LIVE ENTERTAINMENT UPDATE

In and around Portland, there's a whole host of happenings due.

If you're free this coming weekend (April 20, 21 & 22), it's the "Northwest Home Show" at the Oregon Convention Center. Right now through May 6, August Wilson appears in "Fences" at the Portland Center Stage in Gerding Theater at the Armory and now through June 10, "Bad Dates" is staged in the same venue.

The Oregon Symphony is sponsoring several shows at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (fondly referred to by locals as the (Schnitz)in April and May: on April 21-23, Amy Schwartz Moretti will play violin in bidding a fond farewell to the former concertmaster in a "Farewell Concert"; Brahms "Piano Concerto No. 2" with Stephen Hough on piano will be featured on April 29 & 30; and Schumann's "Cello Concerto" with Alban Gerhardt on cello will be staged on May 5 & 6.

Back by popular demand, "Eyes on You," a smash-hit tribute to Cole Porter featuring soprano Pamela South, is in Portland from April 27-May 5. "The Boxcar Children," a live bluegrass ensemble produced by the Oregon Children's Theatre, will provide the music at Keller Auditorium on April 22 & 28-29.

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company prevides "a triumphant celebration of the African-American presence in modern dance" (Cincinnati Enquirer) on the evening of April 25 at the Schnitz, and on May 10, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, with choreography by Twyla Tharp and Jorma Elo, comes to the same auditorium.

Mozart's "The Magic Flute" will be staged by the Portland Opera on May 12, 15, 17 & 19 at Keller Auditorium. On Sunday, May 13, Bill Cosby comes to town, as well as pianist Lorie Line; since this just happens to be Mother's Day, taking Mom or the mother of your children (or maybe both!) to either makes it a very special evening. Once a month in May, June, July and August, there's a series of Sunday Afternoon Summer Concerts in Skamania, on the Washington State side of the Columbia River, about sn hour from The Fulton House: first, the Portland Baroque Orchestra Chamber Players; then Portland Taiko; next, "Show Brazil"; in July, Trio Voronezh; and finally, the Icicle Creek Piano Trio in August.

"Chicago," the award-winning Broadway musical made into a motion picture will be staged at the Keller Auditorium on May 29-June 3.

Outdoors, fans of bull riding and bronco busting can go to the 72nd annual St. Paul Rodeo, about an hour from The Fulton House, which also features a professional art show, barbecues, dancing, a parade, fireworks and a carnival in a week-long period from June 29-July 4. Call 800-2375920 for further information.

Don't forget our national pastime, baseball. Throughout the summer the Portland Beavers will be playing plenty of home games at PGE Park. And there's nowhere I'd rather be on a hot summer day than sitting in the stands watching a game with an ice cold beer in my hand!