This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Mercury Come Watch Hard Ticket to Hawaii in the Mercury's Parking Lot.
Posted by Alison Hallett on Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Now come on, that's the best invitation you're going to get all week. Did I mention we'll be projecting it on the side of our distro van?
Thursday Aug 27, 7:30ish in the parking lot of the Mercury offices, 605 NE 21st, two blocks north of Sandy. We will be providing chairs. And snacks. In case of rain, well—we're making a good-faith effort to do something non-bar oriented (BYOB, BTW), but if the weather doesn't cooperate, to Club 21 it is. I'm considering making name tags. Email me if you want one.
4
I've seen you with the french fries at Club 21, Joneser. Don't go getting all picky on us now. (In other words, I have no idea. I was told there would be snacks.)
6
I'll make some fuckin' snacks, Jonser! How does stove-top popcorn with my special mix of butter and spices sound? Truffle salt says wut?*
*This comment should not be considered a definite confirmation that special popcorn will be available at this particular event.
*This comment should not be considered a definite confirmation that special popcorn will be available at this particular event.
7
LULZ,
"tantalizing wetness"
"willing to pay the price for paradise"
"this aint no hula"
What's the legal status of open containers in a parking lot? I don't want to get a public drinking ticket.
And will bathrooms be provided? Can we pee in the Merc offices?
"tantalizing wetness"
"willing to pay the price for paradise"
"this aint no hula"
What's the legal status of open containers in a parking lot? I don't want to get a public drinking ticket.
And will bathrooms be provided? Can we pee in the Merc offices?
8
Graham, if it's the Merc's private lot (even leased), then it's fine. If it wasn't, it would seem that would lead to the absurd result that you could get a "public drinking ticket" for being merely visible in someone's yard drinking.
If the city owns the lot (or if the Merc were charging for drinks), it's a different matter.
If the city owns the lot (or if the Merc were charging for drinks), it's a different matter.
9
No mater what the case, I believe the proper procedure is to throw the booze up in the air and run away yelling "woop woop woop woop."
But for you legal eagles out there, the Portland open container ordinance is thus:
http://www.portlandonline.com/Auditor/inde…
The only potentially sticky wicket is the "public right of way" which is defined as "any thoroughfare or area intended, designed, or used for vehicular or pedestrian traffic."
But I suspect you can get around the spirit (if not the letter) of the ordinance by closing off the parking lot.
But for you legal eagles out there, the Portland open container ordinance is thus:
http://www.portlandonline.com/Auditor/inde…
The only potentially sticky wicket is the "public right of way" which is defined as "any thoroughfare or area intended, designed, or used for vehicular or pedestrian traffic."
But I suspect you can get around the spirit (if not the letter) of the ordinance by closing off the parking lot.
10
It seems to me that the Merc needs to call up the Auditor's office and get a better read on the law. Otherwise ,they're just setting us all up to get some tickets and having to take some court-mandated classes.
11
What's to get around? If it's a privately leased/owned parking lot, and the policy is BYOB, there is absolutely no problem, as long as the booze stays on the lot.
A private parking lot is not a "public right of way" just because members of the public routinely drive on it. A residential driveway would be a "public right of of way" under that reading.
Just five more comments, and we'll have successfully sucked the fun* out of another activity.
* I originally typed "fucked the sun."
A private parking lot is not a "public right of way" just because members of the public routinely drive on it. A residential driveway would be a "public right of of way" under that reading.
Just five more comments, and we'll have successfully sucked the fun* out of another activity.
* I originally typed "fucked the sun."
12
CC, are you coming to the shindig? Cuz we need to get those dramatic rumors out of you about the Brian guy.
And... I think we need to get pedantic about the legal definition of "traffic". Is parking and unparking cars considered "traffic"? Probably not...
And... I think we need to get pedantic about the legal definition of "traffic". Is parking and unparking cars considered "traffic"? Probably not...
13
Very good questions. The bathroom one is easy—we'll open the doors a couple times during the night so, yes, you can have the pleasure of peeing in the Mercury offices.
The question about open container laws is more complicated, since it drags always convoluted but not always logical Oregon alcohol laws into the mix. A phone call to the OLCC clears it up: "As long as there's no charge for the event, no charge for the movie, no charge for the alcohol and no charge for the paper, you're good and you don't need a license," says the OLCC. Since we're on private property and everyone's bringing their own booze, we're free and clear. In a bizarre twist, if we were to charge for the Mercury, that would create a "financial obligation" that puts the movie night in a whole different category.
As it stands, problems won't arise until someone wanders across the street and starts puking in the KATU parking lot, open container still in hand.
The question about open container laws is more complicated, since it drags always convoluted but not always logical Oregon alcohol laws into the mix. A phone call to the OLCC clears it up: "As long as there's no charge for the event, no charge for the movie, no charge for the alcohol and no charge for the paper, you're good and you don't need a license," says the OLCC. Since we're on private property and everyone's bringing their own booze, we're free and clear. In a bizarre twist, if we were to charge for the Mercury, that would create a "financial obligation" that puts the movie night in a whole different category.
As it stands, problems won't arise until someone wanders across the street and starts puking in the KATU parking lot, open container still in hand.
15
So what you'r saying is, I can puke all over KATU... as long as I leave my beverage in the Mercury's parking lot?
Also, kudos to smirk for doing some original and concise research on the topic at hand.
And thirdly, I call dibs on peeing in Matt's office.
Also, kudos to smirk for doing some original and concise research on the topic at hand.
And thirdly, I call dibs on peeing in Matt's office.
16
WAIT!!! I just realized that smirk didn't answer the correct question.
We're arguing pedantically about Portland City Code. The OLCC does not dictate or enforce PDX city code. The OLCC is in the business of regulating those who provide alcoholic beverages. smirk needs to call the PPB or auditor's office to get the skinny on the consumers' rights in this case.
But I still get dibs on Matt's office.
We're arguing pedantically about Portland City Code. The OLCC does not dictate or enforce PDX city code. The OLCC is in the business of regulating those who provide alcoholic beverages. smirk needs to call the PPB or auditor's office to get the skinny on the consumers' rights in this case.
But I still get dibs on Matt's office.
17
I think we've lost track of the issues that really matter here, like... name tags. I'm going to make ones with kittens on them. Graham, you're getting one.
22
I would much rather pee in a bathroom as I don't imagine that Matts office has a sink to wash your hands in. TIC
23
Matt's office just happens to be shared by Sarah and I. No peeing in there! Also, I'll be sure to hide my office booze collection.
24
Hey, that's a great movie! I just happen to have the DVD right here in my computer! Now where did I get that. Hmm. Ya'll better hope I don't get hit by a car on my way to the office tomorrow. And, should I get fatally struck, the dvd is in the computer, even if it won't start, you might be able to extract it with some pliers.
26
@ Allison
Name tag for me too, please. I also want a motorized wheel chair, a puppy, and a VHS of Seabiscuit. A VHS on Laser Disc.
Name tag for me too, please. I also want a motorized wheel chair, a puppy, and a VHS of Seabiscuit. A VHS on Laser Disc.
27
Graham,
I thought local enforcement of alcohol law would be a question for the city or PPB, too, but they directed me to the OLCC. The Portland police will ticket you for walking down the street with a beer (almost) anytime, anywhere, but whether we're able to legally host a BYOB party on private property in Portland is apparently dictated by the OLCC.
I thought local enforcement of alcohol law would be a question for the city or PPB, too, but they directed me to the OLCC. The Portland police will ticket you for walking down the street with a beer (almost) anytime, anywhere, but whether we're able to legally host a BYOB party on private property in Portland is apparently dictated by the OLCC.
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