Portland's about to lose a great institution when the venerable Artichoke Music on SE Hawthorne Boulevard closes its doors. Many a wonderful musical note has come from that place -- including the first public piano performance by our first-born. The farewell to this special establishment is scheduled to run through the end of May.
Comments (11)
I bought three guitars and a banjo from Artichoke when Kate Power and Steve Einhorn were the owners. I love the Martin D1 I picked up there about 15 years ago and play it almost every day.
Artichoke always reminded me of this place, which has weathered the storms much better it seems -- a vigorous online sales dept., a happy music community (and in a much smaller city). Maybe they could work out a deal to become "Elderly Instruments West."
Sad story. I don't play an instrument, so haven't had the chance to shop there for myself, but I did buy my daughter a ukulele for her 3rd birthday. It's her "guitar." Since this is Portland, the most likely new tenants for the building would be: yoga studio, Thai restaurant, or a bank, which seems to be the fashionable new tenant to put into a retail spot these days.
Very sad news... I bought my first stringed instruments (mt. dulcimer, irish bouzouki, guitar) from Steve way back in the olden times. Steve, if you're reading this I still play the crap out of that Sobel 'zouk you sold me, with a pick always at the ready in that Artichoke keychain / pickholder you gave me gratis one day long ago. Thanks for many great musical memories.
With "It's a Beautiful Pizza" shut now too on Belmont, Portland has lost 2 great places where Portland musicians played live.
I'm on the Artichoke email list so I've been tracking this with a bad feeling. It still was quite a shock.
My favorite memories are when I used to stop by and clown around with Steve. He's very funny you know. One day we kicked around the idea of an expedition to the summit of Mt. Tabor complete with Sherpa guides and a base camp by the tennis courts.
Then one day I was there when Kate and Steve were performing and I must admit, I was floored. I still think of their song about Travis Baradach-Nall as the definitive song of the Iraq War. One of the defintive songs of all wars.
The new guys were great too. I filmed Will Hobbs in there a couple of times - one time his mother and daughter were in the crowd and it was community folk-singing magic. The sound was great and the room looked so interesting - like a deliberate movie set.
This is a huge bummer as was losing Carl's soulful presence on Belmont. Remember when he was on the Oregonian front page after the city stuck him with a ridiculous tax bill for crossing the street?
After all the times I played there and the old place, I never even got a chance to say good-bye. At least Artichoke is going out with some warning, and they mention that they want everyone to drop by on the way out.
This is epic. Somebody's got to write a song!
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
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Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
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David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
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Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
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Anthony Holden - Big Deal
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Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (11)
I bought three guitars and a banjo from Artichoke when Kate Power and Steve Einhorn were the owners. I love the Martin D1 I picked up there about 15 years ago and play it almost every day.
Posted by none | April 14, 2010 8:23 AM
That's awful news! I took ukulele lessons there - it is a beautiful space. :(
Posted by Sarah Bott | April 14, 2010 8:45 AM
Artichoke always reminded me of this place, which has weathered the storms much better it seems -- a vigorous online sales dept., a happy music community (and in a much smaller city). Maybe they could work out a deal to become "Elderly Instruments West."
http://www.elderly.com/welcome.htm
Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | April 14, 2010 9:35 AM
Sad story. I don't play an instrument, so haven't had the chance to shop there for myself, but I did buy my daughter a ukulele for her 3rd birthday. It's her "guitar." Since this is Portland, the most likely new tenants for the building would be: yoga studio, Thai restaurant, or a bank, which seems to be the fashionable new tenant to put into a retail spot these days.
Posted by Dave J. | April 14, 2010 9:37 AM
Terrible news!
Still no way I'm buying anything — not a single pick or string — from Portland Music Co.
Posted by ep | April 14, 2010 10:22 AM
Very sad news... I bought my first stringed instruments (mt. dulcimer, irish bouzouki, guitar) from Steve way back in the olden times. Steve, if you're reading this I still play the crap out of that Sobel 'zouk you sold me, with a pick always at the ready in that Artichoke keychain / pickholder you gave me gratis one day long ago. Thanks for many great musical memories.
Posted by Marc V. | April 14, 2010 10:46 AM
With "It's a Beautiful Pizza" shut now too on Belmont, Portland has lost 2 great places where Portland musicians played live.
I'm on the Artichoke email list so I've been tracking this with a bad feeling. It still was quite a shock.
My favorite memories are when I used to stop by and clown around with Steve. He's very funny you know. One day we kicked around the idea of an expedition to the summit of Mt. Tabor complete with Sherpa guides and a base camp by the tennis courts.
Then one day I was there when Kate and Steve were performing and I must admit, I was floored. I still think of their song about Travis Baradach-Nall as the definitive song of the Iraq War. One of the defintive songs of all wars.
The new guys were great too. I filmed Will Hobbs in there a couple of times - one time his mother and daughter were in the crowd and it was community folk-singing magic. The sound was great and the room looked so interesting - like a deliberate movie set.
This is a huge bummer as was losing Carl's soulful presence on Belmont. Remember when he was on the Oregonian front page after the city stuck him with a ridiculous tax bill for crossing the street?
After all the times I played there and the old place, I never even got a chance to say good-bye. At least Artichoke is going out with some warning, and they mention that they want everyone to drop by on the way out.
This is epic. Somebody's got to write a song!
Posted by Bill McDonald | April 14, 2010 11:30 AM
This is epic. Somebody's got to write a song!
True that.
Posted by none | April 14, 2010 5:32 PM
All 'Choked Up.
Posted by Mojo | April 15, 2010 12:08 AM
I agree with none...Somebody has GOT to write a song. Artichoke deserves that.
Indeed, I'd think there'd be a whole raft of sad ballads about this incident.
Yeah...I'm all 'Choked up, too.
Posted by godfry | April 15, 2010 7:45 AM
Actually, I was seconding Bill McDonald's suggestion.
But, yeah, somebody ought to write a song.
Come to think of it, I bet Kate and Steve probably have a couple.
Posted by none | April 15, 2010 8:23 AM