Gossip should have no friends

[February 20th, 2008]

» STORM FORECAST: Following her star turn as Sally Bowles in Portland Center Stage’s production of Cabaret, stage-diving rocker Storm Large will embark on another highly theatrical project: her life story . According to the lounge-core siren herself, Large will write and star in a musically based autobiography to be showcased in PCS’s Studio Theater next year. Who’s got balls now?

» STRIKE OUT: The end of the writer’s strike means everybody is back in show business, right? Not PDX, it turns out. The Ugly Truth, starring TV/movie actress Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up,) as a “romantically challenged morning-show producer,” and man-tastic Gerard Butler (300), was scheduled to start shooting in Portland in April. That was, until the strike ended. Now that Heigl’s returned to her role as “Izzie Stevens” on Grey’s Anatomy, Lakeshore Entertainment (which shot both Untraceable and Feast of Love in PDX) was forced to move locales for the flick closer to her . “It’s a timing thing,” says Thomas Beatty, assistant to Lakeshore head of production Richard Wright. Thanks a lot, writers.

» GOOD MORNING (LET’S HOPE): Pink Martini won’t have much time to nap following their gig Sunday, Feb. 24, at Hollywood’s poshest of post-Oscar parties, the Governor’s Ball. Come Monday morn, the pop orchestra will be the “house band” for Good Morning America’s day-after broadcast live from L.A. Let’s hope host Diane Sawyer calls in the wake-up call to PM’s fearless—yet forgetful—bandleader, Thomas Lauderdale , personally. On Valentine’s Day, Lauderdale was to perform in front of Oregon’s governor in Salem . But when it came time to plunk out “Happy Birthday” in honor of Oregon’s 149th birthday, in front of Gov. Ted Kulongoski and the state Legislature, Lauderdale was still driving south on I-5 and nowhere to be found. Sorry, guv’ner.

» ACE’S HIGH: Athena Frazier, former Elizabeth Street manager and buyer and New York City finance professional, will open her first fashion boutique, Covet, later this spring in the yellow art deco “Mecca” building right around the bend from the hip Ace hotel. She’ll sell upscale essentials, from designer jeans and T-shirts to handbags and accessories from the likes of Calleen Cordero, Tt Collections and Tibi, many of which will be making their Portland debuts at her shop.

» BRUSH WITH FAME: In an interview for WW’s “Lifestyles of the Rich and Fame-ish” (Jan. 30, 2008), Blackie Dammett (father of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis) talked of his love for wolves, women and painting. Now comes word Dammett will share one of those passions with the public. During the month of March, Dammett will showcase his Californicated artwork at the Centerspace Gallery (420 SE 6th Ave.). Dammett (and perhaps one of his family members?) will attend an opening-night party scheduled for 6-10 pm on Friday, March 7.