TEN Reasons Why Portland Fashion Week 2009 (Oct 7-11) will be The best PFW Ever!

• Two of the biggest Oregon designers Anna Cohen & Michelle Decourcy are launching brand new lines Imperial by Anna Cohen and La Vie from Portland Fashion Week.
• Jantzen, one of the most leading swimwear companies in the world launching its 100 year anniversary swimwear collection from PFW
• Audience-vote will select the best emerging designer of 2009. As you know, Leanne Marshall, the emerging designer from PFW 2006 went on to become winner of Project Runway.
• Two of Portland’s most successful designers, IDOM and Amai Unmei will launch their Spring/Summer 2010 Collections from PFW; this launch would be their third year, in a row, in PFW.
• Four of the biggest Pacific NW designers, from Seattle and Vancouver BC, launching their Spring/Summer 2010 collections, making PFW THE regional fashion week
• Five international designers, all the way from Pakistan, France, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, are launching here, this enhances PFW’s role as an international fashion week
• PFW is presenting an attractive bicycle-wear fashion show, as part of Oregon Manifest bike festival.
• Leading eco-designers, from Chicago, New York, California and Pittsburg are launching from PFW.
• The high-production runway shows, which in 2007 got recognized as the “first sustainable production of a fashion week in the world”, will be taking place just a few miles from city center, in the Swan Island, otherwise known as Portland’s working harbor, at the amazingly industrial Vigor Industrial Shipyard, Portland’s most bike-riding work-campus.
• Last but not least, the swanky after parties in the Pearl and downtown will keep the excitement going till the wee hours at night.

All these make Portland Fashion Week not only the biggest fashion week in the US after NY and LA FW, but, make us being proud of being in Portland and Oregon.

Editor’s Note: The kind and generous folks at Portland Fashion Week have given us a pair of tickets for Thursday, October 8th to share with you. To enter to win, leave a comment on this post letting us know why you’re excited for Portland Fashion Week ‘09. The contest will close Wednesday at Noon and we’ll choose a winner shortly after. Good luck!

There were tents of brilliant photographs capturing details like peeling paint up close and intensified enough to be a stunning composition, glass work of all shapes and sculptures depicting whimsical characters with elongated bodies; there was handcrafted furniture that were sculptures in and of themselves and fanciful paintings of every genre and style imaginable. Jewelry, pottery and interesting techniques such as one artist’s wax tiles with sticks and seed-pods pressed into geometric designs and left in the finished product attracted quite a crowd.

I loved every minute of it! The artist in me was captivated by colors, textures and creative concepts of art. I love that art truly shows that people see the world differently, some see dark, others light, some life-like and others wildly imaginative. It’s an incredible community builder. Watching diverse groups of people gather around art to ask questions about an artist’s inspiration, style and how long they have been perfecting their craft is an incredible reflection of our natural appreciation for beauty, creativity, uniqueness and diversity.

But the best part of the whole thing? Sunday morning I received a phone call that I had won the previous day’s gift certificate to come back to the festival and pick a piece of art to my choosing. I strolled through again looking for just the right piece and came home with an adorable print of a batik, painted fabric, by contemporary American Batik artist, Lisa Telling Kattenbraker. You can find her beautiful batiks at www.lisauntitled.com. Mark your calendars for next summer as this wonderful art show will most likely be back in Bend for a third year!

Sarah McMurray is a wanderlust, a hopeful romantic, an artist, a writer and a passionate connoisseur of coffee and culture. She holds a BA from Seattle Pacific University and has been transitioning from higher education to the non-profit sector. Currently she resides in Bend, Oregon where she feels she is the luckiest girl in the world to call herself a native.

We put our air mattress into the river just above the Bill Healy Memorial Bridge at Farewell Bend Park and enjoyed a glorious hour-long float down to the river exit at the spillway. Floating is the new hip thing in Bend, and what better way to spend a hot, lazy summer afternoon than with feet dipped in the cool water, sunshine on your skin and bumping into the hundreds of other people with the same idea. Well, maybe not hundreds but enough to look like a constant flow of colorful plastic blow-up swans, seahorses, rafts and air mattress parading through the afternoon.

The little beaches along the river were covered in bikini-baring girls, tanned guys, and splashing kids along the river. Bend certainly has changed since my childhood, but still holds the essence of family outdoor fun. Giggling kids reminded me why I moved back to Bend, the natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation abound. And of course, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, an afternoon float trip also has the perk of a free Summer Sunday Concert as you float past the Les Schwab Amphitheater from 2:30-4:30pm. Coming up on July 19th is a hip hop concert, urban dwellers can feel right at home with the music and enjoy stunning views of the mountains on the horizon.

After a smooth float through the Old Mill District, you can either walk back to the amphitheater for the free concert, or enjoy some food and drinks at one of the restaurants’ patios across the river. If you prefer more floating, get out of the river at the designated exit, walk further down the left side of the river and get back in on the other side of the bridge and keep floating all the way down to Drake Park. Thursdays starting at 5pm Munchin’ Music in Drake Park is a perfect stopping point for the longer float trip. Enjoy some food, booths of all sorts of arts and crafts and people watching while you take in this free concert. Summers in Bend are a great opportunity to be outside, hang out with family and friends and join the community for music in the park, or an afternoon on the river. Just make sure to pack the sunscreen and prepare to come face to face with a goose on the river.

Sarah McMurray is a wanderlust, a hopeful romantic, an artist, a writer and a passionate connoisseur of coffee and culture. She holds a BA from Seattle Pacific University and has been transitioning from higher education to the non-profit sector. Currently she resides in Bend, Oregon where she feels she is the luckiest girl in the world to call herself a native.

Resident artists work in the space, creating beautiful paintings, fiber arts, sculptures, mixed media projects and photographs. Last weekend I went to their art sale, colorful works covered every inch of space showcasing the creations of the local artists. It was a great opportunity to support local, buy affordable art to decorate my home and meet some of the artists! PoetHouse also gives back to the community through multiple events such as a free “Kids Art and Dance Day”, also last weekend, where youth were invited to paint, learn hip hop, jazz and contemporary dance moves and practice kid yoga and do other art projects. It also offers workshops and classes throughout the year for artists, and art lovers alike.

Also, the first Friday of every month all year, PoetHouse opens its doors for the First Friday Art Walk in Bend. The artists put on a professional gallery show open to the community, usually 5pm to 10pm. It’s a great place to stop by, watch the artists work, get inspired by the creative process and support a local non-profit that has been a great resource to the community.

Sarah McMurray is a wanderlust, a hopeful romantic, an artist, a writer and a passionate connoisseur of coffee and culture. She holds a BA from Seattle Pacific University and has been transitioning from higher education to the non-profit sector. Currently she resides in Bend, Oregon where she feels she is the luckiest girl in the world to call herself a native.

One of Oregon’s beloved art institutions is in danger of closing.The Oregon Ballet Theatre is experiencing a budget shortfall and has put together a fantastic evening of dance to help reduce a sizable shortfall in their operating budget.

On June 12, the Oregon Ballet Theatre will present DANCE UNITED. Artists from companies across North America such as the New York City Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet and the Joffrey will join members of the local dance community to perform in support of OBT. Please help to keep professional ballet in Oregon!

Buy Tickets or Donate

Brat, Brews and Blues Festival

Head to Klamath Falls to see four of the region’s best blues bands. Located on Klamath Lake, this festival features Texas, Chicago, New Orleans and Classic Blues. What’s more? A bratwurst dinner and locally brewed beers!

Britt Festival

This festival, in Southern Oregon is in it’s 47th year and features performers such as Portland’s own Pink Martini, as well as Elvis Costello, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Blondie. The concerts are held in a naturally-formed amphitheater, surrounded by ponderosa pines.

Music on the Halfshell

In it’s eighteenth year, Music on the Halfshell has attracted performers such as Kathy Mattea, Cowboy Junkies and the Dixie Chicks. What does this year’s lineup hold? You’ll have to check back on May 19th to find out! Music on the Halfshell concerts are always free.

Oregon Jamboree

Country music acts such as Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, and Montgomery Gentry headline this 3-day festival in Sweet Home, Ore. Want to attend all 3 days? RV and tent camping sites are available. But, act quickly, tickets are sure to sell out soon!

Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival

Catch the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi in Portland’s Waterfront Park this summer. Attracting over 100,000 blues fans, this festival features Etta James, Ryan Shaw and Johnny Winter. In addition to music, there is a Lousiana Pavillion, activities for kids and fireworks on the 4th of July!

Tell us… What are your favorite Oregon Music Festivals?

Saké is an important element in traditional Shinto rituals, and each sakéry has an association with a Shinto shrine. The ceremony at SakéOne was presided by Rev. Koichi Barrish from the traditional Jinja Shinto Shrine, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, located in Granite Falls, Washington.

This year, I was fortunate enough to attend this annual event with writer (and fellow former Las Vegan) Ivy Hover, the Portland-based beverage writer for examiner.com. The ceremony, which included a traditional ritual in Japanese, and a blessing of the four directions – north, south, east, west – of the kura, left me feeling rejuvenated and, well, purified.

After the kura was blessed, the standing-room-only crowd of 200 onlookers toasted in celebration with a saké crafted specifically for the Tsubaki Grand Shrine.

While others were noshing on the delicious spread, Ivy and I went into the tasting room, which was bustling with others who shared in the ritual, to introduce her to SakéOne’s varied selections of premium, organic and herb- and fruit-infused saké.  (Read Ivy’s candid review of her tasting experience.)

I eschewed the saké tastings, opting, instead, to try the three sakétinis on the menu for the day (which also happened to be “Saketini Saturday,” which is held at the sakery the third Saturday of each month). Although the names of the drinks escape me, I do remember that were delish, and tasted like liquid candy.

After a couple of hours of saké-inspired spirituality, I had an insatiable craving for sushi. On my way home, I stopped at one of the top sushi spots in the Portland area, Syun Izakaya, located in Hillsboro. Luckily, the lunch crowd was thinning out, and I was able to score a seat at the sushi bar.

I ordered my usual: eel roll (with salmon) and a spicy tuna roll with hot, green tea to wash it down. With saké still on the brain, I perused Syun’s drink menu, which has one of the most impressive saké lists I’ve ever seen. And, in case you are wondering, yes, Syun does carry a selection of saké from SakéOne (under its various labels).

What a fantastic experience it was for a spring day in Washington County: saké, sushi and sunshine!

Sylke Neal-Finnegan is the Communications/PR Manager at the Washington County Visitors Association. She writes about her adventures in Washington County at the blog What’s the Word?

• February 18: This is another night where I’d like to be able to sub-divide like an amoeba. Part of me wants to go to the Jazz Society benefit concert with the father/son tandem of Mel & Chris Brown, but I have a feeling that I’ll hang at The Cave to see Portland’s Nancy King (8:30 PM) within an intimate, New York vibe.

• February 19: Another busy week day! I’m excited about Portland Jazz Orchestra’s evening of Blue Note Legends (7:30 PM) at Old Church. This group has grown so much in the last two years, and we’re proud to have them as the resident ensemble of the Portland Jazz Festival. This will also be a CD release party for PJO’s first recording. When these festivities are over, I’ll be going cross town to see the Master Musicians of Jajouka, known for legendary collaborations with Ornette Coleman, at the Roseland Theater (9:30 PM)-fortunately there’s an opening act, so it shouldn’t hard to make both!

• February 20: The second weekend of the Portland Jazz Festival offers new choices and challenges. There’s a fascinating not-to-be-missed Jazz Conversation at Brunish Hall (2:00 PM) with jazz detective Larry Appelbaum and Howard Mandel, President of the Jazz Journalists Association. Larry is the music archivist at the Library of Congress, who after years of searching found the original acetate tapes in the basement of a Manhattan apartment building of the 1957 Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall concert, which was subsequently re-mastered and released by Blue Note. Then, I’m off to the Mission Theater for a screening of “One Night with Blue Note” (4:30 PM), the legendary concert that officially re-launched Blue Note under Bruce Lundvall’s direction in 1984. This great film features footage from Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Stanley Turrentine, and an incredible finale by Cecil Taylor. This means missing a Jazz Conversation with Jason Moran (4:00 PM), but I plan to get back to the Art Bar for what should be a memorable conversation with Blue Note’s oldest living artist, Lou Donaldson (5:30 PM0, which will subsequently be published as a “Before & After” feature in Jazz Times magazine. I won’t miss Jason Moran & The Bandwagon opening for Cassandra Wilson at the Schnitzer (7:30 PM), but I’m going to sneak out early again because I also want to catch the Upper Left Trio at the RiverPlace and Michelle Medler at West Café (8:00 PM). I’ll then keep club-hopping with Shelly Rudolph at Wilf’s and Wally Schnalle from Northern California at The Cave (also at 8:00 PM), plus Dan Balmer playing at Rogue’s new eastside pub, the Green Dragon (9:00 PM). The real priority here, however, is back at the PCPA with a unique collaboration between two very different Portland music ensembles, the Blue Cranes and Paxselin Quartet (9:00 PM). The second weekend jam sessions are at The Cleaners at The Ace Hotel with an earlier start time (11:00 PM), but will still go until… whenever!

• February 21: Two more Blue Note films are screened at the Mission Theater (12:30 PM) with archival concert footage by Bobby McFerrin and John Scofield. It’s then just a couple of blocks to walk down to the Crystal Ballroom for an afternoon of the Blue Note old cats with Lou Donaldson and Bobby Hutcherson (2:00 PM). I won’t miss a minute of this or another double bill accentuating youth on Saturday night with the ever-provocative Patricia Barber and young Seattle keyboardist and newest Blue Note signee Aaron Parks at the Newmark Theater (7:30 PM). In between, there are Jazz Conversations with Jane Bunnett (5:00 PM) and Aaron Parks (6:00 PM). After Patty Barber’s set, it’s just downstairs to the Art Bar to see Rebecca Kilgore & Dave Frishberg (9:00 PM) and enough time to catch some of rising young guitarist Charlie Stanford at the RiverPlace (8:00 PM) and maybe even some of the nouveau tango by Mood Area 52 at Rogue Public House (9:00 PM) before hitting the last jam session at The Ace (11:00 PM)

• February 22: Whew! The last day, and my feet already hurt! This Sunday starts with a kickin’ Gospel Brunch featuring the Sounds of Soul at SEI on N Kerby in N Portland (11:00 AM). Warning: make reservations in advance; this event is a definite “sold out in advance!” I’ll also race back to the Mission for the last two Blue Note films featuring the incredible Lena Horne and a special performance with Michel Petrucianni w/Wayne Shorter & Jim Hall (12:30 PM). It’s again walking down a couple of blocks to the Crystal Ballroom for a hot set of Cuban jazz with Blue Note Canada artist Jane Bunnett & The Spirits of Havana opening for my all-time favorite jazz guitarist Pat Martino (2:00 PM). Then, there’ll be time to walk over to Rogue Public House for Beer Cheese Soup, Kobe Beef Hot Dog, and one more Jazz Guy Ale before walking back to the Crystal for the grand finale of Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman with Ernie Watts, Laurence Hobgood Trio, and the Vox Humana String Quartet. Fireworks galore and I predict to be the memorable events of the festival’s second weekend.

What to do on post-festival Monday, February 23? I’ll be more than happy to stay in bed, watch re-runs of Law & Order, and hope that the laundry magically takes care of itself!

• February 13: After a good breakfast at Mother’s at SW 2nd and Stark, I’d walk up to the PDX Jazz Pavilion at Pioneer Courthouse Square for the Portland State University Jazz Band (12:00 PM) as the official festival opening performance. From there, move 3 blocks up Broadway to the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) for the Terence Blanchard Jazz Conversation in The Art Bar under the main lobby rotunda (12:30 PM). At this point I’m going to be in the PCPA for most of the day. I go up the staircase to Brunish Hall for an exciting afternoon for any jazz fan. Blue Note President Bruce Lundvall and Blue Note Producer Michael Cuscuna will participate in a Jazz Conversation (2:00 PM) followed by a panel discussion moderated by author Ashley Kahn and featuring Bruce Lundvall reminiscing with two of his favorite artists, Dianne Reeves and Joe Lovano, as well as Michael Cuscuna (3:00 PM). From there it’s back down stairs to the Art Bar, which will be pouring Jazz Guy Ale! There will be two Jazz Conversations with Joe Lovano (5:00 PM) and Dianne Reeves (6:00 PM), but at some point I’ll miss something and step out for a quick dinner. I’ll want to be at the Schnitzer for Gonzalo Rubalcaba (7:30 PM) followed by Terence Blanchard’s A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina) with full orchestra. For this one, I’d get the best seats available and plan to sit in them all night. When the concert is over, there are numerous choices. I really want to see Scenes with John Stowell, Jeff Johnson and John Bishop at Rogue Public House (9:00 PM), and it’s another opportunity for a Jazz Guy Ale. I’d also like to check out the Anomalous Quintet at West Café (9:00 PM), but it’s easier to return to the Art Bar and see New Orleans-now-Portland premiere tenor sax player Devin Phillips (9:00 PM). It will be past a 12-hour first day when I make my way up Broadway past the PSU campus to SW Jackson and The Cave under the Green Onion for the first of four late night jam sessions (11:59 PM). After last call and the final note, it’s time to crash in anticipation of another long day Saturday.

• February 14: Happy Valentine’s Day! Try for a Valentine’s breakfast at The Bijou, and then off for the second day of Blue Note Jazz Conversations with Michael Cuscuna and Ashley Kahn at Brunish Hall (12:00 PM). Make time to go down to the PDX Jazz Pavilion and see a few minutes of an exciting student trumpet player, Tree Palmedo (1:30 PM), and then loop around to the Portland Art Museum to see Joe Lovano’s new 2-drum quintet Us5 preceded by the always exciting Jacky Terrasson (2:00 PM). I may sneak out before the end of Joe’s set in order to see the Blue Note conversation between Ashley Kahn and Cem Kurosman at the Art Bar (4:00 PM) followed conversations with John Scofield (5:00 PM) and Don Byron (6:00 PM). At some point I’ll sneak out for dinner, and since it’s Valentine’s Day, I’ll remember to make reservations at either the Heathman or Higgins which are both close to the PCPA. At dinner, there are difficult choices to make. I really want to enjoy Dianne Reeves with the Oregon Symphony (7:30), but that would mean missing at least the first part of John Scofield (9:30). I may slide down to the RiverPlace Hotel to see young Kate Davis or over to The Nines for Michelle Medler (both at 8:00 PM), and then be back at the Art Museum for the beginning of Scofield’s trio. After Sco, I’ll bounce back to the PCPA for the second set of the trio of John Gross, Dave Frishberg, and Charlie Doggett (9:00 PM). I’m again aware of what I’m missing like Eddie Parente at Rogue, John & Yuko Keyser at Dragon Fish, Jed Wilson at the Benson Hotel, and Robert Moore at the Tugboat, but I also hope to catch a few minutes of Bryant Allard’s quartet at The Cave before the second of the late night jam sessions (11:59 PM). I have a feeling that this will be a late night!

• February 15: Hopefully I’ll get to sleep in, and all I’ll need is coffee before being back at Brunish Hall for the final installment of Somethin’ Else: Blue Note Records @ 70 with a panel discussion involving Blue Note Cover Art with Michael Cuscuna, Ashley Kahn, Los Angeles jazz critic Josef Woodard, and several prominent graphic designers. If Blanchard’s Requiem for Katrina and Dianne Reeves with the Oregon Symphony were the major events of the first two days, most certainly the McCoy Tyner/Joe Lovano quartet is Sunday’s highlight, especially with Don Byron’s really special Ivey-Divey Trio (2:00 PM). There’ll be time for a quick dinner across the street at the Hilton’s Bistro, and then upstairs to the Hilton Pavilion Ballroom for vocalist Judi Silvano followed by the West African guitar wizard Lionel Loueke (6:30 PM). I’m then going to try and get up to the Crystal Ballroom for the Greyboy All-Stars (9:30 PM). Then again, I may not!

• February 16: Happy President’s Day! It’s also Monday, yet there are two exceptional events to choose from Monday evening. I’m really curious about Brain Chemistry for Lovers with Valerie Day, Darrell Grant, and the OHSU Brain Awareness Center at the Newmark Theater (7:30 PM), but I think I’ll go to check out Lebanese avant-garde saxophonist Christine Sehnaoui presented by Creative Music Guild (8:00 PM). In either case, I’ll plan on finishing off Monday night at the White Eagle where young guitarist Chance Hayden holds court (8:30 PM) where they’ll also have Rogue Jazz Guy Ale like all other PDX Jazz venues.

• February 17: I always try to get to at least one of the performances of The Incredible Journey of Jazz. This year I’m planning to attend the afternoon performance at SEI in N Portland. I’d love to sneak into Sherman Clay Pianos to watch some of Nancy King and Mary Kadderly’s Jazz Singing Workshop. The real highlight for Tuesday, however, is Andrew Oliver’s very exciting Portland Jazz Composer’s Ensemble at Old Church (7:30 PM).

Editor’s Note: Bill Royston is the Portland Jazz Festival’s Artistic Director, and writes about the festival at Bill’s Beat. Stay tuned for Part Two of Bill’s Guide to the Portland Jazz Festival. The complete festival schedule can be found here.

Travel Oregon is a sponsor of Oregon’s own radio variety show, Live Wire!   Are you a listener? Have you attended the live show? If so, Live Wire is hoping you’ll answer a short survey (3.7 minutes, to be exact) to help them continue to produce shows that make Oregon proud.

Take the survey!

If you’ve never heard of Live Wire – you’re in for a treat!  Some say its is “Fresh Air” meets “The Partridge Family,” but “without the bus.” The show’s characters say that it’s not just a show it’s a “happening.” It’s a place where you can expect sightings of radical cheerleaders, audience members dressed as giant evil bunnies and on-air head shavings! I bet you’re curious now! What ever it may be, we can tell you that it’s a refreshing radio variety show featuring “music, scintillating conversations, sketch comedy and performances from the famous and fascinating to the unknown and unabashed.”

Download Live Wire Podcasts