuing and drinking microbrews FORGET IT!
It's going to be like 40 degrees and raining sideways, so get back to the great indoors and spend some money.

Saturday is RECORD STORE DAY!

Speaking of - next week the Jackpot Fifth annual film fest at Hollywood theater unwinds.

I was curiously drawn to this when it all started and it's continued to clobber me over the head every year with it's lineup of coolness. And IT'S FREE.

Monday, April 21st: 7-9 pm "Northwest Passage - Directors Cut"
Tuesday, April 22nd: 7-9 pm "Hip Hop Night"
Wednesday, April 23rd: 7-9 pm "The Holy Modal Rounders - Bound To Lose"
Thursday, April 24th: 7-9 pm "Psych/Garage Night"
Friday, April 25th: 7-9 pm "Black Sabbath Live" and an exciting Mystery Feature

THIS JUST IN: Westside Christian High School Theater is doing YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, starting next Friday April 25 and running through Sunday, May 4.

Quoted in the release it says "A day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown - from wild optimism to utter despair."

Good grief, how true. Peanuts is the darkest, yet funniest comic strip ever produced by the genius Charles Schultz, long before "Garfield minus Garfield." With lines like this: "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." – Charles M Schulz

This production is based on the 1999 Broadway run.

It's at the Alpenrose Dairy Opera House at 6149 SW Shattuck Road in Portland.

Show times are Friday and Saturday evenings, April 25, 26, May 2 and 3 at 7:30 PM and a Sunday matinee on Sunday, May 4 at 2:30 PM.

Tickets are $10 and $12 and reservations and information are available by calling (503) 697-4711, ext. 243.

Have a suggestion? Check out the calendar >>>

Or email me

And being from east of these parts it's a heckuva haul to find good pizza. West Coasters do it different. Sure we have our taste-kinda-like-NYC (ubiquitous-but-not-close) California-style BBQ-and odd vegetable combos (not pizza) our national chains (don't count) but I have yet to find anything in the town, ne, in any city on the West Coast that can rival a:

1) Minnesota-Chicago flatiron style (cut in squares of course)
and
2) Deep dish Chicago. (I am told there's one in Salem, I will get there)

Stay with me. Well a pizza-rib joint that opened on MLK as 'Wildfire' has now changed its name to Carboni's, eerily similar to Carbone's in Minnesota, home of the World's Finest Pizza Ever Hands Down Don't Even Try To Argue.

So Portland's Carboni's had a lot going against it in terms of living up to a name. The owner says the name translates from Italian as 'coals' as in the 1,000 degree fire the crust cooks in.

Imagine my shock as I picked up the sausage-onion 12" wood fired pie Sunday afternoon to find a sliver thin crust coated in the right amount of flour, rich sauce and fresh mozzarelle.

While it is not quite the midwest flatiron thin style, the overall taste is close with a crust I would compare to Ken's Artisan. It's dang good.

They've also got local micros (Rogue, Laurelwood) on tap and a cool patio for summer.

Congratulations to Carboni's (3925 NE MLK) I'll be back probably tommorrow.