Now here’s something fun for a Friday night—Blogtown is giving away THREE tickets each to TWO lucky people for tonight’s Sportfight XXIII at the Rose Garden (courtesy of Global Spectrum). If you’re into mixed martial arts or just enjoy the thrill of two guys beating the holy hell out of each other, you’re gonna want to go for this. AND THEY’RE GREAT SEATS, TOO, IN THE 100 SECTION.

Here’s a description of tonight’s main event:

Main Event: Welterweight Championship

Welterweight Michael Pierce, SportFight Champion (7-0), Braveheart MMA/Gresham, OR vs. Nathan Coy (4-0), Team Quest/Portland, OR

At SportFight 21, Michael Pierce used his superior grappling skills to frustrate champion Ed Nuno and take the welterweight belt. But his time around he’ll have to defend his title against another top-notch wrestler in Nathan Coy, who was an All-American at Oregon State. Coy has also shown he can let his fists do the talking, winning his last two fights via knockout and submission (strikes). In addition to the welterweight championship, both pride and team bragging rights will be on the line for these two fighters, who used to train together at Team Quest before Pierce moved on to Braveheart MMA.

Read more about tonight’s bouts HERE! Want the tickets? In the comments below answer the following question and LOG ON WITH YOUR REAL EMAIL ADDRESS: “If there’s no way you would get arrested, what would you like to do to Humpy’s face?”

Cut-off time is 3 pm today, I’ll alert the winners via email, and you gotta pick up your tickets here at the Mercury office by 5 pm! GOOD LUCK!

“Not the face! NOT THE FACE!”

Oh, man. Awkward.

In today’s Mercury there’s a story I wrote about Can’t Stop the Serenity, an annual worldwide benefit organized by fans of Joss Whedon’s TV show Firefly and its spin-off movie, Serenity. Basically, it works like this: Fans show Serenity in movie theaters and charge admission, and the proceeds are then donated to gender equality group Equality Now.

I’ve attended the event since it was founded in Portland in 2006, and I’m looking forward to this weekend’s screenings. But that said: Whoa. Somebody fucked up. A couple of people fucked up, actually, and they fucked up pretty bad.

Turns out that two of the cities that participated in last year’s Can’t Stop the Serenity screenings failed to actually, you know, hand over the money they earned. Equality Now has reported that they never saw the funds from the 2007 events held in Denver and Dallas/North Texas, which ostensibly raised a combined total of $7,500. Portland blogger the One True b!X, who founded Can’t Stop the Serenity, broke the news on his blog today.

In the case of Denver, the person ultimately responsible for the estimated $1,900 raised… has since disappeared and reportedly become completely incommunicado. That money, as near as anyone can tell, simply is gone forever, although no one knows why. Equality Now reports having no record of those funds.

In the case of Dallas/North Texas, the roughly $5,600 raised wound up in the account of the lead organizer there and got “lost”. He currently is under a signed agreement to make monthly payments over the next two years to Equality Now.

The fact that these two cities had “missing” funds has been known for some time—at least since February, in fact….

B!X also notes that in the Can’t Stop the Serenity community, there’s been some debate over whether, and when, to come out with this information:

While this year’s organizers in both cities on Wednesday posted a statement to other CSTS [Can’t Stop the Serenity] organizers, the global coordinator (and some other local organizers) requested that those statements and the facts they contain not be made public. I disagreed with the notion of a delay, as I have for some time now.

The event-going public has the right to know what happened. There is no ethically-defensible way in which to withhold the fact that someone’s money did not go where it was supposed to, while asking them to give more money again this year.

I just got off the phone with Anna Snyder, one of the organizers of this year’s Portland screenings. “We really haven’t decided on our position on this,” Snyder said. “Obviously we’re talking about it. We’re taking it very seriously.” I asked Snyder if Portland’s screenings had ever had any problems with getting their money to the people at Equality Now. “No!” she answered. “Not at all. Ever.”

Portland’s Can’t Stop the Serenity events will proceed as planned. “We’re hoping that people realize that it was just two cities out of 40-plus [cities],” Snyder says. “It’s not the norm. I’m hoping people will realize that it’s just two cities. We expect people to still come out and still support Equality Now and support what we’re doing.”

Whedon fans and Can’t Stop the Serenity participants and volunteers are talking about the issue over at Whedon nerd hangout Whedonesque. The full blog post by b!X on the matter can be found here.

UPDATE. Local writer and cartoonist Mike Russell—who has volunteered with Portland’s Can’t Stop the Serenity event in the past, and who tipped me off about b!X’s post—summed up the situation pretty well, describing it to me as “embarrassing and appalling.” “Each city’s screenings are separately organized and run,” Russell wrote on his blog, CulturePulp, “and Portland’s effort has always been (A) the biggest earner nationwide and (B) completely transparent and reliable, to the best of my knowledge.”

Hot-poop Mercury freelancer Kiala Kazebee is working on a fun article possibly titled “WHO IS PORTLAND’S BEST KJ?” (You know, the people who spin the karaoke discs at your favorite bars.) And she needs your help! In the comments below, let us know your nominations for Portland’s Best KJ—and while I know you will do your best to remain objective, I’m not expecting miracles.

Here’s Kiala’s list of her current faves in no particular order:

1. Sean - The Hutch on Holgate

2. David - The Alibi

3. Dan - Chopsticks II

4. Luke - Chopsticks III

5. The Captain - Joe’s Cellar

6. Whoever the hell at Yen Ha (no one would answer their goddamn phone).

You can also weigh in on the criteria for what makes a great KJ (or a crappy KJ)—but try to be nice! (Once again, I’m managing expectations.)

YOUR SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE!

I’m on the advisory board for Portland Fashion Week, and last night we had a meeting. While my contribution has been (and, I feel like, as someone who also covers the event, kind of has to be) mostly low-level, one thing I can do is make sure that people know about it, particularly local designers, who should be aware that applications are now being accepted for the October series of shows. There’s always been some debate about these events in the community. One of the main things that I hear are local designers who feel threatened by having a fashion week in Portland, because they feel the lack of desire to conform to what other cities do is an important part of why they are in Portland rather than… one of those other cities. I’m curious about what people have to say now after last year’s event, and how that is shaping expectations for the coming one. How do you feel about the “green” angle? Some call it a trend and a gimmick, but it’s the only real toehold Portland has in the fashion world at large, and is something that has the power to drive national and international interest to a Portland event where our designers could have a chance to be seen by some of the higher ups. Beyond fashion, having a well supported event of this type could contribute to luring progressive companies to the city (jobs! cool jobs!). One of the things that comes up during these meetings is the contention that Portland sucks at marketing itself, and has the attitude that we’re so awesome the world is just going to come to us. Thoughts?

Pride Weekend is almost upon us, but unofficially it’s already started. Tonight is your last night to pre-party (don’t tell me you’re trying to save yourself)! You’ll find a schedule of queerish activities here, but my money is on Shake It!, a double dance party at Boxxes and Red Cap, with DJs Brad, Catalyst, and Jason Wann spinning ’80s music and then some. Boxxes doesn’t even open until 5, though, so tide yourself over in the meantime with this rainbow-tastic and downright soothing Wax Stag video for “Short Road,” in which fluffy dogs, owls, unicorn dolphins, and molars all peacefully coexist in a harmonious cartoon-cloud wonderland. (For some reason, trees don’t seem very welcome.) Don’t miss the pervy castle/church thing that likes to tongue on its rainbow moat.

I’m incredibly excited to be going to Kanye West’s Glow in the Dark show tonight at the Rose Garden! It has been widely hailed by critics across the nation as an ingeniously audacious, ego-driven spectacle and I fully expect to have my mind blown.

I need to get a pair of those shades!

The premise of the show is that Kanye is an astronaut who crashes his spaceship on a deserted and forbidden planet with only his sentient computer for company. Over the course of the show he is the lone performer on stage, rapping and dancing and trying to figure out how to get back home.

My good friend, the Paralyzed Playa, scored tickets to the event late last week. He and I share a mutual joy in Kanye’s current album, Graduation. Many of his songs (Gold Digger, Good Life, Stronger [feat. Daft Punk]) are neck breakin’ rap anthems with kick-ass beats and infectious hooks. He’s not the best lyricist, but he’s got enough attitude and bravado to make up for that.

At first, I thought my joy in Kanye was the white-boy, hipster irony type of joy; the kind of joy that I have for R. Kelly, for instance. But I realized that when I listen to Kanye, I’m not doing it with a wink and elbow nudge. I am truly enjoying his work, for serious.

So when the P. Playa came to me with tickets, I was immediately floored, then cautious, then non-committal. The reason I became so hesitant was because I have no idea what to wear!

P. Playa suggested we make glow in the dark shirts that say, “George Bush Hates White People Too.” I’m not sure that I could pull that off. Mainly, I just want to blend in and feel comfortable. So, I’m asking you, Blogtowners: “What should I wear to the Kanye West concert?”

Don’t worry about what I have in my wardrobe, I can probably come up with whatever you might suggest and I am not averse to going to Hot Topic or Gen X for some new threads if need be. I am your paper doll, lay it on me!

If you, like me, are yet to understand why iPhones are better than Blackberries (something about them being “less corporate”? nonsense…) you might be interested in the chance to win one of 60 being given away to the top 30 teams in a navigate-the-city challenge being held on Saturday.

BLACKBERRY: “An all-in-one wireless solution [that doesn’t quite cost $300].”

As has been noted earlier, the line is ridiculous, snaking through downtown in a clusterfucky sort of ramble as it veers past (1) tired-looking people who wearily hold up banners proclaiming “Ron Paul for President,” (2) 9/11 conspiracy theorists, and (3) at least one scowling lady with a Hillary t-shirt and a Hillary button on her baseball cap who has a poster board that reads something to the effect of “SEXISM: SAME OLD POLITICS,” and even at 12:30, at least two and a half hours before it’s reasonable to expect Obama will even show up, when myself and Alison Hallett and Scott Moore hike to the top of a Smart Park to try and see how far the line goes, it’s already obvious that it’s entirely too long to stand in—it’s early yet, and I’m nine stories up, and already, I can see peoples’ sunburns, their once-pale skin blistering into that vicious shade between pink and red.

So instead: Scott bails for home, and Alison and I head to the Rialto for lunch, prefacing another assault on the line—this time, one that’s significantly more half-hearted, and one that’s thankfully and fully aborted once it becomes evident that the line, still snaking around downtown, isn’t even really going anywhere—if anything, the Obama volunteers w/ megaphones seem to just be shepherding people around so no that one wearing tie-dye ends up standing in the middle of traffic. At which point, seriously, fuck this: Alison and I finally remember that we work for a goddamn newspaper, for chrissakes, even if we are not “news” writers, per se, and so, with a bit of vagueness and attitude, within no time at all, the Mercury’s arts editor and film editor have successfully bullshitted their way past security and through a jumbled caravan of media trailers and into the press corral, where we find ourselves standing next to people who actually have experience and know-how when it comes to reporting on this sort of thing, Amy Ruiz among them, and there we are, waiting for Obama to come on and tell us about how everything’s going to change.

If you’re a hippie, you’ve no doubt heard about the Greener Homes and Gardens Expo that’s happening this weekend at the Expo Center: It’s a “community-inspired event focused on renewable remodeling, do-it-yourself home and garden projects, and alternative energy/fuels.” In other words, it sounds like it’ll be an awesome event for anyone who still insists on voting for Nader, or who engages in utterly unacceptable public behavior.

But what you might not have heard about via your soy ink-printed longhair newsletter is the “Alternative Ride & Drive-In Theater,” one of Greener Homes and Gardens’ events, in which dirtfeet can “get behind the wheel of electric, hybrid, and biofuel vehicles while watching a series of environmentally friendly films.” The good part? Some of the movies aren’t half bad, with the schedule including films like The Real Dirt on Farmer John, King Corn, and The Future of Food. Full details and a schedule can be found right here.

Not that anyone cares, or would change their position either way based upon his decision, but Mayor Tom Potter has endorsed Barack Obama. (Hey, I shouldn’t complain, I’m surprised he woke up at all.) BUT HERE’S THE BETTER NEWS. Moderately famous but super charming actor Dulé Hill is hitting town tomorrow to stump for Obama! You probably remember Hill as President Bartlett’s assistant on The West Wing (wouldn’t it be AWESOME if Obama made Hill his White House assistant, too?), and less famously as the assistant to a fake psychic on the USA Network show Psych (wouldn’t it be AWESOME if Obama were a real psychic?).

Anyhoo, I really like this guy and can only imagine that he’ll be a great stumper for Obama. If you’re interested, here’s his schedule for tomorrow:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

Portland State University Stand for Change Rally with Dulé Hill
Portland State University, Smith Student Union - Student Lounge
1825 SW Broadway, 3:30 PM

North Portland Canvass Kickoff with Dulé Hill
North Portland Campaign Office, 1516 NE Killingsworth Street
5:00 PM

Mayor Tom Potter Endorses Barack Obama with Dulé Hill
Roots Organic Brewing Company, 1520 SE 7th Avenue
6:00 PM

Now that the United Artists 90th Anniversary Celebration at the Laurelhurst is wrapping up, it’s rad to see another series of classic films is really kicking into gear.

The Independent Film Revival at the Broadway Metroplex (1000 SW Broadway) aims to show off a bunch of relatively recent indie classics, with one screening a week, every Monday night. The past few weeks have had stuff like Trainspotting and Ghost World, while tonight brings us The Virgin Suicides. Here’s the lineup, so far; all screenings are at 7:30 pm, and each screening only costs $5.

May 12: The Virgin Suicides
May 19: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
May 26: Rushmore
June 2: Annie Hall
June 9: The Squid and the Whale
June 16: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
June 23: Punch Drunk Love
June 30: Secretary
July 7: Foxy Brown
July 14: In the Company of Men
July 21: Storytelling (this one’s subject to change)

So that’s an awesome schedule, and it boasts more than a couple of my favorite films (Fear and Loathing, The Squid and the Whale, Annie Hall, Punch Drunk, Eternal Sunshine…). Especially in the cases of Fear and Loathing and Punch Drunk, it’ll be fantastic to see some of these up on the big screen (each film is projected from its original 35 mm print), and the organizers also promise local guest hosts, giveaways, and raffles. Excellent.