Last night the Portland Phoenix threw a really fun party at Port City to announce the winners of their “Best” readers poll. I’m proud to say that HillyTown won the award for Best Blog! Thanks to everybody who voted! Also, congrats to all the other nominees and winners of various awards – a few I feel compelled to mention include my Portland Pins collaborator Kris Johnsen, who won in the category of Best Visual Artist, SPACE Gallery with a Triple Crown for Best Hip-Hop Venue + Best Non-gallery Art Space + Best Movie Theater (Arthouse), Port City Music Hall for Best Rock Venue, Geno’s for Best Jukebox, Empire (and His Honor The Fuge) for Best Karaoke, and – vaguely put – the Dooryard, Apohadion, and Mayo Street Arts as part of the DIY/alternative studio/performance spaces awarded with Best Arts Scene Trend. See all the winners here. Don’t forget, voting is open for their next big poll – the 2010 Best Music Poll so head over and pick your favorites.
One more thing – HillyTown is not just me (Bryan). Thanks to the exceptional people who have been kind enough to contribute words and photos to this site over the past year and a half. If you are interested in getting involved in HillyTown (and I’m open to ideas including but not at all limited to the music, arts, food, and literary scenes in and around Portland) let me know at hello-at-hillytown.com.
New venue on forest ave – old Rauls to re-open with 18+ license mid June with opening gig by Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers – same cats as the Venue in Freeport