Dearest Darlings:

I know, I know, you can't hardly wait for tonight's big Club 21 grand re-opening (or, 're-grand opening,' as a tattered banner on my local dry cleaner said for a couple of years).

Le Club is now under promising new ownership (Gold Dust Meridian's Warren), and word on the street (okay, according to BarFly's own Krummy) is he's done a terrific job with the remodel. Look for a vastly expanded patio and an interior restored to its vintage roots.

Twenty-One's iconic rooftop neon "STEAKS FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT" may actually mean something again, for the first time in decades - after all, GDM is deservedly well-known for its excellent bar menu. Hopefully, Club 21 will kick-ass in the kitchen department, too.

Now, it's going to be INSANELY busy in there tonight, so if you're not up for fjording through a sure to be wall-to-wall crowd, no matter how creme-de-la-creme, save your first trip back to the old girl for NEXT Friday, 9/30, when T.G.I.BarFly brings the party to Twenty-One, with none other than DJ HWY 7 and The Ghost Train (a.k.a. Jay Martin and Sean Croghan)!

But, that's not until next Friday, so who cares about that? Today, Friday, September 23rd, T.G.I.BarFly is hitting the Slab. Town that is, (1033 NW 16th).

It'll be a happy hour dance party, in full effect, with special guest deejay, DJ HazMatt, a.k.a. Statutory Ray!

Last time Statutory Ray pulled T.G.I.BarFly duty, he had the whole place a-go-going, and that's not easy to do at The Speakeasy. Slabtown will be swinging, alright!

Even if you don't have a lot of twinkle in your toes, you'll enjoy the free eats - Slabtown always puts on a fine spread (and there'll be $3.25 wells, $3.25 micros, and $3 menu, too, throughout the festivities).

Here's DJ HazMatt doing his best to look like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.


If you're not excited enough already, this should put you over the top - I will PERSONALLY be giving away gift certificates to our lucky raffle winners from our fabulous T.G.I.BarFly sponsors, "Aesthetician to the Stars," Jane Cowan, Voodoo Doughnut, Landmark Saloon, and, of course, BarFly Bus.

I'll also be picking up freshly minted BarFly t-shirts, hot of the screen-printer, and you can buy one live and in person for a measly $5, and/or win one in the raffle. Good times, good times!

Here's a brief rundown of gigs I personally endorse attending:

Sat 9/24
Star Bar's First Anniversary Party
Tiny bar, big bands: Cyclotron, Burning Leather, Shut Your Animal Face, and DJ Smooth Hopperator. We heart Star Bar!
Star Bar
639 SE Morrison
8pm, free

Sat 9/24
The Satin Chaps, Papillon, Paradise, DJ Drew Groove
Pure pop for now people! This show's going to be positively dreamy: The Satin Chaps are a groovy super-group of sorts (bits and pieces of Dandies, High Violets, Sugar Lumps, and Fast Computers, don't you know). Papillon is not only groovy, but French, too - and they hardly ever play PDX anymore, having forsaken our fair city for L.A., some years ago). And DJ Drew Groove? Well, duh. You'll want to shine your shoes (and, maybe take some 'shrooms. Just sayin'.) before you head out to this one.
Kenton Club
2025 N Kilpatrick St
9pm, free

Sat 9/24
Girls Going Single!
A face-melting combo-record swap, dj dance party, and girl-group cover song night, featuring a band that I've heard nothing but great things about, but have yet to actually hear - Guantanamo Baywatch.
East End
203 SE Grand
7pm, free

Mon 9/26
Cosmonauts, Boom, Burnt Ones, The Shivas
East End
203 SE Grand
9pm, $6
Black Lips' label-mates, Cosmonauts headline a bill of the cutest little Sixties psychedelic fuzz-rock bands you ever did see. Be prepared to feel like Grandma or Grandpa if you're over 30, but go anyway - it's okay to watch.

Now, don't forget to come on down to Slabtown, and show your pretty and oh-so-handsome faces on Friday evening. It's right after work, from 5pm-8pm - the perfect pre-func for your Friday night!

That's this Friday, September 23rd from 5pm-8pm, at Slabtown (1033 NW 16th)

Be all the BarFly you can be - BE THERE!

Word to your mothers,

Miss Jen Lane
BarFly Fame

P.S. You can now join us on Facebook and on Twitter. Whoopee.



What is T.G.I.BarFly? Every Friday, T.G.I.BarFly will bring the party to a different bar, with fabulous deejays, occasional live bands, appearances by Babe Force BarFly, silly contests, raffles, prizes galore, free appetizers, and happy hour deals and steals galore. Get your weekend off and running at T.G.I.BarFly!

This will be the rarest of opportunities - the chance to see DJ HazMatt, without all those annoying naked women around!

Since DJ HazMatt's alter-ego won the 2011 BarFly Award for "Most Good Writer," here's a blurb from the man himself:

Although a man of many words, Statutory Ray aka "DJ HazMatt" (Exotic Magazine, Barfly, 1HRx Records, etc) occasionally shuts up long enough to lay down DJ sets for live, studio and broadcast crowds. Having performed over a decade of events ranging from dance clubs to strip joints, and weddings to wakes, DJ HazMatt possesses a diverse, crowd-oriented style. Swing by Slabtown for TGIBarfly this Friday, September 23rd, 5pm-8pm, for a variety of live mixes, unique mash-ups and random songs from way back when, all provided by DJ HazMatt.



Don't miss the most popular guy in Portland's birthday bash, on Wednesday, October 5th, at Star Theater, from 8pm-close! John "Elvis" Schroder has been a good friend of BarFly for years now, and it's our pleasure to present his birthday party, for the seventh year in a row!

As ever, we have a killer line-up for your listening pleasure:

Advisory

Hog Wild (a veritable PDX supergroup - namely, Freak Show Rodeo's Harvey Hardcock, Diamond Tuck's Jedediah Aaker, Popewyrm's Jason Fell, and Richmond Fontaine's Dan Eccles!)

Frank Furter and The Hot Dogs

Leaders

Holy Children

Naturally, Elvis will be joining each of the bands on stage, singing some of his top hits. He'll also be doing a fun trivia contest with fabulous prizes from Voodoo Doughnut and BarFly Bus Tours!

Bonus: Miss Jen Lane of BarFly fame emcees and dance parties it up between bands, as everybody's favorite DJ Meow.

Here's a snapshot of Elvis, at BarFly's 12th Anniversary BBQ Bash, this past June, at Tonic.


You may not recognize him at his birthday party, as master barber Josh Poole of Heads High Barbershop is giving Elvis a make-over, just before the festivities begin!

Elvis's Birthday Party is free, and open to anyone 21 or older. A very special Rita Peta's home-made birthday cake and Voodoo Doughnuts will be served.

Don't forget to bring a present for The King! Cash donations to Elvis's Disneyland Fund will be accepted at the door.

The fabulous Star Theater is just around the corner from Roseland, at 13 NW 6th.

Can't get enough Elvis? Check out the interview he did with Miss Jen Lane way back in 2004. Click here to read the interview.

Be Elvis's buddy on the interweb on MySpace by clicking here.