Gossip Should Have No Friends

[October 29th, 2008] Keep portland weird...and classy? : That seemed to be the theme at the Oct. 23 opening-night party for the Nines, the $137 million hotel atop of the Meier & Frank Building. Where else would you see the following mix of cocktailing comminglers: Oregonian Editor Sandra Rowe posing with Davey Nipples, guitarist for Storm Large and the Balls; golfer Peter Jacobsen and film director Gus Van Sant ; Mayor-elect Sam Adams and KOIN-TV news hottie Kelley Day. Also at the soiree, which we heard cost a little bit over $20,000 (as first reported at wweek.com), Pink Martini played in the swank ballroom complete with martini ice luges while Large performed upstairs in the atrium near Urban Farmer steakhouse. Longtime columnist Jonathan Nicholas shared that he “took the buyout” and will no longer be on staff of The Oregonian(it’s rumored he’ll take a job in the nonprofit sector). Later in the evening, tours of the rooms—including the $2,000-a-night presidential suite—turned into parties, complete with naked guests test-driving the suites’ showers. Reports Portland lawyer Lake Perriguey : “Showering in a vestibule made of Carrera marble with rain coming from the ceiling while two friends look on is definitely the Nines out of 10.”

CHEAP TIX FOR HOT BOX CHICKS: Portland Center Stage is offering $10 tickets to Guys & Dolls and R. Buckminster Fuller: THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE on Halloween to anyone who shows up in costume as a Broadway character. Dig out your Music Man band uniform, book your seat at pcs.org (use the promo code “SPOOKY” for Guys & Dolls or “BOO” for Bucky), and join the company for free beer after the show at the Deschutes brewpub the Gerding Theater. Scoop will be wearing his Liza Minnelli wig.

LAST BITE: Leather Storrs’ sky-high East Burnside Street restaurant, Rocket, will close Nov. 8 and become a “private venue” for parties and events. Storrs sent out a press release Monday detailing the closure, which he attributes to “economic pressure and critical dissatisfaction.” “Despite the current national vogue of finger pointing, I’m afraid the responsibility for our failure lies squarely with me,” Storrs wrote. “In a fever for molecular gastronomy and cute, clever combinations, I alienated customers and critics. Bring on the humble pie.” The former Noble Rot chef will host a farewell tequila dinner at Rocket on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

PARTY LINES: It’s almost over! Celebrate the U.S. presidential election results with WW at Grand Central Bowl. We’re voting for cheap bowling and beers and high-def TV coverage. Radio man Rick Emerson will be broadcasting all the hot party action live. WW Election Party at Grand Central Bowl, 808 SE Morrison St., 236-2695. 6 pm Tuesday, Nov. 4. Free. Visit wweek.com/promotions for details.

NOTE: This online version of Scoop corrects a print error regarding the location of Portland Center Stage's post-show Hallowen party.