Entertainment report for week ending 3/3: May the snow last and the music keep playing

 

In a previous lifetime, I was the dean of a ski school at a small ski area in the Midwest. Our season would begin in December when we would have made enough piles of snow with our snow guns to spread it evenly across the skiable terrain. It could be likened to frosting a big cake. Some winters, the only snow to be found was on those ski runs between the top of the chairlift and the loading area at the base. Mother Nature could not be counted on to help us.

As we approached March, all the employees began to speculate on the closing date. It would be chosen due to lack of snow, or lack of skier interest- if there was no snow in people’s front yards, they kind of forgot about skiing, as it were. I don’t remember any season where we were open after St. Patty’s Day. The day after buttoning up the ski hill turned out to be a great time to pile into the van and make the 20 hour drive to Colorado for some real skiing, and spring skiing, at that.

Last winter, the ski season started early at Willamette Pass Resort, due to big snowfalls in November. There were still willing skiers showing up well into the month of May. This year, the snow was late in coming, but the base has been steadily accumulating. Will we still be making turns in May again? It’s too soon to tell.

Willamette Pass Resort is a winter sports facility where people show up, have their fun, and then hop in the car and return home, or to their accommodations many miles away. Unlike many ski developments, there are no condos and pricey shops and restaurants at the base. It has the feel of a “mom and pop” operation that was prevalent in the Midwest, but with 1800 feet of vertical drop, something not to be found in the heartland.

In addition to some excellent skiing and snowboarding, Willamette Pass Resort has entertainment in the lounge every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from noon until 3 pm. I’ve been covering the Saturday shift and Sidney Joseph has been spending his Sundays on stage with guitar in hand. I’ve played in a lot of different types of venues over the years, and singing songs for a bar full of skiers is as good as it gets. Willamette Pass Resort has a full bar and appetizers, sandwiches and pizza on the menu. They’re located at milepost 62 on Highway 58 and open 7 days a week through the rest of the ski season.

Eric Leadbetter and Ethan J. Perry at the Crane this weekend

Down the hill in Oakridge, the 3 Legged Crane serves as a stopover for many of those skiers on their return to civilization after a day on the slopes. This weekend will find Eric Leadbetter on stage this Friday evening, March 1. Eric is a virtuoso on the guitar and a wizard with the looper, crafting some complex arrangements, much like listening to a full band. You can find out more about Eric at ericleadbettermusic.com. He is scheduled to begin playing at 7 pm.

On Saturday night, Ethan J. Perry will be bringing his show to Oakridge. He is a singer-songwriter, like many of the performers who play at the Crane. After listening to a few cuts on his website, ethanjperry.com, I think calling his music “Dylan-esque” would be a fair and accurate description. After finishing my gig at the ski hill, settling in with a pint of stout and listening to a fellow musician sounds like a perfect Saturday night.

Just announced! There will be a special Leap Year edition of the open mic, as Barbara’s Paint and Pint is not scheduled. This sets a precedent, and John will be scheduling an open mic on the next Thursday that falls on a Leap Day, February 29, 2052.

The 3 Legged Crane is located on 1st Street in uptown Oakridge. They brew their own beer and have appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu.

Diamond Peak Wine Bar sans wine, will be open during 1st Friday Art Walk

A half block to the west is the Diamond Peak Wine Bar, although, due to the bureaucratic nature of the modern world, they won’t be able to serve any wine for a while yet. Holly will be having an open house for the First Friday Artwalk. It’s a great chance to get out and see what’s happening in the uptown galleries. Artwalk takes place this Friday from 5 until 7 pm. I’ll be onstage there with my ukulele providing the soundtrack for the affair.

Don’t expect country at the DLC this Friday

The Dexter Lake Club will be featuring Natsukashii Soul this Friday evening, March 1. This 5-piece band describes themselves as a Neo-Soul-Acid Jazz-Funk Band. That covers a lot of ground and sounds quite intriguing. You can probably keep your Garth and Hank Jr. requests to yourself that night. Find out more about the band at natsukashiisoul.com. The Dexter Lake Club has a full bar and the adjacent Rattlesnake BBQ features appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu. They can be found on the south side of Highway 58 by milepost 12.

As a side note, this is Leap Year, and we have an extra day in February, which, for lack of better terms, is called February 29. If you were born on this day, you only have a true birthday every 4 years. This saves friends and family a lot of money on birthday presents. When you finally observe your 21st birthday, and can have a legal drink, no one will have to ask to see your ID card.

In keeping our calendar as accurate as possible as the Earth spins its way through space, every 400 years we skip a Leap Year. In 2100, normally a Leap Year, there will be no February 29.

I’m sure that’s enough food for thought for one week. In addition to providing you with the entertainment round-up next week, I’ll explain Daylight Savings Time to my readers. Have a great week.