Gossip Should Have No Friends

[November 22nd, 2006] R-E-S-B-E-T-V . That's right, Liv Warfield , our own out-of-this-world heir to the soul tradition of Aretha Franklin, will be getting her propers when BET J , the cable channel's jazz spinoff, touches down in PDX to film her Tuesday, Dec. 12, show at Jimmy Mak 's plush new home in the Pearl (221 NW 10th Ave.). If you haven't caught her mind-boggling blend of old-school R&B nuance and urgent, earthy soul, this is your chance to dress sharp and impress that someone-someone with a night of ultra-suede, champagne-slick ambience.

NO. 8 IS JUST GREAT This just in...news nerds have recognized what beer geeks have known for decades—Portland is tops in hops. MSNBC.com recently posted an article ranking our beloved Beervana as the eighth-best city in the world for beer lovers , touting that "this Pacific Northwest city clearly boasts the motherload [sic] of American microbrews." While this isn't a revelation to local aficionados, retailers like Belmont Station's Carl Singmaster aren't complaining about the international attention right before the holiday season. "Now tourists from around the world know we're only a beer stop away from Seattle or San Francisco," said the bottle shop's part-owner. Amsterdam took MSNBC's top honors, while Burlington, Vt., was the only other American city to make the list. "At least there was no mention of Sierra Nevada or Sam Adams," says John's Market owner David Percival. Amen.

GOOD WHEEL HUNTING Una Loughran, publicity rep for the BodyVox Dance Co. , says Gus Van Sant will create a "performance piece" starring Portland's own bike renegades, the Zoobombers , for the company's "First Impressions, Vol. 5" show at the BodyVox Studio on Dec. 7-16. Huh. Doesn't that sound a bit like Mala Noche on Ice? According to Loughran's BodyVox press release: "Van Sant [and the Bombers] join an eclectic list of First Impressions creators"...blah-blah-blah, whatever. We just want to know if Gus is going to dance. Check out bodyvox.com for details and tix.

FOILED AGAIN Despite chef Scotty McMullen's recent menu revamp, La Vanguardia shuttered its doors for good last Saturday night. This is the second time owner Steve Arroyo will close an eatery in this Pearl District space. His first attempt, Cobras & Matadors closed in February and reopened as the La Vanguardia taqueria in early March. Unlike last time, Arroyo has no plans to reopen the space as another restaurant. "I'm giving it up," said Arroyo from Los Angeles, where he is based. He claims he lost at least $200,000 of his and his investors' money on these ventures. Does this mean Arroyo is done with Portland? Well, yes and no. He says he's bringing "a taste of Portland back to L.A" when he opens 750 ml (he bought the name from the defunct Portland Pearl District restaurant) in South Pasadena, Calif. in December.

WEB-ONLY SCOOP:

BALLET AND...BARN ANIMALS Speaking of odd art pairings, Alicia J. Rose, booking agent for the Doug Fir, presents her first public showing of Ballet Supreme. That'd be a collection of her 2005-2006 Oregon Ballet Theater-commissioned photos that juxtapose our local dancers with things like harps and farms, as well as...racetracks and home renovation? Weird. Still, this is the artist who created some of the album covers and other "visual ammunition" for bands like the Decemberists, Pink Martini, Viva Voce and heaps more. So bust out your tights and tutus, and make sure to be en pointe. Show opens 8 pm-midnight Friday, Dec. 1. The Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656.

WHAT YOU MISSED ON WW's LOCALCUT.COM THIS WEEK Download Club 21 tribute Fuck Yeah for free and read more about the controversy behind the compilation...Meet a way-too-cute flamenco-playing couple in Jason Simms' latest installment of "Friendly, Friendly World"...Watch a fan's Claymation rendition of Super XX Man's song "Collecting Rocks"...Experience life on the road with tour diaries from Norfolk and Western, Nick Jaina and more...And MP3s from Graves, Order of the Vulture and Tractor Operator.