The word “opera” doesn’t usually conjure up the words “light-hearted comedy,” “kids fare” or even “fun.” The art form, succumbing to the slow change in taste over the centuries, is nowadays often seen as a stodgy old art form, reserved for stodgy old people, to be performed in ornate (but still stodgy!) old opera houses.
When my esteemed music marketing overlords asked me to write a blog entry giving you the lowdown on the Crystal Ballroom’s 97th Birthday Free-for-All, my first thought was, “Uh, sure guys, that’s all fine and dandy in theory, but how could I possibly describe the ultimate awesomeness that this party entails? It will take 25 pages, and our readers have lives, ya know!”
So I figured I’d narrow it down. Give you a real feel for what this affair is, not just some fluffy words. To wit:
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Tucked away in a corner of SW Portland, the Hillsdale Brewery & Public House is the birthplace of a VIP – er, make that a VIB. A Very Important Beer that goes by the name… HAMMERHEAD. Join us on Tuesday, January 25, at the Hillsdale and McMenamins’ pubs across the land to celebrate this stalwart ale and the folks who love it. We’ll have birthday pricing, food specials, Facebook giveaways and more.
Sometimes, you just get on a roll. And, not to toot our own vuvuzelas, but, brutha, the Mission is on a roll. Or, perhaps it’s better to say the Mission is, uh, on a mission to drop some serious live entertainment on PDX.
What, you thought the Mission was only for movies? OK, we’ll grant you that it’s called the Mission Theater, but if you know McMenamins you know we love to think outside the box. We’ve been lining up a seriously cool, wondrously varied lineup for the upcoming weeks, and, while there’s plenty of screen-oriented goodness to check out, we’d like to point out some of the other goodies on their way to the Mission’s live stage:
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For years, James Mercer has been known as many things.
He is, for one, a Shin. In fact, he founded the Shins, one of the most lauded bands of the decade.
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OK…as a professional, I know am supposed to maintain a cool, detached demeanor. I mean, yeah we have fun here at McMenamins Music and all, but still, there’s a certain comportment one is supposed to bear while at work. You know, no tank tops at your desk. No throwing flip-flops at the brewers as they pass by. No excited “Woo hoo”‘s should be emanating from behind my cubicle wall.
OK, who wants a big ol’ beer? Like, big. A show of hands?…
Yep, just as we thought. Big beer = happy people.
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It hasn’t taken long for one of McMenamins’ newest acts to start making a splash in the Northwest blues scene…
Don’t miss our German-style Christmas bazaar at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse is this Sunday, December 5. Often known as “Christkindlmarket,” German Christmas Bazaars are a perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. Stay cozy with a hot spiced wine in hand as you peruse a colorful variety of unique gift items, all on offer from local crafters. What a great way to shop local and support Northwest artists!
Please join us at any of our pubs to celebrate a quarter of a century traveled for Terminator Stout, which turns 25 years old on Friday, November 19, 2010.
Terminator’s origins can be traced to the Hillsdale Brewery & Public House, most likely brewed on a blustery, cold day not unlike today. The memories of the first batch are fuzzy for those who might shed light on the actual specifics of that original brew. Ancient texts show us that Terminator pre-dates both Hammerhead and Ruby, and was in fact the 12th beer ever brewed at the Hillsdale, making it the 12th batch of beer brewed by McMenamins period. Twelve is a pretty cool number, laden with symbolism and cosmic intrigue, making the ebony liquid’s longevity even more fascinating for those who are moved by such happenstance occurrences….
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