Gossip should have no friends

[March 5th, 2008]

»ROCK OF AGES: Straight from the knockdown our Blazers gave to the Lakers on Friday night, Blackie Dammett and his son, rock legend Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, stopped by Southeast Portland art gallery Centerspace , where Dammett was previewing his upcoming art show with Ian Yallop. Kiedis was joined by his girlfriend, Heather Christie, and son, the nearly newborn Everly Bear, as well as others from our local music, film and art worlds, including Mona Superstar, Viva Las Vegas and Liv Warfield , who just so happened to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” at that evening’s game. Small world, huh?

»STICKY BUNS: Between courses at the Sunday, March 2, edition of White Bird’s Cooking with the Choreographers—a $125-a-seat benefit held at Nostrana that paired New York choreographer Stephen Petronio with local food goddess Cathy Whims —the incredibly effervescent Petronio talked about his love of Italian cooking—and manscaping. Fessing up to being clippered, he also shared the fact he once had his ass “sugared ” in favor of waxing. “It was this thick, sugary paste,” Petronio remembered, “and it still hurt when he ripped it off.” For more confessions, read our dance preview.

»THAT WAS FAST: Back to work so soon? Gavin Shettler, former executive director of the now-defunct Portland Art Center, has already landed a new gig in the local art scene. This past Monday he started his job as creative director for nascent live-work development Milepost 5, charged with getting the word out about the project’s condo sales and residential-commercial spaces. He’ll also curate shows in the complex’s event spaces. “I’m coordinating with the developers, marketing team, and designers,” he tells WW, “and helping develop an artist community here.” Milepost actually approached Shettler late last year, when he was in the midst of PAC’s spiraling breakdown. It repeated the job offer when PAC shut its doors in January. Still, Shettler insists PAC is not dead and buried, but on “indefinite hiatus.”

»OF NOTE: Scoop would like to say goodbye to longtime local journalist Stephen Blair, who took his own life last week. A contributor to several publications including the Portland Tribune, he most recently reviewed movies for Just Out. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Morrison Child and Family Services. He will be missed.