Last Thursday on Alberta Street in Portland

Have you ever seen a bumper sticker stating "Keep Portland Weird" and wondered exactly where all this weirdness in Portland was? I have. I never realized until Last Thursday on Alberta Street exactly how weird (and crazy and wonderful and fun) Portland was.

Last Thursday is north Portland's answer to the Pearl District's First Thursday celebration. But, my oh my, it is Portland at it's weirdest. The party starts at 10th and Alberta and goes all the way up to the 30's. The streets are closed off and the businesses open their doors for the floods of people streaming up and down the streets. Street musicians and craft sellers come out of the woodwork to set up shop along the busy thoroughfare. The restaurants and bars are packed to the gills, the galleries-serving free drinks and appetizers-are a filled to the brim, and the sidewalks and streets are pulsing with the music and life.

Oh, and the freaks come out of the woodwork. In the best way. Clowns on stilts, drag queens with painted clown faces, barefoot banjo-players, fire-dancers wearing mini-skirts and fishnet stockings, grizzly bear costumes, and the list goes on.

You really just have to go see it for yourself. It's a feast for the eyes and ears. And the best part? It's free, so that you can spend all your money on some interesting piece of art or a delicious dinner from one of the many restaurants.

An impromptu dance party in memory of the "King of Pop"

Possibly loose from the set of "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou"

Just a car parked nearby

Elvis? Is that you?