2008 Summer concerts at the Oregon Zoo

Last Wednesday concert at the zoo was another lovely performance. Hapa performed great cover tunes and original songs. The Hula dancers were lyrical and fluid in their movements. It was a pleasure to watch the dancers. To enjoy more music and dancing from the islands go to the Ho`ike and Hawaiian Festival Saturday, July 26, 2008 from 10 am to 7 pm at Ester Short park in Vancouver Washington. There will be live music and hula/Polynesian dancing all day long, plus food vendors featuring authentic foods from the islands, including shave ice, as well as merchandise vendors. Free admission Sponsored by Ke Kukui Foundation.

Esther Short Park, Esther St. and W. 8th Street Vancouver, Washington

For a list of other fun events at Ester Short Park go to:

www.cityofvancouver.us/concerts.asp?menuid=10466&submenuID=22829

Ringside Steak House Restaurant Glendonveer

We had a lovely anniversary dinner at Ringside. Ringside is a steak house with a well deserved reputation. If you get on their mailing list they will send you special coupons for birthdays and anniversaries. We had onion rings for an appetizer. Ringside’s onion rings are the best in Portland. I had beef tenderloin and Bruce had prime rib. The menu is a la carte. I had the caesar salad. The presentation of the salad was one that I hadn’t seen before, whole leaves of romaine lettuce topped with whole slices of parmesan cheese topped with anchovies. Good thing that it came with a steak knife because I needed a knife to cut up my salad to bite size. My beef tenderloin was tender and delicious. I had the leftovers for lunch the next two days. For dessert I had cheese cake. They brought us anniversary sundaes with a candle on top. Their wine list is extensive. The mark up on the wine isn’t very much. The Sterling vineyards merlot that we drank was $30 a bottle about $10 more than retail. If you order your food before 5:45 they have early bird discounted entrées at $25. Offer good also after 9pm. Happy Hour in the bar happens daily: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. to close.

14021 NE Glisan Portland, OR Phone: 503-255-0750

www.ringsidesteakhouse.com

After the blues

March Fourth marching Band
Originally uploaded by Mary Anne Thygesen.

Waterfront Blues Festival 2008
Sunday after the festival was over, I was sad that it was over. I can’t wait for next year’s festival. Curtis Salgado was the final act. He put on a great show. Over the years it has been fun listening to his music at the festival. I pray that he stays well enough to make it to next year. March Fourth Marching band was the next to last act. I got up close to the stage to watch their fun crowd pleasing act. Phoebe Snow sang with such a beautiful voice. On Saturday the Zydeco Swap romp was great. Duffy Bishop belted out songs with her fantastic voice. I am so glad that Reggie Houston has relocated to Portland. What a show that he put on. Until next year you can catch Blues acts at these smoke free venues: Halibut’s. 2525 NE Alberta St Portland, OR, Duffy Bishop plays there July 19, 2008. Kay’s Bar 6903 SE Milwaukie Portland, OR. Tillicum club 8585 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy
Portland, OR. All the venues go smoke free on January 1, 2009.

Waterfront Blues Festival

Miller stage
Originally uploaded by Mary Anne Thygesen.

Wow what a great show last night. Two barges of fireworks one on either side of the Hawthorne bridge. The clouds had gone away and the fireworks were great. I didn’t want the show to end. I could of stayed there forever. I have been enjoying the music, mellow music and lively music. Great guitar players and wonderful singers. Memphis soul and Count Basie tribute. Today is the Zydeco swamp romp, Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop. Tomorrow is Phoebe Snow and Cutis Salgado. Go down to the waterfront and mellow out. Benefit for the Oregon food bank $10 admission and two cans of food. Tom McCall waterfront park on the west side Willamette River by the Hawthorne Bridge. July 3 to July 6, 2008
www.waterfrontbluesfest.com

Fourth of July fireworks 2008

There are numerous fireworks displays and activities to choose from on Friday.

Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, Tom McCall water front park downtown Portland on the Willamette River. 10pm $10 admission, arrive very early because the park fills up and the fire marshal stops allowing entry into the park. www.Waterfrontbluesfest.com

Oaks amusement Park on the Willamette river in Sellwood by the Sellwood bridge. Fire works at 9:45 pm. www.Oakspark.com

PGE Park downtown Portland after the Beavers Baseball game. www.pgepark.com

St Paul Rodeo, St Paul Oregon fireworks after rodeo www.stpaulrodeo.com

Molalla Buckeroo rodeo Molalla, Oregon fireworks after rodeo www.molallabuckeroo.com

Bluelake regional park Northeast 223^rd ave Fairview, Oregon music starts at 6 pm fireworks at 10:30 fee park $5 Marine drive closed between NE 185^th and NE 223^rd

Tigard high school soccer field 9000 SW Durham road Tigard, Oregon Entertainment at 6pm fireworks at dusk www.ci.tigard.or.us

Lake Grove swim park off Lakeview Blvd Lake Oswego Oregon fireworks at 9:45 pm www.ci.oswego.or.us

Trost Elementary School soccer field 800 S Redwood street Canby, Oregon fireworks at 10pm www.generalcanbyday.org

Estacada High School 355 NE 6^th ave. Estacada, Oregon fireworks at 10 pm www.estacada4thofjuly.com

Clackamette Park 1955 Clackamette drive Oregon City, Oregon fireworks at dusk www.orcity.org

Fort Vancouver Historic Reserve Vancouver Washington $4 gate admission www.official4thofjuly.org

Sandy High school football field 17100 SE Bluff Road Sandy Oregon fireworks at dusk

Corbett Fun Festival Corbett, Oregon fireworks at dusk parade at 10:30 am

There are way too many events to choose from, too bad that I can’t clone myself and go to all of them.

Portland Beavers Baseball

baseball
Originally uploaded by Mary Anne Thygesen.

Take me out to the ballgame. We taught Colby that song on the way to the game. I told him that we would sing it at the seventh inning stretch. On a summer evening Baseball games are a fun family activity. Colby got right into the game after the details and the rules of the game were explained to him. For days afterward he talked about how he went to a baseball game and his team won. Tonight is Comcast Feast Friday with cheap food like $1 Hot dogs. The Portland Beavers play the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Thursdays are thirsty Thursdays at PGE Park with cheap beer. The Portland Beavers play Tacoma Rainiers on the Fourth of July, there will be fireworks after the game. In addition to the regular ticket prices the is a special $35 field level seating with all you can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies and soft drinks. Tickets start at $8 for general seating. Play Ball. www.portlandbeavers.com

Kathy Mattea at the Oregon Zoo

I really enjoyed the performance that Kathy Mattea gave last night at the Zoo. The harmonies and instrumentation were tight and wonderful to listen to. Her songs told stories, many of them sad. Kathy is excellent at engaging her audience. She got the dancers up front all to move in the same direction. It was fun watching the dancers sway to the music. I enjoyed her concert.

I was disappointed with the new rules for the concerts. You can not bring in any beverages to the Zoo. That means no water bottles or juice boxes. You can bring in containers to put water into. There are big orange jugs of water near the concert lawn. The concert lawn doesn’t open until 5 pm, not 4pm. If you get there before 5 pm you stand in a hot long line with out any water. They check your tickets twice, once when you go into the zoo and again when you get to the concert lawn. There is stroller parking.

www.mattea.com

www.oregonzoo.org