Gig Report
The Dirty Dozen Strikes Again
March 10, 2008
It was an uncharacteristically gray and foggy morning. Downright cold by Santa Barbara standards (I know we’ve all gone soft here.) In spite of these challenging conditions, fueled by Peet’s and Jack’s Bagels, a dozen Toads armed with gloves and bags once again descended on the estuary and lagoon where Mission Creek hits the beach, a stone’s throw from HT HQ.
There had been heavy rains and really big waves since our last clean up so we expected things to be pretty churned up and were anticipating some radical, conversation-generating trash. Reality is, Styrofoam continues to be the most prevalent, offensive trash. Spend a couple of hours picking Styrofoam bits out of beach rack and you’ll NEVER accept anything, ever in a Styrofoam container. Promise. Plastic bottle caps, plastic straws and anti-smoking inhalers were the next most common categories of unglamorous crap. A motor mount was the largest item in the haul, a lot of broken line confirmed how rough the seas had been. Tami scored a purple condom that was a frighteningly good match to her Velush hoodie. Who would have thought that the prophylactic industry was working from the same color palette as Horny Toad.
BREAKING NEWS: This article is getting posted as the Santa Barbara City Council is meeting to ban Styrofoam within the city. Our city would not be the first to do so. Although cheap and strong as a container, Styrofoam does irreparable damage to the creeks and oceans. Not only to the chunks get eaten by sea life, but microscopic bits will remain in our waters for years to come. Start a revolution to ban Styrofoam in your city! Get involved and make your voice heard at your local assemblies.
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First Thursday for March
March 4, 2008
First Thursday for March was a success in more ways than one. Music, art and philanthropy made their impressions on all those that attended.
Climbing artist Emilie Lee is our featured artist for March. The art opening happened on the 6th during our First Thursday party. Prints from her collage journals, first published in Alpinist magazine are on display (and for sale!). Lee's colorful journals document her adventures in pursuit of the climber's dream: to stay on the road trip as long as possible. Powered by the discovery of free food in California's dumpsters, she and her friends embark on an unforgettable season of climbing in Joshua Tree, Indian Creek, and Yosemite. Visit Emilie's blog and her Web site.
Stephanie Schneiderman, graced the lounge with her exceptional musical talent. Stephanie has used her powerful singer/songwriter skills to make a difference too. She is the founder and director of Voices for Silent Disasters, Portland's first humanitarian concert series supporting Mercy Corps' efforts in Northern Uganda. The normally free beer and wine had a contribution jar where we collected almost a hundred bucks that was then matched by Lizard Lounge. It all counts to a better world, and we had a good time doing it!
Ping-pong, of course, was represented in full effect. It wouldn’t have been a party at the lounge until the gentle thwack thwack of the paddles was in the air as ambient noise.
Two powerful women + tons of great (thirsty) people = having fun and making a difference all at the same time. Not bad … not bad at all.
Come join us for April’s events!
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour
February, 29, 2008 - March, 1, 2008
The HT Freeport Outlet will have cool things like blankets, pub glasses,
bottle openers and hats available at this great event. Also there will be stuff to buy as well as giveaways, raffle items and special coupons. Read More...
Coming Up - Telluride Mountainfilm Festival
February 27, 2008
Three things that are close to the Toads’ hearts are community, environment and art, two things that are perfectly represented at the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival. Not only is Telluride the birthplace of Horny Toad, but it also remains an epicenter of mountain culture and art – in this case, film. We are super duper proud supporters of this amazing festival. This is a preemptive gig report on something that hasn’t happened but is going to be happening before you know it. Starting on May 23rd and running through the 26th the festival draws films and people from all over the world to share in the fun, inspiration and education that is Telluride Mountainfilm. Dedicated this year to the late Sir Edmund Hillary.
To act as an impetus for change, the festival continues to explore critical environmental, social and political issues. Some films to keep an eye out on are: Drilling Down, Hot Spots Around the World and Contemporary Slavery.
Just as important as getting involved in the issues that concern our planet and those that live there, is getting inspired to get out there and enjoy it! The outdoors have always been a place for meditation, inspiration and lest we forget … FUN! Come join us and the good folks of the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival for a great time spent high in the saddle of the Colorado mountains.
Here’s a little letter from one of those fine folks:
If every day is an adventure – and it is – then the four days of Mountainfilm in Telluride are an exploration, expedition and odyssey all rolled into one.
For our 30th annual celebration of indomitable spirit, festival director David Holbrooke is lining up a truly extraordinary schedule of films, speakers, exhibitions and events that are guaranteed to inspire, educate and entertain.
Early Bird passes are on sale now for America’s premier festival of mountain, adventure, environmental and cultural films. For information and on-line purchases, please visit us at www.mountainfilm.org.
Plan your Mountainfilm adventure now. Join us and our generous, long-time supporters from Horny Toad this Memorial Day weekend in Telluride. Come see what the late Galen Rowell meant when summed up Mountainfilm in Telluride as “great films, great place, great people.”
Peter Kenworthy
Executive Director of the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival Read More...
Lizard Love
February, 9-14, 2008
Spinning with Rapha
February 6, 2008
When you think of cyclists, you often think of garish spandex suiting, right? British-based Rapha Racing and Lizard Lounge put on a weekend of exciting events not only for fun’s sake, but to redefine the proper cycling gear to be … well, a bit more creative. Among the crowd were metallic bikinis, tutus and simply a pair of pink men’s briefs. Hey, why not?!Starting on Thursday Lizard Lounge hosted four days of events with Rapha. Rouleur, Rapha’s brother magazine, kicked off the weekend with an art show of photography. Mind you, this was no stuffy gallery type show, but rather one with a DJ and drinks – that’s more like it!
On Saturday the main event was staged in the space next to Lizard Lounge. The roller race brought out the most exuberant, to say the least, of fans, cheering and jeering the competitors. Clad in costume, the teams peddled their hearts out. When not on the bike spinning, they were sucking down local micro brews and wine, which would explain why buckets, yes, buckets were put next to each bike. The night ended with a proper Prosecco shower to the crowd from the victors of the roller race.
For those who still had the strength, Sunday offered up a proper road race around the Portland area. All had a good sweat.
Check out this hilarious article written up in the Willamette Week, pictures and a video to wet the appetite.
Telluride Mountainfilm Tour in Portland, OR
February 6, 2008
On January 31st, Telluride Mountainfilm came to Portland, Oregon. Local businesses, schools and clubs pitched in to make the event happen, we here at Lizard Lounge were one of them – and proud of it. All told, about 300 folks showed up to check out the amazing films on tour. It was a great to connect with folks from the area that might not have heard of the Lounge yet. The invite was extended to come visit us and maybe grab a fresh brewed cup of Stumptown coffee, hop on the Internet, listen to great music or shop if the mood strikes. The film tour is right in line with what Lizard Lounge is about, spreading the good word on local artists, musicians and other great events happening in the Portland area.
The films on tour range from serious films about the energy crisis to more lighthearted pieces on kids that “rip.” Of course, there were breathtaking films on the amazing physical and mental feats of sports that drive people’s passions in this big wide world. The mood of the crowd played directly into the film being shown, which was cool to witness. It was just great to see art, in this case films, influencing people and perhaps leaving them a little better off because of it.
To see if the tour is coming your way, check out mountainfilmontour.org.
Read More...
Super Superbowl Sunday
February 6, 2008
Practically a national holiday, Superbowl Sunday brings out the football fan in even the most ardent bookworms. Why this happens, we don’t know for sure, but we thought it was a great opportunity to bust out the La-Z-Boy’s and kick back a couple of cold ones with our patrons.
We turned the back corner of the store into a true Superbowl-worthy lounge, complete with couches, recliners, flat-screen TV, appetizers, and, of course, a keg of beer from BridgePort Brewery. As if it couldn’t get better, we also offered a special Lizard Lounge discount so folks could shop while cheering or booing the game.
Lots of sports fans showed up to partake in this, the most sacred day of American football, crowding around the TV or taking a few minutes away from the tube to shop. During halftime we put on a ping-pong tournament, of which the winner got a $25 gift certificate. Man, these sure are good times.
We want to do it again next year, but even bigger and better. So, get ready for some football Portland!
Share The Warmth
February 3, 2008
It’s easy to forget the gifts we have like a roof, a bed and some food – simple things, maybe, but necessities that some people don’t have. Over the winter months Lizard Lounge collected jackets in their store to donate to the Transition Projects, the largest provider of shelter and services to Portland’s homeless adult population. And, as if philanthropy isn’t enough motivation, Lizard Lounge gave 20$ away to spend on new duds in the store for every jacket or blanket donated.Stats: 214 jackets, 3 blankets, 2 scull caps and 2 scarves.
Sean at the Lounge had this to say about it, “We want to be a part of this community in a dynamic way, so whatever we can do, we should!”
Read More...
The Dirty Dozen
January 29, 2008
Horny Toad’s home is situated on a creek, Mission Creek to be exact. When it rains or if the tide is high, the water laps at the side of our humble Toad home. Not only that, but we are a block away from the beach and the output of the creek into the ocean. Sounds picturesque, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, not everyone in the world sees this creek as a treasure, rather more as a dumping ground. Every once and a while, objects such as couches and shopping carts come floating down the creek. Gross, huh!? Well, we Toads have simply had enough, so we’ve started to work with the city of Santa Barbara’s Creek Division to help clean up the mess. Their motto, “Clean creeks, healthy beaches.” In other words, it all runs down stream.
Armed with gloves, bags for the trash and the spirit of community, a dozen of us – the dirty dozen – headed out for a creek to beach clean-up. The biggest offender was styrofoam in little pieces everywhere. Not only are these micro bits of trash ugly to look at, they are harmful to all life that depends on the oceans and creeks. Also among the debris was ship wreckage, with a compass that still worked and was given away to a passerby to be reused. The result of a couple of hours of cleaning up our local area was two fold: trash collection being the obvious one, but we raised awareness just by being out there. We even had a few folks jump in and help out. Who says cleaning up can’t be fun? They obviously haven’t watch Mary Poppins.
All in all, life is good for the Toads here in Santa Barbara, and that’s just the way we want to keep it. If you live close to a creek, call your city and find out how to get involved.
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
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
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 8, 2008
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
December 22, 2008
Jay Nash in Los Angeles
