bus project

Lots of fun get-out-the-vote activities are happening this weekend leading up to the elections, and we hear lawyer Steve Novick, former candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be joining the Magical Mystery Bus Tour traveling around the state.

The Bus Project's "Big Bus" from PDX will be arriving about 5:15 pm Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Amazon Community Center, 2700 Hilyard. Canvassing for Kitty Piercy will follow.

The Big Bus is off to Bend for overnight (might be room to join the rolling party) and will reappear at 4:30 pm Sunday at The Station, 570 Blair Blvd.
Anything can happen, so call 334-6727 to confirm canvassing and phone banking info. Email jessica@kittypiercy.com

Jeff Merkley's wife, Mary Sorteberg, will also be in Eugene to rally volunteers before canvassing at 11:45 am Saturday at 1178 High St. For info, call Julie at (202) 730-6272.

Via the Portland Mercury's blog, I discovered that the Portland Bus Project/Portland Mercury's Debate Club has been renamed Brewhaha in a nod to Eugene's version of the monthly political slam at downtown restaurants and bars.

I mostly need to note this because:

1) I came up with the name Brewhaha when we sat down to plan our own version of Debate Club (yes, my pride is spilling out my sleeve all over the table, knocking over your drinks). Thinking Debate Club was painfully dull (and evoked an image of geeky high schoolers meeting behind the gymnasium bleachers to compare notes), we set out to find a unique moniker (and apparently Portland liked it so much they now use it). Others were considered, including (if I remember correctly): Beer Talk, Foaming at the Mouth, Sexy Time, Talk to the Hand, Hot Seat, Eugene Area Singles Social Club ... but my memory is sorta sketchy.

2) Other than reporting on last month's Brewhaha from the shadows and live-blogging the inaugural slam, I've been pretty much absent from this event. I apologize, Bus Project peeps!!! You work so hard and all the Weekly does is promote with ads/posters and make feeble suggestions. I'll try to get my act together and become more involved as we enter the precarious election months of August, September and October.

3) Speaking of promo, there's another Brewhaha next week and it returns to its original venue: Davis' Restaurant. Here's all the deets:

We're here, we're queer, we drink beer.

The Bus Project’s monthly Brewhaha political debate in cahoots with Eugene Weekly is happening from 6 to 8 pm Wednesday, Nov. 28 at Davis’ Restaurant on Broadway downtown.

Last month we debated the pros and cons of ballot measures, and this month we’re looking at “What the (Bleep) Happens Next with Our Downtown?”

The list of speakers is still being finalized, but regardless it promises to be a lively discussion, looking at both lofty visions and practical possibilities.

Tonight (Tuesday) the City Council is meeting with developers to talk about various options now that the big project is off the table. So Wednesday’s Brewhaha should be a good opportunity to get up to speed on “what the (bleep) happens next.”

Check back later tonight or tomorrow morning for a recap of all the action. Game on!