Headout: The True Legend of the Cinnamon Bear

In the beginning, there was Jesus, Son of Joseph, whose birth two millennia past drew kings to the child and inspired long pilgrimages and quests for plush creatures that came vibrantly to life when tickled.

The peace was short-lived. From the North came a demon atop a sleigh, reindeer braying as he brought corruption to the well-behaved children of this world in the form of material obsession and sadness to the downtrodden in the form of fossil fuels.

This "Santa" stood unchallenged until Earth year 1937, when the air filled with voices from Hollywood singing praises of a new savior: Paddy O'Cinnamon, Squire of Maybeland, who now lords over the Portland waterways aboard the good ship Portland Spirit's annual Cinnamon Bear Cruise. He is the subject of storybooks and merchandise booths. He is the Lord Cinnamon.

The modern worship of the Bear has been a tradition and alternative to Santa since 2005, when the ship resurrected the character—whose introduction as a serialized radio show gave way to real-world manifestation of the beast as a 1951 television series and a mainstay at long-dead downtown department store Lipman-Wolfe—as a gigantic plush creature who sits atop a throne weekendly.

But there are those who would topple the Bear.

The radio foretold a prophecy in the Bear's origin, wherein the devious Crazyquilt Dragon snatched from two children the silver star atop their Christmas tree and made haste to the realm of Maybeland, obsessed and transformed by the seductive power of the star. With the help of the denizens of the realm, the dragon was vanquished, the star retrieved and order restored.

Through sheer magic, the Bear has now transformed the Portland Spirit into Maybeland, luring into its bowels the children whose parents grew up on the legend. But danger still lurks. Crazyquilt still seeks the star during each voyage. Obsessed adult fans board the ship with offers of fan fiction and original folk songs. Some seek to climb inside the skin of the Bear itself.

But an unlikely alliance has formed, warriors of Maybeland who stand watch, endlessly creating balloon animals, stopping to be immortalized in photographs and hand out candy. They are a legion of elves armed with servers' licenses and skills at the art of table busing, led by Queen Melissa, Captain Taffy the Pirate King, the great wizard Presto the Magician and the most unlikely of allies, Santa of Claus, whose alliance with the Bear is the linchpin for restoring the spirit of holiday to all obsessed with nostalgic product-mongering.

They are the Fellowship of the Bear and, through Christmas, they offer you their candy canes in service. One star to rule them all.

GO: The Portland Spirit's Cinnamon Bear Cruise departs daily from Salmon Street Springs on Dec. 15-27, except Dec. 25. Times vary. $30 adults, $22 children. See portlandspirit.com for more information.

Headout Picks

WEDNESDAY DEC. 12

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO: A DEDICATION TO NINA SIMONE

[MUSIC] If Nina Simone had been born 30 years later as a bisexual uptown rocker who wields a bass guitar like a soul-funk machine gun, she mightâve been Meshell Ndegeocello. It makes sense, then, that the actual Ndegeocello would feel compelled to perform full shows of Simoneâs work. Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St., 223-4527. 8 pm. $35. 21+.

THURSDAY DEC. 13

THE MYSTERY BOX SHOW

[STORYTELLING] Hear true tales of titillation, loaded with both tender sentiment and awkward hilarity as five storytellers share their experiences of one-night stands, kinky explorations and dark desires realized. Brody Theater, 16 NW Broadway, 224-2227. 7:30 pm. $10-12. 21+.

FRIDAY DEC. 14

ARMS AND THE MAN

[THEATER] Northwest Classical Theatre Company stages George Bernard Shawâs frenzied farce about a young woman who tries to climb societyâs metaphorical ladders and a man who climbs into her actual window. Shoe Box Theater, 2110 SE 10th Ave., 971-244-3740. 7:30 pm. $18-$20.

SUNN 0)))

[MUSIC] The live performances by this long-running extreme metal outfit are known for two things: an abundant use of smoke machines and volume levels that will reduce your poor eardrums to useless flaps of skin. Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave., 971-230-0033. 9 pm. $20. All ages.

SATURDAY DEC. 15

MIKE MIGNOLA

[COMICS] Comics fans may have been devastated when paranormal investigator and crime fighter Hellboy died in 2011. But Hellboy creator Mike Mignola has resurrected the character for the new series Hellboy in Hell, following his adventures in the afterlife. Mignola will be signing comics as well as displaying his own original artwork. So go to hell; itâll be fun. Things From Another World, 2916 NE Broadway, 284-4693, tfaw.com. 7 pm. Free.

SUNDAY DEC. 16

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS

[MUSIC] On the bandâs latest album, Transcendental Youth, head Goat John Darnielle recaptures that pissed-off, over-caffeinated and twitchy teenage fire he is such a master at crystallizing in a cutting turn-of-phrase. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 234-9694. 8 pm. $22.50. Under 21 permitted with legal guardian.

WWeek 2015