Happy OktoMataBusFest! WTF is OktoMataBusFest? Just another super-duper extra-awesome weekend here in the best city, ever! There's so much afoot in the next few, let's get right to it, shall we?

Now, of course, we'll be kicking off the weekend with T.G.I.BarFly, today, Friday, September 16th, at the fabulous Matador (1967 West Burnside), from 5-8pm, with yours truly, DJ Meow bringing the noise. There'll be free eats, fabulous prize drawings, and $3 wells and $1.50 PBR, throughout the festivities. The Matador always puts on a fine spread, so come hungry (and early!).

Fun fact: I broke the glass dj booth at The Matador way back in '01 - I was the first deejay with a pussy in there, and it was my first deejay gig, hence my deejay name, DJ Meow!

This is The Matador's 40th anniversary weekend, and there's a big party all day/night long on Saturday - more on than in just a little bit.

In the meanwhile, there are a couple or three things you should work into your itinerary. As long as we're clear that you absolutely must be at The Matador at some point between 5pm and 8pm, on Friday, then I'll go ahead an hip to you a couple of so-called 'competing' events. The Matador will be a convenient jumping off point, or suitable apres destination for either or both of these, so you have my blessing to attend these, in addition to T.G.I.BarFly.

Oregon Children's Theater Annual Costume and Prop Sale Pre-Party
Friday, 9/16, 5-9pm, at The Galleria (600 SW 10th)
Booze and costumes? It'll never fly in Portland, but the Oregon Children's Theater is going to try it, anyway. Their annual Burner-orgy/fundraiser, the costume and prop sale, kicks off Friday evening with a pre-sale party 5-9pm. $10 adv/$20 at the door nets you first pick at the goods, whiskey tastings, and free appetizers, beer, and wine, too. Did you know The Galleria is still around? Much to my surprise, it is, and that's where the party is - 600 SW 10th. The costume and props sale continues Saturday (10am-5pm) and Sunday (12-4pm), and it's free on those days, by the by.

Saint Cupcake Galore Grand Opening Party
Friday, 9/16, 5-7pm, Saint Cupcake Galore (1130 SW Morrison)
Holy crap! Saint Cupcake celebrates the grand opening of their new downtown digs - Saint Cupcake Galore - with free cupcakes AND CHAMPAGNE! Now, that's a recipe for a good time. It's from 5-7pm at 1130 SW Morrison. Caveat: there will most certainly be hordes of those dreadful children on hand. Don't forget the duct tape.

Mortified: Portland
Friday and Saturday, 9/16-17, 8pm, Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan)
Ah, Mortified! Get in touch with your inner adolescent at this very dramatic reading of the dearest of diaries by their all-growed-up-now authors. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you may even break-out. Trust me, it's worth the $12 at the door, if there are any tickets left. I recommend buying in advance. Friday and Saturday at 8pm at Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan). Different line-ups each night.

BarFly Bus to Mount Angel Oktoberfest
Saturday, 9/17, 3-9pm, departing from top-secret Portland location
It's not too late to run away with BarFly Bus to Mount Angel Oktoberfest to Oktoberfest in Mount Angel! We're leaving at 3pm on Saturday from our top-secret location. Frankly, I always thought I would hate Mount Angel Oktoberfest (sadly, yes, even I can be occasionally "too cool for school"), but I WAS WRONG! It's soooo much fun, and the BarFly Bus is the way to go - DUI and Oktoberfest go hand in hand like Hansel and Gretel - make like a professional, and get on the Bus! Bonus: you can enjoy your own adult beverages on board. Feel free to BYOB. Ticket sales close at noon on Saturday, so get yours, now! Click here for tickets.

The Matador's 40th Anniversary
Saturday, 9/17, 11am-2:30am, 1967 West Burnside
Lordy, lordy, look who's forty! My personal pied-a-terre of choice on the westside is pulling out all the stops for their big 4-0, with a day- and night-long party featuring rock, roll, wrestling, and more blasts from the past than your high school reunion (and with people you'll actually want to see, no less). The mighty Angelo "Pooch" Marchi, the Matador's patriarch, has returned from his self-imposed exile in Californ-i-a to host the extravaganza (and he'll be wrestling Elvis, too!). I'm deejaying a set, along with Moisti, DJ Trans Fat, Karaoke from Hell (on at 3pm), Sexy Water Spiders, Frank Furter and the Hot Dogs, Chi Chi and Chonga, and Ill Camino. Rumor has it, this is going to be a Bag Night, too, which is basically a giant indoor water (and other, uh, fluids) fight, so make an outfit out of trash bags and/or be prepared to pull one on over your duds at the door - you'll need it.

On another note: I can't believe I'm older than The Matador! WTF?

The Works: Dance Truck
Saturday, 9/17, 10:30-11:30pm, Washington_High_School (SE Stark and 13th)
A little bit of the not-so-dirty South comes to Portland for what promises to be another truly unique show, courtesy of the cool kids over at PICA's TBA Festival. Atlanta's Dance Truck is a pop-up dance theater, with semis for stages, rolled to wherever the party's happening - think Alvin Ailey on acid, and you'll have the beginning of the idea. This PICA-produced performance features works by "Woolly Mammoth Comes To Dinner" (they're Portland-based, natch), among other Atlanta and Portland based troupes.

A note on The Works: I caught Vockah Redu last Thursday's The Works, on stage in the old high school's auditorium, and my mind is STILL blown. That's a star, right there - mark my words. Really, it's kinda worth the price of admission (a measly $5) just to go party in the old school - it's that rad. There's art in every room, and the outdoor beer garden (which has limited full bar and will have oh-so-southern mint juleps on hand for Dance Truck), is people-watching and people-picking-up heaven. It's really too bad The Works isn't in business year-round.

It's a safe bet that Sunday won't really be happening for me or a lot of you fine folk, so let's just call for pizza and catch up on the Netflix. That way, we'll be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for Jedediah's Short-Shorts Night at Tonic on Monday, 9/19, (10pm, free, 3100 NE Sandy).

Tuesday night's got it going on! Flip a coin - Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band will be packing the house at Dante's 9/20, $14, 9pm) and BarFly fave rave, Gaytheist, will be packing something else, entirely, over at Kenton Club, along with their little pals Monogamy Party and Cougar (9/20, free, 9pm).

Word to your mothers,

Miss Jen Lane
BarFly Fame