News

The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies announced the winners of the AltWeekly Awards today at a luncheon at the annual convention in Portland. The luncheon also included a special tribute to Molly Ivins presented by her friend and radio commentator, Jim Hightower. L.A. Weekly was the big winner in the large division, taking home 13 awards, seven of which were first-place finishes. Style Weekly similarly dominated the small circulation division, earning five first-place trophies and three other awards.

You can still stay in touch by checking out portland2007.aan.org, our first official convention blog. We'll be posting major news -- the Membership Committee report, AltWeekly Award winners, etc. -- here on aan.org. But for less momentous developments, the blog will do.

After the after-parties are convention sessions, and convention-goers might need a little help. On Friday morning, Creative Circle Advertising Solutions sponsors the Stumptown coffee and pastries. On Saturday, Associated Press' ASAP news service supplies calculators for Fran Zankowski's financial management workshop because sometimes, without proper sleep, math is hard.

Sign up for wireless service two simple ways: Click here or text "Get AAN" to 21321 from your mobile device. Verve will send links to mobile versions of the AAN convention and Willamette Week websites. You'll get conference updates, schedule changes, daily poll questions and Portland trivia. Between sessions you can act like a local with Willamette Week's restaurant guide, event listings and more.

One party a night is for amateurs. AAN members are professionals, which is why we've lined up after-parties every evening this week in Portland.

Thursday’s welcome reception at the Portland Art Museum is followed by a 9 p.m. screening of "Touch Me Someplace I Can Feel," a one-hour documentary about Willamette Week's quadriplegic cartoonist, John Callahan. And then at 10, Dark Horse Comics presents an after-hours party at Ace Cleaners. DJ Stay in School spins while AAN delegates hobnob with some of Portland's top comic and film artists.

On Friday night, join the Portland Mercury staff for food, drink and some of the city's best DJs at the Ace Hotel. There's a rumor going around that the evening's entertainment will feature vicious canines dueling to the death, a traditional Portland pastime. The Mercury party kicks off at 8. If you're feeling mobile that evening, perhaps you would prefer to hop aboard the BarFly Bus (which stirred some controversy recently) for a tour of all-nude revues with hostess and party girl, Jen Lane. The bus takes off after the Wieden + Kennedy party ends at 8:30. To sign up, pay $15 cash or check at the AAN registration desk in the Hilton.

And if you find yourself looking for a short respite from the racket emanating from the stage at the Pre1 Party on Saturday evening, take a break by crossing the street to the Saucebox, which will be offering a special cocktail in honor of our special brand of alt-ness.