Hurricane Katrina

Unfortunately it seems to take an anniversary to bring attention back to big issues here in the US, and hurricane Katrina is no different. For the last two or three years we have not heard much from the media on the progress in New Orleans. After the Saints won the Super Bowl, it was like that took care of everything, redemption was given. However, a little scratching below the surface reveals that all is not right in the Crescent City and that there is still a lot of work to do.

There were a lot of news reports from New Orleans this week, but there are two shows that are must see:

Spike Lee has just put out a great follow up to his original documentary, When the Levees Broke, called, If God is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise. He revisits many of the people in the original film and also looks forward at how the BP oil spill could further hold back the recovery. This four hour epic may be a little too far reaching, but it is amazing who Lee got access to, most amazing was the interview with Michael "Brownie" Brown. To hear his side of the FEMA story alone was worth watching.

Some residents of New Orleans will be caring literal scars as well as the mental scars they endured during the flooding. No show brings this to life better than the August 25th edition of PBS's Frontline: Law and Disorder. Frontline, ProPublica and the New Orleans Times-Picayune investigate several questionable shootings by police in the days following Hurricane Katrina, raising new questions about the actions of some officers, and their command structure, during the aftermath of the storm. I walked away from this show thinking Governor Kathleen Blanco and Mayor Ray Nagan should be tried for murder, when they gave the order that looters could be shot.

Lucky

Ever dream of winning the lottery? You may change your opinion after you see the new HBO documentary, Lucky.

Director Jeffery Blitz of Spellbound fame, takes us around America meeting several "lucky" winners and discovering how the money changed their life. This film follows the lives of several big money winners and one hopeful. We meet Quang, a Vietnamese immigrant who won $22 million as part of a eight way contingent at work. James, a down and out man who spent his last $3 on a Powerball ticket and won $5 million. Kristine and Steve, a nice middle-class American couple who won $110 million. Robert, a math professor who despite knowing the odds, still plays and wins $22 million. Buddy, a local hero who won $16 million. And finally Verna, who spends up to $100 a day playing the lotto and after 30 years has still not had a big payday.

What is the one thing that holds these people together? At some point in the movie, despite many great things that the money has brought them, they all say, "I wish I had never won." Some people do better than others in the long run, but no one gets away without their life charging significantly. the saddest story is Buddy, who's family literally tries to kill him to get his money.

Bridge Up

In Portland we have 12 major bridges that get you from the west side of town over to the east side. Many of them are really beautiful, and a couple are kind of not. On any given day you can cross the bridge three or four times without thinking too much about it. Then of course there is the one time you are in a real hurry and the bridge is up causing traffic to come to a stand still. This is a small price to pay to have theses beautiful old bridges, but it is strange how it only happens when you are already late.

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Greenberg

In Greenberg, one of my, I'll watch any film he makes guys, Ben Stiller, takes on the role of Roger Greenberg, a 40-year-old man who has recently suffered a nervous breakdown and is now trying to "do nothing." He has returned to L.A., where he grew up to housesit for his rich brother, who is on a long vacation with his family in Vietnam. Greenberg meets his brother's assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig), and begins a bizarrely awkward romance with her. He also reconnects with his old band mates, who are still bitter about a record deal that Roger ruined 15 years ago. Rhys Ifans, is a scene stealer, playing Ivan, Roger's best fiend who despite Roger being a complete a-hole, still goes out of his way to help him. While trying not to start a relationship with Florence, Roger also attempts to date Beth (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a divorced old girlfriend, but she laughingly rejects him.

While Roger is housesitting, his brother's dog becomes sick, forcing Roger to take responsibility for his care, but it is pretty obvious Roger is barely able to take care of himself. He is very neurotic and does not recognize any flaws in himself. This reaches a comic climax when his niece returns to the house and throws a wild party.

Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel by Gary Shteyngart

You would think I would have learned by now that it is Terry Gross' job to make books sound good when she interviews the author on her show Fresh Air. As I was listening, I thought Super Sad True Love Story sounded a little too far fetched for me, but it did not stop me from picking it up at a recent trip to Powell's Books. I am glad I read it, but what others see as great satire, I thought was an author trying way too hard. The line between poignant and absurd is thin and I would rather stay in the side of poignant.

In Gary Shteyngart's futuristic New York, the dollar has been been replaced by the Chinese yuan as the currency of choice, American has been reduced to a one party police state that is always on high security alert, and people are constantly judged by their credit score and their hottness or f-ability rating. Lenny Abramov is the middle-aged protagonist with a good credit score, but an embarrassingly low Male Hotness rating. He has fallen in love with the very young Eunice Park, who's hottness score helps boost Lenny's just by standing next to him. Lenny works for the Post-Human Services division of the Staatling-Wapachung Corporation, selling people eternal life, and while he would also like to live for ever, his love for Eunice takes over his ambitions. Just as Lenny seems to be getting things together the US experiences a "rupture" and is taken over by the world's economic powers and split up Berlin style post WW II.

As I said earlier, the book is funny, but Shteyngart takes everything to the extreme. A little more subtlety would have made this book much more readable.

Montavilla farmers market

As you all know Portland is famous for all the great farmers markets we have across the city and our neighborhood is no exception. The Montavilla farmers market is in the 7600 block of SE Stark between Mt. Tabor and 82nd street and is open on Sundays from 10-2, June 15th - October 31st. They have a great mix of produce, fruit, cheeses, flowers, etc. and ready to eat food. My two favorites are Wild Wild West BBQ and the Liquid Sunshine Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade stand. The guy at the BBQ stand is a little forgetful so you may have to tell him your order a few times, but it is worth the wait. The BBQ ribs at $8, are great and there are two equally good sandwiches, the shredded beef or pulled pork for $5. He also has sides and a few other BBQ specials as well as a hamburger that I have not tried yet. The lemonade stand has classic hand squeezed lemonade, limeade, strawberry lemonade and usually a couple of guest flavors, today it was mohito and last week it was jalapeno. The guy who runs it is also very friendly. There are a few other ready to eat places, including Hacienda which makes great tamales and Kebab-a-Rama that I have not tried. There is plenty of seating and sometimes there is live music.

After you eat lunch, you can get all the fruit and veggies you'll need for the week as well as some fresh flowers. Next Saturday there is a special event, the 3rd Annual Harvest Dinner. The Dinner is a five-course meal with matching paired wines and will begin at 5:30 pm. Tickets for the dinner are sixty dollars. All proceeds go to benefit the Montavilla Farmers Market’s efforts to improve food access and affordability in the Montavilla neighborhood.

Cheese Bar

Formally known as Steve's Cheese, Steve Jones has moved his cheese mecca to Mt. Tabor and renamed it Cheese Bar. Best news of all it is only a 10 minute walk there from our house. I thought it was just a sandwich place, but there is a lot more. They have a retail counter where you can buy all kinds of cheeses and meats, as well as fancy chocolate, vinegars, and other gourmet items. They have a half dozen tables inside as well as a few outside where you can order super delicious cheese and meat plates, as well as great sandwiches, soup, salads and on the day we were there a very nice blueberry bread pudding (make sure you add the sheepshead cheese). To top it all off they have a small bar with six local beers on tap, as well as a long list of bottled beers and wines.

This place should do well as the food is great and the staff is really nice, and if you love cheese you'll love talking to the owner Steve, he is quite the expert.

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11AM - 11 PM, Closed Monday

Cheese Bar

6031 SE Belmont Street
Portland, OR
(503) 222-6014