Popular Portland bartender and film maker, Doug Baum, died in his sleep sometime in the wee hours of Thursday, October 23, 2008. He was thirty-eight years old. News of his death shocked friends, as Baum appeared to be in good health and high spirits, when seen at a birthday party the previous evening. The ebullient Baum was said to be touting the benefits of a new diet, proudly proclaiming the loss of ten pounds, and attributing the night's sobriety to its strict regimen. He was happily enmeshed in producing a new movie, as well as planning his 2009 wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Autumn. They shared a happy, pug-filled, home in St. John's.

Baum was most recently employed as a bartender at the Slingshot, although he may still be most closely associated with Sabala's Mount Tabor, where he worked the bar in the Sideshow Lounge until it closed its doors. In 2006, he and Jen Lane produced BarFly's weekly "Cathouse" dance party there (see picture), and he was occasionally in BarFly's employ as a BarFly Bus host, and event bartender.

Film-making was Baum's passion, and he excelled as a producer, wrangling indie crews on shoestring budgets for a variety of Portland-based projects (see his IMDB profile, here). He was partners with Jason Sabala in Crippled Angel Films ("Two Fisted"), and with Todd and Jason Freeman in Doghole Productions ("Come Hell or High Water"). He also appeared as a performer in several films and videos (see here, and here). A longterm, unfinished pet project was assembling his extensive footage of performances and interviews with Poison Idea into a documentary about the seminal Portland band.

BadAzz MoFo's David Walker has posted a moving remembrance of his friend and colleague, here.

Memorial service scheduled for Thursday, October 30th, 1pm, at Hustad Funeral Home, (7232 N Richmond Ave, 503/286.9663).  Please contribute your own remembrances and any information updates, below.