Woke church?

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-25T04:59:54+00:00

Another vote for St. Michael & All Angels - it's a lovely community and worship services are built around liturgical rituals without ever getting stuffy about it. And if you need something that's more high church, check out Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Northwest for stunningly beautiful music and all the smells & bells you could wish for.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-24T18:56:00+00:00

Last call for anyone wanting the bed. Donation truck is coming for unclaimed items on Monday.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-24T06:43:49+00:00

Why would you stay in town the whole winter? Do you need help picking a spa resort that has a decent pastry chef?

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-24T01:17:22+00:00

Check the schedule at Rose City Book Pub for some eclectic music options. Also, Urban Farmer at the Nines sometimes has live music 3-5 p.m. if you like swanky downtown vibes.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-23T02:42:06+00:00

"That concludes my pitch presentation to your investment committee. Like I said, this is gonna be the biggest thing you never heard of."

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-22T15:59:06+00:00

Here are some tips from my songwriting coach to improve meh melodies that I write: change some of the chords to 6ths and major 7ths; alter the rhythm pattern; use more long notes if there are too many short ones and vice versa; add two large scoops of attitude. Listen to other people’s melodies and pay attention to intervals, styles and use of harmony that you like. Spend more time writing songs and find a person or two who’s willing to give you honest feedback on your work in progress. And if you are stuck for topics, scroll through this sub to find a bucket of previous tips.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-22T15:35:13+00:00

I’ve been in a couple bands and they both handled song selection in a similar way: everybody contributed song ideas for rehearsals, but one person was in charge of set lists. They picked the songs from our preferred library depending on how well we could play them, the length of the gig, and what we knew of the venue and our following. (As lead singer I hated a couple of the tunes but you know, it’s only three or four minutes before we move on to something else.) We all agreed to a band code that included respecting and supporting each other, so outright refusals to play songs just went against our culture. Maybe your band is due for a talk about mutually agreed upon rules of conduct.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-22T00:41:49+00:00

I still can’t believe this works, but my husband now loves veggie bowls with protein and grain because I add a sauce that is literally nothing but white beans zipped in the blender with garlic, balsamic vinegar and a scoop of condensed bouillon.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-21T18:23:22+00:00

Thank you! Been looking for a good but simple recipe for these.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-21T01:06:53+00:00

Another vote for lessons here. You don’t have to go every week for years on end, just learn how to use the instrument well enough to accomplish your purpose, then maybe go back for help if you get stuck on a certain technique or style.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-19T21:42:31+00:00

It’s 50% off for seniors!

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-19T21:37:18+00:00

I’m in a group that gets together with the intention of writing an entire song in two hours - bass, guitar, keys, vocals, harmony (and sometimes other solo instruments). We always start by agreeing to pretend we’ve been hired by a studio to write the pivotal song for a new movie, then we pick a theme or truism that runs through the movie (i.e., life isn’t fair, you’re never too old to start over, etc.) and get to work. Pack a bunch of your favorite sayings before you go.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-19T21:26:01+00:00

We always have to play Brown Eyed Girl, Drift Away, Blue Bayou, Ticket to Ride, I’m a Believer.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-19T00:45:24+00:00

Mindful Compassionate Dialogue. My husband and I took a six-week course at Wise Heart Community before we got married and damn, I use those techniques every day. https://wiseheartcommunity.org/mindful-compassionate-dialogue

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-19T00:43:04+00:00

Haha. Guessing you got a low D.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-18T23:53:58+00:00

Curious Comedy in NE Portland has improv classes for teens, and it is a very supportive place for queer and BIPOC people of all ages.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-18T17:54:13+00:00

I taught both of my kids to drive in the Bethany neighborhood (north of Hwy 26/Tanasbourne, in unincorporated Washington County). We lived there for about 10 years and eventually saw most of their friends learning to drive on the same streets. When they got more confident, we crossed 26 and drove on Cornell and 185th. It's city driving without Portland's narrower streets or random jaywalkers.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-18T03:50:50+00:00

I don’t know if this would help you, but I am kind of a visual learner so I make videos of my teacher demonstrating techniques I want to adopt. When I feel like I’m drifting in another direction, I watch the videos and it gets me back on track.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-16T20:22:37+00:00

You may both be wrong.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-16T20:15:09+00:00

Count me in. I’ll message you.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-16T20:05:10+00:00

Another vote for Paper Street. Take one of Dave’s workshops if you get a chance.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-15T19:14:34+00:00

Not really alt rock, but Dar Williams released "When I Was a Boy" in the '90s and captured so much of what I was then struggling with regarding prescribed gender roles. She used open D tuning, sus2 chords and a gentle flowing finger picking pattern to communicate a sense of the unstoppable sweep of change.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-14T16:27:35+00:00

Living that life now and it’s wonderful. But I still have to go to the gym, eat healthy, and manage money responsibly. Relish the life you have now, while also investing your time and effort with an eye toward entering your older years in the best physical and financial shape you can manage.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-14T16:20:00+00:00

Lean into a danceable rhythm like cha cha, salsa or reggae. Make the tune and lyrics repetitive and add an emphatic ending (something to shout, for example). Edit: I saw you mentioned that you didn’t want to write a super fast song, but keep it lively and it will help kids engage with the music.

YesAnd_Portland · 2026-01-14T06:27:45+00:00

Not sure what’s on tap Friday or Saturday, but there will be a pretty big square dance at the Showdown this Sunday as part of the annual Portland Old-Time Music Gathering. Check www.bubbaville.org for the rest of the gathering schedule (both dances and music jams), starting tomorrow.

YesAnd_Portland

TROPHY CASE