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HEALTH & FITNESS Ping-pong at Billy Ray’s Kickball Get Your Exercise With These Recess Sports | by Shelby Green Dodgeball o you ever wish you were back in grade school? Early bedtimes and parental rules don’t appeal to us either, but we sure do miss recess. Luckily, Recess Time co-ed adult kickball, dodgeball and ping pong leagues bring you back to those good ole days. Whether you used to organize the pick-up games or were the last one picked for the teams, now that you’re all grown-up, you can join in on the retro fun that has taken Portland by storm. Colleen Finn started Recess Time with a small kickball league in the fall of 2003 playing games at Hosford Elementary School. Kickball follows most of the same, standardized rules of baseball, but played with a ten inch rubber ball that, obviously, is kicked instead of hit with a bat. Some first-time players expect to pick up the game right away and dominate on the field, but it only takes one strike-out to realize it’s not as easy as it looks. That first season hosted ten teams; today there are two nights, with two divisions each, for a grand total of 53 teams. So just what has drawn so many people to the elementary sport of kickball? With a minimum of 12 people to a team, over 640 people play in the league’s 53 teams. Finn believes it’s the social aspect of the game that has drawn so many different people into this league: “It is such a laid back atmosphere and so social at the same time,” she notes. The game itself is social, indeed, but it also helps that the majority of the players can be found bonding after the game at the local sponsor bars. Between the A & L Sports Pub (5933 NE Glisan St, 234-7607), the East Bank Saloon (727 SE Grand Ave, 231-1659), Billy Reed’s and Vendetta (4306 N Williams St, 288-1085), most of the winning teams in kickball (and dodgeball) buy a round or two for the team they just beat. Along with the immediate socializing comes the far-reaching community. It’s almost impossible to go out in Portland and not run into someone from the league. This is true with dodgeball as well as kickball. Like kickball, dodgeball started small, with only eight teams playing in the Kennedy School gym back in winter of 2004. Now, with over 35 teams, dodgeball is growing just as rapidly and gaining just as much of a following as kickball. In fact, the league just wrapped their first summer season (dodgeball has generally rested from spring until fall, but the teams decided they did not want to sit out a full summer). And just who’s playing? It’s not just college kids caught up in the nostalgia craze; players range from the minimum age of 21 to ballers in their 50s. James Wright and Fran Ladage are just two of the players whose ages are twice the minimum requirement, and both say they were drawn to the league by the younger players. Wright, 41, says he is “childish and young at heart,” so he fits right in with most of the players, while Ladage, 45, says he is “too active for people my age.” Dodgeball is just one of the five sports he plays every week. But what about the fitness aspect, you ask? It’s simply the last thing you notice, after the new friends and fun memories, but kickball and dodgeball are certainly a great source of exercise. For example, dodgeball games are 30 minutes of constant running and throwing, dipping, ducking, diving and dodging. Played with six rubber balls, the game starts strong as each team runs to the center of the basketball court to retrieve their three balls. From here on, the game is a non-stop flurry of activity, players dropping out one by one when they get tagged with a ball—or the opposing team catches their throw—ending when one team is left standing. Although it may not seem as physically exerting, you’d be surprised how much of a workout you can get playing Recess Time’s newest addition, ping pong. Just wrapping up its first summer season, the game is proving popular, just as Finn, a rabid ping-pong player, predicted. If you haven’t seen a ping-pong table since your days hanging out in the neighbor’s garage, head to the outdoor patio at Billy Ray’s (2216 NE MLK Jr Blvd, 287-7254), where the league players gather every Tuesday night. Each six players compete in two ladies’ singles matches, two men’s singles matches and two co-ed doubles matches. Fast-paced volley action—combined with jogs to chase wayward shots—means the players work up quite a sweat and are grateful for the easy access to thirst-quenching pitchers of beer. Now’s the time to get in on this burgeoning sport before the league fills up. Regardless of if you prefer dodgeball over kickball, or vice versa, or whether you play one or all three of the sports offered, the Recess Time sports are also a sure way to meet over 600 people in the Portland area. The people are friendly, the sports are competitive, the sponsor bars are welcoming with great specials and, best of all, it’s legal to hit, kick and throw inanimate objects at at your friends. What could be a better way to get in shape? Registration: Begins in August (check website for exact opening date). Games: Begin in September. Cost: About $45–$55 for each sport. Visit pdxkickball.com for details. 56 PDXmagazine.com / August 2006
AUTO HEALTH & FITNESS photo: Tim Sugden Hell on Wheels Chrisanne Drives the Volvo C70 Convertible I already had an appreciation for all things Swedish (meatballs, IKEA, gummy fish) when Roger from Page One showed up to drop off the 2006 Volvo C70 Convertible for our “literary” interest. After a week-long test drive, my superficial appreciation now borders on intense infatuation. Upon inspection of this very sleek, sexy two door in “Passion Red” (yep, that’s the real dealer name), I decided there was only one way to truly enjoy such a fine vehicle as this: roadtrip! Was I going to enjoy my drive to Seattle this weekend? Why yes, I thought, I certainly will. The interior is just as smooth and sleek as the exterior—all leather seats with power adjustments in the front two, six-disk CD changer with an eight-speaker system (the stereo even tells you what song is currently playing on the radio), and, another perk I particularly enjoy, dual climate control. The center console is ultra slim, with the sleek six-speed gearshift as the centerpiece. This is also where the magic buttons that open and close the top are located, a truly miraculous feature—with one push of the button you can go from coupe to convertible in 30 seconds and back again. And who doesn’t look and feel totally hot in a convertible? The hard top conveniently fits into the trunk space still leaving more than ample space for a few suitcases and a bag of shoes (perfect for my weekend road trip). And it’s all still easily accessible with the top down with the click of the “load aid” button in the trunk. Super handy indeed. All packed up and sun shining down on me, I made a quick stop at the gas station and was on my way. I very quickly observed the by Chrisanne Sapp smoothness of the clutch and the seamless transition between gears. The front wheel drive really pulls you forward on the road, and with the six-speed turbo-charged engine and 160mph speedometer, there’s no doubt that this car wants to move. Quickly, I might add. I so wanted to test the 0-60 time for this baby, but alas, I was far too chicken. You’ll have to take the dealer’s word for it. Aside from the obvious comforts—power everything, reading lights, cruise control—it’s still a Volvo and thus is one of the safest cars to drive. You’d never know this eye-catching roadster also features hard-core safety features like a roll-over protection system, safety cage, whiplash protection system, inflatable door mounted curtain, more airbag systems than I can count, and a front end designed with driver safety in focus. Piece of mind alone is well worth the price tag (starting at $38,710). Other then a quick stop to put up the top when I realized my poor little pooch, Riley, hated the wind-blown look, the drive was fantastic. I enjoyed a comfortable ride, a cinematic sunset and even great gas mileage— 29mpg on the highway and 20mpg in town. I realized that driving really is more fun when you have a cozy and super hot car to drive. What else could a girl ask for? Perhaps a 2006 Volvo C70 convertible of her very own. Check out volvocars.us for the details on the C70 and mdriven.com other luxury cars. Feel beautiful. All over. Say goodbye to cuts, nicks, and scrapes with our physiciancertified hair removal system. Come in for a free, no-obligation consultation and learn about our interest-free financing and written guarantee. www.americanlaser.com - 2 PORTLAND AREA LOCATIONS - 503-277-2000 8625 SW Cascade Ave. Suite 520 Beaverton, OR 97008 360-816-0662 Vancouver, Washington 16701 SE McGillivray Suite 265 August 2006 / PDXmagazine.com 57
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12 18 33 56 58 Table of Contents Up
Page 6 and 7: EDITOR’S NOTE My friend recently
Page 8 and 9: UP FRONT PDXPLAINED STREET SPEAK!!!
Page 10 and 11: UP FRONT On the Hot Seat with Tom D
Page 12 and 13: THIS MONTH Get Outta Town Quick Nor
Page 14 and 15: THIS MONTH OSF’s Elizabethan Stag
Page 16 and 17: THIS MONTH Gold Beach Harbor 3015,
Page 18 and 19: PDX LIFE It’s a Dog’s Life Port
Page 20 and 21: PDX LIFE Get Real: Are Home Inspect
Page 22 and 23: NEIGHBORHOOD Upper Burnside & NE 28
Page 24 and 25: NEIGHBORHOOD or all of them eventua
Page 27 and 28: FOOD Smokin’ Hot Portland is a Ba
Page 29 and 30: FOOD Big Daddy’s ribs www.pdxmaga
Page 31 and 32: FOOD North Beaterville Café 2201 N
Page 33 and 34: DRINK Where Did All the Cowboy Bars
Page 35 and 36: DRINK photo: Tim Sugden Thunder Ran
Page 37 and 38: DRINK August Pick of the Month The
Page 39 and 40: PERFORMING ARTS others shied away f
Page 41 and 42: Theater Portland Center for the Per
Page 44 and 45: PREVIEWS SET LIST Upcoming Live Mus
Page 46 and 47: MUSIC Acme 1305 SE 8th Ave, 230-902
Page 48 and 49: PREVIEWS ON DISPLAY Upcoming Art Sh
Page 50 and 51: FILM Indie Film Calendar Cinema 21
Page 52 and 53: SHOPPING Shop Like an Animal by Nat
Page 54 and 55: Shop Talk August is a time to close
Page 58 and 59: OUTDOOR Three Pools Oregon Oasis st
Page 60 and 61: SPORTS Loren Roberts Par for the Co
Page 62: Top Ten Places to Stay Cool August
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