Additionally, TriMet is establishing a Westside precinct where five officers will begin patrolling west of the Sunset Transit Center later this month.

For those of us in between, more fare inspectors are coming and TriMet is repairing the broken ticket vending machines across the system.

Will this work? Are more Transit Police needed between the Eastside and Westside precincts?

In any event, fines won’t start being issued at the newest intersection until March 17, so you have two weeks to break any red light-running habits you have.

Photo Credit: A.L. Venable

While some may have spent February 14 snuggling on the couch with their loved one, fretting over if they bought the right flowers, the right candy, the right jewelry, had the right amount of sex…or if it’s time to move on, I spent Valentine’s Day in New York City with the Gutter Twins as they began their first-ever tour.

Led by Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers, often contributor to Lo-Fidelity Allstars’ sexy jams) and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age, an album with Isobell Campbell in addition to his solo work), the duo’s music is perfect for a night of questioning life, who you love, and even your belief system.

When I first listened to their debut album, Saturnalia, I felt in the wrong for playing it in the afternoon with the sun shining through my living room windows. It’s perfect for a dark and rainy night, perhaps just before dawn so you’ll have the light to look forward to shortly after the album ends.

The Gutter Twins will visit Portland on Monday, March 3 for a performance at the Wonder Ballroom. Their debut album will be released the following day. Great Northern are the opening act. Tickets are $15 and this is a 21+ show.

Any ideas?

Perhaps you want to leave your house to watch the awards with others and snark on the clothing choices of the A- through Z-listers attending. If so, you’re in luck because you have some options for where to watch Sunday’s festivities.

The Hollywood Theatre is hosting Oregon’s only “Oscar Night® America event, officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.” Tickets are $75 as the event is also a fundraiser for Film Action Oregon. Mayoral candidate Commissioner Sam Adams is serving as the night’s honorary chair.

McMenamins’ Mission Theater will also show the ceremony on their big screen. It’s free and if you get there a bit early, you can catch the overrated “Casablanca” for free as well.

While she isn’t cutting any hair Thursday night at Holocene, I think it will be a stylish happening as she joins JD Samson, also from Le Tigre, as the group MEN for a DJ set. Also on the bill are San Francisco’s Hey Willpower, who will perform live, and Portland’s own Gaycation DJs. The cover is $10.

First, I was surprised at the talk of creating a chain, but the fact that Portland’s included on the list is also surprising. Since this is just in the “talking about it” phase, who knows where the chain will set up shop in our area. Any ideas? If I were to advise Morton’s group, I’d tell them to stay away from that Bossanova space on Burnside if they want to make it beyond a year or two.

I love my digital camera because it’s easy to carry and snap photos whenever, but I own a 35mm SLR that I still use. In the olden days when I was Washington, DC drone by day, band photographer at night, I used both.

Maybe I’m one of the few out there who still have a fondness for “real” film, but shooting on slides was something that helped me perfect my photography skills. Not to sound all “get off my damn lawn, you kids!” but learning to shoot on film and getting it right in one take because you know what you’re doing is more appealing to me than simply being able to hit delete, try again and using Photoshop to handle the rest.

That said, my next camera purchase will be a digital camera. However, I will always have a special place for all those fun Polaroids I’ve taken over the years.

If you still want to have the film, I suggest you act fast as the film is flying off shelves. I’m sure most is going to folks planning to sell it on Ebay, but I’d like to think there are others out there hoping to hold on to a bit of history.

I know 94.7 FM offers a second station only available via HD Radio and OPB has a station for its music offerings as well. Anyone out there have an HD receiver and can tell me if spending the cash for a receiver is really worth it?

Tonight, at the Artistery, Food Fight Grocery will host a viewing of “The Lost Boys.” The movie begins at 8PM. Admission is $3 and proceeds will go towards the SHAC7 legal fund.