An assortment of Oregon beers at Loyal Legion.

My New Feature – Stephanie’s Portland Picks

I’ve lived in Portland for over a decade and I know it like the back of my hand. I decided to post my top picks for going out every month in PDX.

Featured Literary Event

Come out and hear me and other awesome VoiceCatcher contributors share our stories with you in the beautiful bookstore, Another Read Through (3932 N Mississippi Avenue).  It’s on Thursday, April 14th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. I’ll be reading a few of my recent flash fiction pieces!

Shows You Don’t Want to Miss

Phone Call at The Liquor Store (3341 SE Belmont Street) on Wednesday, April 13th. I dare you not to dance! I never miss these guys. I first saw them at last year’s PDX Pop Now! and they are excellent.

Papi Fimbres returns to Portland with Orquestra Pacifico Tropical on Saturday, April 16th at Holocene (1001 SE Morrison Street). This show will make any day a good one. $7 day of show.

Candipop: Spice Girls Edition at Holocene (1001 SE Morrison Street) is non-negotiable. Friday, April 22nd. You will be there. It will be The Hotness. It’s what I really, really want. $10 day of show.

On Wednesday, April 27th Wild Nothing plays Doug Fir Lounge (830 E Burnside Street). The latest album is fantastic.

Finally, there is a Fleetwood Mac night at Holocene (1001 SE Morrison Street) on Saturday, April 30th. $10 advance, $12 day of show.

Gotta say, the booking at The Liquor Store, Holocene and Doug Fir Lounge is excellent this year so far.

Funny Bone

On Friday, April 15th, you need to get to the Jack London Bar (in the basement of The Rialto, 529 SW 4th Avenue) if you’ve never experienced a Famous Haydell Sisters Jacked Up Variety Show. Two sets from the Famous Haydells, a comic/MC, a musical guest and clowns! Cover: sliding scale.

Dance

If you’ve never seen a TriptheDark performance, make sure to mark your calendars. April 21-30 they bring us a new show, “Dance of the Dream Man: A Twin Peaks Story.” Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 pm. Strongly advised to get advance tickets for $15 as these shows sell out. $18 at the door. At the fabulous The Headwaters Theatre (55 NE Farragut Street, #9).

Recurring

DJ DMoeFunk is now at the Starday Tavern (6517 SE Foster Road) every Tuesday. Come hear him spin upbeat house and techno and watch the curated YouTube videos. No cover!

Literary

The FREE inaugural Liars’ League PDX will be on Saturday, April 23rd at The Studio at Literary Arts (925 SW Washington Street). Writers write. Actors read. Audience listens. Everybody wins.

You Haven’t Been There Yet?

As pictured, one of my new favorite places is Loyal Legion (710 SE 6th Street). Getting taster trays there is truly fun. The staff supplies a blank round sheet and you can fill in whatever you please. There are nearly 100 Oregon beers on tap on any given day and the menu is a true work of art, breaking everything down into minute categories.

Looking Back

This past weekend, I went to the second annual Out From The Shadows (OFTS) darkwave/goth festival and it didn’t disappoint. Amazing line up of bands, most from Portland but quite a few from all over the world. The best performance I saw at this festival — and the best one I’ve seen in years — was Lust Era from Puerto Rico. The music speaks for itself, but the performance was electrifying, passionate and charismatic. Lust Era proves darkwave isn’t necessarily introverted shoegazing. Ones to keep an eye on.

Check out their songs: https://soundcloud.com/lust-era