Badbeard's has seen a lot of fundraising activity of late, between the Haitian relief calls and local (Portland, OR) arts organizations.  It's refreshing to see the sacrifices being made by lots of ordinary folks who could use a nice bailout of their own.  Providing java for the Portland Youth Philharmonic gave me the opportunity to hear some of our outstanding local talent, conducted by David Hattner (who happily I knew from NYC freelance music circles of yesteryear). Bravo guys and gals!

We're currently working with some other local roasters and importers on securing some fine Haitian Highland coffees, the logistics for which has of course gotten enormously complicated with the earthquake, aftershocks and general chaos.  So much of the arable land there has been ruined it will be no mean feat for farmers to recover, a nd we will support their rebuilding efforts.  Hopefully our customers will help us with this endeavor...will continue posting on this.  Meanwhile bravos to all who have sacrificed to help the Haitians...especially our Portland-based Mercy Corps.

Barista extraordinaire Ty Hauptman makes the first or many elegant lattes to come with Badbeard's new Symphony Blend. Thumbs up from the customers...soon to come a dedicated Symphony Espresso which will incorporate the finest coffees from Brazil, Panama, Sumatra and Ethiopia. 

Baristas beware...Tyler will soon be competing! 

In support of my fellow local musicians in the Oregon Symphony Orchestra....call it "quid pro joe"....Badbeard's has crafted SYMPHONY, a bold blend of our finest Panama, Sumatra and Ethiopian coffees.  Two dollars for every 1 lb. bag sold will be kicked in to the orchestra's coffers...thinking ahead to the OSO's slated debut in Carnegie Hall in NYC in 2011.  Having performed with these superb musicians over the years Badbeard's roastmaster wants to give back in kind.  We have stepped up efforts with donations in fundraisers for the OSO and will continue to do so in these tough times.  We have a thriving yet struggling arts scene here in Portland and want to keep the trail blazing!  Thanks for all your help!

For those of the no-buzz persuasion, a decaffeinated version of this coffee forthcoming in the next two weeks....

well, it is, but take a look at the following article which appeared on the website of the SCAA, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (www.scaa.org). ***DISCLAIMER***Badbeard's Coffee is not a SCAA member***

A very thoughtful recitation by Ric Rhinehart, SCAA Executive Director.  There's always supermarket coffee for thr uninterested.  If you're a consciencious coffee consumer, you can read this article and get an idea why your latte is expensive, but remember that were it not for the inherent inequity to the quality coffee grower on a worldwide scale, you'd be paying a lot more.  Kinda like the gasoline disparity between Europe and the US....

Well done, Ric.

 

 

What, you didn't know that Weinland's amazing new album "Breaks in the Sun" is getting its birthing partay this weekend at Mississippi Studios in Portland???!!! Get on it!  Tix are blitzing out this week...Saturday night, April 11, two shows...doors at 7.  I'll be playing on a few tunes with the bros...Check out the bar and think past the PBRs for a microsecond...there'll be a large quantity of Weinmark served, and the barfolken promise to come up with some special drinks.  Weinmark, of course, is Badbeard's band tribute coffee, a sumptuous melange of world-class java processed with near-copious quantities of our favorite whiskey.  Somewhere there's an archival CDBaby newsletter opining that Weinmark is the year's most unusual merch table offering.....and locally speaking (we're in PDX...is there anything NOT about local??) sales of bags of Weinmark generate proportional $$$$ for our favorite local, non-profit teen-mentoring organization, p:ear (www.pearmentor.org)  So pick some up and enjoy, support Weinland and p:ear simultaneously. The CD's fabulous, and if you have yet to experience Weinland in concert, NOW'S THE FRIGGIN' TIME dudes!

It's always about the sweaters, no?  For the upcoming spectacular at the Aladdin Theater Dec. 5, the peaches n' regalia set that is PCP and collaborators will rock your world.  Tix are going superfast.  First-time collab with the fab Mirah, Justin Power.  Debut of Halo?!  Justin K. playing a movement of Shostakovich Concerto?!  Quelles autres surprises?  Get your assssses there and bring the tackiest seasonal vestments you can find to wear...you won't go unnoticed!

"Another tricky Day, For You"

Come hear Beta Collide at the White Stag building atrium in Portland this Friday, Oct. 17.  Trumpeter etc/general genius Brian McWhorter and flutist Molly Barth's (of Grammy-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird) pet project, this night presenting the landmark Folio by Earle Brown, me on cello, and a dybbuk's-ful of intense musickians, troublemakers and artists partaking.

Willie Week announcement and article

http://wweek.com/editorial/3449/11640/

Tomorrow night, 4 of us PCPers will be playing with local indie/Celtic/postpunk faborama Amadan at the Doug Fir, show starts at 9 PM and Amadan will commence around 10:30ish.  Master fiddler Chad Marks-Fife wrote us into Pishi and Coming Home, and we'll be thrilled to rock with them

Saturday is PCP at Livewire!, playing before a live audience for future broadcast...rumor has it the Dandy Warhols are nigh....

Then the evening concert at the Gerding Theater @ 8 PM, Saturday, what a day.

'twould be excellent, since a PCP4tet will be recording with the DW's on Sunday....they're awesome.

We of PCP (Portland Cello Project) have been brimming with excitement for tomorrow's (Aug 8, Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland at 8 PM, doors open at 7) HUMONGOUS CD RELEASE concert.  The album is unlike anything attempted and offers a dynamic portrayal of what we and our many fine collaborating local bands can do.  Of course it would be inappropriate to not create a special java for my band, so to wit the merch table will be loaded with bags of PCP MONDOCELLO, as well as the new CD, the EP, PCP tee, and all of our collaborator merch.  PCP Mondocello is a scrumptious blend of three of my best coffees...Mexico Terruño Nayarita Altura (wet-processed gem), Terruño Nayarita Natural (dry processed, awesome orange, leather and floral notes) and Sumatra Triple Pick Lintong.  The 2 Mexican coffees are certified organic, shade-grown and direct trade.  Sales from the coffee will also benefit the Portland-based non-profit organization p:ear, as does sales from WEINMARK, the "other" band coffee I do (with Maker's Mark) for our treasured buds of WEINLAND.

Come to the concert!  If you can't make it, 8/9 afternoon the PCP/collab ensemble will be playing at the Bite of Oregon.  8/10 we'll be at the Triple Door in Seattle at 8 PM.  Seattle ppeps, be there!

justin

Well, we knew that they were watching...taking notice.

Here's Derek Hill's take on the show on mel.opho.be