We started on July 15, 2013 and as a result, I’ve spent hours every day immediately processing my life, doing additional research on what I’d otherwise disregard and experimenting with my technology stack and cleaning up my virtual clutter at the same time I’m producing more proof of what I already do in my day-to-day.

It’s already proven to be challenging and I look forward to the next stage where I spend less time sharing what I’ve been up to (as I’ve more or less caught up) and more time sharing the musings and discoveries I make every day. One thing’s for certain – I NEED learning in my every day or I get DE-press-ed. I can’t imagine any time for depression over these next few weeks.

Next Up: Survive OSCON and Timber! Music Fest

More @ my30dc.com. Have you ever tried a 30 day challenge? On the fence about one? I’d love to hear more about how it went, how it’s going and offer my support.

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Stranger in a Strange Land, a science fiction novel from 1961, explores the idea of a Fair Witness, or one who looks out without passing judgment. As we wake in the same spaces, work in the same spaces and play in the same spaces every day it can be challenging to see our spaces as an outsider and to see our fellow friends as strangers—to see the common as unique with curiosity.

More information @ http://pdxphotosalon.tumblr.com

The post Strangers in a Strange Land: a Portland Photo Salon group show appeared first on Jewels.

Eric Isaacson, of Mississippi Records, interviewed Fred and Toody Cole, famed founders of Dead Moon, in a comfortably packed cafe in North Portland at the Waypost. Now I’ll be honest and admit that I knew little of the pair or the band, except for hearing their “Fire in the Western World” song covered at many a Mission 5 show- and all the raving on their exceptional influence on many a Portland rock band.

The two traded off telling stories from meeting in a cafe, while Toody was sweeping the floor and Fred was passing through Portland after his van ran out of gas, to raising a family and touring with their latest band, Pierced Arrows. They talked about heading back from LA with their kids packed above the guitars they just picked up for their music shop. When asked about the odd anomaly of why so many punk musicians are running around Portland with expensive, rare guitars, Fred explained that he used to get prototypes from a famous guitar maker (unfortunately, I can’t remember the name) and sold them for cheap. They bounced back and forth, keeping the audience laughing and rounded out the evening with four acoustic songs since the “surprise guest” didn’t show to play covers (or at least that’s what Marc Moscato said, with a wink).

While I wanted to put the presenters from last month’s series in a room with my grandpa, I wanted to put these two in a room with my mom. They seemed to resonate with her work hard, play hard, tell-it-like-it-is and apologize-to-no-one-for-being-who-you-are method of living.

Fittingly enough, I then headed over to Rich Landar’s weekly Sonic Jelly Jam with the week’s guest, Steve Wilkinson, at KJs on SE Division. Since Steve was responsible for my initial exposure to Dead Moon, it only seemed right to round out the evening watching him and former bandmate Grant Cumpston, from Gravelpit. (If you haven’t heard of them, I recommend checking out this little Portland rock history article I stumbled upon that picks up a little after where the earlier history lesson left off.) Jolie Clausen played drums, Allan Markel played bass and all four pulled off an energetic set, taking little time between songs to shout out chords and timings. If Steve hadn’t mentioned that they’d never played together before, I would have thought they’d been a band for years. If you haven’t checked out a jam session, I must recommend it. The space is intimate, the crowd laid back and musicians entertaining.

Next month’s Northwest Passage event will feature CALVIN JOHNSON, VANESSA RENWICK, COOL NUTZ and if it’s anything like the last two (and it will be)- it’s not to be missed. Hope to see you there!

The post Portland Rock History. Get Into It. appeared first on Jewels.

Jewel Mlnarik, a local artist and digital media and project consultant, shows a selection of her black and white photos from a road trip across America. The portraits, a selection from her Talk to Strangers series, explore the commonalities threaded through us all. Swing by Echo Restaurant before August 12 to take a look, enjoy a vintage cocktail or refreshing beer, cool off in the air conditioning and talk to strangers. Friends are OK, too.

Artist reception is Monday night, August 3rd from 5pm – close. Swing by for happy hour, dinner or conversation.

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