Eddie May Mysteries @ The Stockpot Broiler

Eddie May Mysteries has been a Portland institution for thirty years. Of all the Mystery Dinner Shows around the Portland area, Eddie May seems to have the largest cast. The current story is set in 1929 in a speakeasy.  The format is traditional, the characters make their way to you and are easily identifiable, I strongly prefer this format to others I have encountered. For example, The Dinner Detective employs an anonymous cast approach, which meant that participants had to interrogate each other just to learn the suspects, this was awkward. Another dinner theatre company makes selected audience members learn their parts from booklets, this approach was in some ways even more bizarre.

The humor is rapid-fire. Wall to wall "blink and you miss it" jokes. Listen closely.  My favorite: "I tried to drown my sorrows, but my wife would never go swimming."

The Stockpot provides posh surroundings for the show. Due to the time of year, the show is currently held in a smaller room. Fall will bring larger crowds, but there is a better chance of winning the prizes with less competition. This is worth noting because the prizes are far better than all of the other Mystery Dinner Shows. These include a framed certificate, a trophy, and a gift certificate to The Stockpot.

The included meal is delicious: A choice of steak, chicken, or risotto. The show changes soon, I hope to attend again. Eddie May Mysteries has these things down to a science. I loved it!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetectiveEddieMay

Website: http://eddiemaymysteries.com/

Phone: 503-524-4366

Address: 8200 SW Scholls Ferry Rd, Beaverton, OR 97008

Price: $60 including show, three course meal and gratituity

Bill Engvall @ Spirit Mountain Casino

Bill Engvall, best known as part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour played Spirit Mountain Casino last night. Unlike fellow "Blue Collar" alum, Ron White who also graced the Spirit Mountain Stage, most of Engvall's routine was relatively clean. Bits ranged from his tenure on "Dancing with the Stars" to the cremation of his father-in-law and his experiences as a novice with Medical Marijuana. Also notable was his assessment of Farmer's Markets, which went over well with a -ahem- knowing Portland-centric audience.

Once again I must note that Spirit Mountain is among my favorite venues in the state. The Event Center has many moveable seats, so that many of them can be easily converted into a wheelchair space. The same is true of the slot machines. There is also a comparative abundance of accessible seating at the gaming tables. I love this place so much If you've never been, drop everything and go!