Portland, OR. Rhoda Gantenbein Adams (1909-1977) was the granddaughter of Henry and Georgiana Pittock who grew up in Pittock Mansion. Her work is on display through November 13th in an exhibit called Through Rhoda’s Eyes: Balancing Art and Expectations. Included in the display is a photo of Ronda, brush in hand, in 1932.Rhoda was described as an imaginative and cultured child, she created art in the mansion’s third floor storage space and went on to study at the Art Students League of New York and Portland Art Museum School. As an adult, Rhoda embraced a traditional life as wife, mother, and supporter of the arts, but sought to continue to create art as well.
Rhoda posing on Pittock Mansion’s grand staircase on her wedding day.
Rhoda’s artwork is characterized by vibrant colors and patterns, as seen in this watercolor cityscape painted during her 20s
Rhoda explored many art mediums, including fiber arts like this playful cat cushion.
“Amazingly prolific, Rhoda managed to balance family life with a life-long love of ‘making’. This in itself would have been a feminist act during her era.” Says Portland Art Museum-featured artist Anna Fidler. “Rhoda had a keen eye for what was happening in the broader art world with movements such as Cubism and Abstraction, and Contemporary Design, which she used to inspire her domestic arts.”
Rhoda found expressive outlets through fine arts like drawing and painting, and pursuits that fit well into her social and domestic life such as crafting custom hats and sweaters, designing colorful interiors and gardens for her home, creating one-of-a-kind Christmas tree decorations for her husband’s bank, and designing sets and costumes for Portland Civic Theater. In addition to her artistic projects, Rhoda continued her family’s commitment to community and used her social position to help start and raise funds for the Oregon Ceramics Studio.
Visitors can see her artwork through November 13th in the exhibit:Through Rhoda’s Eyes: Balancing Art and Expectations.
Walla Walla, WA. A lifestyle story… About a four hour drive northeast of Portland, more than 100 wineries draw wine lovers. The Walla Walla Valley is home to 1,800 acres of vineyards and a beautiful agricultural landscape. Photos from a recent trip give you an idea of what to expect.
The new Long Shadows winery and tasting room are dramatically located on a hill with a grand view of surrounding countryside with very simple modern architecture highlighted by Dale Chihuly’s glass art including a chandelier and several large organic pieces.
Spanish for bee, the Abeja winery was inspired by the simple beauty of farming the earth.
The luxury Inn at Abeja, is a lovely place to stay. It is a century-old farm with beautifully restored buildings in the rolling foothills of Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains.
Created by Portlanders Ken and Ginger Harrison, Abeja has private wine tasting just for guest of the inn.
Walla Walla’s L’Ecole wine is sold in all 50 states, Canada and Japan.
Woodward Canyon has a small restaurant on site and is now offering small plates in the Reserve House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 11:30 AM.
There are some great restaurant located in downtown Walla Walla which receive good reviews:
Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen – outstanding, organic menu with attention to detail, knowledgeable staff, great service.
Brasserie Four – delicious french food, outstanding shellfish and dessert.
Olive Marketplace & Cafe by T Maccarone’s – great for a wine country picnic, with a deli filled with gourmet cheeses, meats, pastries, coffee and a big menu for dining in – breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The farmer’s market in downtown Walla Walla is also worth exploring.
The Walla Walla Farmer’s Market is located & 4th and Main.
There’s a website with lots of news about the market: http://www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com/
Of course you’ll find the famous Walla Walla sweet onions.
The people are friendly, too.
The Market is open during the weekends.
During a trip to the Walla Walla wineries, you’ll find passionate winemakers eager to talk about their unique blends. Here are a few links to check out…
Las Vegas, NV. Nearly 40 million people visit Las Vegas each year, according to the local Visitor’s Bureau, and with thoughtful planning more families are finding unique activities to enjoy in and around the city.
One outing kids and their parents rave about is zip-lining over the Mojave Desert. Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon excursion is about a 20 minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip and offers a picturesque getaway with heart-pounding rides down four separate zip lines.
The Flightlines outing also offers beautiful views of Lake Mead, Mt. Charleston, and the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Bootleg Canyon zip-lines range in length from 1,150 feet to 2,546 feet. The zip-line tours are offered 7 days a week at a cost of $159. Contact: (702) 293-6885 for more info.
If you’re spending time in the city be sure to plan your itinerary before you head out the door. Most resorts occupy vast tracts of land, so hailing a taxi or renting a car and parking in the free casino structures will keep navigating around town manageable for younger kids.
There are quite a few age-appropriate shows including Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE.
Here comes the sun, Las Vegas. Cirque Du Soleil Love Show, Mirage, Las Vegas.
About Cirque du Soleil: Since 1984, the company has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 40 countries in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 countries. In Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil has permanent resident shows like these: “O” at Bellagio, Mystèreat Treasure Island, KÀ at MGM Grand, MINDFREAK® LIVE! at Luxor (Criss Angel’s new show, still backed by Cirque du Soleil), The Beatles LOVE at The Mirage, Zumanity at New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay. Tickets run from $69 to $180.
The Fountains of Bellagio–the Strip’s most famous free attraction–has some new musical hits: The Beatles, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and the ’40s Glenn Miller hit In the Mood.
The display launches every 15 minutes at night and has a 29-song repertoire. With massive water cannons blasting over 460 feet in the air, the $40 million dollar fountain captivates crowds. The water show takes place in an 8-acre man-made lake utilizing a network of pipes with more than 1,200 nozzles. The show is illuminated by 4,500 underwater lights.
The lobby of the Bellagio is a also worth a look. Above the 18-foot ceiling is a chandelier called “Fiori di Como” created by glass artist Dale Chihuly. The stunning piece includes 2,000 colorful hand-blown glass blossoms.
If you loved the 1997 movie, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the Luxor is right up your alley. Featuring more than 300 artifacts from the famous ship, the exhibit brings history to life.
The exhibit features a full-scale re-creation of the Grand Staircase as well as a newly expanded outer Promenade Deck.
Through May 31st, 15 of the most prestigious artifacts recovered from the Titanic are also on display, including diamonds, sapphires, pearls and gold jewelry that once belonged to some of the wealthiest passengers.
Described as a floating palace, the incomparable Titanic was deemed “practically unsinkable” by the White Star Line and its builders. However, on a calm April night in 1912, the massive luxury liner struck an iceberg and slowly sank into the North Atlantic.
One of the most striking pieces of “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” is a huge portion of the hull called, “The Big Piece.” It’s the largest single slab of the ship ever brought to the surface and weights in at 15 tons. It took salvage crews two full days to slowly pull the 26-foot long piece of the ship up from the bottom of the Atlantic.
The 25,000-square-foot exhibit features numerous items from the Titanic, including luggage, the ship’s whistles, floor tiles, and an unopened bottle of vintage champagne.
Here’s a link for tickets or Call 800-557-7428. Ticket Prices are $32.00 for General Admission, $24.00 for Children (4 – 12 years) and it’s free for children 3 and under.
Here are some other family activities worth checking out:
If you drive 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas you’ll find Hoover Dam and the beautiful Bypass Bridge. The dam was built during the Great Depression when thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. It took less than five years to build the largest dam of its time, a massive structure which still make a huge impression.
Sopping at the outlet mall is a teen favorite. The Las Vegas Premium Outlets – North is on South Grand Central Parkway and has 150 stores including: Armani Exchange, Ann Taylor, Burberry, Coach, Cole Haan, Dolce & Gabbana, Elie Tahari, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Nautica, Polo Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, St. John, TAG Heuer, Theory, and Tory Burch.
Portland, OR. More than 18,000 cyclists criss-crossed the Willamette River using as many as ten of Portland’s bridges, which were closed to motorized traffic. The 21st Providence Bridge Pedal, on August 14th, offered spectacular views from atop the Marquam and Fremont bridges. Genevieve Klein, Isabel Klein and Mariel Klein pedaled through the course. A portion of the Providence Bridge Pedal proceeds will support community programs and initiatives that improve the health of the community.
Here are some snapshots from the nation’s second largest community bicycling event.
Next year’s Providence Bridge Pedal will be August 13, 2017.
Lake Oswego, OR. It has been a month since the “365 by Whole Foods Market” opened in Lake Oswego and locals keep streaming in. The store, located at 11 S State Street, is a pared down version of a Whole Foods market with roughly a quarter of the inventory. It’s also self-serve without a full service deli, meat department or bakery. Still, lots of shoppers like the concept and the lower prices. It’s the second such store opened by Whole Foods in the U.S.
Produce is fresh and reasonably priced.
Meat and fish are pre-packaged and displayed like you might see at Costco.
The Namesake “Whole Foods” generic “365” brand can be found throughout the new store.
Shoppers select prepackaged soups and salads out of refrigerated cases.
Shelves are filled with items, but many rows are filled with duplicates.
Items like zucchini noodles are popular.
There’s a self service hot buffet with items to go and a salad bar as well.
There’s a “Next Level Burger” and Canteen inside the store.
Many are enthusiastic about the lower prices with three bags of groceries ringing up to under $90.00.
The store is located in the former Albertsons at 11 S State St, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034. It’s open from 8:00am – 10:00pm seven days a week. Phone 503.782.4672
President of 365 by Whole Foods Market, Jeff Turnas, explains,“The name celebrates our belief that fresh healthy foods can be readily available to more people in an affordable way every day…365 days a year. It also tips our hat to our popular 365 Everyday Value brand, which our shoppers seek out for quality, transparency and great value — the same attributes to come with our smaller-store format.
The first 365 by Whole Foods Market store opened in May 25, 2016, in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Then came Lake Oswego on July 14th. Bellevue, Washington is scheduled to open in 2016. An additional 10 stores are expected to open in 2017.
Here’s a list of 365 by Whole Foods Market stores in development:
Lake Oswego, OR. Saturdays through Oct. 8th you’ll find thousands of locals meeting their favorite farmers in Millennium Plaza Park. The Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market runs from 8:30am through 1:30pm and features an average of over 80 vendors each week. With a wide variety of produce, meats, nuts, cheeses, artisan breads, jams and jellies, baked goods, fresh seafood, nursery items, and hot foods, there’s something for everyone. The goal of the farmers’ market is to give the community access to a wide variety of fresh, local, in-season farm products direct from the producer and to provide a centralized location for local producers to market directly to the buying public.
There’s also always a space reserved for nonprofits like Wildcat Ridge big cat sanctuary.
The Market features weekly entertainment from 10:30am-12:30pm. Here’s a list: Aug. 6 Brothers of the Baladi; Aug. 13 Sally Harmon and Frank Gruner; Aug. 20 Woodlander; Aug. 27 Sky In The Road; Sept. 3 Shira with Dick Saunders and Friends; Sept. 10 Larry Wilder and The Stumptown Stars; Sept. 17 Fadin’ by Nine; Sept. 24 Flamenco Ensemble; Oct. 1 LOSD Oct. 8 Gospel Hooligans
The Farmers’ Market is held at Millennium Plaza Park in downtown Lake Oswego, which is located at 200 First Street (corner of First Street and Evergreen Street).
Manzanita, OR. The Manzanita Farmers’ Market draws thousands every Friday night during the summer. The market has over 40 vendors including farmers, artisans, non-profits, hot food and more.
All vendors are selling product they grew, raised or created within ~100 mile radius of Manzanita. The market is open Friday nights from 5:00 – 8:00 from June 10th through September 2nd and open until 7:00 September 9th and 16th.
Nonprofits like the Lower Nahalem Community Trust provide information about their efforts.
Vendors like the Nehalem Bay Winery and Emerson Vineyards offer wine tasting.
Local berries and fruit options change as the summer progresses.
Fresh local seafood is prepared on site or you can take it home.
Pets are not allowed in the market, but dog sitters entertain four-legged friends.
There is live music throughout the summer at the Manzanita Farmer’s Market.
Here’s the Music Schedule for the rest of Summer 2016:
July 29th The Rhythm Method
Aug 5th Dan Cecil
12th Sean Koreski
19th Two Crows
26th Oak Bottom Boys
Sept 2nd Noah Dooley
9th Fig n Dean
16 Nehalem Valley All-Stars
Here’s a list of the vendors for 2016:
A&B Farms, Baird Family Orchards, Bear Dance Remedies, BeeShea, Black Sheep Creamery, Community Supported Fishery, Country BBQ, Emerson Vinyards, Fishkabobs, Fraga Farmstead Creamery LLC, Fresh Start Bakery, Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, Gingifer’s Kitchen, Gods Great Harvest Garden, Golden Orchard, Handy Creek Bakery, Happy Handmade LLC, Jarett Juarez Photography, Joe’s Bigfoot BBQ, Keith Cantrell, Kingfisher Farms, Lance’s Farm Vittles, LG Mushrooms LLC, Lower Nehalem Community Trust, Miss Blackberry’s Farm, Neah-Kah-Nie Smokehouse, Neah-Kah-Nie Gardens, Nehalem Bay Winery, Nehalem Valley Naturals, North Coast Herb Guild, North Coast Soap Company, Northwest Gardens Roll & Bowl, Oregon Coast Lavender, R-evolution Gardens, RootsAndWings Jewelry, Salty Style, Sharpenator, Sturm’s Berry Farm, Sunset Beach Products, Sustaining Space, and Wild for Lavender.
Portland, OR. Pittock Mansion welcomed its 100,000th visitor in the last 12 months and the record attendance is solidifying plans for enhanced offerings. At a time when many historic house museums around the country are experiencing declining visitation, Pittock Mansion’s annual visitation has steadily grown from 70,000 visitors in 2013, to 90,000 in 2014, to a new record of 100,000 visitors in fiscal year 2015/2016. The record attendance, which was recorded in June, comes as Board and staff prepare to initiate a new four-year strategic plan which will further enhance the visitor experience, expand educational programming, and increase community engagement.
The Pittock Mansion rose gardens draw summer visitors. Surrounded by 46-acres of natural beauty, it offers breathtaking views.
“Reaching 100,000 annual visitors is an exciting milestone in the Pittock’s history,” Executive Director Marta Bones stated. “I can’t think of a more appropriate way to launch our work on additional strategic improvements to support an engaging and educational experience for our visitors.” In addition to further enhancing public program offerings, the mansion will work with Portland Parks and Recreation to improve access and create a sustainable long-term preservation plan for the buildings.
“We are proud to begin the next chapter of Pittock Mansion’s history,” Bones concluded, “and look forward to the continued support and participation of the Portland community.”
The new strategic plan will build upon the successes of the Pittock’s Visitor Experience Project, which surveyed visitors about their needs and interests. Focusing on these, the museum positioned itself to fulfill its mission of inspiring understanding of Portland history in ways that would be compelling and relevant to visitors.
Built in 1914 for one of Oregon’s influential families, Pittock Mansion is filled with history and remarkable stories. Henry Pittock, owner of The Oregonian newspaper, and his wife Georgiana, built Pittock Mansion in 1914. The City of Portland now owns the estate, and Portland Parks & Recreation and the non-profit Pittock Mansion Society work in collaboration to operate and maintain the museum and surrounding park.
A damaged Pittock Mansion after the Columbus Day Storm of 1962. Developers planned to buy the damaged, molding mansion to replace it with a subdivision. Instead, Portlanders launched a grassroots fundraising campaign to save it. In 1964, the City of Portland purchased the estate for $225,000, including $67,500 raised by citizens. Repairs took 15 months. Workers fixed broken windows and replaced missing roof tiles. They replastered walls and ceilings, and flattened warped wood floors. On June 4, 1965, a restored Pittock Mansion opened to the public.
Pittock Mansion in June 2016.
The 100,000th visitor, was a Gresham resident. Mya, is pictured at center with Pittock Mansion Executive Director Marta Bones (left) and Associate Director Jennifer Gritt (right).
The 100,000th visitor was new Gresham resident, Mya. Mya and her family recently relocated to the Portland area from California. Her first-time visit to the Pittock was inspired by an unexpected afternoon off and the Pittock Mansion signs on Burnside. “Pittock Mansion, that sounded interesting!” Mya explained.
A regular museum go-er, Mya has visited museums in New York, California, and Chicago, and found the accessibility of Pittock Mansion to be unique. “Everyone is very friendly and welcoming, and the signs were informal and interesting,” Mya said. Mya’s favorite spot in the mansion was the Sewing Room due to her interest in knitting and cross stitching.
In celebration of setting Pittock Mansion’s new visitation record, staff presented Mya with a gift bag including a free Family membership, 4 complimentary admission passes, and a Pittock tote, mug, and magnet. We look forward to welcoming Mya and her family, new Oregonian residents into the Pittock Mansion community and the Portland community at large.
Portland, OR. Three scripts have been selected from more than 175 submissions to be featured in Portland Center Stage’s 18th annual festival for new work development, JAW: A Playwrights Festival. One performance will be a new musical event from Blitzen Trapper: Wild and Reckless. Playwright Kevin Artigue will develop The Forcings, a magic realism-infused play that stares unflinchingly at a family in crisis and a civilization barreling toward extinction; Mia Chung will develop Catch as Catch Can, a story exploring the shifting roles we play in the presence of family; and Nathan Dame will develop The Saints, a funny and poignant journey of a young woman making her way back to hope. To add to the excitement of this year’s JAW festivities, PCS will also workshop two of the world premiere productions that are slated for its 2016-2017 season: Wild and Reckless and Lauren Weedman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore by Lauren Weedman (The People’s Republic of Portland, 2013 and 2015).
The playwrights will gather at PCS for two weeks of script development with directors, actors and dramaturgs, concluding with public readings of their scripts. Free JAW public readings will be presented on Saturday, July 30 (12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.) and Sunday, July 31 (4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.). A JAW Kickoff event will be held on Friday, July 29 at 8:00pm, featuring staged readings from Promising Playwrights, the six Portland-area high school students selected from PCS’s Visions and Voices playwriting program. Throughout the festival, Press Play performance pieces will be presented before and after the readings, along with a selection of Community Artists Labs. A full schedule will be announced at a later date. All of the staged readings are free, no reservations necessary. Attendance for the labs is limited and determined by lottery. Find more information at www.pcs.org/jaw.
ABOUT JAW: A PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
Since launching in 1999, JAW (short for Just Add Water) has created a space for playwrights to have complete creative control and the resources to work on whatever they want to develop in their scripts. Each year, playwrights are chosen from nearly 200 submissions nationwide to collaborate with directors, dramaturgs, actors and other theater professionals from across the United States. Of the 60+ plays that have received workshops at the festival, more than 50% have received world premiere productions at a regional theater, ranging from the NY Theater Workshop to Steppenwolf Theatre, to Berkeley Repertory Theatre to Portland’s own Third Rail Repertory Theater. Fourteen JAW plays have received fully staged productions at PCS, giving Portland a strong national reputation for not only incubating new work, but helping to see that work to successful fruition.
JAW COMPANY
The JAW Festival Director is PCS Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan, and her JAW team at PCS includes: JAW Festival Co-Producer Kelsey Tyler; JAW Festival Co-Producer Brandon Woolley; JAW Festival Company Manager Don Kenneth Mason; JAW Literary Manager Benjamin Fainstein; JAW Literary Associate Mary Blair; and countless hardworking PCS staff and volunteers that bring their talents and energies to JAW each year.
2016 JAW FEATURED PLAYWRIGHTS
THE FORCINGS BY KEVIN ARTIGUE
Nobody knows what happened to “The 17,” a group of environmental activists whose disappearance from an anti-Exxon protest site in Mexico sparked international outrage. Ernie Ledezma, the public face of Exxon’s operations, navigated the corporation through the scandal, and now, on the eve of his retirement, his loved ones have gathered to celebrate. But the ghosts that haunt his achievements cast a shadow over the festivities, and the appearance of a mysterious stranger triggers a deluge of secrets to slip through his fingers. Rife with magic realism, The Forcings is a dynamic new play that stares unflinchingly at a family in crisis and a civilization barreling toward extinction.
KEVIN ARTIGUE is a playwright and filmmaker born and raised in Southern California and based in New York City. He’s currently a member of the 2016 Interstate 73 Writers Group, and formerly part of The Public Theater’s 2014-2015 Emerging Writers Group. His play The Most Dangerous Highway in the World premiered in San Francisco in May, produced by Golden Thread and directed by Evren Odcikin. His plays have been presented and developed with The Public Theater, National New Play Network, New York Theater Workshop, Theatre of NOTE, Playwrights Foundation, Great Plains Theatre Conference, Yale Cabaret, Iowa New Play Festival, Golden Thread and the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis. A graduate of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop, Kevin was awarded a Provost’s Visiting Writer Fellowship at the University of Iowa, where he taught creative writing.
CATCH AS CATCH CAN BY MIA CHUNG
The Phelans and the Lavecchias grew up in each other’s homes, sharing the good times and the bad in their tight-knit middle class community. But when Tim Phelan moves back home with unexpected news, the members of this extended family find their bonds and very identities put to the test. Catch as Catch Can makes unconventional use of theatrical conventions to explore the shifting roles we play in the presence of family.
MIA CHUNG is the author of You for Me for You, This Exquisite Corpse and Skin in the Game. You for Me for You had its UK premiere at The Royal Court Theatre in London (December, 2015) and is published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama. The play premiered at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington, D.C., in association with Ma-Yi Theater Company and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, 2012) and has also been produced by Company One Theatre, Portland Playhouse and Mu Performing Arts/Guthrie Theater. Mia’s work has been supported by awards, fellowships, and workshops, including the Bay Area Playwrights Festival, Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor, Civilians’ R&D Group, Hedgebrook Women Playwrights Festival, Icicle Creek Theatre Festival, Inkwell Theatre, LAByrinth, Playwrights Realm, RISCA, Southern Rep Theatre, Stella Adler Studio and TCG. She is a member of New Dramatists, a Huntington Playwright Fellow, and an emeritus member of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab.
THE SAINTS BY NATHAN DAME
As a child, Madison always felt adrift. She was shuffled around from foster home to foster home, and things haven’t gone much more smoothly in adulthood. Just when her struggle for stability threatens to consume her, a chance encounter with a pair of young missionaries challenges Madison to put her past to rest and determine who she wants to become. Over the course of one gritty January in New York, The Saints chronicles the stingingly funny and poignant journey of a young woman making her way back to hope.
NATHAN DAME has had original plays and musicals developed by Roundabout Theatre Company, The New Group, Barrow Street Theatre, Woodshed Collective, In Absentia Productions and New York Theatre Experiment. He was a writer on The New Ensemble’s Experiment America, produced by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and A.R.T. He was also a writer on Woodshed Collective’s The Office Project. He is represented by Ross Weiner at ICM Partners.
WORLD PREMIERE WORKSHOPS
WILD AND RECKLESS:
A NEW MUSICAL EVENT FROM BLITZEN TRAPPER
Portland folk rockers Blitzen Trapper refuse to be pinned down and boxed in. The acclaimed band has mixed genre after genre into their musical arsenal over the fifteen years of playing together. Now they’re unleashing their sound — and knack for lyrical storytelling — on the PCS stage. They’ve mined their Oregonian roots to create a show that asks: What’s the sound of a life falling through the cracks? Fusing the energy of a rock concert with the imaginative possibility of the theater, Blitzen Trapper and PCS join forces in this new project, tracing the unforgettable stories of ordinary Americans caught in an extraordinary struggle to not get left behind. The world premiere production of Wild and Reckless will run March 16 through April 30, 2017, on Portland Center Stage’s U.S. Bank Main Stage.
LAUREN WEEDMAN DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
BY LAUREN WEEDMAN
Lauren’s current obsessions: love and heartbreak; big hair and tight jeans; Loretta Lynn and John Prine — or songs she thinks make her look skinny and appropriately tragic. The hilarious and versatile Lauren Weedman (Bust, The People’s Republic of Portland) knows a thing or two about love gone wrong, and she’s ready to sing her heart out about it (Yes! Lauren sings!) and tell you a few tall tales, too. Lauren will be joined by a band of fine musicians; and we’re pretty sure her hair will be bigger than ever. The world premiere production of Lauren Weedman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore will run March 17 through April 30, 2017, on Portland Center Stage’s U.S. Bank Main Stage.
LOCATION: All JAW events happen at Portland Center Stage’s home, the Gerding Theater at the Armory, 128 NW Eleventh Ave., Portland, Ore., 97209
ACCESSIBILITY: PCS is committed to making our performances and facilities accessible to all of our patrons. Learn more at http://www.pcs.org/access/.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Recommended for high school age and up. Children under 6 are not permitted.
JAW: A Playwrights Festival is supported in part by The Kinsman Foundation, Don and Mary Blair, Ronni Lacroute, WillaKenzie Estate, and a grant from the Oregon Cultural Trust: Oregonians sustaining, developing and participating in our arts, heritage and humanities. Additional support is provided by the Regional Arts & Culture Council/Work for Art and the Oregon Arts Commission. Portland Center Stage’s 2015-2016 season is funded in part by Season Superstars Tim and Mary Boyle and Lead Corporate Champion Umpqua Bank; Supporting Season Sponsors the Regional Arts and Culture Council, The Wallace Foundation, Work for Art and KINK FM. The official hotel partner for PCS is the Mark Spencer Hotel. PCS is a participant in the Wallace Foundation’s Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative, a four-year effort with a nationwide cohort of 26 performing arts organizations.
Portland Center Stage inspires our community by bringing stories to life in unexpected ways. Established in 1988 as a branch of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, PCS became an independent theater in 1994 and has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Coleman since May 2000. The company presents a blend of classic, contemporary and original productions in a conscious effort to appeal to the eclectic palate of theatergoers in Portland. PCS also offers a variety of education and outreach programs for curious minds from six to 106, including discussions, classes, workshops and partnerships with organizations throughout the Portland metro area.
The Gerding Theater at the Armory houses the 590-seat U.S. Main Stage and the 190-seat black box Ellyn Bye Studio. It was the first building on the National Register of Historic Places, and the first performing arts venue, to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. The Gerding Theater at the Armory opened to the public on Oct. 1, 2006. The capital campaign to fund the renovation of this hub for community artistic activity continues.
Portland, OR. It’s a musical tradition over 110 years in the making and Concerts in the Park offer something for everyone. The Rose City’s best and brightest, like Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts, entertain outside for free. From classical to rhythm & blues, musicians have been entrancing audiences in Portland parks since 1901. The concerts take place in July and August, so grab your calendar and check out all the dates below. (Photo credit, Portland Parks)
Today’s crowds flock to Portland parks citywide for the revelry, with over forty thousand people attending 65 concerts offered in 2015. The events are supported by partnerships with neighborhood associations and local sponsors.
Here’s a list of all the free summer concerts in the parks.
ALL CONCERTS BEGIN AT 6:30 PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Pack a picnic dinner or dine with our vendors, bring a blanket or chairs, and spend time with family and friends at a live concert performance.
MONDAYS
SELLWOOD RIVERFRONT PARK • SE Spokane & Oaks Pkwy • Transit #70, #99
Monday, July 11
Keegan Smith (Original urban Americana)
Monday, July 18
Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys (Western swing and honkey tonk)
Monday, July 25
Edna Vazquez (Velvety, Latin pop with folkloric roots)
Monday, Aug 1
Karen Lovely (Award-winning contemporary blues)
Monday, Aug 8
Windermere Stellar presents: Quarterflash (Energetic 80’s rock music)
DENORVAL UNTHANK PARK • 510 N Shaver St • 5:30 PM • Transit #44, #4
Monday, July 11
Grupo Condor (Performs “Legends of Mexico”)
Monday, Aug 15
Obo Addy’s Legacy Project (Interactive, dance and rhythms from Ghana)
TUESDAYS
MT TABOR PARK • SE 69th & Taylor St • Transit #15
Tuesday, July 5
World’s Finest (Americana, ska, and jam)
Tuesday, July 12
The Strange Tones (Surf tinged blues with a James Bond twist)
Tuesday, July 19
Ken DeRouchie Band (Muddy nominated blues)
Tuesday, July 26
Pure Vida (High energy salsa and timba)
COLUMBIA PARK ANNEX • N Woolsey & Willamette Blvd • Transit #75
Tuesday, July 5
Scott Pemberton Quartet (Classic rock, jazz, psychedelia and everything in between)
Tuesday, July 12
Dirty Revival (Soul, funk, and hip-hop)
Tuesday, July 19
The Student Loan String Band (Pacific Northwest “jamgrass”)
KENTON PARK • N Kilpatrick & Delaware Ave • Transit #4, yellow
Tuesday, July 26
The Dusu Mali Band (Improvisational African jazz)
Tuesday, Aug 2
Ian McFeron (Bluesy-Americana, folk-rock ‘n’ roll)
Tuesday, Aug 9
Northwest Blues Explosion (Funky, danceable blues and R&B)
MCCOY PARK • N Fiske & Trenton St • Transit #4
Tuesday, Aug 16
POPgogi (Soul meets Brazilian beats)
Tuesday, Aug 23
New Columbia Campus Partners presents: Dina y los Rumberos (Vibrant, energetic Cuban music)
FERNHILL PARK • NE 37th, North of Ainsworth St • Transit #75, #72
Tuesday, Aug 2
National Night Out
Concordia Neighborhood Association presents: The Wanderlust Orchestra (Rip-roaring cabaret)
WEDNESDAYS
DAWSON PARK • N Stanton & Williams Ave • Transit #4, #24, #44
Wednesday, July 6
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center presents: Soul Vaccination (The Northwest’s premier funk and soul band)
Wednesday, July 13
Hank Shreve Band (Rockin’ blues and soulful originals)
Wednesday, July 20
Sabroso (Latin to funk and everything between)
Wednesday, July 27
Andy Stokes (Traditional R&B)
WILLAMETTE PARK • SW Macadam & Nebraska St • Transit #35, #36,#43
Wednesday, July 6
National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) presents: Freak Mountain Ramblers (Home brewed mountain rock ‘n’ roll)
Wednesday, July 13
Malea & The Tourists (PDX’s Dynamic swing, pop, variety band)
Wednesday, July 20
The Back Alley String Band (Bluegrass, Americana and original acoustic music)
Wednesday, July 27
Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) presents: Reggie Houston’s Box of Chocolates (Fine sax with strings attached)
VENTURA PARK • SE 113th & Stark St • Transit #20, blue
Wednesday, Aug 3
Barn Door Slammers (Western swing and hillbilly jazz)
Wednesday, Aug 10
Tracy Fordice Band (Original, soulful rock)
Wednesday, Aug 17
Wamba (World Beat, African jazz, Afrobeat)
Wednesday, Aug 24
Son de Cuba (Latin, African, and jazz rhythms)
THURSDAYS
WALLACE PARK • NW 25th & Raleigh St • Transit #15, #18
Thursday, July 7
SELCO Community Credit Union presents: Castletown (Energetic Celtic folk rock)
Thursday, July 14
Geno Michaels & Soul City (Neo-Soul, R&B, funk)
Thursday, July 21
SELCO Community Credit Union presents: Caleb Klauder (Americana, honky tonk)
GLENHAVEN PARK • NE 82nd & Siskiyou St • Transit #72
Thursday, July 7
Sam Bam Boo (Caribbean grooves and tropical rhythms)
Thursday, July 14
Tony Ozier & the Doo Doo Funk All Stars (Funk and beats galore)
Thursday, July 21
Too Loose Cajun Zydeco Band (Louisiana dance tunes)
BERRYDALE PARK • SE 92nd & Taylor St • Transit #15, Green
Thursday, Aug 11
Sapphire Health Services presents: Samsel (Harmonious indie rock)
Thursday, Aug 18
University of Western States presents: The Libertine Bells (Hot, vintage swing)
Thursday, Aug 25
The Rose City Kings (Muddy award-;winning blues)
COUCH PARK • NW 20th & Glisan St • Transit #77
Thursday, Aug 11
Folsom (Fun-loving, classic Americana)
Thursday, Aug 18
Tezeta (Funky soul and jazz inspired by Ethiopia’s golden age)
FRIDAYS
FERNHILL PARK • NE 37th, North of Ainsworth St • Transit #75, #72
Friday, July 8
Vacasa presents: Tony Starlight (Music, laughter, Sinatra to the ‘80s)
Friday, July 15
The Quick & Easy Boys (Harmonious indie rock)
Friday, July 22
LaRhonda Steele (Irresistible soul music)
Friday, July 29
Mariachi Viva Mexico (The premier mariachi band in the Northwest)
LOVEJOY FOUNTAIN PARK • SW 3rd & Harrison • Transit #35, #54, Green, Yellow
Friday, July 22
Jujuba (Danceable Nigerian Afrobeat)
Friday, July 29
The Shanghai Woolies (Hot jazz-age pop)
INDEPENDENT CONCERTS
Saturday, July 30
Cathedral Park • 6:00 PM
Portland Festival Symphony
Sunday, July 31
Laurelhurst Park • 6:00 PM
Portland Festival Symphony
Wednesday, Aug 3
Willamette Park • 5:30 PM
NCNM & OHSU presents: South Portland Health & Safety Fair
Friday, Aug 5
South Park Blocks • 6:30 PM
National Night Out Downtown Neighborhood Association presents: Pa’Lante (Fiery salsa & Afro-Cuban rhythms)
Saturday, Aug 6
Peninsula Park • 6:00 PM
Portland Festival Symphony
Sunday, Aug 7
Grant Park • 6:00 PM
Portland Festival Symphony
Sunday, Aug 14
Washington Park • 6:00 PM
Portland Festival Symphony
Sunday, Aug 28
Laurelhurst Park • 6:00 PM
Providence Stage Band
FOOD VENDORS
Aladdin Cafe
Fernhill Park
Atlas Scoops
Sellwood Park
Bi-Partisan Cafe
Mt. Tabor Park
Mad Dogs
Sellwood, Wallace, Couch, Mt Tabor, Cathedral, Laurelhurst, Lovejoy, Grant, and Peninsula Park
Bassotto Gelateria
Kenton Park, Columbia Annex
Island Daydream Shave Ice
Wallace, Couch, McCoy, Dawson, and Fernhill Park
My Mamma’s Gumbo
Sellwood, Columbia Annex, Dawson, McCoy, and Berrydale Park
Nia Water Beverage Catering
Laurelhurst, Peninsula, Cathedral, and Grant Park
Po’Shines
Kenton Park
Portland Ice Cream Company
Mt Tabor, Berrydale, Willamette, Ventura, Lovejoy, Cathedral, Laurelhurst, Peninsula, Grant, and Washington Park
Ross Island Grocery & Cafe
Willamette Park
Pip’s Original Doughnuts
Glenhaven Park
The Village Crepery
Wallace Park, Fernhill Park
Tortilleria y Tienda de Leon’s
Fernhill, Ventura, Sellwood, and Glenhaven Park
The Whole Bowl
Mt. Tabor Park
If you need a sign language interpreter or FM loop amplifier, please contact 503-823-4333, or 711 (TRS) at least ten (10) business days in advance of the performance. Information about PP&R programs and services is available online for those needing a voice synthesis – PortlandParks.org.
Alcoholic beverages for personal consumption are permitted only during Concerts in the Park events.
All dogs must be on a leash.
All parks and natural areas are smoke and tobacco free zones.
NONPROFIT BENEFIT TICKET GIVEAWAYS!
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