- BURGER WITH A SIDE OF SONG: On Saturday, March 6, large-scale indie-folk ensemble Typhoon plays a free show in a tasty location: the Hawthorne-area Burgerville (1122 SE Hawthorne Blvd.). Even better, 10 percent of the till that night goes to PDX Pop Now!, the local nonprofit that throws a three-day, all-ages music festival every summer. Typhoon will play songs from its new album, Hunger + Thirst, which is set to drop May 4 from local label Tender Loving Empire. The only question is how the whole band—which rotates between seven and 17 members, depending on the show—will fit behind the counter.
- PORTLAND BEARDS: Local chefs and restaurateurs scored big last week when the nominees for the all-important James Beard awards were announced. Southeast Asian street-food hub Ping got a nod for Best New Restaurant nationwide while Castagna’s Matthew Lightner and Gabe Rucker of Le Pigeon will duke it out for Rising Star Chef accolades in a field of 26 chefs from across the country. And give a big thumbs up to a trio of ladies kicking culinary ass—Cathy Whims (Nostrana), Naomi Pomeroy (Beast) and Jenn Louis (Lincoln) were all semifinalists for Best Chef: Northwest, among other local nominees. “It’s an industry where you work really hard, 14 to 15 hours a day, and just keep your head down,” says Louis. “I’m so, so flattered to see myself among those amazing chefs.” Beard finalists will be announced March 22.
AMEN TO ALL THAT: Experimental-pop quartet Hosannas (formerly known as Church) has had a busy year. Besides changing its name after Australian pop act the Church threatened to sue, Hosannas has compiled a collection of older songs for release on Hush Records. Out in May, Then & Now & Then takes two self-released EPs and three unreleased songs and adds a much-needed remastering from Carl Saff, cleaning up songs that were originally recorded on analog 4-track. Hosannas is also working on new material, which it hopes to release in the fall. Image courtesy of Riot Act Media.
LOOSE THREADS: Janeane Marie Ceccanti’s life on the new season of fashion design’s premier TV battle, Project Runway, is over. After a poor showing two weeks ago that landed Portland’s contestant in the bottom two, the seam queen lost her allowance. Last Thursday’s challenge was to create a little-girl look and an accompanying outfit for mom. Janeane’s frocks—orange, black and white numbers—were total Sewing 101. On the other hand, Vancouver, Wash.’s, Seth Aaron Henderson won the challenge with Bratz-inspired garb for girl and woman. Don’t cry for Janeane, though: Her designs live on locally at Radish Underground. For more fashionable rehashing, check out Retail Therapist’s weekly Project Runway dispatches at blogs.wweek.com/retailtherapist. Image courtesy of mylifetime.com.- CART COMMENCEMENT: Perierra Crêperie, a one-year veteran of the Cartopia pod at Southwest 12th Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard, is the latest food cart to make the transition to brick-and-mortar restaurant.
