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Revueltos at La Casita

February 28, 2009 10:40 am

by Mike Burnett

Anyone who’s ever been drunk after 2 AM in inner SE Portland has probably been to La Casita, the late night Mexican food restaurant at 6th and Morrison. I really like the place, although many people I’ve spoken to feel the food is so-so. I think it’s pretty good for Portland Mexican food as long as you don’t treat it like a taqueria, but instead order combinations and dinner plates off the extensive menu.

The real value is in a plate called “revueltos”, which means something like “together” in English. In it you get three choices of meats (choose from chivos, pastor, carne asada, pollo, etc.), rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream. It comes with a side of tortillas, corn or flour. Order the small, which is in fact gigantic. I ordered the large once for some reason and it was only slightly larger. Either one is too much food for one person. The small is $8 and I believe the large is $10.

Taxes : (

February 27, 2009 1:54 pm

by Lauren Hudgins

I did my taxes suckas! I’m done. I’m even getting money back. Most of it got deposited in my account today. I’m gonna gloat!

But most of you haven’t done your taxes yet. Some of you might not know a 1099 from your ass. To be honest, I don’t either. You need tax help.

Photo by Cayusa

I used Tax Slayer, an online tax filing service listed on the Oregon Department of Revenue website. I really liked Tax Slayer because it guided me through all my possible deductions. For the first time, I realized I could use all those silly prescription receipts I had in a box and I could even deduct health insurance payments. Woot! I got to use Tax Slayer for free because I am 25 years of age or younger.

If you want face to face help, there are free tax preparation services out there. Because I know some of the people involved, I’m recommending this one. It’s aimed at the elderly (maybe not so many reading this blog) but also low income tax payers (maybe everyone reading this blog).

AARP Tax-Aide
40 Years: Volunteers Serving Taxpayers

FREE Tax Preparation!
Location: Clark K-8@Binnsmead School
2225 SE 87th Ave (cross streets 87th and Division)

Tax preparation offered on these days:

Friday 2/27 from 2pm-6pm.
Tuesday 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/31, 4/7, & 4/14 from 10am-2pm.

Please bring the following items with you:
•Current year’s tax forms and preparation booklet;
•Copy of last year’s income tax return(s);
•W-2 forms from each employer;
•Unemployment compensation statement;
•SSA-1099 from if you were paid Social Security benefits;
•All 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, etc.) showing interest and/or dividends and documentation showing original purchase price of sold assets;
•1099-misc. showing any miscellaneous income;
•1099-R form if you received a pension or annuity;
•All forms indicating federal income tax paid;
•Dependant care provider information (name, employer, ID, Social Security number);
•All receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions;
•Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all dependents.

What is AARP Tax-Aide?
AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service available to taxpayers with low-and middle-income, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Over 32,000 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers, trained in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), now help over 2 million taxpayers file their federal, state, and local tax returns each year at nearly 7,000 AARP Tax-Aide sites nationwide.

***AARP Tax-Aide helps low-and middle-income taxpayers file their personal income tax returns. Volunteers are trained to assist in fling the 1040 tax form and basic schedules. Taxpayers with complex tax returns are advised to seek paid tax assistance.

Worst Day of the Year Ride 2009

February 26, 2009 3:12 pm

by Lauren Hudgins

My review on the Worst Day of the Year Ride is long overdue. I’m sorry to say that I don’t think it’s worth the cost $30-$50 cost.
It’s not that I didn’t have fun. I did. But I had fun because I was riding around town with my friend. Something I could do any time I want. I was hoping for a dangerous display of costumes and a booming soundtrack mounted on bicycles. I was hoping for community and camaraderie. I guess I was hoping for Pedalpalooza. I only did the 18 mile ride. Perhaps there was more camaraderie on the 40 mile ride. There were fewer people were conquering the challenge to the suburbs in a tighter group. The effort required to do twice what I did must have built up more team spirit.

Worst Day Riders going over the Steel Bridge

In any case, the 18 mile ride was nothing special. We got horribly bottle-necked going over the Steel Bridge. It was difficult to get tired riding only 18 miles. We had four planned stops and that didn’t include the stops due to group congestion or the train passing.

Not that I’m complaining, but worse weather probably would have built up a better group bond as we conquered the elements together (maybe complaining all the way). The Worst Day of the Year Ride was on the best day we’ve had this year. Nothing but sun in the afternoon. An easy, breezy, gentle ride with a friend.

There were some riders in costume

They gave us food and beverages at every stop, but those weren’t very good. The hot chocolate and apple cider were from powder. The bagels were those plain mini-bagels in giant bags. The Dragonfly Chai was bitter, possibly the bottom dregs of the pot. The freebies were unimpressive. Even the free fender for people in costume. I was so excited about the free X-Tra Dry fender from SKS Germany. But it turned out to be terrible. It’s very difficult to put on. You have to adjust the strap just so that it barely goes around the seat tube, but no more. This must be done off your bike. There is no way to adjust the strap once you latch it onto your bike. A droopy fender just rubs sadly on your bike tire. And mine was certainly dragging during the ride. A random passerby in North East, familiar with the evil ways of this brand of fender, had to help me. “These things are terrible,” he said. “They should never have been made.”

At least, at the end, Laughing Planet came through with excellent chili, just like I knew they would.

But… no. I can’t bill the Worst Day of the Year Ride as something fun enough to pay money for. If you want to make a donation to the Community Cycling Center (and you should, because they are a worthy organization), this is a good occasion to make the donation. But if you’re expecting to get something out it other than a pleasant bike stroll that you could have done by yourself… maybe try the 40 mile ride? Maybe not?

Planned Parenthood Action Item

February 24, 2009 4:25 pm

by Mike Burnett

Navigating Portland State University’s campus is somewhat like playing an old stand-up arcade game, except instead of bad guys you’re dodging canvassers stationed every hundred feet. Today a guy from Planned Parenthood caught me, and I said that although yes I do support Planned Parenthood, I am not in a position to donate to the cause.

He did provide an alternative to financial support, however, and told me about the organization’s current battle for quality sex education. From their site:

Some 750,000 teenagers in the United States will become pregnant this year, and at least one in four teen girls in America has a sexually transmitted infection. American teenagers are bombarded with confusing and conflicting messages about sex. They need access to real, unbiased information — about abstinence, contraception, and healthy relationships.

The vast majority of Americans — including parents — support comprehensive sex education. But only about five percent of American students receive comprehensive sex education that covers all the dimensions of sexuality. Instead, because of anti-choice government policies, many teens are taught a strict abstinence-only program, which does not teach contraception and denies them potentially lifesaving information.

According to the canvasser, Democrats in Congress have been doing very little to combat this despite having been in power for a couple years now, so contacting your representatives and demanding comprehensive sex education for American children is one of the most effective things you can do. The easiest way to do that is to find them on Congress.org.

If you’re so inclined you can visit, Planned Parenthood’s site where you can read more and sign up for their action email list.

The Punk Group to Play Best Buy

February 22, 2009 2:31 am

by Mike Burnett

I went to see my friends The Soft Tags play Someday Lounge Tonight. They played a great set and were joined by some other like minded bands owing debts to various rock and pop groups in decades past.

Somehow making their way onto the bill was a duo called The Punk Group, whose music was comprised mostly of sequenced drums and synths. Their songs titles included “Fat Girls on Bicycles” and “Fish Sticks For Jesus”. A fan who’d come to see them informed me they are playing Best Buy in Beaverton on Sunday March 1st. I’d probably have been satisfied seeing The Punk Group just the once, but something tells me the management and customers at the Beaverton Best Buy have no idea what’s in store for them. The fan said they’re intent to bring it.

Anyone want to drive to Beaverton next Sunday?

Pitchfork TV Showing Andre Williams Documentary

February 18, 2009 12:37 am

by Mike Burnett

Pitchfork TV is currently showing Agile Mobile Hostile, a documentary about soul genius Andre Williams. Williams penned and performed off gems like “Jail Bait” and “Bacon Fat”, produced numerous hits for other R&B artists, and worked closely and tumultuously with Motown’s Barry Gordy. He has also been called the father of rap.

It looks like the documentary is playing for one week only, and I’m not sure exactly when the week started so go now!

Agile Mobile Hostile on Pitchfork TV

Worst Day of the Year Ride

February 13, 2009 4:05 pm

by Lauren Hudgins

This Sunday (Feb. 15) is the 8th annual Worst Day of the Year Ride (WDYR). It’s named thusly because this time in February historically is the wettest and coldest. (Early January is far worse in my opinion.)

The event is a fundraiser for the Community Cycling Center. Riders are encouraged to come in costume (a helmet is required) and have a choice of an 18 mile ride or a challenging 40 mile ride.

Sounds fun. But the registration fee for the ride ranges from $30-$50 depending on when and where you register. Sure, the CCC is a good cause and all, but $30 to ride my bike around? I can do that any time I want. I could put that money towards bike repairs or buy better rain pants.

There are some definite perks. The first 1,500 riders in costume will get a free fender from SKS Germany. There’s free food all along the way. Doughnuts at the starting line. REI has fruit and chai. Hot chocolate and cookies at the Community Cycling Center. Hot cider and bagels at Bike Gallery East. Soup and focaccia at the finish line from Laughing Planet.

I’m going this year because I have a free pass. (I signed up for the pansy 18 mile ride.) I’ll come back and report to you all if I think it’s enough fun to fork over the money next year.

Online registration is closed but you can register at the pre-ride check in party Saturday afternoon at the Lucky Lab ($40) or at the starting line of the WDYR ($50).

Staring Line:
Lucky Lab Restaurant
915 SE Hawthorne
9am (40 mile ride), 10-11 (18 mile ride)

Photo by Cecil Anne

Revival Drum Shop Hosts Art Show / Indie Rock Grammys?

February 11, 2009 5:26 pm

by Mike Burnett

Rivival Drum Shop, which opened not too long ago at NE 15th and Prescott, is hosting an art show Friday night (Feb. 13) featuring the artists on the flyer below (plus others). From what I hear the shop is pretty small space-wise, so if even half of those artists show up you won’t be able to swing a drum stick without hitting a famous indie rocker.

In the words of a friend, who is one of the artists showing, “It is like 10ft x 10ft. It will be hilarious.” And unintentionally surreal I’m guessing. I can’t wait to see what kind of art Isaac Brock and Kim Deal make.

Sexiest Portland Indie Guy Calendar

3:32 pm

by Mike Burnett

If you haven’t bought your calendar yet, you’re in luck. Crappy Indie Music — The Blog have released their 2009 Sexiest Indie Musician Guy Calendar. It runs from March 2009 – December 2009 and will set you back $25. That’s a small price to pay for so much untamed, DIY handsomeness.

Get yours here.

Harold and Maude Squad

1:19 pm

by Lauren Hudgins

This sounds awesome.

This Thursday, February 12, the Hollywood Theater is screening “Harold and Maude” with a live performance of the Cat Stevens score by some of the March Fourth musicians.
There’s a show at 7pm and one at 9pm.
Tickets are $15, or $10 if you bring a canned food item for the Oregon Food Bank.

Hollywood Theater
4122 NE Sandy