Taylor Dane, Michael Sorensen, Johnna Wells, Raymond Frye, Katie Ball, Glen Gilbert, Roberta and Randi P'Pool, Juan Martinez, Mark Edlen, William Jamison photo, Gwenn Baldwin, Jeana Frazzini, Tim Bias, Courtney & David Angeli, Brian Ferriso, Rob Wolf, Shaley Howard, Karol Collymore, Bolivia Carmichael, Cabana and Minh Tran at CAP Art Auction

ART & SOUL: The annual Cascade AIDS Project Art Auction, held on Saturday night at The Memorial Coliseum, was quite the sight—as well as a site—for plenty of surprises throughout the night.

First surprise was songbird Taylor Dane, of "Tell It To Your Heart" fame, who alongside the Portland Gay Men's Chorus, provided entertainment during both the live and silent auction. Dane, who a few of us had a chance to visit with at a special meet-and-greet deep within the bowels of the Coliseum prior to the auction, was more than happy to meet a few of her fans including her host, Dr. Raymond Frye, as well as a young woman who was brave enough to sing one of Dane's songs for the diva's enjoyment. Now that took gumption.

Another surprise? The introduction of CAP's new Executive Director: Glen Gilbert will officially begin his role on May 1, 2013, but made an appearance during the dinner and danced up a storm during the musical portion of this arty auction.  Gilbert said, “I am thrilled to be joining CAP. There has never been a more optimistic and hopeful time to be part of the HIV/AIDS movement. This war is not over but it is winnable. After 30 years, we can finally envision a reality in which HIV and AIDS are no longer part of our daily lives, but only part of our history.”

And the biggest surprise? The amount of money CAP raised. 1,400 patrons via 217 art pieces (and a very generous match from Nike during the appeal) raised $640,000.

Like I said, it was a very surprising night. Congrats to CAP!

The kids of Scoop, EuroTrash hottie, the boys of OPB, and a family share a cone

FOOD ME UP: For me it was all about Gonzo's Shwarma Fries, aka "The Jewish Poutine," with curry chicken, salty fries and tasty hummus. But I wasn't the only judge at Willamette Week's food cart festival, EAT MOBILE, held at OMSI on Saturday afternoon. No, there was about 10 of us (including the hot dudes behind FlavourSpot, Whiffies, Connie Wohn and Portland Fire Chief Erin Janssens) who had a chance to sample over 40 different cart offerings to determine who served up the best food with the best style at this always busy, always sold-out event. 

Personally, I loved Cheese & Crack too. Not just because they served out samples on a little cracker that made meat and cheese look like art, but their cart was so damned cute too (it won the most stylish award). Fan faves include Thrive, Tamale Boy, PDX 671 and the dropping-it-like-its-hot EuroTrash. The big winner was Peruvian-sandwich cart La Sangucheria. Garcelon's, a soup and grilled cheese cart at the Rose City Food Park, earned the People's Choice prize. 

Meredith Lynn Auld, David Rae, Tom Brokaw, Naomi Pomeroy, Jonathan Krisel, Karen Brooks, Brian Grant, Spencer Beebe and Guest at Irving Street Kitchen

DINING TEDX-STYLE: The opening Speaker's Dinner for Portland's TedX conference was held on Friday night at Irving Street Kitchen (thee hot spot for celebrity dinners).

The dinner was held in ISK's private dining room and was strictly for speakers (and former speakers) only, but they organizers allowed me to hang out with this illustrious group during the cocktail hour.

And, the one thing I noticed most about these innovative, creative types is that they sure know how to pose for photos.

And, why wouldn't they? Many of them have been in front, or behind, a camera or have been involved in interesting works that merit a click or two.

At the dinner were such luminaries as news legend Tom Brokaw, Jonathan Krisel (director of Portlandia), Brian Grant, Guido Rahr and Ben Huh (the founder of I Can Haz Cheezburger) as well as local lights like Sam Adams, Naomi Pomeroy, Mike Thelin, Kimberly Howard, Spencer Beebe, Karen Brooks and Susan Hoffman (looking super-hot in a skin-tight Derek Lam dress from Kohl's).

Interesting to note, the newsie Mr. Brokaw was in the news himself over the weekend for his criticism of the White House Correspondents' Dinner and the fact was he would not be attending this year due to how celebrity-obsessed that dinner has become. So, of course, Tom was in Portland where it's a pretty safe bet he would not be running into any former cabinet members or members of the Kardashian family.

Jeana Frazzini, Storm Large, Storm and her socks, Vannesa Usui, Juan Martinez, Storm performs with her band and Fear No Music, Ashleigh Flynn and Sneakin' Out inside Alberta Rose, Michelle Shocked and Sneakin' Out's Mike Cheddar and Dave Gerow outside Alberta Rose, Don Henson and Storm Large backstage, Michelle Shocked talks to Amy Faust via a kazoo

SHOCKED WAVES: Yes, it was a bit shocking to see Michelle Shocked show up to her cancelled show at Alberta Rose Theater on Thursday night. Even I didn't believe it when I saw her pull up in her Prius (with some fanny-pack-looking wagon attached to the trunk) and park semi-illegally on Alberta Street in front of Guardino Gallery during the always busy Last Thursday Artwalk.

So, of course, I went right up to her as soon as she got out of her Prius and said "Hi, Michelle, mind if I take a picture?" After my Instagram pic went up on Twitter and Facebook, well, that's when other people noticed that she had dropped by the show too.  That, and the fact I was running up and down the street yelling that Michelle Shocked had showed up to anyone that would listen.

Michelle Shocked wasn't supposed to be there because most of her shows across the country, if not all, including the Alberta Rose stop-over were dropped after she made anti-gay remarks at a San Francisco theater last month. But that didn't stop her from setting up in front of the theater where she banged on a big drum, talked through a kazoo, and sang a few sad songs to what was primarily an audience of one. She was dressed in white painter overalls and a rainbow shirt which had many people wonder if she was trying to look like deceased magician Doug Henning.

But it was inside where the real magic was happening.

The show that replaced Shocked's show was a benefit for Basic Rights Oregon, called BROmance featuring Love Gigantic, Lovebomb Go-Go, The Julians, The Cabin Project, JR Pella, The My Oh Mys, Ashleigh Flynn, Sneakin' Out and the one and only Storm Large. The show was fantastic, and although very little was said about was going on outside, the energy in the room was electric with the notion that people were gathered together for a good cause. Or as Large put so eloquently toward the end of the night and mentioned by Ryan White in his Oregonian post: "Way to put something awesome in the place of something not so awesome," Large said. "We didn't fuck with the protester outside ... Hatred and fear is just sad."

And, like White said, and others in the audience agreed with, it was sort of sad to see Shocked. What is really sad to me is to see she still has such a beautiful voice, but it's being diminished to near silence by her own insensitive, cray-cray thoughts and words. Hopefully, she will get some help.

But, as they say, the show must go on. And, it did. Both inside and outside the theater. What an interesting night.

NEW NOPO PLAYGROUND: We were invited to “First Look” at The Colony—a "Creative Space to Gather, Work, Sleep & Play"—Wednesday in celebration of this incredible North Portland, hard-to-put-your-finger-on space owned and operated by Dayna McErlean.

I had been to The Colony before (and raved about it here), but this “First Look” of The Colony was a showcase for local businesses and a chance to see how they transform their venue through their creative vision and décor. Featured were local cuisine, including Boke Bowl and the soon-to-be-open Kuza Burger and lush cocktails from the great folks at Merit Badge.

The Colony is actually a mid-century colonial icon in St. Johns that features flexible event spaces, office space including work and presentation spaces, DASH II commercial kitchen and fully furnished lodging. In development for a Summer opening is a lush courtyard marketplace with mini boutiques and food vendors.

It is amazing.

The Colony is sure to change St. Johns, if not the entire city of Portland. It is really that cool.