November 2023 Check-In's

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Fenix Rising Blues Band Every Thursday At
The Blue Diamond, Portland, Oregon
Thursday, November 2, 2023

The Blue Diamond was fairly crowded this evening, almost back to its pre-Covid Lockdown crowds. Prior to the Covid Lockdowns, The Blue Diamond did not charge a cover charge. Now they charge a cover charge depending on the band and day of the week. For Fenix Rising every Thursday the cover charge is $5 per person. I'm sure this really helps in paying the band rather than relying on just tips to pay the band.

The Blue Diamond has a greatly improved wine list, craft beers on tap selection, and menu than what they used to have when we first started coming here in 2011.

Tamir Hendelman Plays Stan Getz
with special guest Grace Kelly
At The 1905, Portland, Oregon
Saturday, November 4, 2023

Tamir Hendelman, Piano; Grace Kelly, Saxophone

Tamir Hendelman appears on recordings by Paul McCartney, Michael Buble and Diana Krall. He has performed with Benny Golson, Eddie Henderson, Houston Person, James Moody and Sean Jones and has recorded and arranged for Richard Galliano, Lori Bell, Graham Dechter and Claudio Roditi.

About Grace: An unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer and band leader Grace Kelly has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 14 acclaimed albums and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl as well as being part of the house band for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" -- all before reaching her mid-twenties. As of Oct 2022 she has become the youngest member of the Board of Trustees of Berklee College of Music.

Unfortunately, we missed this performance as I had spend most of the day in the Emergency Room thinking I may have had appendicitis. Fortunately, it so far appears it may be a sprained muscle. We don't know yet as I still woke up in a lot of pain the following morning.

Nathan Eklund with the Christopher Brown Quartet
At The 1905, Portland, Oregon
Monday, November 6, 2023

Nathan Eklund with the Christopher Brown Quartet at The 1905, Portland, Oregon. Nathan Eklund, Trumpet; John Nastos, Alto Saxophone; Greg Goebel, Piano; Garrett Baxter, Bass; Christopher Brown, Drums.

CyberBeer + CyberStein
Limited Edition Set
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

My CyberBeer + CyberStein arrived on Thursday but I didn't have a chance to pick it up from our mailbox until today.

Cheers, sip, repeat. The Tesla CyberBeer and CyberStein Limited Edition Set celebrates the angular exoskeleton of Cybertruck. Includes two bottles of Tesla CyberBeer, a Helles Lager with European Noble Hops Saaz and Hallertau Mittlefruh. Accentuated by notes of herb and spice and more notable aromas of tea and citrus, each bottle features a gloss black sleeve with a CyberBeer watermark (that looks even better chilled). The two matte black ceramic beer steins were glazed and fired to mirror the form of Cybertruck and finished with a gloss interior and signature Tesla logo.

• Each box contains two CyberBeers and two CyberSteins
• Ingredients: Premium German malts, noble hops and water
• Brewed and bottled in California by Buzzrock Brewing Co

Maryhill Winery At The
Vancouver Waterfront, Vancouver, Washington
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

We stopped by for our free wine flights as wine club members. We can stop in everyday if we wanted to and have a free wine flight. Normally the wine flight costs $40 per person, but getting them free is a benefit of being a wine club member. We usually come only on the days they have live music which is Sunday afternoon and Monday and Wednesday evenings.

Dance Hall Days Band At
Billy Blues Bar & Grill, Vancouver, Washington
Thursday, November 9, 2023

A great selection of IPA craft beer on tap. We got there about 20 minutes before the band started but all the good tables were already taken! We had to sit in the back room. We could hear the band fine but could not see it very well. This was the most crowded we had ever seen Billy Blues. They have live music almost every night of the week. Most nights are free without a cover charge except Friday and Saturday. So tonight there was no cover charge and "Dance Hall Days" is a very popular band in the Portland area.

Kitchen Table Cafe
Our Favorite Breakfast Place
In Salmon Creek, Vancouver, Washington
Friday, November 10, 2023

Jazz Singer & Band At
Clyde's Prime Rib Restaurant
Vancouver, Washington
Friday, November 10, 2023

Myrtle Brown & The Executive Groove Blues Band
Blue Diamond, Portland, Oregon
Saturday, November 11, 2023

Over the years The Blue Diamond has greatly improved in all ways. The only IPA on tap they used to offer was Laganitas from California which I hate. Now they offer multiple IPAs from local Portland craft breweries. They used to only offer one type of red and one type of white wine. Now they have several to select from by the glass or the bottle. Many years ago they took down thei divider between the bar and restaurant so everyone can now see the bands. They also greatly upgraded the decor and re-arranged the tables in a more logical manner. They also added a $5 to $10 cover charge when bands are playing which helps them afford the bands. That has made the place much less crowded. It used to be packed wall to wall every night by many who only ordered a glass of water or one beer and enjoyed the free music. The only sad thing is they are no longer open Monday or Tuesday nights. They used to have specific bands that would play every night of the week with more famous bands rotating on Fridays and Saturdays.

We came here to see the "Myrtle Brown & The Executive Groove" blues band. We wanted to see a different sax player besides Fenix who we see here playing every Thursday evening. You can see the Myrtle Brown & The Executive Groove blues band in the left photo above. But instead it looks like Fenix is substituting for their usual sax player as you can see in the right photo above. At least he will probably be playing mostly the sax tonight rather than singing as he usually does for 50% or more of his time when he performs on Thursday nights.

Ron Steen Jazz Jam
Most Monday Nights At 10 PM At
The 1905, Portland, Oregon
Monday, November 13, 2023

Ben Rice & The Portland Hustle Band
Billy Blues Bar & Grill, Vancouver, Washington
Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Taking A Morning 1.5 Mile Walk At
The Salmon Creek Greenway Trail
Near Our Vancouver, Washington, Home
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

OMSI After Dark Uncorked Wine Tasting
OMSI, Portland, Oregon
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Spellbound Band At
Billy Blues Bar & Grill, Vancouver, Washington
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

PDX Jazz Thursdays at
Lovely Rita, The Hoxton, Portland
Idit Shner
Thursday, November 16, 2023

An active performer of both jazz and classical music, Idit Shner has played in various distinguished venues in the United States and abroad, such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center in New York. Currently Shner plays with her jazz quartet in Eugene and Portland, Oregon.

The 1905 Jazz Bar, Portland, Oregon
Closes Permanently Forever
Friday, November 17, 2023

The Alberta Street Pub, Portland, Oregon
Friday, November 17, 2023

The Groove Cabin At
The Alberta Street Pub, Portland, Oregon
Friday, November 17, 2023

Henry Fields and The Electric Yes At
The Alberta Street Pub, Portland, Oregon
Friday, November 17, 2023

Zoo Lights At The Oregon Zoo
Sunday, November 19, 2023

Oregon's most popular holiday tradition is just around the corner! Kids and adults agree: it wouldn't be the holidays in Portland without a visit to Zoo Lights. Enjoy an immersive and dazzling display of millions of lights!

Ron Steen Jazz Jam At
Clyde's Prime Rib, Portland, Oregon
Sunday, November 19, 2023

Dinner At
McGrath's Fish House, Vancouver, Washington
Monday, November 20, 2023

Our Flight From Portland (PDX), Oregon,
To Orange County (SNA), California
Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Trailer Park Amigos Country Rock Band At
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Dave Fruth & Stephen Grande
Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Citizen O'Kane Classic Rock Band
Featuring Stan & Dana Along With Some Members Of The
Trailer Park Amigos Country Rock Band At
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Dave & Christina Fruth, Barbara & Stephen
Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Usually The Fling Cocktail Lounge is not very busy on a Wednesday night. It is often just Stan O'Kane playing and singing by himself. But tonight he was joined by Dana as well as the lead guitar player / singer and the drummer from the Trailer Park Amigos. By the time we left, the place was extremely crowded, about as crowded as it would be on a Friday or Saturday evening.

Thanksgiving Dinner At
Buca Di Beppo, Brea, California
Linda Lopez, Brian & Sherica Chuchua, Barbara & Stephen
Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Citizen O'Kane Classic Rock Band
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Linda Lopez, Dave Fruth, Barbara & Stephen
Friday, November 24, 2023

Citizen O'Kane Classic Rock Band
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Linda Lopez, Barbara & Stephen
Sunday, November 26, 2023

Going For A Walk In The
Oak Canyon Nature Center
Near Our House In Anaheim Hills, California
Monday, November 27, 2023

There are a number of different trails in this nature center near our Anaheim Hills house, the longest of which is 3 miles. We just did the shorter easiest one today that is pretty level and less than a mile. The above lower left photo shows the location of the high ridge trail that is part of the 3 mile trail. Surprisingly the above ducks started chasing me! Visitors are not supposed to feed the ducks, but I guess some must do that as these ducks seemed to expect that I was going to feed them.

Monthly Wine & Rail Travel Meetup At
The Twisted Vine, Fullerton, California
Betty, Carl, Don Roe & Stephen
Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Trailer Park Amigos Country Rock Band At
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Scott Kessler, Barbara & Stephen
Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Stan O'Kane of Citizen O'Kane, Class Rock Singer / Guitarist at
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Wenesday, November 29, 2023

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