New Year's in Portland

My, there was sickness in abundance on the streets last night. Now's when we could use a good rain, I'll bet.

I would liked to have spent the early evening walking around downtown and people-watching, but took my Tri-Met limo (aka bus) and didn't make the scene until about 10:30. The long lines outside then prompted me to land Somewhere Inside Where It Was Warm.

What a blast. Portland, you throw a nice party.

I spent the first hour or so trying to remember how to act in a club. I never went out in LA. The velvet rope thing is so wearing and it's everywhere that has decent music. So being out -or more accurately, being let in- on a New Year's Eve was pretty cool.

My very favorite thing about Portland is what I call "the Portland smile" which you lovely people seem to have for everyone you make eye contact with. Even hammered, you goofy lovely things. I'm often struck by how similar the PDX vibe feels to my actual hometown, which is back in Alaska- but I don't remember us *smiling* at each other like people do here. Probly because we were too drunk.
Anyway, the good times started after I finally got into the formerly sold-out Prince v Michael Jackson dance fever event. Danced myself into a joyous frenzy in the forgiving crowd.

Ah, the native Portland man, such a gentleman. Met one who saw to it I went home in a cab, rather than the arctic wait for Tri-Met I'd steeled myself for. And you PDX ladies looking fine in your sparkly little party dresses: god love ya for your verve, though I was freezing just looking at you.

The topper was the early-evening scene on Broadway with a pretty bride and her wedding party getting some very glamorous photos taken in the street in front of the Theatre. Please baby Jesus, let my punk digital camera's flash have caught something of that... I join all the delighted smiles and honking horns of the people in the area in sending Best wishes to that couple.