Gossip Should Have No Friends

[November 14th, 2007] CORN STAR : You know the New York media really loves Portland when they come here to do a story about a movie that wasn’t even made in Portland. A New York City camera crew from CBS Sunday Morning was in town Friday, following King Corn co-producer and Portland native Curt Ellis to the documentary’s packed premiere at the Hollywood Theatre. The crew and Ellis also spent time at the Division Street New Seasons Market , where Ellis—who is attempting to abstain from corn-based products for a month—bought the ingredients for a corn-free pecan pie . “There was tahini involved, which I was suspicious of. But it was delicious,” Ellis said. “That seemed to satisfy them.” The segment will air this Sunday, Nov. 18, on CBS.

OUT OF AFRICA: PDXer Emily Crumpacker , who works for local branders TAOW Productions, is returning to her foodie roots in Rabat, Morocco...cooking for Leonardo DiCaprio . The La Varenne-trained cook left for the North Coast of Africa on Tuesday, Nov. 6, to help her friend, New York-based chef Bob Chambers, whip up veg-friendly dishes for DiCaprio as he works on Body of Lies , a new Ridley Scott film.

THAT CLINKING, CLANKING SOUND: Portland Center Stage’s Cabaret has moved out of the Armory and on tour after 23 sold-out performances , leaving the company flush with $829,606 in single-ticket sales. That’s $122,048 ahead of last year’s West Side Story and about 47 percent of sales for all of last season. In other PCS-related news, James M. Harrison’s hideous white Aiorema sculpture has been replaced with a flagpole to stand in for the Armory’s nonexistent marquee. What a relief.

GREAT SCOTT: Sellwood’s Assaggio has been remodeled, re-chefed and renamed A Cena —that’s “come eat” in Italian. The restaurant debuts this week under new owners with ex-Gracie’s, ex-Olea chef Scott Shampine at the wheel. Owners Sean Herron, Veronica Moutoussamy, and Chris and Sahana Custer combine molto industry experience, and Shampine—when employed—is one of the most inventive chefs in town.

ZOWIE! KAWPOWIE! Comic geeks got a peek at the “wedding attire” of recently engaged one-name radio vixen Daria, of 105.1 the Buzz, and LumberJax goalie Dallas Eliuk . At Sunday’s Portland Comic Book Show , the dynamic duo dressed as Batman and Catwoman . Scoop has shared the poop on this in previous posts, but this is an exclusive first look at what their ceremonial ensembles may look like. MEOW!!! But where the hell do you attach the veil?

PRICE CHECK: In last week’s “Shifting Fortunes ,” we wrote that readings at Mademoiselle Noelle’s Fortune Tea House were $6. The price for a single cup reading is actually $10 , and comes with a free pot of tea.