We just learned that the owner of  east Portland’s Venture Inn Sports Bar & Tavern at Northeast 141st Avenue, just off Sandy Blvd.,  ”King” Karl Kunberger recently decided NOT to reprise his very successful Karaoke Contest for 2008-09.

Last year’s finale — where $1,500 was awarded to the first three finishers ($1,000, $300 and $200 respectively) — was according to one grizzled veteran of the local bar wars, “one of the best pieces of local entertainment I’ve ever seen.”  When he learned that Kunberger decided no contest this year, he was visibly crestfallen.

Kunberger said that he would continue it next year. Too bad; local Karaoke fans will miss it. History tells us when you stop an event like this it is difficult to ever get it back again.

On Thursday, September 11, the Oregonian reported, in its Business section, that a company called NNT, doing business as Gossip Sports Bar and Restaurant has leased the 6,920 sq. ft. building at 11340 N.E. Halsey Street, formerly occupied by Nine Ball Sports Bar.

The 6,920 foot building was originally built for a chain restaurant, Carrow’s, that operated for decades in Mid-county before closing.

In a conversation with Tony Truong, Gossip Sports Bar and Restaurant new owner, he said he and his partner are in the application process with both the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and the Oregon Lottery; hoping to have the doors open before 2009.

We subscribe to Portland Online, an information service run by the city that notifies you, if you subscribe, of various events and happeningings in the city.

Specifically, of course, we receive notice of events and happenings in the Mid-county area.

So, the other day we receive an e-mail from Portland Online informing us of the Parkrose Community Fair happening on Saturday, September 20.

Parkrose Community Fair? Wasn’t this an event held at Parkrose High School at the end of the regular school year?
It has moved, apparently, to September and will be held in the parking lot at Eastminster Church on Northeast Halsey Street at 125th Avenue in east Portland.

Overheard this exchange at Argay Park recently between a dog-walker and a Parks & Recreation maintenance worker. The Parks & Recreation workers were installling two new nets on the four tennis courts at Argay Park.

Dog-walker: “When are you going to install new nets on the other two courts?”
Parks worker: “We’re not.”
Dog-walker: “Why not?”
Parks worker: “Well, everytime we install new nets on those courts,” she jabs her thumb in the air towards the two adjioning courts, “the skateboarders cut ‘em down.”
Dog-walker: Increduosly, “Whaaaat.”
Parks worker: “Oh yeah, and they’re expensive, so we decided to ‘give’ them those two courts to skateboard on.”
Dog walker: “Sheesh.”
Parks worker; “Yeah, it’s a shame, but at least these two nets aren’t getting cut down anymore.”