how to have fun in Portland (even when it's raining!)

Maybe it has a lot to do with the fact that since it does rain a lot that we are good at creating fun and doing really great things on a moments notice as well. Here in Portland there are countless ways to have fun on any given night. What's your poison? Do you like a loud, party atmosphere? Do you like to go out to an amazing meal, play some pool  or even shuffleboard at a cool little neighborhood spot? How about going to see funky, and often a little off the wall performance art? Like fire dancing, it happens enough here and it's always good! Want to see a local didjeridu player, who will blow your mind? All these things and more happen on any given day in Portland. I haven't even got in to the small house party's or local neighborhood events that happen throughout the city.

A really great spot for a nice dinner with the most amazing hummus you will ever eat is Ya Hala, it's not right downtown or even in "close-in" Southeast Portland. Go for a drive, get out a little farther than normal and you will happen upon this gem! It is located at 80th and Stark in the Southeast and it's well woth the drive, Believe me, a self proclaimed "hummus expert", you will love their hummus, it's like velvet, really...

Now you are stuffed and you get in your car, but where to? I like going to Blitz Bar. There are 2 locations but I seem to like this one, the one on SE 11th, near Division St. They have a big place, so there is always room to move around, and they have FREE shuffleboard!  Free shuffleboard and great drinks? And pool... Yep, a great night to be had by all!

I will talk a bit about "The Urban Shaman" or the didjeridu player I wrote about above. Jeff Cooper plays in a local band called "Vivid Curve". If you are in the area anyway and you hear of them playing somewhere, go, go, go! Don't even ask twice, the whole band is great. Fun, high energy, and they have a really great, friendly vibe. Jeff is an amazing musician, singer and songwriter, but it's his Didj that takes the main stage. You become mesmerized by the sounds that he gets to come out of that thing, and when he starts talking into it, and saying funky stuff... well that is another story entirely. Like when they sing their song about Dennis Leary, or the one about the 100 naked Kangaroo's, or my favorite, "Micro-organism". What a good time it is everytime I see this band. Enjoy them while you can, they seem to be destined for something greater.....

Now for some of the weird and a bit odd stuff the we have going on here in Portland. Well to me it's not weird OR odd, it's the normal everyday things I like to do and see here in Portland. I guess I just have really amazing friends... Have you ever heard of "Clowns without Border's"? They are a non-profit organization that goes to places that NEED comic relief, like say after a hurricane, or other natural disasters. They are having a show tonight with a whole crew of performers, physical comedians,Hula Hoopers, jugglers, acrobats, and so much more. The show will definetely be amazing, I really don't know why I am not there...Portland definetly has a city full of talented people doing all kinds of performance art, all the time, every night of the week.This is just one thing going on tonight, but if it's circus and "Vaudeville" that you are into, this would be it, tonight in Portland! Check out their website, www.clownswithoutborders.org

Tomorrow night,  want to see some more crazy ,"freaky", and talented individuals making money(I hope) doing what they love? Go then to Rachel Reckless' Creepshow" at Bossanova! You'll see fire performance by Shireen Press. This woman makes playing with fire look like "playing", she is amazing and has a smile on her face the whole time! There will be sword swallowing, a contortionist and many other acts.  The dark, strange and Portland's "exotic" will be out at this eventful show.

I LOVE going to see Dj's. There are great ones here all the time. Resident ones and DJ's from all over the world coming in and out of Portland all the time. The Crowne Room always has good beats. they have good sound in their space too. Just recently I saw Jamie Janover and Lynx there, what a great show. The people you see here and at other "like-minded" events throughout the city, really like to go all out. People bring their fire toys, Hula Hoops and Staff, and if there's room you are guaranteed to see someone dancing and making their own art over in the corner. I went to the Pisces Ball last weekend and I brought my hoop with me, and to my amazement there WAS room to hula hoop! I wasn't the only one with this idea. Groovin Megzz was there with her LED hoops, groovin away and making people stare in awe at her moves. Megzz is the winner of this years "Female Hooper of the Year"award, and we are all lucky to get to see her and tons of others like her, in this very talented and unique city.

This is just a sampling of the fun that can be had in Portland at any given time of the week. There is even something for the bookworm. Powell's bBooks, the location downtown, has free reading many times a month. They showcase very popular, and sometimes best-selling authors, at the country's largest independently owned bookstore. Get a cup of coffee, peruse the millions of titles and listen to a book talk.  What a great way to spend an evening in the rain!

Get out, have fun, make new friends and go "see" and "Do" stuff.... LIFE is FUN, go LIVE!

Melissa Magic