Gig Report
DB Clay 10th Anniversary
May 16, 2008
We hosted the highly anticipated launch party of db clay’s version 3.1 that was also a ten-year anniversary tribute. To show that off we had a wallet art gallery displaying the inspiration of the new version. Also on display was db clay’s evolution of the wallet, from the first version made 10 years ago to the new version 3.1
“We’ve taken a content based approach to product design,” explains 28 year old CEO and Creative Director Garett Croft Stenson. “Each of the wallets featured in our Version 3.1 collection is reminiscent of a life experience had by one of us here at db clay ... each of our eighteen new wallets tells a unique story.”
db clay’s designer wallets look and feel unlike anything you’ve seen before - each is made from a custom engineered and eco friendly material which db clay calls Tope. The artfully printed wallet designs in this collection vary widely from subtle black on black palettes to a far more mysterious “Slow Bugs”... a wallet covered in dead insects. The new line is truly groundbreaking and serves as evidence of a maturing process, a sophisticated evolution of thought and an introspective look into this content driven brand’s core.
Tulip Vixen was perfect background music for the laid back art gallery feel of the event.
It couldn’t be a party without drinks. We had an open bar courtesy of Widmer, Cork Wine Shop, Jameson Whiskey, and Stoli Vodka. To soak up the booze, we had fruit skewers and cup cakes available.
Stop by Lizard Lounge and check out db clay’s version 3.1 or on their website www.dbclay.com.
Cheers!
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Polish the Pearl
May 15, 2008
Polish the Pearl, an event to keep our little corner of the world here in Portland nice and tidy, went off without a hitch and was a great success. Trash of all shapes and sizes was wrangled and put into it’s designated place – the dump! Volunteers rallied in the streets, one of which was our very own Sean from the Lizard Lounge. Check out the write up and pics at www.neighborhoodnotes.com.
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Get Trashed
May 13, 2008
Every month, we Toads take a few hours to clean up where Mission Creek meets the beach. Mission Creek runs the length of Santa Barbara, and passes right by our building. Our friend Ed at Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council runs these events and gets up to his knees with a net and galoshes to fish everything from cushions to plastic bags from the creek before they have a chance to make it to the ocean.This last trip to the beach near our HT HQ proved once again that Styrofoam remains to be the largest enemy to our creeks, beaches and ocean – and all the wildlife that calls those habitats home. Ironically, as we were picking up tiny pieces of Styrofoam out of the driftwood, we spotted a migratory bird sitting on some eggs in a nest. A nest she had made out of Styrofoam. She too obviously thought it was a good insulator, just as we do. However, the damage to our environment is not worth the thermal benefits.
Many cities have started the process of banning Styrofoam. Proudly, Santa Barbara’s City Council has started the discussions on how to go about getting rid of Styrofoam with in city limits. The issue is going to take some creative problem solving between city recycling, council members and of course, the citizens. We here at the office are rolling up our sleeves to not only clean up our creeks and beaches, but also to get involved with our local assemblies. You can do the same in your town. Go to your local city council meetings on issues you are passionate about. Moving the meter is easier than you think, all it takes is making your opinion heard.
Last week on the radio there was a quote that I thought apropos for all things that are worth fighting for, in this case the environment. “If you bend over, people can ride your back. But, if you stand up straight, they can’t.”
Stand up for Mother Nature and all of her creatures – including the human kind.
www.styrophobia.com
May Day 1st Thursday
May 1, 2008
May First Thursday was the biggest yet. With Bobby Torres banging away on the bongos all night and son Arsenio Torres showing his art to hundreds that attended, everyone had a blast. The fact that it was a father-son duo was the icing on the cake.
Here's the low down on the artists and thier web links if you are interested in checking them out.
Arsenio Torres (the son) is our featured artist for the month. The pull one feels to maintain a balance between work and play is depicted in each of Arsenio's paintings. It's a pull he regularly feels as an emerging artist and believes most everyone can sympathize with. The daily struggles depicted in his work are snapshots into other people's "pulls" and are many times specific to his Latin heritage and culture.
Bobby Torres (the father) was our musician for the evening. His music blended very well with his son’s art work. It was a sight to see, Bobby going to town on the bongos, along with his fellow musicians playing the electric piano and chello.
The drinks were always a bonus. With free BridgePort Blue Heron beer and a variety of wine from Cork being served all night, it hit the spot for everyone. The weather was great as well and showed a bit what the summer is going to be like at Lizard Lounge, awesome of course!
More parties to come.
Evolution of Balance Award
April 7, 2008
A Letter from Kris Holm:Mountain unicycling might seem like one of the most unlikely things you could do. Perhaps it is. But it depends on your perspective. It’s only about as unlikely as whacking a ball into a distant hole, or fighting people off as you move a ball down a field, or sliding down snow on sticks. At second glance, maybe there is something to mountain unicycling - something that has made several hundred thousand people take it up in the last few years.
Toad athlete Kris Holm launched the Evolution of Balance Award to support one-wheeled riders seeking creative mountain unicycling adventures. The award, also supported by Horny Toad and California-based rider Nathan Hoover, offers $1700 cash and over $1200 worth of KH uni gear and Toad clothing. The response has been overwhelming. We have applications from riders in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Australia proposing trips in their home countries and in Greenland, Central America, Alaska, and East Asia. The proposed trips push unicycling way beyond what the uninitiated might think possible, including backcountry traverses, mountain descents, and epic endurance tours.
Picking a winner was difficult, but here’s the team that won because of their combination of qualified riders, creativeness, and adventure.
Steve Relles, Roland Kays, Perry Woodin, and Brad Stratton from Albany, NY, and Vince LeMay from Montreal, Quebec, proposed a trip in Panama to ride jungle trails from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Their route follows the ancient Gold Routes, a now obscure network of trails that for over 500 years formed a trade and smuggling route across Panama. To the best of our knowledge, they will be the first people to ride this route on any kind of cycle. What a fantastic adventure! Steve and crew will be heading to Panama in January 2009.
The Evolution of Balance Award will be offered annually to support the spirit of true adventure in mountain unicycling!
For more information
Evolution of Balance award: www.krisholm.com/grants
Contact Kris Holm: info@krisholm.com.
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Ski Crested Butte - In Costume
April 7, 2008
Everything is better in costume! And, ski racing is certainly no exception. Every year, the festive folks of Crested Butte gather for a memorial uphill/downhill race. Memorial for what? Well, apparently back in the 1880’s mail delivery to some of the higher mountain pass towns was done on skis. The main guy who braved the mountain passes to make sure the mail got through to these mining towns was Al Johnson. Apparently a bad ass, even by today’s standards, this ski race is partially in his honor. It also seems like a really good excuse to get dressed up in ridiculous outfits and have a good time with friends. The racecourse begins near the top of Mt. Crested Butte, climbs six hundred vertical feet to the top of a ridge, and then plunges twelve hundred feet down through extreme skiing terrain – all the while in costume. Horny Toad was of course represented at this event. This is totally skiing our style.Check out next year’s event!
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Grilled Cheese for World Peace
April 2, 2008
Cheese, yes cheese. The shear mention of it makes your mouth water, doesn’t it? Now, add buttered bread to that and toss it on the hot grill until the cheese gooey and delicious and … voila, you have perfection in a pan. While doing intensive research for a project here at Horny Toad (ehhem), Cari, our dedicated and talented designer stumbled across the fact that April has been declared the Grilled Cheese Month! So, in honor of this culinary version of perfection, we here at Horny Toad decided to bust out the panini presses, gob loads of cheese of all types, breads of every shape and texture, and enough butter to make a tear come to a dairy farmer’s eye, and got busy grillin’ those little nuggets of bliss. It was miraculous how the call to grilled cheese sandwiches made everyone jump from their desks and run to the kitchen as if they were running after an ice cream truck at age seven. The pull of comfort food shall not be denied.
Just as every toad is unique, so were their creations – gouda, swiss, cheddar, jack, pepper jack, brie, blue, you name it! All melted together in grilled cheese diplomacy. In fact, we should let the diversity of cheese and it’s melting together be an example to the rest of the world. So, make a grill cheese for world peace, and also because they taste so dang good!
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First Thursday for April - Guy Burwell
April 1, 2008
April First Thursday was a hit! We packed the house, with over 200 people filtering in and out all night.
Guy Burwell is our featured artist for the month. He’s somewhat of a local celebrity. Primarily known for making rock concert posters, he brought a big crowd to the party, selling quiet of few pieces as well. His portfolio also includes album cover illustration and design, painting, clothing graphics, magazine work as well as writing and drawing comic books. He has also designed conceptual material for video games and animated projects for Nickelodeon. Visit Guy’s site to see more.
Our musician Jaycob Van Auken was perfect for the evening. His music blended really well with the atmosphere of the party. He’s a rock classicist with a singer-songwriter streak. His propensity for blending rock, blues, folk and country allows his songs to move in various directions, while keeping the same destination. His wonderful sound contributed to a fulfilling evening at Lizard Lounge.
Obviously there was ping-pong. We had people lining up to play, with the occasional beer pong matches. Why not, right?
Hope to see you at the next one!
Get Your Phix
April, 10th, 2008
Phix launched the first of their line of single serving health and wellness powders, and to kick it off we threw a launch party at Lizard Lounge. It was open to public, so people hung out, shopped, listen to some great music, and experienced the Phix.We put together a great night featuring VHI Soul Artist Nya Jade, a beer and wine bar sponsored by BridgePort Brewing Company and Cork Wine Shop.
The Phix crew was selling their product on site with all proceeds benefiting Write Around Portland.
Check back for upcoming events!
Everything is sooo green!
March, 15-16, 2008
This post report is a tad bit delayed because we just woke up from the party that got kicked off at Lizard Lounge on Saint Patrick’s Day. The patron saint of green beer and pinching seems to have blessed The Lounge with another great time spent lounging to Irish music, ping ponging and drinking!
Paddy Schutte and Tim Debruine played live Irish music as folks came in to appreciate their northerly acoustical talents. There’s nothin’ like a good fiddler to get the toes a tappin’. A sweet four-leaf clover breeze swept through the store announcing that spring is here in Portland – everything is soooo green!
The good Irish vibrations were flowing and so was the beer and wine, provided by our friends at the BridgePort Brewing Company and the Cork Wine Shop for both Saturday and Sunday (come on folks, it was Saint Patrick’s Day after all).
On Sunday, rosy-cheeked folks were warmed up and ready to dive into the ping-pong tournament on Sunday. Dueling tables were set up so we could get through all 28 players. It seemed like all 28 players brought their own peanut gallery to cheer and jeer. The music and laughter also brought people in from the street to watch the matches. DJ Keys made the atmosphere that much more festive. The crowd grew and grew through the day until there was a hug pack of fans surrounding the finals that evening. Good times with beer pong.
Hope you all had a great Saint Patty’s Day!
Upcoming events for the next 30 days
November 24, 2008
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
December 1, 2008
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
December 4, 2008
First Thursday for December
On the first Thursday of every month three blocks are closed off in NW Portland between Everett and Johnson on 13th Street from 5 to 10 pm. The street fills up with musicians and showcases hand-made and original artwork by local area artists. Fortunately for us Lizard Lounge sits at the heart of this. Come visit us on any first Thursday of any month and you are guaranteed to find an art show, live music and, of course, beer, wine and the ever-sumptuous Stumptown coffee. Check back for details on who this month's featured artist and musician will be. See you soon!
December 6, 2008
Holiday Bash at the Freeport Store
Hey, it’s that time of year! Why not throw another party in the mix? Come on down to the Freeport store to celebrate whatever the heck you want to celebrate. The good times get rolling at 6:00 p.m. and will roll on out until about 8:00 p.m. Spirits will be high and flowing, so come on down for a pint or two – provided by Freeports finest brewers. For those of you that don’t like beer or like both, we will have wine too. Discounts will abound along with merriment.
Cheers!
December 6, 2008
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
December 8, 2008
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
December 22, 2008
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
