BAR PILOT

Halloween Hijinks

A cocktail and a game for your seasonal soiree

Posted by: John Chandler on Oct 28, 2011 at 02:00PM 3 Comments

Welcome to another frightening Halloween post. This makes number three—time sure flies, huh? Longtime readers will recall my two previous posts (here and here) in which we discussed scary seasonal drinks appropriate for either an impending Halloween shindig or for a night on the couch ignoring the doorbell while stuffing your face with Kit Kats and marinating your mind with a bunch of gory fright flicks.

Here’s a potent one, that’s basically a modified manhattan.

Jason Takes Manhattan

2 oz whiskey
1.5 oz apple cider
2 tablespoons pumpkin ice cream
1 dollop of maple syrup
1 dash cinnamon
Cinnamon stick for garnish
Nutmeg for garnish

Mix ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into martini glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick and/or nutmeg.

But what good is a cocktail without an awesome Halloween party game? I “borrowed” this one from www.drinkoftheweek.com, and it’s ideally suited for watching a whole evening’s worth of hack-and-stack, dead teenager movies. Anything from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th, or Halloween oeuvre should work swimmingly. I guarantee you’ll be totally hammered well before the closing credits roll.

Take one drink every time:

• We see the killer but the character on screen can’t.
• The victim runs upstairs instead of out the front door.
• Something or someone darts quickly in front of the camera causing the main character to turn around or look up
• The one black character hanging out with a bunch of white kids gets killed.
• There’s an “omigod” fake scare shortly before a real one.
• One character comforts another and assures them “it’s all over now.”
• Anyone drinks alcohol, smokes pot, or engages in premarital sexual activity

Take two drinks every time:

• The killer is apparently dead but rises to chase and stab again.
• A character trips while being chased through the woods.
• Characters decide to split up rather than stick together.
• A body tumbles out of a hiding place scaring the bejeezus out of still-living characters.
• A character says “I’ll be right back.”
• A cell phone either can’t get a signal or runs low on power.
• A character hides under the bed or in a closet and witnesses the killer murdering one of the other characters.

If any of my drinking buddies have their own suggestions for drinks, games, costumes. hors d’oeuvres, or what have you, leave ’em in the comments section. Boooooo!

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Tags: Cocktails, Halloween, Drinking Games

Halloween Happenings Part II

More Halloween hot spots

Posted by: Rebecca Waits on Oct 25, 2011 at 01:00PM 0 Comments

Here’s all the Halloween parties, pageants, and shindigs we didn’t have room for in the last post. So between this and Allison Jones’s Eat Beat planner, you really should have no excuse for sitting out this horrifying holiday.

Jason Webley’s Halloween Spectacular
Thursday, Oct 27

You can’t throw a rock in this town without hitting a rambling anarchist jug band collective of some sort—that’s why it’s so refreshing to see a street musician with the drive and talent to back up his passion. Based out of Seattle, this college-educated dreamer quit his day job and headed out on the road with nothing but the accordion on his back and a dream in his heart. Webley has traveled the world, produced five of his own albums, and collaborated on Evelyn Evelyn (http://www.evelynevelyn.com/about.html) with Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls fame. With a salty voice, pirate aesthetic, and decadently visual lyrics, Jason’s gorgeous songs sound like Tom Waits after he was carried away and raised by gypsies. Spectacular is a pretty spot-on adjective for this eve of pre-Halloween gypsy-folk-punk antics.
Wonder Ballroom. 8 pm. All Ages. $10 in advance/$12 at the door.

Soundstage Rhythm Orchestra’s Macabre Ball
Friday, Oct 28

What’s going on over at the Bossonova Ballroom? Oh, nothing much. Just Portland’s 24-piece “dance orchestra” playing totally tight tunes from the 1920s to the present. The largest orchestra of its kind on the West Coast, the SRO will be playing everything from jump jazz to disco, rumba to fox trot, and anything else that will motivate the monsters to mosh. Not adorably macabre enough for you? Ghostly burlesque characters also will haunt the stage throughout the evening, accenting the live music with live (dead?) movement. This is a masquerade affair, so put a little thought into your attire for the costume contest.
Bossanova Ballroom. Doors at 8pm. $15 advance/$20 at the door. 21+

Fright Night: A Halloween Circus
Friday, Oct 28

Presented by Night Flight Aerial Art Studio, this evening of airborne antics includes death-defying turns on aerial silks, trapeze, and trampoline. Rumor has it there will be a mummy contortionist and a strongwoman Bride of Frankenstein amongst the dozen or so performers, so get ready for a hair-raising show of breathtaking body-bending. Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Alberta Rose Theatre. Show at 8, Doors at 7. $20 advance/$24 at the door

Wicked Awesome: Big Homo Halloween Party & Queer Cover Bands
Friday, Oct 28

This flamboyant fiesta is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. An assortment of dangerous DJs, drag queens, and queer cover bands will be rocking two separate dance floors. And yes, there’s a costume contest so don’t even think about showing up without a glittery guise.
Rotture and Branx, 315 SE Third Ave. 8pm. 21+

Midnight Serenaders Halloween Bash
Saturday, Oct 29

Portland’s Midnight Serenaders will set a swinging mood with some vintage hot jazz at their annual soiree. Wear your Halloween best and whirl around the dance floor to lilting yet lively tunes. This year the lovely Libertine Belles, an old-timey vocal trio are on the bill (ask them to play “Rum and Coke”), and the festivities are going down at the opulent Secret Society Ballroom. Picture the Serenaders’ vampish beauty Dee Settlemier crooning in a haunted cabaret while you get better acquainted with the flapper or dandy of your choice. And don’t forget to try a “zombie,” the drink special of the night. Nothing like a little moonshine and mischief to celebrate All Hallows Eve.
Secret Society Ballroom. 116 NE Russell. 9pm-12am. $10 advance/$15 door. 503-493-3600 brownpapertickets.com

Transylvanian Voodoo Ball & CD Release Party
Saturday, Oct 29

The nattily attired Vagabond Opera celebrates the CD release party for its new album Sing For You Lives with special guests Chervona. Both bands are adept slingers of sizzling gypsy jive and frenzied Eastern European dance music. Whatever happened to the Transylvania Twist? Displays of fire dancing, belly dancing, and Dino Tarot will round out the evening.
Star Theater. 9pm, doors at 8pm. $15 advance/$20 at the door.

DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid

Ninth Annual Bollywood Halloween Bash
Saturday, Oct 29

Portland’s ambassadors of Indian beat music, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid, host a colorful and cadaverous soiree that promises sights and sounds unlike any other. The costume contest alone is worth the price of admission.
Someday Lounge. $10 with costume/$15 without

Ninth Annual HOWL
Saturday, Oct 29

This Halloween benefit for City Repair Project is a crazy all-nighter dance party with two floors of DJs, a haunted house, a graveyard, and many more ghoulish delights.
Branx & Rotture, 315 SE Third Ave. 9pm-5am. 21+ only w/ID. $26-30.

In the Crematorium II: An All Hallow’s Eve Night of Costume and Dance
Saturday, Oct 29

A Halloween party set in an ornate, funky funeral home-turned-venue? How perfect. DJ Cooky Parker, prodigious punks the Angry Orts, and This Charming Man, a Smiths tribute band will supply the melodies.
The Woods 6637 SE Milwaukie Ave. 8pm-close. 21+. $10

Dia de los Muertos: Weekend Celebration
Oct 29-30

You don’t have to be Wednesday Addams to play “wake the dead”! You can celebrate memories of the dearly departed at this decidedly dark, though family-friendly, traditional Mexican festival. Activities include altar-building and displaying, Sugar Skull decorating, free hot chocolate and snacks, a raffle and more! Don’t miss your chance to dress up and rattle around Pioneer Square with all the other skeletons for the big Sunday parade! All events are downtown and free.

Portland Zombie Walk 2011
Sunday, Oct 30

If you see someone with a drippy facial wound carrying a “Brains, Not Bombs!” sign, hopefully they’re part of the PDX Zombie Walk. That’s right, the event you’ve been dying for all year is finally upon us—everyone’s favorite leisurely zombie stroll around town is back for another year of morbid revelry and cheer. The event is free, open to everyone (kids, dogs, living, dead, catatonic). The route will be posted shortly before Sunday. Thrill The World Portland will be performing an encore of Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance, the Voodoo Doughnut Van will be around to distribute tasty treats, and “Niall’s Zombie Control Service and friends” will provide security, guides and crosswalk aides. Festival organizers advise you to “keep your blood and guts to yourself”, just like mom taught you.
Starts and ends at Hollywood Vintage, 2757 NE Pacific St. Noon-4. Free. All Ages

PDX Freak Show
Sunday Oct 30

This particular gathering of weirdos is a way to give props to the propmasters, actors, directors, editors, costumers, composers, and everyone else who plays a part in our bold and vibrant film community that’s been a brewin’ in Portland over the past decade. This cinematic soiree features costume. CGI, and special FX contests, with prizes supplied by Voodoo Doughnuts. Who knows? You might meet someone who actually wants to read your screenplay. This event is a benefit bash for the Children’s Cancer Association.
1512 W Burnside St. 8pn-2am. 21+.

Dead Rockers Halloween Party and Dead Rockers Costume Contest
Monday, Oct 31

Come dressed as your favorite deceased rock deity and thrash to an excellent band lineup. East End, known for its rock n’ roll clientele and home to the “evil Rod Stewart” hairdo, even promises a mysterious performance by one of “the deadliest rockers around.”
East End 203 SE Grand Ave. 9pm-close. 21+ only w/ id. $5.

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Tags: Halloween, Someday Lounge, Dance Party

Halloween Happenings Part I

All dressed up? Here’s some places to go!

Posted by: Rebecca Waits on Oct 20, 2011 at 10:00AM 4 Comments

If you’re anything like me, you probably just rolled groggily out of bed to realize that Halloween, the best, most decadent, and darkest of holidays is less than two weeks away. Initiate freak-out sequence! Once again, the surreal changing beauty of October foliage has allowed the days to creep right past us like mischievous black cats, and all of a sudden, the stores are packed with candy and cheesy orange-and-black decor, and your neighbor’s place looks like the house from Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

So, what on earth are you going to wear?! Do you go for topical (e.g., dress as an oil spill? A sinking ship painted with the word “economy”? An “Occupy” protester?), or desperately throw together a conceptual costume salvaged from discount bins that you’ll have to explain to everyone? (“I’m the ghost of Andre the Giant, you cretin!”) Most importantly, you don’t want to be all dressed up (especially as a juggalo) with nowhere to go. So what’s a weirdo to do on the weirdest night of the year in a town so regularly preoccupied with its own weirdness? Furthermore, where’s the spirits to match the spirits, the booze to match the boo’s? Though Halloween itself falls on a Monday this year, not to worry. We’ve assembled a handy go-to-guide of more “adult” events, as well as concerts and dance parties to keep you busy and scaring up trouble all over town. So get out your calendar and throw on your wackiest threads to keep Portland haunted well past the witching hour. Bonus! We’ve got so many recommendations we have to split them into two posts, this being the first. If you know of any other crucial Halloween parties on the horizon, just leave the info in the Comments section.

Massacre: Curves of the Damned
Friday, Oct 21

Booze, sex-positivity, edgy performances (fire, contortion, aerial, burlesque) and a big ‘ol dance party? This lust-fest is decidedly not for the kiddies.
Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside. 9pm. $12-15.

A Big Zombie Variety Show
Saturday, Oct 22

How much awesome can you cram into one room? And by “awesome”, we mean “zombies”. You might wanna sit down for this one: Grammy-nominated recording artist Amanda Richards will be on hand to sing about zombies. Mini Marilyn Manson will be vamping up a storm while lip-synching the hits. Plus, burlesque (probably zombie-themed), and stand-up comedy from local faves Whitney Streed and Jon Washington. This event is also the setting for The Official PDX Zombie & Monster Pub Crawl Awards, which is apparently a thing. You’ll want to have all your fake wounds looking particularly disgusting for this undead soiree of frightening proportions.
Someday Lounge, 125 NW Fifth Ave. 8pm. Free.

Zombies & Monsters
Saturday, Oct 22

Live bands, movies, scary treats.
Star Theater, 13 NW Sixth Ave. 5pm. Free!

Trader Vic’s Trick or Tiki Party
Saturday, Oct 29

With exotic music from Sneaky Tiki and The Lava Lounge Orchestra to set the scene, Trader Vic’s should be a most desirable drinking and dancing destination. Among the specials are $2 off “Nelson’s Blood”, the signature tiki cocktail invented for the event, as well as $6 off the group-sized Blood Bowl version. There’s also a costume contest for the following categories: Best Embodiment of “Keep Portland Weird”, Best Tiki, and Most Original. Trader Vic’s, 1203 NW Glisan. Doors open at 3pm, costume judging at 7. For reservations, 503-467-2277.

Night of the Living Ales
Saturday, Oct 29

A celebration of spirits should not exclude our own beloved beer contingent. For the second year in a row, Night of the Living Ales provides a party for folks more interested in brews than Bit O’ Honeys. It takes place at Burnside Brewing Company and includes live music from Ascetic Junkies and Boy Eats Drum machine, as well as spooky burlesque from Meghan Mayhem and Hai Fleisch. Oh yeah, and you can sample from eight special Halloween-inspired beers brewed for the occasion by Widmer, Oakshire, Ninkasi, Fort George, Old Lompoc, 10 Barrel, and host Burnside Brewing.
Burnside Brewing Company, 701 E Burnside, 8pm. $8 cover.

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Tags: Halloween, Zombies, Trader Vic's, Burnside Brewing, Burlesque, Someday Lounge, Night of the Living Ales

Beer! Beer! Beer!

There’s no escape from Night of the Living Ales

Posted by: John Chandler on Oct 20, 2010 at 10:00AM 3 Comments

Graphic courtesy My Two Cents Clothing

My favorite holiday is fast approaching and as you may recall from previous posts, it’s an occasion I treat with the fervor of a rabid Jehovah’s Witness.

Last year I called out for Halloween cocktail recipes and I’ll be dropping some knowledge on that particular subject very soon. In the meantime, I would advise the brew believers among you to make arrangements for Halloween night (Sunday, Oct 31) to attend the Night of the Living Ales pub crawl along NE 28th Ave.

You’ll need to buy a $5 wristband for this auspicious event (find out how here), which entitles the wearer to exclusive beers like Upright Brewing’s pinot barrel-aged brown ale, Double Mountain’s Bonne Idee Avec Kriek (a blend of Saison and cherry kriek beer), and Ninkasi’s Kraken, a strong ale as formidable as its name. The piece-de-resistance is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal stout crafted by event organizers. Your host will be the lovely Lisa Morrison, aka The Beer Goddess, whose “Beer O’Clock” radio show broadcasts every Saturday at 3 p.m. on KXL. The crawl begins at Migration Brewing (2828 NE Glisan St) at 8 p.m., followed by stops at Spints Ale House, Beulahland, and Coalition Brewing.

In the words of event founder Ezra Johnson-Greenough, “I designed this pub crawl to be exactly what I would want to do for Halloween—it’s just good clean fun and great beer and drinks without being a wild out-of-control event. Don’t feel you have to wear a costume, though you have a far better chance of winning prizes if you do, and there will be some excellent prizes like gift cards to all the various pubs, T-shirts and more.”

Yes, you should wear a costume as prizes (e.g., brewery swag) will be awarded at each location. Besides, it’s Hallo-friggin’-ween and craft beer is way better for you than some lousy miniature Milky Ways.

Costume ideas? I’m all ears.

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Tags: Events, Holiday Events, Craft Beers, Stumble Zone, Halloween, Ninkasi Brewing, Upright Brewing, Zombies, Spints Alehouse