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Register to Vote by Tomorrow 4/29!

April 28, 2008 1:41 pm

by Mike Burnett

Amy Ruiz of The Portland Mercury and Blogtown, PDX reminds us it’s time to register to vote if we haven’t already!

Amy writes:

If you aren’t registered, either stop by the county elections office at 1040 SE Morrison, call the Bus Project at 503-233-3018 to find an alternate location for in-person registering. It’s too late to mail in your registration, but it’s not too late to make your vote count on May 20!

Louise Erdrich to visit Powell’s on May 5th, 2008

1:28 pm

by Stephanie Neil

Louise Erdrich is the author of twelve novels, as well as multiple volumes of poetry, children’s books, and a memoir of early motherhood. Erdrich has received critical acclaim for her portrayal of the lives of Indians and whites living in North Dakota over the past century. She will be at Powell’s, Cedar Hills Crossing at 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, at 7:00pm on Monday, May 5th, for a reading from her newest novel, The Plague of Doves (2008).

Louise Erdrich Her first novel, Love Medicine (1984), a series of interconnected stories, follows members of two Chippewa families living on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota from the 1930s to the 1980s. An international bestseller, the book won the National Book Critics Circle Award and has been translated into eighteen languages. The next in the series, The Beet Queen (1986), addresses Native Americans indirectly while concentrating on the lives of Americans of Polish and German decent living small-town life. In her third novel, Tracks (1988), set at the turn of the century, and her fourth novel, The Bingo Place (1994), set in the present day, Erdrich returns to the Indian characters introduced in Love Medicine, concluding her account of the lives of small-town whites and three generations of Native Americans. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse (2001), a tale about a woman who lives most of her life as a Catholic mission priest, is set against the same fictional town as Love Medicine, and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Erdrich’s first novel in three years, The Plague of Doves, will be in stores April 29th.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly:

“Erdrich’s 13th novel, a multigenerational tour de force of sin, redemption, murder and vengeance, finds its roots in the 1911 slaughter of a farming family near Pluto, N.Dak. The family’s infant daughter is spared, and a posse forms, incorrectly blames three Indians and lynches them. One, Mooshum Milk, miraculously survives. Over the next century, descendants of both the hanged men and the lynch mob develop relationships that become deeply entangled, and their disparate stories are held together via principal narrator Evelina, Mooshum Milk’s granddaughter, who comes of age on an Indian reservation near Pluto in the 1960s and ’70s and forms two fateful adolescent crushes: one on bad-boy schoolmate Corwin Peace and one on a nun. Though Evelina doesn’t know it, both are descendants of lynch mob members. The plot splinters as Evelina enrolls in college and finds work at a mental asylum; Corwin spirals into a life of crime; and a long-lost violin (its backstory is another beautiful piece of the mosaic) takes on massive significance. Erdrich plays individual narratives off one another, dropping apparently insignificant clues that build to head-slapping revelations as fates intertwine and the person responsible for the 1911 killing is identified.”

Kirkus Reviews:

“A lush, multilayered book…The magic lies in the details of Erdrich’s ever-replenishing mythology.”

Booklist:

“Mesmerizing… Erdrich …communicate[s] the complexity and the mystery of human relationships.”

Author Philip Roth:

“Louise Erdrich’s imaginative freedom has reached its zenith—THE PLAGUE OF DOVES is her dazzling masterpiece.”

Link to Powell’s

In Alcohol News: Wahle Pinot and Drinkin’ Lincoln

April 24, 2008 8:09 pm

by Mike Burnett

The roomies and I are agreeing that Wahle Vinyards’ Pinot Noir is the best Pinot we’ve ever tried. We picked it up at Lupa, the cozy wine bar located on Mississippi between Shaver and Failing.

We’re also listening to our man Natron DJing on Portland Radio Authority (click to listen live).

I never went to the prom in high school, but I’d like to think this delicious bottle of wine and the great tunes are getting me pretty close to the experience. Maybe if my friends and I were rad enough to mail a letter on school letterhead to parents suggesting they host parties and buy alcohol for students after the prom, I would have mustered up the interest and courage.

Blazers Hiring Intern

1:48 pm

by Mike Burnett

PURPOSE: The internship position is designed to allow the intern to experience various facets of the Creative group within the Marketing department of the Portland Trail Blazers.Primary Responsibilities:

# Graphic and Production Print Design

link to job posting

Tobias Wolff Visits Powell’s – 4/17/08

April 22, 2008 10:06 pm

by Stephanie Neil

Tobias Wolff, the prolific author of eight books, is known best for his memoir, This Boy’s Life, which was made into a film in 1993 starring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. Most recently he has received critical acclaim for his first novel, Old School, and his newest collection of short fiction, Our Story Begins. Wolff is also the editor of The Vintage Book of American Short Stories and Best American Short Stories. He has received of a number of literary awards, including the PEN/Malamud Award and the Rea Award, both for excellence in the short story, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Currently he is the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University, where he has taught classes in English and Creative Writing since 1997.

On Thursday, April 17th, Wolff read two short stories, “Say Yes,” and “Her Dog,” to a standing room only audience at Powell’s. Afterwards, there was a Q & A, where Wolff discussed with the audience his influences, plagiarism, the invention of fiction, the process of writing, and the act of remembering.

Tobias Wolff At Powell's
Tobias Wolff signs books at Powell’s.

At a recent dinner party, Wolff was asked by a friend what book or author made him a reader. As his friends gave answers like Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning and Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain, Wolff realized that they were taking the question at a somewhat different level than he was. “They weren’t trying to be pretentious,” Wolff says, “they were interpreting the question to mean, ‘When did you really become a reader of serious work?’ But before you become a reader of serious work, you have to become a reader.” When Wolff had to come up with an answer, he decided it was a writer that his mother had introduced him to; someone she had liked to read when she was a girl. “I received the recommendation with skepticism,” Wolff says, “but in fact I was immediately converted; it was a writer named Albert Payson Terhune. No one in here will know his work, nor frankly, should you.” Terhune wrote from the point of view of collie dogs, keeping to collie psychology, with a different dog starring in each book. “If you’re impressed by Lassie getting Timmy out of the well, you’ll like these books a lot,” Wolff says. Eventually a librarian suggested that he read Jack London’s White Fang and Call of the Wild, which was his first taste of serious literature. “As Frost said, ‘way leads on to way’ and every writer is connected to a bunch of other writers,” Wolff says, “and in that way I became a reader.”

Continue… »

Interview With Randy Lucas of Shag

April 20, 2008 6:50 pm

by Mike Burnett

Shag is a mid-century modern furniture store on NE Sandy Blvd in the Hollywood District of Portland. They carry beautiful furniture, art, plateware, and even a few records. Most surprisingly, they’re not as expensive as they look. I stopped in with some friends who were shopping for their home last week and had a great chat with owner Randy Lucas, who was also kind enough to answer a few of my questions via email.

. . .

When we stopped into Shag last weekend, you had just been visited by a man touring some of his Japanese clients through in order to buy stuff for a café they were opening in Japan. What did they buy, and how often does that sort of thing happen?

We get Japanese buyers several times a year.

It can get quite crazy when they come in too. Oftentimes, they are in a hurry as they are normally trying to cover as much ground as possible. They circle the store, then go back around pointing at everything they want. Most of the items they look for are American vintage from the 1950′s to 1970′s. As a rule of thumb they never bother with Danish Modern style furniture, which is great for us because it offers the perfect balance. Danish is harder to come by and that is in such high demand that it can be expensive. Oftentimes they come and clear out a lot of old stock for us, which gives our local customers the ability to come into our store the following week and see a lot of fresh product.

There are different types of buyers. Some come in by themselves a walk around the store pointing at everything they want. Some actually live here in the US, or in Canada and then export containers of furniture and decor over to Japan. Others are more like tour guides that bring clients with them and take them searching for what they want for their particular business, like this past time. They bought several love seats and chairs this time, but many times they look for lamps, particularly swag lamps.

I have a friend that lives in Osaka and he says there is a part of Osaka that is affectionately termed “American Town” that is filled with everything USA and vintage is HOT there, from furniture and decor to clothing to music. The urban Japanese culture loves America, and we are happy to return the love.

Shag is definitely specialized, and the store has a unified feel. Without giving away all your secrets, can you explain how you’re able to keep an entire storeroom filled with mid-century decor?

We have three things that customers ask or say… 1) “Is this stuff new?” 2) “I remember that” or “This looks like my parents (or grandparents) house.” 3) Where do you get your stuff? Kaci, who is a dealer in our store, loves to answer that question with “At the gettin’ place”. Seriously though, it takes a lot of work and time out of the store to find stuff. We go out of town a lot on buying trips, we advertise, we buy estates, people bring us stuff, we go to garage sales, the occasional estate sale, thrift shops, auctions, etc. At times I think I dream I am searching. What many people don’t consider is that there is a lot of time behind the store hours. We spend much of our time buying, cleaning and doing minor repairs, and we have to change our website constantly. We don’t have the privilege to order from a wholesaler and keep a stock of the same product. Once something is gone, it is gone.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

How long have you and your partner Cindy Hislope been in the business?

That is a difficult question to answer. This will be Shag’s 5th anniversary this summer. I’ve been an avid collector and dealer of some sort for over 20 years whether it’s been sports memorabilia, vintage toys, clothes, or furniture/decor. I’ve always been a treasure hunter. When I was in college at Florida State, I used to promote sports memorabilia shows instead of working for someone else. Cindy started just before we opened our business, more or less when we started dating. If anything, she was the biggest influence to open a store front business.

Did the retirement community in Florida make it like Shangri-la for dealers?

Unfortunately, I can’t confirm that as I haven’t really bought anything from that area. The same with Arizona and parts of California. From what I’ve heard from a few customers and other dealers, it’s like a pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow. Of course, they make it out that way, but there are areas all over the country where you can find this stuff. I grew up in Michigan and remember all the Scandinavians throughout the Midwest — that and the weird accents. The irony is that it is more about supply and demand. You’re not going to find many dealers there who set up shop in those areas, but rather go to areas like that and haul it back to their own little mecca.

I was fascinated by what you were saying about the culture surrounding estate sales in Portland. It sounds like a pretty cutthroat experience. Are they something you avoid as a matter of practice, or do you find yourself caving in and giving them a shot every now and then?

Yes, yes, yes. Portland is crazy about Estate Sales. They are exciting, a ton of fun, and a major headache all rolled into one. I love finding stuff, but it is truly a mad dash when there is good stuff to be found. It can be pretty cut throat at times as well. I’ve seen people get into shouting matches, dealers pulling sold tags off of products and trying to buy them under someone’s nose, etc. The other issue with Estate Sales is technically dealers shouldn’t label things sold unless they are going to buy them. Since it is a mad dash, the first dealers in will oftentimes tag everything sold and then go back and inspect items after the fact. Trust me, there can be plenty of hidden damage that you miss in the frenzy. I rather check things out as I go, and obviously Estate Sales aren’t the best when the doors first open. I prefer stumbling across an Estate Sale that has been open for awhile. We find our fair share of good things still, even after several hours, or even days. The last day of an Estate Sale often brings 1/2 off many items that nobody would buy at the full price. Good deals can be found on Sundays.

I have a friend who just had an estate sale because she is moving to Hawaii. She said two dealers came knocking on her door the day before her sale wanting to get in early. They actually got pissed at her for not letting them in. It is very competitive, and with this economy every dollar counts. I just wish people were more respectful, but it goes with the territory.

I wouldn’t discourage anyone from attending Estate Sales, just be ready when the doors open because that is when the feeding frenzy begins, and if you want to compete with dealers you have to be there early. Some dealers sleep in their van overnight for a sale, especially when they know the sale is loaded with good stuff. Some sales have a sign up list that gets put out days ahead of time. Don’t get discouraged if you are #123 on the list. Sure, you’ll miss out on stuff, but there is always something to find that someone missed out on.

You emphasized your preference for the term “mid-century” over “retro”, “vintage”, and “Eames era”. Will you explain how each of those terms strikes you?

I hate the word retro, as does just about every other mid-century dealer I know. It sounds cheap. To me it conjures up Wal-mart attempting to be cool by selling crappy lava lamps, and faux leopard print bed sheets. We have retro on our A-Board and on our window, but that is changing in the near future because I cringe when I see it. I now only use retro when I sell stuff on eBay and Craigslist b/c many people are not familiar with mid-century modern. Eames Era is another phrase that is used a lot. I don’t cringe when I see it, as it pays homage to Charles and Ray Eames, one of America’s most well known designers. Again, I don’t use this term with exception to online as it tends to be a good keyword for searching.

I bought a copy of Scary Monsters when I was in the store. Why is it that all your furnishings are mid-century but all your records are from the 70s and 80s?

How is that album? I was curious about it, but my turntable at home is on the fritz and haven’t listened to vinyl since Christmas. Most Shag customers who buy records prefer the 70′s and 80′s. That and the two people who buy most of the records, Kaci and myself grew up in this era. 70s and 80s are easier to find and generally didn’t get abused. Plus there isn’t much demand for Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass or Jose Feliciano. I would love to find more old R&B and Jazz as that is where the collectors are, but it is hard to find, especially in good condition. The other area I would love to expand our vinyl collection is Funk. Records are tough for us because it takes a lot of time to sift through, and pull only the better vinyl, both musically and condition.

It’s pretty great, and it has all the lyrics on the insert.

What’s so magical about the 40s through the 60s, when it comes to decor and design?

It was post World War II, and everything was about progress and the future. Homes, furniture, decor, appliances, decor, food, just about everything was game. That era brought us the race for space, the lunar landing, the red menace (Russia) and eventually the Cold War. Everything was about technology and it influenced the American lifestyle.

Many furniture designs from the 1950′s are still in production and in very high demand. Herman Miller and Knoll still produce many iconic pieces that were originally designed in the 1940′s,50′s and 60′s and even further back to the 1920′s. The Eames Shell Chair, the Florence Knoll Executive Desk, the George Nelson clocks are all significant designs from the mid 20th Century and everywhere you look you see them. A perfect example is Ameriprise commercials with Dennis Hopper (a iconic individual in his own right). The red chair in every commercial is an LCW chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1946, just a couple years after WW2, or the Eames Management Chair that is used in many newscasts and is on the set of the Daily Show and the Colbert Report on Comedy Central.

Many people think Modernism is a recent fad, but the reality is that it has its own culture. It has fads within the culture. Styles that were hot a few years ago have peaked and are now on the decline. It is constantly evolving and old designers are being rediscovered on a regular basis. There are also regional interests as well. Heywood Wakefield is still hot in Southern California and other areas, but not so hot here in Portland. The thing about Modernism is that it remains popular because of three influential factors… 1) Hollywood glamorizes modernism (that and the Art Deco movement). It is on television, in movies, commercials, music videos, etc. 2) Corporate environments want that fresh modernist look, and they are the biggest buyers of furniture from companies like Herman Miller and Knoll. 3) The perpetual movement towards progress. We continue to develop new materials capable of doing things that wood and organic materials couldn’t do. The funny thing about modernism is that it continues to borrow good design from the mid-20th century.

Shag is located at 4071 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR, 97212. (503) 493-7011

Daniel Johnston At Wonder Ballroom 4/18/08

April 19, 2008 10:04 pm

by Stephanie Neil

Having raptly watched The Devil and Daniel Johnston last year, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see Johnston perform at the Wonder Ballroom last night. His performance was impressive and inspirational, especially because it seemed to be extremely hard for Johnston to transcend his stage fright. This footage is of the last three songs that he performed, including a well-received encore: “Funeral Home”, “True Love Will Find You in the End” (sing along), and “Devil Town” (sing along).

Brian Jonestown Massacre Videos

2:18 pm

by Mike Burnett

For each track on their new album, My Bloody Underground, Brian Jonestown Massacre have released a complementary video. Some of the videos look like they were made with computer animation software in the early 90s, and some are a strange pastiche of found footage and animation. One features band leader Anton Newcombe getting a lip tattoo.

The album also boasts what would be the most memorable song title of 2008, if it wasn’t so long — “Bring Me The Head Of Paul McCartney On Heather Mill’s Wooden Peg (Dropping Bombs On The White House)”.

As for the music, I’m really liking it. Obviously named in tribute to My Bloody Valentine and The Velvet Underground, the album is a wealth of droning guitar textures most likely recorded at incredibly loud volumes.

Here are a couple of the videos:

The Allmusic.com blog has the whole list.

Free Dinner At New Deschutes Brew Pub

April 17, 2008 6:22 pm

by Mike Burnett

Inversion IPA

First person to email us (contact at describetheruckus dot com) gets a reservation for up to 4 people at Deschutes Brewery’s brand new Portland Pub in the Pearl District either this April 23rd or 24th. This includes free food and one free beer per guest!

Just send us an email telling us who you are, and we’ll give you the details and how to make your reservation. Now’s the time to show us you’re reading!

[Congratulations to Ethan Timm of SERA who wrote in at 7:19 AM this morning!]

Kids In The Hall Hit Portland

April 15, 2008 11:19 pm

by Mike Burnett

Just got my ticket for Kids In The Hall at The Schnitz on May 11th. It wasn’t cheap, but it’ll be worth it to see one of the greatest sketch comedy groups of all time EVER. Tour info is on Myspace.