Scoop: Who Would Invade Texas?

1. LIGHTS OUT TONIGHT: Portland’s “graffiti mecca,” the burnt-out shell of Taylor Electric Supply Company at 240 SE Clay St., started demolition May 11. After the 1936 building burned down in 2006, graffiti artists turned its concrete shell into a street-art landmark and favored cause of groups like Portland Street Art Alliance. “It’s an institution for street artists,” said the anonymous founder of street-art blog Invoice PDX. But local muralist Ashley Montague says street artists can always find a new spot. “It’s kind of like saying 82nd Avenue is getting built up with high rises,” he says, “and so the prostitutes have to go somewhere else.” The site is slated to become a 65,000-square-foot office space built by the same developers behind the new apartments taking over Southeast Belmont Street’s “goat blocks.” Workers on the site told WW they plan to preserve the most historic sections of graffiti, and use them in the new structure.

1. WHO’S THE BOSSA?: In our May 6 review of Panic Room Caution: High Volume Bar, recently rebranded by Spike TV’s Bar Rescue, we reported that the program would be coming for Bossanova Ballroom next. Well, it looks like that’s no longer the case. “I saw in your article what happened to Tonic,” says Bossanova’s booker, “and they kind of pissed me off after that.” And so audiences at the May 21 Quiet Riot concert will find Bossanova much as it was during this year’s Bridgetown Comedy Festival. Bar Rescue also offered to “save” punk dive B-Side Tavern, as well as legendary old-time haunt My Father’s Place. Both heartily declined. “We laughed and laughed,” wrote a B-Side bartender on social media. Meanwhile, the old Six Point Inn on North Columbia Way in St. Johns is now the Over Easy Bar and Breakfast, courtesy of the good people at Bar Rescue.

1. FUTURE DRINKING: The South Waterfront is getting a beer garden. Scout, which provides beer at both Belmont’s Good Food Here cart pod and Tidbit Food Farm and Garden on Division Street, plans to open a third food-cart beer garden at 3201 SW Moody Ave., and co-owner Joe St. Martin says other food carts are also planned for the location. The anticipated opening date is July 1. 

1. WHAT’S IN A NAME?: The owner of “Besaw’s” will be decided in court, it appears. Amid conflicting trademark claims on the restaurant’s name, both Besaw’s owner Cana Flug and landowner C.E. John realty have each filed lawsuits against the other asserting sole ownership of the name, seeking damages and attorney fees, and demanding exclusive rights to open a restaurant called Besaw’s. Flug filed her suit May 1. C.E. John filed its countersuit May 8. The restaurant as it currently stands will close May 29.

WWeek 2015