Jonas Brothers

I've been shooting big concerts for a few years now, my first was Elton John in 2006, and I've learned a bit along the way. One of the first things I learned was to bring ear plugs, especially when working from the pit in front of the stage. When I found out I'd be shooting this show from a fixed position a good distance away I thought I could leave the ear plugs in the truck. Big mistake. When the near capacity crowd at Rose Garden arena (mostly consisting of teenage girls) became aware that the Jonas Brothers had entered the room they collectively let out the most head-splitting, eardrum-busting, high decibel, high pitched scream, that I've ever heard, and it seemed to last forever. The pop-rock sensations; Kevin, Nick, and Joe Jonas took the stage, making a memorable night for thousands of appreciative fans. The brothers worked the crowd with charisma and solid, pop-rock tunes atop a three-ring stage in the round, bursting with juicy colors and playful lasers. Also on stage with the brothers were members of their backup band, featuring horns and stringed instruments. It all made for a very entertaining performance. Honestly though, I'm so glad my daughter's only 5. I'll deal with all that later.

Barista

Portland is a huge coffee market. Huge. Even Mickey D's has been throwing money around here, albeit with little success. Fortunately, every Portland neighborhood has it's favorite house, and if you live on the west side of the Pearl, your new best stop for local microroast is two-time NW Barista champ Billy Willson's latest endeavor, Barista. Billy's new place up on the docks of NW 13th is the epitome of a good Portland coffee shop; friendly, knowledgeable baristas, a good (but not overwhelming) selection of drinks, and a fast moving line. The menu includes roasts from local (and personal) favorite, Stumptown, as well as Ecco Caffé, Verve, and Intelligentsia. If your looking for something special, and unique, try a cup of vacuum brew, Barista is the only house in town serving it.

Dane Cook

Dane Cook brought his unique brand of humor to Rose Garden arena in Portland last Saturday evening, playing to a near sold-out crowd. The popular comedian and actor had fans rolling in the isles with bits about relationships, un-friending enemies, and dropping his cell phone into pee pee-water toilets. Totally my kind of funny.

Il Divo

The internationally acclaimed operatic quartet Il Divo; Carlos, David, Sébastien, and Urs, crooned their way through Portland Wednesday evening with a stop at Rose Garden arena. The gentleman wowed a near capacity crowd with a heart-warming sound that this uncultured photographer can only describe as carmelized velvet. In addition to elaborate and vividly colorful lighting, the stage's intimate setup was a big hit with fans, many of whom enjoyed a quick handshake or wink of the eye during several songs. The four were open, interactive, and seemed to genuinely enjoy performing. And oh yeah... Man, could they sing. Smooth.