Q ON THIS: Yes, my darlings, it's time to pull out the good threads. That's because this Saturday night is The Winter Gala in support of the Q Center. Remember what a great time we had last year? Q Center Executive Director Kendall Clawson (pictured above with Storm Large from last year's soiree) is pulling out all the stops again for what is sure to be one of the highlights of the winter season.

Well, I'll just let Kendall speak for herself. Here is what she recently posted Facebook:

Ok, friends...(its almost time for) the most fabulously glittery event of the season and we really want to see you there! If you haven't purchased a ticket yet, there is still time and trust me, you don't want to miss this party! What a deal...we have one of the most affordable function tickets out there at just $75 for the Gala and $175 for VIP. (VIP is ridiculous this year: a hosted bar...all night long...along with foie gras, oysters and other upscale goodies!).

You'll enjoy bumping music from Tahoe Jackson, dancing with the Pete Petersen Orchestra, socializing and some surprises in our fantastic entertainment line up. And most importantly, your party ticket supports your very own Q Center. We really want to sell this party out, so put on your dancing shoes, sprinkle a little glitter and join us at the Nines Hotel for the Winter Gala on January 30th!

Couldn't have said it better myself. Click on the link here to purchase tickets!

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: On Friday night The Fertile Ground Festival kicked off with a "special event" at Northeast's Curious Comedy Club. Called the "Best of ScratchPDX" it featured improv troupes, aerial performers as well as hard-to-describe solo acts. Here are a few photos from the late night fete.

The memorial service for Jenn Lyon, held in her "hometown" of The Dalles, Oregon on Saturday, included hymns, prayers, blessings, and something Jenn would have loved: bright sunshine.

After days of dreary weather, it was an absolutely beautiful day in The Dalles. Jenn's service was held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which was packed to the rafters with family, friends, and fellow cast-mates from Survivor (see photo above).

The service itself lasted about an hour and included warm thoughts and musings about Jenn's life, as well as songs that were very, very Jenn including an original tune by Victor Johnson.

In the evening a celebration was held at Erin Glenn Winery inside "The Mint"—an old warehouse smack dab in the middle of downtown The Dalles.

Here are a few photos from the day:

Just posted this over at EaterPdx here and thought it was big enough news that I should post it here too:

Naomi Pomeroy is getting ready for her close-up in O Magazine... right... about... now. That's right, the local chef with the endless magazine mentions (Food & Wine, Gourmet, Elle, Wallpaper*, etc.) gets to add another page to her already-stuffed file of stories written about her and her wonderfully delightful Beast. Word is that Pomeroy is scheduled to be shot today for a spread in the May edition of Oprah Winfrey's eponymously named mag. The issue, called "Women On The Rise," will feature "style portraits with mini profiles on women whose work, mission, art, and endeavors will have a resounding effect during the next decade." Congrats to Naomi...again.

SHOW & TELL: Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for finally giving me the chance to see Gossip perform live.

And, Jesus, thank you for letting me touch the hem of a real, live, honest-to-god angel: Beth Ditto.

Last night's performance of Gossip at Mississippi Studios was akin to a religious experience.

And it almost didn't happen.

The whole show came together after lead singer Beth Ditto ran into Mississippi Studio's Alicia J. Rose in Northwest Portland at Chapman School during an avian aerial show. While they watched the Vaux Swifts "perform" high in the sky they hatched a plan to have Gossip open for Yummy Fur, a band that Ditto said to the crowd last night was the "reason she was punk."

But this wasn't any show. This was a "secret show." The Gossip would be billed as "Pie Ghosts" (get it? It's an anagram). The show would only cost five bucks. And it would be all ages. And, oh yeah, the space only holds around 150 folks.

This very website broke the news, just the day before the show, that it was all going down. And, some more cynical types, didn't think it would happen.

But it did. And boy, did it ever.

First off, everyone in the audience seemed to be famous themselves. There was band members from Sleater-Kinney, Dandy Warhols, and Explode Into Colors (lead singer Claudia Meza called me a "dick-wad" after I snapped her picture). There was solo artists like Logan Lynn, Tender Forever's Melanie Valera and I am sure plenty of other famous indie rock folk I didn't recognize. And, like I said, it was a religious experience. That is, if your religion only allowed in a small congregation of incredibly attractive people who look like they've all just left the set of a Levi commercial directed by someone from Weiden + Kennedy. And everyone had beards.

When Gossip got up to play, mid-way through their set, Ditto said, "playing in Portland is like going to high-school reunion." She also talked about the fact she had walking pneumonia and the fact she peed her pants. "Really, I did," she said with her southern drawl. She also talked about her influences (Bikini Kill, The Slits) and the fact she was very nervous. One, because she was playing in front of her hometown crowd, and also opening for Yummy Fur, which by the way, played an amazing set in which Ditto was front and center for.

Again, Jesus, thank you very much. The whole night was like being in heaven.

Here are some "arty" photos—ok, they are out of focus—of Gossip and guests (including my "dick-wad" photo of Meza. She would be the second photo; the one with the shaggy black hair and closed eyes). The awesome photo of Ditto above is by Wayne Bund. Thanks Wayne for sharing it.