Circus, Circus

[November 14th, 2007]

[WEIRDNESS] HIPPODROME CIRCUS ARTS OPENS On Saturday, Nov. 17, a star-studded circus extravaganza will mark the opening of the Hippodrome Circus Arts Center, the latest venture to occupy the immense, storied bottom floor of the building at 315 SE 3rd Ave. that houses Branx and Rotture. It’s the pet project of Noah Mickens, booker for Rotture (and, formerly, Someday Lounge) and ringmaster of local circus group Batty’s Hippodrome.

“Portland’s had a lot of circus talent for a really long time,” Mickens says. “Places already exist that are circus schools, to a limited degree, like Do Jump!...but there aren’t a lot of venues to perform in.”

The Hippodrome will provide a large, versatile and (importantly) all-ages rehearsal and performance space for those performers—people like rope artists Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein and the acrobats of Kazum!—along with non-circus acts that are too large for Rotture.

When asked why we should expect Hippodrome to last longer than the building’s prior tenants, Mitkins told WW , “None of those venues had me.” Fair enough.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF CLUBS PAST

The space at 315 SE 3rd Ave. has had nearly as many lives as a performing cat.

• Euphoria (1978-1986)
• Annie Pearl’s (1995-1996)
• The Mercury Room (1997)
• The Warehouse (1996- 1998)
• B Complex (2001-2003)
• Meow Meow (2004-2006)
• Loveland (February-August 2006)

WEDNESDAY NOV. 14

[HAIR CARE] MUSTACHES FOR KIDS Be it Dali- or Borat-style, grow your own sweet ’stache as a member of Mustaches for Kids, which uses a pledge-per-handlebar system to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Inaugural meeting at the B-Side Tavern, 632 E Burnside St., 7 pm. Free. Visit portland.mustachesforkids.org for details.

THURSDAY NOV. 15

[MUSIC] M.I.A. Seeing is believing when it comes to this Sri Lankan MC-singer-diva. She rules. Roseland, 8 NW 6th Ave., 224-2038. 8 pm. $25. All ages.

[THEATER] The House of Yes A dark comedy about Thanksgiving dinner gone wrong. Fall Guy Theatre at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont St., 223-4240. 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays. Opens Nov. 15. $20.

FRIDAY NOV. 16

[FILM] KISS KISS BANG BANG Both the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men and Sidney Lumet’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead open Nov. 16. It’s a very good day for cinematic violence. See screen for reviews. Area theaters.

SATURDAY NOV. 17

[FASHION] JUNK TO FUNK Sam Adams gets trashed at a fashion show featuring recycled crap most people wouldn’t allow in their house, let alone on their bodies. Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St. 8:30 pm. $16 advance, $20 door. 21+. Visit junktofunk.org for details.

[CATHARSIS] MORTIFIED PDX Locals reveal their most embarrassing teenage stories, songs and poems. And you laugh at them. See story. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. 8 pm. $10 advance, $12 door.

[COMEDY] DEMOCRATIC CIRCUS A bunch of local politicians (and the people who work for them) take the stage, crack jokes, sing songs and generally risk complete and total embarrassment for a good cause. Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., 294-2889. 7-10 pm. $50.

SUNDAY NOV. 18

[MUSIC] ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO With family members like Sheila E, Alejandro Escovedo is rock royalty by default. But this Austin-based songwriter’s chops prove he’s got more going for him than cool connections. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. 8 pm. $20. All ages. See music listings on localcut.com.

TUESDAY NOV. 20

[WORDS] DIANE ACKERMAN The sensualist author returns with a tale of zoos and Nazis. See story. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 232-2300. 7:30 pm. $10-$26.