Skip to main content
CHRONIC CASE OF THE MONDAYS: Analog Cafe & Theater (720 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 206-7439, analogpdx.com)
has long been an afterthought in lower Hawthorne's utilitarian zone.
But for a certain scene—it's owned and operated by members of the band
Smoochknob, which sounds like a band called Smoochknob should—the
downstairs lounge and upstairs performance venue nonetheless foster a
dark-lit, leather-strewn malleability appropriate for a wide range of
entertainments. One night, an alt-circus sideshow. The next, garage
bands. This has seeded a very particular demographic, which you might
call "models-to-hesher." There is therefore no better place to give away
free marijuana on Monday night in our new era of legalization. So the
Analog now hosts Marijuana Monday—a weekly night devoted to burlesque,
political theater with Fight Church Television, and handing out free
weed. Judging from the hordes pushing endlessly to the front of Medible
Edibles' display booth, you could never say pot dulls motivation. The
crowds had a single-minded purpose that outdid any young brides flooding
a white sale. Much of the wait came from the availability of options on
hand: Lucky clubgoers could take their choice of chocolate-chip
cookies, a pumpkin spice muffin, or just under a gram of smokable weed.
Starting Aug. 3, the Analog had planned to hand out tickets to prevent
the shoves and double-dipping. Meanwhile, raffle winners could score
flower listed at a whopping 31.38 percent THC. As curious shoppers
ignored the pressure of elbows against spinal cords, the performers of
burlesque showcase Gothique Blend did their best to distract onlookers
toward the stage. Just around the corner from the entrance, near the
smokers outside—tobacco only because smoking greenery is prohibited on
the premises—ancillary merch tables hawked trippy posters, and a small
kiosk set up by Vancouver's the Herbery offered whiffs of its strains.
But interest seemed scant once potential patrons realized that only the
smells were free. At this particular event, there was little need to
whet the appetite.
WWeek 2015