"THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH"

That's what they used to call the Barnum & Bailey Circus: The Greatest Show on Earth. Today, it's Cirque du Soleil, whose newest extravaganza, "Corteo," which means "cortege" in Italian, comes to Portland for more than a month, from March 1 to April 6.

The story line, as part of which the amazing troupe performs, is a clown whose funeral takes place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. His life is paraded before his eyes (and yours!), juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic, and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection.

According to the show's advance publicity, Corteo highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music, by turns lyrical and playful, carries Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality. Corteo promises to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

"Le Grand Capiteau" ("the Big Top"), located just 2 minutes from The Fulton House in southwest Portland, is the 2,600 seat venue for Corteo.

Corteo will be performed from Tuesdays thru Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and again at 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Tickets are available at 1-800-678-5440 and www.cirquedusoleil.com
Remember, The Fulton House is located very close -- 2 minutes driving time or less than 5 minutes by city bus (there's a bus stop 1 block from us).

Make your reservations early for both Corteo and The Fulton House.

NWFilmCenter | Now Showing

nwFilmCenter | nowshowing

Tango Tango Tango Tango Tango Portland Oregon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_Rbts5Q9Q

Portland ValenTango XI
Wed-Mon, Feb 13-18, 2008
Mission: Portland Skyline

Spend an intense/passionate/romantic four days together in "tango friendly" Portland with friends and your favorite instructors, DJ's, musicians and tango partners learning, dancing, schmoozing, eating, and hanging out at the unique Portland ballrooms, coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. Last year over 600 tangueros attended ValenTango making it and the Portland October TangoFest two of the most popular and successful tango events in North America. (For more infomation about the city, visit City of Portland Web Site.)

Tango Festival In Portland

Clay's Dance Studio

INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF GOINGS-ON IN PORTLAND

There's so much happening in Portland in the next few weeks that all I'm going to be able to do in this blog is list some of events with the largest general audience appeal and give you the follow-up contacts for venue, time, date(s} and ticket prices.

First, for music-lovers, the Oregon Symphony's upcoming presentations include the following: Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2; The Classical Symphony; Bela Fleck and the Flecktones; Tchaikovsky's Fourth; Women in Blues; A Sentimental Journey with Norman Leyden; Mozart Clarinet Concerto; Mahler Symphony No. 9; and Carmina Burana. See OrSymphony.org

"Returning to the Well of Celtic Wisdom" lecture series, featuring Irish storyteller, Celtic historian and musician Padraigin Clancy with Denis Doyle, Celtic harpist. Call 503-478-1218.

For paleontology aficionados, a fascinating exhibit entitled "Dinosaurs, China'a Ancient Giants." See omsi.edu/dinos

For art lovers, "The Dancer," featuring works by Degas, Forain and Toulouse Lautrec. Call 503-226-0973.

For vocals, "Sweet Honey in the Rock." Call 503-224-4400.

For a special Valentine concert series with keyboard artist Michael Allen Harrison. Call 1-800-992-8499.

For the wisdom and inside knowledge of noted speakers and lecturers, including Vicente Fox, Kim Dae-jung, Dr. Sergei Khruschev and former Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. See worldoregon.org

For opera lovers, Handel's "Rodelinda." See portlandopera.org

For another special Valentine concert, featuring the legendary Eartha Kitt. See OrSymphony.org

For jazz lovers, see my previous blog posted on January 11.

Immediately after you settle on an event and get your tickets, call for reservations at The Fulton House (503-892-5781), minutes from all the venues and seconds from public transportation to all the venues. You can also check us out at www.thefultonhouse.com

See you soon!