SOME COOL (cheap) STUFF IN PORTLAND

I was just reading something about cool happenings in Portland and thought I would share a few:

• $1 matinees at the Mission Theater every weekend. 503.223.4527.


• Free sacred choral music at St. Stephen's Church every Saturday at 7:30. You have to sit through the Vigil Mass - in Latin, but I hear the music is heavenly. 503.234.5019


• Free food tastings at: New Seasons 11-5 Sat & Sun - all locations


• Free chocolate fondue for two at The Melting Pot when you sign up for the fondue club at http://www.themeltingpotclubfondue.com/.


• (this one cracks me up!) If someone acts out the boombox scene from Say Anything outside the window of Ginger Salon, they get a free deep treatment valued at $75. They will drop a gift cert out the 2nd floor window if you do this between the hours of 11 and 6 anytime between 1/28 and 1/31. 503.546.4689 http://www.gingersalon.com/


• Free order of large fries or small poutine (I had to look it up online - it's fries with cheese curds and brown gravy) when you answer a trivia question at Potato Champion, http://www.potatochampion.com/. Offer god 8p.m. - 3 a.m. Wed & Thur and 8pm-10pm Fri & Sat nights through Feb 14.


• Free vegan muffin when you bring an origianl haiku about sheep, meat, or bicycles to Black Sheep Bakery through Feb 14. http://www.blacksheepbakery.com/.


• A dozen doughnuts for $6 at Voodoo Doughnuts through the end of Feb. Called the "Hard Knox Box." http://www.voodoodoughnut.com/ (not for the faint of heart)


• Free full size cupcake from Saint Cupcake when you bring in an evelope stamped and addressed to your mom through Feb 8. http://www.saintcupcake.com/


• (this one's a little different so stick with me on this) $10 to rent a private karaoke booth every Tuesday night from 7-11 p.m.at Voicebox. I don't know how many people you can get into your private room, but it sounds like a fun thing for you and a few friends. http://www.voiceboxpdx.com/


• Free police ridealongs. No, you don't have to commit a crime! And no, it's not a "back seat ridealong." You can go for an hour or an entire 10-hour shift. Contact your local precinct at www.portlandonline.com/police and click on "Precinct Infomation" to find precinct phone numbers.


• 25% off your purchase at Music Millenium when you wear your swimsuit and a pair of cowboy boots and sing Johnny Cash. Seriously. Hey, some people LIKE public humiliation. This time, they can get REWARDED for it! http://www.musicmillenium.com/


• Free Valentine's Day Car that you create on Oblation Papers' antique letterpress from 10 a.m. - noon on 1/31.


• Get an extra $5 in trade when you sell your books at Powell's and metion "Morrison the Squirrel through Feb 14. http://www.powells.com/


• (this one is just weird. And I love it!) Save 20% at Tender Loving Empire (books, clothes, music) when you sing "Beat It" with your undies over your clothes. I'm not sure how long they are offering this and I can't find a web site. 503.243.5859


• Get an extra 20% off apparel Feb 4-8 at Macy's when you wear an all-red ensemble. http://www.macys.com/

Also, check out http://aroundthesunblog.com/ for great (cheap) things to do in Portland.