Gossip Should Have No Friends

[January 31st, 2007] ONE-HIT WONDER After less than two years in biz as one of the city's busiest—and some say best—music venues, the Historic Hibernian Hall, a.k.a. the Wonder Ballroom , has already changed hands . Although co-owners Chris Monlux, Howie Bierbaum and Mark Woolley will continue to operate the businesses within (concert auditorium, cafe and art gallery), as of Friday, Feb. 2, they will no longer own the 1914 building located on Northeast Russell Street. The new owners, Ryan Lawrence and Eloise Carson , as of press time, have no plans on changing the space's current mix of music and culture. When asked why the trio sold their stake in the business, Bierbaum told Scoop the new owners "made us an offer we couldn't refuse."

QUICKIE FLICKS When your work bites—in a sense—it pays off. Case in point: Portland's Cinema Syndicate film collective , led by Sean McGrath, is one of five final teams (out of an original 1,200 worldwide) competing this week at the 48 Hour Film Project HD Filmmaker Showdown festival in New York City. If Syndicate's preliminary Tooth and Nail mockumentary about a vampire running for the Senate is any indication, the underdog team is well poised to pull off a major upset. The group's final film, already in the can, is about a movie star who tries to rehabilitate her career and image by adopting a child on eBay. About the film, McGrath told Scoop, "If we win this thing, it's on the exploited shoulders of a 3-year-old named Boone," who in the film just happens to drive an SUV all by himself. For more info, check out cinemasyndicate.com or 48hourfilm.com.

BALD CALL Calling all baldies! Yes, you heard it right—Adam Arnold is looking for six models with shaved heads (male or female) for his forthcoming spring fashion show at Design Within Reach on March 30. Smooth as a baby's bum-bum. The designer told Scoop he's on the lookout, but hasn't come up with anyone yet. Anyone can apply—no previous modeling experience needed. In his own words: "I mean, what says spring more than a shaved head? I think shaved heads really take the focus off of gender. Last year I was into color-blindness and albinos; this year I'm just really into shaved heads, macramé and sailors." Arnold says he has even entertained the idea of visiting a hospital to see about using cancer patients as models . As for his spring collection, we can look forward to seeing designs inspired by, ahem, "Diane Arbus, psychedelia, public transportation, disco and cinnamon rolls."

BROADWAY (PDX): FINALLY GOOD! It's official: Next year's season of touring Broadway shows coming to Portland is first-degree awesome. Starting off with the stupid-but-charming Spamalot, followed by Michael York's Camelot, right through Twelve Angry Men and the infamous nine-person Sweeney Todd, and finishing up with Avenue Q, you have a killer year with not a stinker to be found. Of course, there are a few iffy "extras" (Riverdance, Mamma Mia! and Phantom of the Opera), but still—this is a much more promising bunch of shows than this year's Annie and Sweet Charity. Visit portlandopera.org/broadway for details.

WHAT YOU MISSED THIS WEEK ON WW'S LOCALCUT.COM: PDX POP NOW!'s P.O. box can't wait for your band's tunes; Jason Simms can't wait to beat up laid-back singer Jack Johnson in the name of lady-loving heavyweight champ Jack Johnson. >> Local band Swallows takes off with a music video and documentary. >> Meanwhile, the Doug Fir Lounge breaks into Playboy, 31Knots ain't playin' over newborn kittens and I, Retard takes the crown for Band Name of the Week. >> Plus a barrage of MP3s from Blanket Music, Facx, Tara Jane O'Neil and John Larsen.