Scoop: The Birding Continues

1. RECORD STORE LIVE: We’re still a few weeks out from Record Store Day on Saturday, April 21, and the exclusive releases are stacking up. The Flaming Lips’ four-sided, tie-dyed double albums may be the coolest offerings this year, but Portland has a few gems of its own dropping. Decemberists offshoot Black Prairie is set to debut a 7-inch featuring James Mercer and Sallie Ford on vocals, while Blitzen Trapper is dropping an exclusive yellow 7-inch featuring a cover of “Hey Joe.” Yes, that “Hey Joe.” As of press time, Jackpot Records had announced giveaways and special appearances at its two locations (including DJ sets from Mudhoney’s Steve Turner and Talkdemonic’s Kevin O’Connor) as well as an exclusive split 7-inch from the Jackpot label, with Deep Fried Boogie (an unholy combination of Portland pop/experimental all-stars fronted by Quasi’s Sam Coomes) and Colossal Yes.

1. LIBERTINE LIBATIONS: As if we didn’t have enough bird-themed bars (Swift, the Nest, Blue Bird, Little Bird, Crow Bar), Songbird Cafe is opening in the Mt. Tabor Cleaners building at Southeast 69th Avenue and Belmont Street, and Berni Pilip has applied to open The Coop, in the formerly run-down building next to Swan Garden at North Interstate Avenue and Holman Street. >> Katie Poppe and Micah Camden, the duo behind Little Big Burger, have applied for a liquor license for Boxer, their new sushi concept at Southeast 20th Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard. >> Finally, and most intriguingly, Mellisa Benjamin has applied for a liquor license for the Libertine Deli at 12505 NW Cornell Road. What does one eat at the Libertine? Are all the sandwiches named for mistresses of the Earl of Rochester? Can one order a Sálo special?

1. CART BEAT: The Green Castle cart pod at Northeast 20th Avenue and Everett Street, which closed last year when it was found to be operating without the correct permits in a residentially zoned area, is reopening in mid-April. Although all its previous tenants have moved on, Homegrown Smoker, the vegan barbecue cart at PSU, has just raised $5,920 on Kickstarter to open an eastside location, and said on Facebook that this just might be its new home. >> Other new carts to hit Portland’s sidewalks recently include: Phat Cart at PSU; Remy’s Stewed Intentions and Bao PDX at Southwest 9th Avenue and Alder Street; the Honey Pot at Good Food Here; Prickly Ash at Mississippi Marketplace; Granny Boo’s Deli, Anything Else and Ramy’s Lamb Shack at Cartlandia; Okie Rogie in Sellwood; and a cart with probably our favorite name ever, Fried Egg I’m in Love, at Southeast 32nd Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard.

1. EAT MOBILE: WW’s food-cart festival, Eat Mobile, is back. It’s at OMSI on April 28 and features samples from 50 Portland food carts, as well as cooking demos. Tickets are $18 and include samples from all participating carts. A limited number of pre-tasting tickets are available for $47 and include beer and wine for an hour before the doors open. Go to wweek.com/eatmobile for more details.

WWeek 2015