Gossip That Hates Your Favorite Local Band.

1. GOING FOR GOLD: Portland Mercury music editor Ezra Caraeff is planning to open a bar called the Old Gold. Caraeff applied for a full liquor license in April for 2105 N Killingsworth St., next to the Beaterville Cafe. According to the application, the bar will not have live music or DJs—probably for the best if he plans to keep his day job.

1. RETURN TO NORMANCY: Sources have been telling WW for more than two years that Phil Knight’s Portland animation studio, Laika, would follow its Oscar-nominated cartoon Coraline with ParaNorman, another spooky story about a zombie-busting kid. Last week, the studio confirmed that rumor, announcing ParaNorman’s planned release date of Aug. 17, 2012. Another little mystery solved: In March 2010, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox cinematographer Tristan Oliver showed up unexpectedly at the Hollywood Theatre. Turns out Laika successfully courted Oliver to be cinematographer for ParaNorman.

1. CURTAINS: James Peppers, a prolific local musical theater performer who made regular appearances at Northwest Children’s Theater and Stumptown Stages, died of complications from surgery May 6. Plans for a memorial service have not been announced. 

1. PUT A BEARD ON IT: Portland chefs Andy Ricker (Pok Pok) and Gabriel Rucker (Le Pigeon) were each recognized Monday night at the James Beard Awards—farcically referred to in some circles as the Oscars of food—in the best chef Northwest and rising star categories, respectively.

1. CLUB’S NOT DEAD: The venue formerly known as Berbati’s Pan has rechristened itself “Ted’s” (after late owner Ted Papaioannou), and hosted its first show on Friday, May 6, with up-and-coming rockers Beach Fossils. Our crack photographer Ro Tam (who shot the show for a live review at wweek.com) noted: “The space has been rearranged by ditching the bar off to the side of the lounge area and moving the main entrance,” concluding that “pretty much everything about the show seemed familiar, which isn’t always a bad thing.” Tam’s photos evidence a classier look and less awkward layout for the downtown nightlife institution.

1. CLOSED: Nob Hill’s Temple Bar is closing after only two months. Owner Raj Sharma made over his Indian restaurant Indish as a whiskey bar in early March, but announced on Friday via food blog Eater that he had decided to “bow out gracefully.” WW will miss the paneer biscuits and Rangpur G&Ts. >> Also shutting its doors is SuperDog, the hot-dog-focused eatery with two locations near PSU. “SuperDog unfortunately was not able to weather the storm of the financial crisis,” chef and owner Ellen Green said in a press release. 

WWeek 2015