- SIMPSONS IN SPRINGFIELD: On Aug. 25, residents of Springfield, Ore., took a break from FXXâs ongoing Simpsons marathonâwhich continues through Labor Dayâto celebrate the completion of a mural celebrating the famous cartoon clan. According to Erik Nicolaisen, who owns the company commissioned to create the 30-by-15-foot mural, Simpsons creator and Portland native Matt Groening was closely involved with the design. âAfter the first attempt at designing the mural, Groening said it needed to be more Oregon-specific, with beavers and indigenous plants,â Nicolaisen says. The mural, on the side of Emerald Art Center in downtown Springfield, depicts Homer drinking beer in a hammock, Marge painting, Bart ready to drop a water balloon on his dadâs head, and Lisa toting Maggie on a bicycle. The dedication ceremony drew Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa; Simpsons artist Julius Preite; and several thousand onlookers. Doughnuts from Voodoo were served.
- BIKES, BEER: Velo Cult is no longer your only option for buying a new bicycle helmet with a frosty pint in hand. Sellwood shop the Bike Commuter will open its new location Saturday, Aug. 30, with 10 taps, including those from Breakside, Gigantic, Occidental and Portland Cider. The improvements donât stop at the beer. At 5,500 square feet, the new shop at 8524 SE 17th Ave. is about five times the size of the old one, with âa gorgeous service area,â according to co-owner Eric Deady, and a nook with a sofa, loveseat and magazines. âI donât want to change the feeling that weâre a family bike shop,â Deady says. âRight now weâre sort of a neighborhood service station, and weâre moving from this small, disheveled vibe to a grander scale. Itâs more refined, more comfortable. The alcohol service is just the icing on the cake.â
- TWO MISSISSIPPI: Beacon Sound record store and music label, which just closed at 1465 NE Prescott St., plans to open a new, larger retail and performance space at 3636B N Mississippi Ave. The store will adjoin a gallery called Fisk run by L.A. and PDX designer Bijan Berahimi. Beacon owner Andrew Neerman has applied for a tavern license to sell beer and wine at thrice-weekly âshows, lectures, movies and Blazers games.â The first event at the space will be a grand-opening party Sept. 5 and 6, featuring Like a Villain and 1939 Ensemble. >> Just up the street at 4212 N Mississippi Ave., Pam Adkins has signed a lease at the former Pastaworks space for a planned beer, cider and soda bottle shop and taproom called Beer City. She plans to stock more than 300 bottles, and wonât sell beer made east of Colorado. >> The Royale, a just-minted gay club and drag cabaret at 317 NW Broadway, didnât make it past four months in the former Tiger Bar space. Jim Breedloveâno relation to former Royale habitue Beau Breedloveâplans to remake the space as a sports bar named Whiskey Dolls Game Room, with TVs and coin-operated game machines.
WWeek 2015