Skip to main content- REEL BEER: Add the Hollywood Theatre to the ranks of arthouses serving suds: The 1927 movie palace, run by the nonprofit Film Action Oregon, has applied with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission for an alcohol license—and confirms that it will begin serving beer and wine with its independent films next year. “I think [beer has] just become as standard as popcorn, particularly in Portland,” says Film Action Oregon’s new executive director, Doug Whyte. The Hollywood Theatre is modeling its foray into brew viewing on Cinema 21, which added a three-keg tap in 2009. Like Cinema 21, the Hollywood Theatre shows first-run indie films, and hopes to obtain a similar exception to the OLCC’s 21-and-up rules. “We want to be all-ages still,” says Whyte. The Hollywood joins Cinema 21, the Clinton Street Theater, Living Room Theaters, St. Johns Twin Cinema & Pub and Vancouver’s Cinetopia as first-run venues with beer among their concessions.
- NEW WHEELS: After shutting its doors earlier this year, North Portland’s beloved Little Red Bike Cafe is back—in truck form. According to the cafe’s still-active blog and Twitter feed, owners Evan Dohrmann and Ali Jepson will soon be hitting the streets in a 1986 Chevrolet Step Van named “Lucy” with their new business, “Lucy’s Original.” The truck will be based in St. Johns, but they say they’re hoping to travel all over the city and suburbs. No word yet on the menu, but a few posts suggest it may include classic diner-inspired dishes.
- GLUTEN-FREE SCORE: Local gluten-free gourmet baker Kyra Bussanich is getting some sweet national TV face time this week. The Portlander, owner of the custom-order operation Crave Bake Shop, competed on last night’s “holiday tree lighting”-themed season premiere of Food Network’s Cupcake Warsldquo; I did not win; I was first runner-up,” says Bussanich. “The judges loved my flavors, but they loved other [contestants’] display. I was very pleased. My biggest goal was just not to go home first.” The first gluten-free baker to ever compete on the show, Bussanich surprised the judges with hot-chocolate cupcakes filled with peppermint dark chocolate truffle and topped with fresh marshmallow cream, as well as eggnog cupcakes. Want to taste test them yourself? Place an order at cravebakeshop.com. Bussanich is even thinking of launching Crave dry mixes in grocery stores in 2011.
- HOLIDAY HOPE: Christmas music sucks. So each year, WW puts together a local holiday compilation of epic proportions. Another Gray Christmas Four, a download-only holiday album featuring tracks from A Weather, Key Losers, Incredible Yacht Control, And And And, Grey Anne and much more, will be available starting this Saturday on wweek.com for $5 (proceeds go to local youth-outreach program P:ear). We’re also throwing a totally free party for it at Mississippi Studios on Wednesday, Dec. 22, with Duover, Bret Vogel of Incredible Yacht Control/Crosstide, and special guests to be announced. How’s that for holiday cheer?
WWeek 2015