I wish I could say I spent the holiday weekend egging on heart failure by racing between clubs, slamming drinks with the bourbon-logged cranks in dive bars, or like my sister, boarding a cruise bound for the Caribbean with live performances by REO Speedwagon, Journey, and Styx. (No, I'm not kidding on that last one). But, sadly, the wildest locale I hit after Thanksgiving was Portland, where I went as crazy as you can get while glow-in-the-dark bowling with the stoners and the fake-ID-needy at Grand Central Bowl (ah, the memories). I didn't even hit Portland's swankiest new spot/venue, Doug Fir--which, from the look of things, is an L.A.-lodge-style bar, similar to North in Hollywood. Being in my old hometown did make me wish that Seattle had the outpouring of new bars, restaurants, and neighborhoods Portland seems to sprout like canker sores on a prostitute. With all the talk of Oregon's tattered economy, Portland supports a hell of a lot more action than Seattle does when it comes to launching cool new businesses throughout its neighborhoods.

Not to say that our humble clusterfuck of a city is devoid of activity, though. The initial installation of Club Club at Chop Suey last week went--to go with the Brit theme--smashingly, as DIY go-go dancers gyrated behind screens of vintage film footage and DJs spun everything from garage to pop along a regional theme. The next ClubX2 destination is being determined as you read this. Also coming up is a display of holiday debauchery that requires your participation on Friday, December 17, as The Stranger celebrates Xmas cheer(s) with bad Santas, Christmas covers, holiday punch, and more second-rate decorations than an Aurora Avenue diner. And that's just the half of it. Mark your calendars--it's on at the Crocodile. And this week, Tablet's punkrockforlife editor Dan Halligan and I will face off in a battle of the turntables Thursday, December 2, for the Croc's happy-hour DJ set. That one's from 5:00-8:00 p.m. if you want to swing by.

Local music signings and such: If their apparel is any indication, the Hollowpoints--who are releasing a new record, The Black Spot, this February on Duane Peters' Disaster label--have been sponsored by the skate gods of Vision Street Wear. If only I hadn't trashed that robin's-egg blue, long-sleeve Vision shirt from high school... The Crystal Skulls, a local jangly art-pop act with a sizable buzz, are releasing a new record in March 2005 on Suicide Squeeze Records. Check out two of their tracks at www.crystalskullsonline.com... The Cripples and New Luck Toy are releasing a new 7-inch on Dirtnap this month... And for all you Love as Laugher fans (who might've seen former Seattleite Sam Jayne on SNL with Modest Mouse a few weeks back), that band is at work on another full-length for Sub Pop due in 2005; for now you can pick up Jayne's limited-edition The Supernatural Sessions on Luckyhorse Industries some time this month and see him perform with Iron and Wine December 12 and 13 at Neumo's.

jennifer@thestranger.com