Gretchen? Really? Eff You, Project Runway.

By WW Culture Staff
  1. FOAM, FOR THE WIN: Portland’s dominance of the caffeinated arts continues with news that Sterling Coffee microroaster and Coffeehouse Northwest co-owner Adam McGovern won the New World Latte Art Competition at Coffee Fest Seattle this past weekend. The local foam jockey engaged in hot, steamy battle with more than 60 other baristas, winning $2,500 worth of bragging rights with a gorgeous “unbroken tulip design.”
  2. PIE, FOR THE WIN: Portland’s dominance of the baking arts continues with news that Random Order Bakery has been honored by Travel + Leisure magazine for baking one of “America’s best pies.” The Alberta cafe’s housemade vanilla salted-caramel apple pie wooed the mag’s taste buds with the comment that the dessert “proves that time-old techniques and recipes can coexist with unexpected, mold-breaking tweaks.” The shop is currently taking Thanksgiving pie orders (including orders for the salted-caramel wonder). A 9-inch pie baked in glass will set you back $33 ($5 refund when you return the pie plate). Call 971-340-6995 to order.
  3. LOCAL LABELS, FOR THE WIN: Portland’s dominance of the folk-music arts continues with news that two giants of the PDX lit-pop scene, the Decemberists and Loch Lomond, will release new records in the winter. The Decemberists’ latest is called The King Is Dead, features just 10 songs and is supposedly a stripped-back set of folk ditties inspired more by R.E.M. than the Civil War. Peter Buck of R.E.M. even guests on the album, which drops Jan. 11 on Capitol Records. Loch Lomond—who has toured with the Decemberists—is set to release Little Me Will Start a Storm on local label Tender Loving Empire Feb. 22.
  1. HIPPIE THREADS, FOR THE WIN: Portland’s dominance of the fashion arts continues with news that local designer Gretchen Jones won TV’s latest Project Runway Season 8 competition, making her the third Portland or Vancouver, Wash., designer (along with Leanne Marshall and Seth Aaron Henderson) to rule the long-running reality-show thread game in the past four seasons. The consensus at WW is that her collection of tribal-print old-lady hippie separates were fucking terrible and that Mondo was robbed. But hey, yay Portland!
  2. BEER, FOR THE WIN: As if drinking beer weren’t fun enough all by itself, WW’s promo department endeavors to improve your Saturday night with a Beer and Brawn Scavenger Hunt. The competition will wend its way through 10 local bars where teams of two will be asked to perform challenges, perhaps involving calling your dad or venturing into Tube’s bathroom, all while slurping cheap cans of Hamm’s. All you need to bring with you? A camera. WW provides the TriMet tickets (no DD here). Top prize is a cash purse and a getaway that includes a night at the Ace Hotel, tickets to Living Room Theaters and a gift certificate to Ground Kontrol. 6 pm-1 am Saturday, Nov. 6. $10 per two-person team. Your registration fee snags you a T-shirt, food and a chance at glory. To register, call 445-2764. 21+.

WWeek 2015

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