Gossip should have no friends

[May 21st, 2008]

• LOVE CONNECTION: While press deadlines didn’t allow us enough time to find out whether it’s now mayor-elect Sam Adams , we can report that Adams has been dating Oregonian reporter Peter Zuckerman for two months. When asked last Friday at a fashion show for Basic Rights Oregon if he was “seeing” anyone, Adams confirmed he was dating Zuckerman. “Peter is smart and quirky,” said Adams. “And I like smart and quirky.” Zuckerman, 28, doesn’t cover Portland City Hall for The O—he covers Clackamas County and Milwaukie government. Zuckerman, who also sings in the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, tells Scoop he cannot comment on his relationship with Adams because management of The Oregonian asked him not to. When we called Executive Editor Peter Bhatia to confirm that, and to ask if Zuckerman has been told he can never write about Adams, Bhatia said, “No comment.”

• ROCKIN IN THE FREE WORLD: Local music fans scored big last week when the FCC granted MetroEast Community Media permission to take up residence at 91.1 FM , an unoccupied frequency. Portland Radio Authority's founder Jeff Simmons and Portland Musicians Union President Bruce Fife were among the organizers who helped facilitate the rare FM grab, and they insist the station will represent PDX’s diverse music scene . Early plans for the station envision it as free-form (“an electronica song next to a reggae song and maybe an Americana song,” Fife imagines) and focused on local and small-time touring musicians . “When you turn it on, you should know within five minutes what city you’re in,” he says. The station should be on the air in 2009, though Fife says the “wild goal” is to be broadcasting on Dec. 31, 2008.

• PDX BEST: Last Friday, Esquire tapped two locals for honors in its “Best Bars in America” issue: Clyde Common (1014 SW Stark St., 228-3333) and stellar jazz venue Jimmy Mak’s (221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542) were singled out as two of the best booze dens in the USA. Now, Clyde Common is more of a great restaurant than a bar, but we’ll let Esquire slide—its cocktails are some of the most interesting in town. Speaking of honors: MizPee.com has set out to find the best and worst squat pots around the country by collecting restroom reviews from potty-concerned patrons. So, what’s the pinnacle of Portland’s piss scene? According to MizPee, it’s the French lavender soap- and art-adorned facilities at Farm Cafe (10 SE 7th Ave., 736-3276), which received a 5 out of 5 on the site’s TP-roll rating system. The crappers? Beulahland, the Rite Aid at 600 NW 10th Ave., and the Shell station on Southeast Grand Avenue all tied for dead last. Ew.

• GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER? Seattle chef Earl Hook will take over Tommy Habetz’s soon-to-be-vacated spot as executive chef at Meriwether’s, according to Meriwether’s general manager Pamela Cook. Hook is currently wrapping up his gig at Seattle’s highly regarded Sicilian restaurant La Medusa, a role he’s held for four years. He’s also worked at Seattle hot spots Cafe Juanita and Brasa. “Portland is at the hub of the Northwest food scene,” Hook told WW. “I just fell in love with the city.” What to expect on the plates? “I don’t do precious food,” he swears. Meaning: generous portions with big flavors. Chef Habetz is keeping mum about his future projects for now, but Hook should be cookin’ in PDX by July.

• NOW IT’S YOUR TURN: Now that the primary’s over and all the ballots have been counted, it’s time to forget about voting for another five months, right? Wrong! Drop everything and head to wweek.com/bop2008 to take WW’s 2008 Best of Portland Readers Poll. You could win a sweet Specialized Globe Sport commuter bike from River City Bicycles, a $200 shopping spree at Powell’s, or a day in a convertible Mini Cooper from Zipcar. And, if your district fields the most votes, we’ll throw you a party. In this election, there’s no way to lose.