2013.3.3. Eagle Creek to Twisted Falls

Sunday, more or less sunny with brief rain and hail. Eagle Creek trail. ~13 miles out and back (14 from the Fishery parking lot, 10 min before the trail head), unnoticeable elevation gain (~1300'). Lushly green and mossy, numerous waterfalls, steep narrow canyon, green rushing creek. Some times narrow trail above sheer drop. Beautiful scenery. Perfect for early season: a lot more water. Waterproof boots are essential. Literally, at times water falls on your head. Metlako Falls at ~1.5 miles, Punchbowl Falls at ~2 miles, Loowit Falls at ~3 miles, Skoonichuck Falls at ~4 miles, Wy'East Falls at ~ 5 miles, Tunnel Falls (when walking in the short tunnel, feel the vibration of the rock!) at ~6 miles, and Twisted Falls at ~6.5 miles. Now you are at the water level. Our lunch spot. It hailed for a few minutes. Rarely I enjoyed coming back as much as going in, seeing all these waterfalls again. Encountered maybe 50 people (4 backpackers, 5 runners), less than half made all the way to Twisted Falls. Not too bad for such a popular trail.

Direction: Hwy 84, exit 41 east bound only. To returning to Portland, drive further east to exit 44 and turn around at Cascade Locks (people on PCT cross Columbia River here). We stopped at Char Burger by the river for snacks, good view, quick food. Rebecca kindly offered me a ride home.

2013.3.2. MOMIX

March 2nd, Saturday matinee. White Bird presents Momix with their new show Botanica at Newmark Theatre - a midsize venue of 880 seats (3 steep levels, rectangular). Good choreography for groups, excellent costumes, not too difficult for individual dancers (10 total). Music is by playing recording over loudspeakers, not very good sound. No stage set, using light and projection to create an ambiance. Nice arrangement of programs, from winter to fall. Overall, entertaining for young and old.
Newmark is just one theater in Portland Center for the Performing Arts, which offers free public tours. Blue glass dome airy and light, red velvet seating (narrow) around the atrium overlooking all 3 floors, a funny looking chair in the main lobby is the magnet for kids.

I finally had time to enjoy a weekend since I moved to Oregon. Visited the Portland Art Museum before the show. Not bad. Some classic dated from 1500s and impressionists in the permanent collection. I especially liked the temporary exhibition titled In The Studio. The series The History of Printmaking by Warrington Colescott is a lot of fun. On my way out of the theatre, I saw people dancing to a live band playing at Director's Park. Quite a lively city. Maybe I'll like living here.

Additional note on 3/26. PCPA's box office charges service fees as much as online ticket sale.

2013.2.15. BodyVox

Friday 2/15. Finally something to do in the suburb. BodyVox, a small modern dance troupe in Portland, performed (preview? before its official opening in Portland in March) BodyVox-2. ~7 short and very entertaining works + 2 video clips. Humorous, lighthearted. Excellent choreography and rhythm. 5 energetic dancers this evening. 3 girls 2 boys. First video is very funny: the artistic director Jamey Hampton dances with a giant tractor. The only shortcoming is the sound quality of the music: too loud from the loudspeaker in the front. Good selection of music though (from operatic aria, jazz, to electric).

2012.12.6. Oedipus el Rey at ACT Theatre

Ese Teatro presents Luis Alfaro's new play Oedipus el Rey, a retelling of Greek legend in LA's Latino underworld. Despite all our efforts, fate rules. I'm a little disappointed as how the theme played out: almost no change from the original tragedy, except for one insignificant change: the LA Oedipus was raised by Tiresias. I was hoping for a slightly different ending. Good acting. Almost no stage set. I like the vertical bed scene, quite clever in a small theatre.

2012.12.4. Owen Meany’s Christmas Pageant - a short play

Book-It stages part of John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany about Children putting up a nativity scene for a Christmas gathering in a New England town in 1950s. Wonderfully adapted by Jane Jones & Myra Platt. Almost no stage set. Short. A little over an hour, no intermission. Very funny. Good acting. It makes me want to read this novel.