I enjoy cocktails and drinks with friends, however I have never been motivated to participate in the “bar scene.” Recently, a friend was scheduled to appear on the Ed Forman Show at Dante’s, so we decided to check out this infamous locale.
Scheduled every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m., the Ed Forman Show is Aaron Ross’ rif on a 1970s talk show. In his role as Forman, Mr. Ross dons an intriguing plaid sports coat (white with red checkered pin stripes) and a wig that looks like it got in the middle of escalating hostilities between a cat and a bottle of hair gel during a long car ride. I understand that Mr. Ross has performed over a hundred shows and Forman in the last year. If what we saw on Tuesday is indicative of his past performances, my condolences to those audiences. I’ve read that Ross likes the challenge of improv and the interaction with the audience. While it is obvious to me that Ross is well read and can combine some wit with intelligence, he did not show any skill in handling the unpredictability of the audience, and towards the end, an audience that was turning against him. Ross needs a writer (or a script), an editor (to cut the dick jokes and improve his pacing), and the realization that he needs to learn how to dial back to let his guests shine.
The headline guest for this evening was Viva Las Vegas (a.k.a. Liv Osthus) whose book and memoir, Magic Gardens, arrives in stores next week. I first met Liv a few years ago at a dinner; a bright, beautiful gamine who glanced up with a bit of shy mischief before proffering a witty retort. At that time, she never shied away from the fact she began stripping 13 years ago. Today, she does not shy away from her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent mastectomy. When taking the stage at Dante’s, she wore her hair short and dark, with a “Duluth” t-shirt as a nod to her home state of Minnesota. She responded to Forman’s hormone-focused questions and odd Billy Idol serenade with grace. The moment of the evening was when Forman, in a weak attempt to emulate Craig Kilborn’s quiz style, asked Liv to chose either Highlights Magazine or High Life Magazine. Liv chose Highlights, remarking it was the first place she had been published at age seven (?!) and then recited the poem that had been published.
Magic Gardens: The Memoirs of Viva Las Vegas
While there was no cover, I ordered a Manhattan and Mister had a beer. The Manhattan came in a low ball with rocks, and no discernible evidence of vermouth or bitters. While it may be a classic cocktail, the bartender obviously had more experience with tapping kegs and mixing well drinks along the lines of rum and coke. As I nursed the Manhattan through the show before realizing there was a fly in it. (Really.) Dante’ also serves pizza to soak up the alcohol, but, with only one drink, my blood alcohol level was not high enough to warrant that experiment.
Manhattan on the rocks (with fly)
Dante’s
1 SW 3rd Ave
Portland, OR 97204
503.226.6630
www.danteslive.com
September 1, 2009
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