Month: July 2017

Matt’s birthday is celebrated

Matt wanted to do an escape room for his birthday, so we visited Portland Escape Rooms for their Steampunk-themed escape. We made it out of the dirigible (although we did neglect to find that last life jacket for the captain.  He said he was fine to go down with his ship)

Matt, myself, Greg, and Burt joined five other people we hadn’t met to conquer the various puzzles presented to us.  This room had a reset factor, which kept everyone occupied the entire time.  Whenever people were standing about, the costumed actors would tell us the flux-capacitor (or whatever it was) needed to be adjusted. I quite liked this as it eliminated the need to beat previous teams’ times.

It was also my first time with employees as characters in the room.  They were very fun.  This was an improvement over the guy who sat in the room with us, but was not a character.

After, we went to eat and I caught a picture of this group of men through the window.  Their age span makes me think this is a family group, but they could also be enthusiasts of some kind.

Three sentence movie reviews: Dunkirk (in 70mm)

Manages to be both quiet and loud, slow and fast.  The triple timeline narrative is brilliant; it kept my mind stitching things together as the stories unfolded.  If I’m going to like a war movie, it’s going to be a movie like this one, capturing the stifling boredom, random chance, brutal cruelty and human goodness.

Cost: $15.00
Where watched: Hollywood Theater in 70 millimeter (gorgeous!) with Matt.

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/dunkirk.html

The outline of the old

Now I’m curious if those windows are closed over on the inside of the remaining building.  My guess is yes.  I’m pretty sure this means the remaining building (Deschutes Brewery) was built first.  Or perhaps an incredible optimist added windows to the wall, hoping that someday that other building would disappear.  It’s your moment in the sun, incredible optimist.  You are proved right!

Three sentence movie reviews: A Very Brady Sequel

As sequels go, this is a good one.  Reunites the previous cast, and has more singing/dancing segments.  The Bradys are at their earnest best as they travel to Hawaii.  A delightful concoction.

Cost: free from libaray
Where watched: at home

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1996/very_brady_sequel.html

Three sentence movie reviews: The Big Sick

This awkward romance is perfect for the movie screen, providing the laughs, wincing and love that a good romantic comedy requires.  Everyone did their thing and was good at doing their thing.  There’s something so satisfying about a well-made movie.

Cost: $9.00
Where watched: Regal City Center Stadium 12, with S. North. (Who did not share my enthusiasm. No emotional connection.)

poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2017/big_sick.html

Troilus & Cressida at Lone Fir Cemetery

It’s summer Shakespeare season. We’ve seen Portland Actors Ensemble shows at Lone Fir before and so go there early to claim our space.  We caught the end of rehearsal, when guns were scattered about.

This was a robustly military production of the often-not-seen Troilus & Cressida.

I enjoyed what this percussionist–seemingly not mentioned in the program?–added to the story.

There were good performances by all, with some actors having incredibly fun expressive faces.

I wasn’t the only person taking photos.

In the audience tonight was the woman who has been designing the PAE t-shirts.  She was working a quilt to commemorate her work.  I love this quilt!  She’s a great designer.  I used to have the top row, second-from-the-left shirt.