March 6, 2001

8:10 AM

Happy Elvis Day! The Oregon Legislature considers a bill to make January 8 Elvis day. Considering Portland is the home of the 24-Hour Church of Elvis and a beloved (and weird) street performer named Elvis, this is somewhat fitting.
posted by frykitty (21 comments total)

Of course 62% of respondents surveyed on this story say it's a waste of the Legislature's time. I suppose it is...but it's better than when they decided on our State Waltz.

I'm just wondering if I'll get the day off.
posted by frykitty at 8:12 AM on March 6, 2001

When is phillips-head screwdriver day?
posted by bondcliff at 8:19 AM on March 6, 2001

As far as I know, Oregon has no special interest in the Philips-head screwdriver. On the other hand, Maraschino cherries were invented at an Oregon college...
posted by frykitty at 8:34 AM on March 6, 2001

Channel 6000 isn't another brand run by The Onion, is it?
posted by CatherineB at 8:37 AM on March 6, 2001

I don't eat maraschino cherries because I know how they're made. (I don't eat hot dogs very often, either.)
posted by Steven Den Beste at 8:40 AM on March 6, 2001

Channel 6000 isn't another brand run by The Onion, is it?
Not unless the Onion is an IBS channel.
Sometimes, strangeness(truth) > strangeness(fiction).

posted by iceberg273 at 8:49 AM on March 6, 2001

Channel 6000 is just one of our crappy local news stations. Bonafide. :)
posted by frykitty at 8:58 AM on March 6, 2001

I was curious about those cherries (thinking perhaps they were made from lips and asses like hotdogs) but they are not. I don't know whether this process is a new one but here are some cherries dyed red with radish juice.

And, on the topic of the 24-hour Church of Elvis, have you been there? Very scary. Very stinky.
posted by amanda at 9:08 AM on March 6, 2001

Yes, they recently changed the dying process for the cherries so it was a little "greener".

I haven't been to the Church since it moved away from Saturday Market--I need to drop by. Scary and stinky kinda go with that place.
posted by frykitty at 9:13 AM on March 6, 2001

They didn't mention what the "sterilizing bath" consists of: sodium hydroxide solution. Also, not only does that process leech all the color out of the cherries, it also destroys their flavor. So afterwards they're flavored with juice of pomegranates -- which is why they taste the same as grenadine, which is made from the same thing.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 9:37 AM on March 6, 2001

Oh great, Steven. Here I had this nice case of Maraschino cherries all wrapped for your birthday...


posted by frykitty at 9:47 AM on March 6, 2001

Plus, it's made from the lips and asses of pomegranates.
posted by rodii at 9:54 AM on March 6, 2001

They moved the Church of Elvis?? Oh, maaaan. (I used to live in Portland.) To where?

Stinky, you betcha. But what was scary?
posted by Skot at 9:55 AM on March 6, 2001

I don't believe in naming days after people who are currently alive. Schools or airports either - save it until their dead.
posted by mikel at 9:57 AM on March 6, 2001

I have little concern with either Oregon or Elvis but I can add this. If you take an 8 ounce glass of Phillips Milk of Magnasia (used for tummy problems) and a jigger or two of vodka, you can make yourself a nice Phillips Screwdriver.
posted by Postroad at 10:10 AM on March 6, 2001

Mikel: Hee.

Skot: Remember that nasty little park on about Burnside & Broadway? It's on Ankeny, right behind that. Stinky and scary--and less convenient. Having it by the market was perfect.
posted by frykitty at 10:17 AM on March 6, 2001

But I thought Oregon was the birthplace of the phillips-head screwdriver...

Or did those beer commercials lie to me?

Beer commercials never lie!


posted by bondcliff at 10:29 AM on March 6, 2001

Ack! You're right!

Guess I don't know my own town as well as I thought. At least I know that Clark Gable used to live here.
posted by frykitty at 10:33 AM on March 6, 2001

True story: when I was in 5th grade, there were these twin boys, Ivan and Elvis, and their dad was such an Elvis fan that he made his kids stay home on Elvis' birthday to learn about his life and watch all his movies.
That almost makes up for all the tormenting they did to me. :)
posted by sabbydarling at 12:58 PM on March 6, 2001

What's the connection between Elvis and Ivan?

I'd have gone for Aron for Son #2, if I was going to be that obvous in the first place.
posted by CatherineB at 1:11 PM on March 6, 2001

For those of you not in Portland, apparently the 24 Hour Church of Elvis now has a website.
posted by ix555 at 3:11 PM on March 6, 2001