Month: August 2016

Goodbye to a landmark along the way to Fred Meyer

There is one of those great U-shaped apartment complexes on my way to Fred Meyer.  This particular one has three separate structures around a grassy green space.  I’ve long admired it. (And, if truth be told, fantasized about buying the whole thing, renovating one of the structures into a single family house, renting out the other structures and having an amazing garden in the green space. You know, with all my spare money.  And time.)

At any rate, the entire time I’ve lived in the Kenton neighborhood, the same couple has rented this apartment.  I walked by today and they were gone!  The apartment is empty.

I never met this couple, but I enjoyed seeing the poster they hung on the wall of some country star. I always thought it was Toby Keith, but I can’t be sure.  And they had one of those old-timey photos you get taken at the fair. It was framed.  I liked the way they shifted their furniture around every December, to accommodate their Christmas Tree.  I maybe liked this couple so much because they always had their blinds open so I could observe these things as I walked back and forth running my errands.  IMG_5791

I hope their move was a good one, and they are happy in their new place.

The reopening of the Harlow Hotel (maybe)

This building has been looking like something was going to happen to it for several years now.  But recently, this hopeful sign sprouted on its side.IMG_5784

I’ve long loved this building, it reminds me of a Gus Van Sant film.  (From the early, gritty-Portland era)  You can read about the genesis of the Harlow Hotel here. 

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It’s got really good bones and those store front retail spaces could be great.IMG_5787
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Fingers crossed for the Harlow Hotel!

Three sentence movie reviews: Strange Days

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Interesting 1995-era perspective about the turn of the millennium.  This was gripping and icky and very, very tense.  I didn’t notice Juliette Lewis was in it until she appeared on screen, at which time I gave a sigh of annoyance, but Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett were quite good.

Cost: free due to work-sponsored Netflix
Where watched: at home

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1995/strange_days_ver2.html

I have never been to Pacific City before

After hiking, we went to find food.  We found it in Pacific City, where we did not wait 90 minutes for a table at the Pelican Brewery, but instead walked across the street to the pizza place (where they called your order number over a microphone!) and had no wait at all.

Having eaten, we headed down to put our toes in the surf.  Walking over the bluff, I gasped, because what did I spy on the beach?  Cars!  Many, many cars!

I rarely see cars on Oregon beaches and certainly not in these vast quantities.IMG_5779 IMG_5780 IMG_5781 IMG_5782 IMG_5783

Cars on the beach!  Crazy!

Cascade Head Hike for Kelly’s Birthday

It’s Kelly’s birthday and she wants to go to hike Cascade Head.  So off we go in Heidi and Kevin’s Car.

There was a stowaway who climbed aboard for the trip.IMG_5768

Kevin got to drive.  Thanks Kevin!IMG_5769

From the car, pictures of some trees.IMG_5770

At the informational sign.IMG_5771

Kevin had to be coaxed into posing.IMG_5772

Our first glimpse of the ocean.IMG_5773

Long way to fall.IMG_5774 IMG_5775

Heidi made birthday cupcakes!  The birthday girl samples hers.IMG_5776 IMG_5777

Our view while we snacked.IMG_5778

Cascade Head makes for a good birthday hike!

Three sentence movie reviews: Goodbye to All That

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Whelp, the IFC previews have failed me.*  This was not a good film; it was lacking in cohesiveness, motivation, humor and follow-through.**  Watch Paul Schneider be acted upon by many different women and watch him muddle through.

Cost: free from libary
Where watched: at home, while painting toenails silver.  So at least it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

*I think this was advertised in package of previews that came with Hateship Loveship.
**It is not at all hilarious and sexy as the poster states.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2014/goodbye_to_all_that.html

Mike Birbiglia Q&A at Cinema 21

And after we watched Don’t Think Twice, we got to hear the writer/director chat!

Tickets! (Or: a piece of paper that is standing in for tickets.)IMG_5745

The conversation with Mike Birbiglia was facilitated by a woman who is a local in the Improv scene.  In other news, I’m quite happy with this photo, because it accidentally captures a moment in the credits that is a callback to a funny bit in the movie.  (Thank youuuuuuu).IMG_5747

Mike Birbiglia does not stay still for long.  I have about ten photos with some part of him blurry.  This was my best shot.

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The theater guy (if memory serves, his name is Tom) was quite still, and it was easier to get a photo.IMG_5764

And here is where Mr. Birbiglia became distracted by an audience member’s shirt with Laser Cats on it and had to take a photo.IMG_5766

Things I learned from the chat/Q&A:

  • If we liked the movie, we should tell our friends because, “You’re the advertising budget.”  (I did like it.  You should see it.)
  • Mike Birbiglia’s favorite thing about Improv is that it has the potential to be the best thing you’ve ever seen, or the potential to not be so good.  But either way, you’ve only spent five bucks.
  • “You don’t get a body like this [points at his average, american-style body] without a some work!”  Apparently said work takes place on the treadmill, sometimes while Facetiming with your child.
  • The Improv scenes in the movie were scripted, but inspired by real-life Improv.
  • The “stage” at Cinema 21–which caused Birbiglia to question how little you need to be a stage–is referred to by staff as a “riser”
  • There was an Improv festival happening in Portland that very weekend.
  • Worst advice about Improv Mike Birbiglia has ever received:  Don’t ever try to link Improv with fame or fortune.  Because it’s not about how many likes you get, it’s about connection.
  • Suicide Squad also opened the same weekend and was rated PG-13, despite much killing.  Don’t Think Twice was rated R for pot smoking.  Values and beliefs?
  • There was a guy recording the talk.  Mild heckling by Mr. Birbiglia did not bring an end to recording.  Officially calling it out finally did.  “You know, you really can’t do that.  And also.  Be here now.”
  • Comedy and Improv are two art forms are different: comedy is a solitary venture, driving across the country on your own and doing shows.  Improv is about working collaboratively.

Three sentence movie reviews: Don’t Think Twice

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Many movies about comedians are not funny, but this one is.  As with any great Improv group, the ensemble cast is terrific, with special props going to Gillian Jacobs* as Samantha, the woman who just wanted to maintain the status-quo.  I enjoyed the depth of character and the complexity of emotion.

Cost: $9.75
Where watched: Cinema 21 with Matt.

*I recently discovered her playing Mimi Rose Howard in the TV show Girls, but apparently she was also really good in Community.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2016/dont_think_twice.html