Well, I'm running out of time to chicken out. The Media Circus is at noon, and I'm coming out at 12:30. I want to thank Betsy Richter at OurPDX for live-blogging the madness for anyone who can't make it. She'll also be tweeting from the event on the @OurPDXLive account using the hashtag #pdxmc. I hope to see you there!

The risks of holding a December event were clear from the outset: holiday plans and winter weather. It looks like we may have a storm this weekend, but all the action appears set for tonight and Saturday. Of course, I decided this month to try to get more TV people to come to the Circus, and they're the people most likely to have to stay at work if things get crazy. But after checking in with several people today, it looks like most everyone is still planning to show.

As I said earlier, we should have guests from KATU, KOIN (still friends!), KGW, KPTV, KZME, OPB, KNRK, KINK, KRSK, The Oregonian, Willamette Week, The Portland Mercury and digital media.

And while this event will also be my coming-out party, it's still primarily a fun social hour/mixer. I'll also be asking for ideas for making the next Circus even better, so chat me up. And remember as always: It's casual, not business.

The details again:

Media Circus!
Sunday, December 13
Noon to 2 pm
Blitz Buzz
110 NW 10th (and Couch)
RSVP Here
All Ages
Free!

UPDATE (12/11, 3:34 pm): PS: If you've got a blog and you're coming to the Circus, post some photos and I'll post a link. Also, be sure to check out OurPDX, where they'll be live-blogging the party Sunday if you can't make it.

UPDATE: We now have RSVPs from KATU, KOIN, KGW, KPTV, KEX, OPB, KNRK, KINK, KRSK, The Oregonian, Willamette Week, The Portland Mercury and digital media. It really will be a circus! And remeber, this is social, not business; no suits and ties, please!

Next month's Media Circus is my big coming-out party! After the last event, some attendees said they'd like to see more people from television, so I've been bothering local TV anchors. I'm excited to say that Wayne Garcia, Shauna Parsons and Kevin Coari from KPTV and Joe Donlon and Stephanie Stricklen from KGW are all foolish enough to plan on coming! But I fully expect them to come to their senses at any time. Anchors at KATU and KOIN have so far been immune to my pestering, but I'll have more names to announce next week. Cort and Fatboy are making a return appearance, too. And a big thanks to Betsy Richter, who will be live-blogging the event at OurPDX!

Blitz Buzz

Here are the details:

Media Circus!
Sunday, December 13
Noon to 2 pm
Blitz Buzz
110 NW 10th (and Couch)
RSVP Here
All Ages
Free!

Blitz Buzz is a ground-level coffee bar above sports bar Blitz Pearl on NW 10th & Couch. In addition to coffees, Buzz serves lunch, beer, and anything else available downstairs. It's also all-ages until 9 pm.

Please do RSVP so we can know how many to expect. And this time, there's no need to log in. Thank you!

• The news isn't official, the deal may not be done, and the details are unconfirmed, but OMC can say that KATU, KOIN and KPTV have negotiated sharing a news helicopter. The developments first came to our attention last Wednesday after KGW President and General Manager DJ Wilson proudly announced at a company meeting that KGW would be the only station to own and operate their own chopper. Executives at other stations have either not commented or commented that they were not commenting. KOIN and KPTV shared a helicopter until last year.
• Managing Editor Therese Bottomly asks whether The Oregonian made the right decision by withholding the names of convicted child molesters whose victims were their children.
• Classic hits KODZ (99.1) and soft rock KMGE (94.5) in Eugene have flipped to all-Christmas music. "KOOL" KODZ began at 11:54 Sunday night with "The Gift," followed Monday at 11:24 am by "Run Run Rudolph" on "Mix" KMGE, playlist records show. In Portland, Entercom's adult hits KYCH (97.1) and pop/rock KRSK (105.1) have been playing a Christmas music simulcast on their HD-2 channels since November 5. Credit to the Portland Radio Message Board for following the madness.
• In other Eugene format flips, KLZS (1450) dropped ESPN's Spanish sports network for smooth jazz Monday morning, as scheduled.
• Former Portland Mercury and Street Roots reporter Joshua Cinelli has been named media advisor to FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. Cinelli worked in Portland in 2002 and 2003. Most recently, he's been the New York Daily News' web editor.
• And Nicolle Camarata has a few more photos from Saturday's Media Circus posted to her website.

Sarah X Dylan
Photo: Byron Beck

Byron Beck has a slideshow of his photos from last weekend's Media Circus on his website today, and, I have to say, I had a blast. The best part was all the great people and conversations, which is exactly what to hope for in a social hour. Thank you to everyone who came!

I also want to thank our hosts, Beck and Nicolle Camarata. I adore them for making a speech about OMC, that was completely unexpected. And then they guilted people into donating! I blushed.

As for the future of this event, this site and my anonymity, here's the deal. I'm working on getting more television and print representation at the next Circus, which will be my coming-out party if it happens. Also, I want to hear your feedback about this event. What can be improved next time? Where would another good venue be? To be brutally honest with me, email infooregonmediacentral [dot] com. You can also comment here, but be considerably less brutal about that, will ya?

Thanks again to all who turned out!

The Media Circus! is almost here. Some quick thoughts before the event:

I'm going to have to resist the urge to interview everyone, but you can ask questions and tweet answers with the #pdxmc hashtag.

If anyone asks if you're OMC's editor, the correct answer is always "maybe."

The event is free and the prices are small, so tip your servers and consider donating a buck or three for OMC as well. It will help us keep OMC going and fund the next Circus.

And I've planned this all along, but haven't announced it until now: If this event is successful, I'm outing myself at the next one.

See you at the Circus!

Media Circus! (A Spectacular Media Social Hour)
Saturday, November 14
2 pm - 4 pm
Invasion
412 SW 4th Ave. (off of Stark, next to Azumano Travel)
Portland, OR 97204
All ages
Free!

UPDATE (11/14, 11:54 am): Also, to anyone who RSVP'd by email, we did tally you, even if we didn't reply. And to anyone who didn't RSVP, come anyway!

Media Circus! is coming to town, a social hour for anyone who is in media, out of media or just a fan of media. And if Media Circus! is successful, it will become a regular monthly event.

This first Circus will be hosted by Byron Beck and Nicolle Camarata, two pros at both media and events, and will feature special guests Cort Webber and Fatboy Roberts of the Cort and Fatboy show. We have more great guests lined up, including many journalists, which we'll announce on Twitter (follow @oregonmedia) over the next several days. Another guest: this anonymous editor. Will you be able to spot me?

Invason, both cafe and lounge

The Circus should be an excellent opportunity for networking, but keep that networking social, not business. Leave the ties and business suits at home. And if you're not in the media, this will be a great opportunity to meet the people you love to watch, read and listen to.

Byron helped us find an amazing location: Invasion, a two-level cafe and lounge in Downtown Portland that will be open just for us on Saturday, November 14 from 2 to 4 pm. Invasion has also created special prices on menu items, ranging from $1 to $5. They serve Intelligentsia coffee (coffee snobs, this is good stuff), teas, juices, beer and wine, cocktails (at the bar), soups, salads and a wide range of appetizers and sandwiches.

But there are just NINE DAYS to sign up. The event is free, though there will be a tip jar for a couple of bucks to support OMC and to create another Media Circus! next month. Here are the details:

Media Circus! (A Spectacular Media Social Hour)
Saturday, November 14
2 pm - 4 pm
Invasion
412 SW 4th Ave. (off of Stark, next to Azumano Travel)
Portland, OR 97204
All ages
Free!

Please sign up ASAP so Invasion knows how many people to staff for. I'll see you there!

UPDATE (11/6, 11:49 pm): This Yahoo site we're using for RSVP's is apparently giving people trouble. If you haven't signed up already, please email me at infooregonmediacentral [dot] com or use any real or made-up name in the comments below with your confirmation. It's important that you RSVP somehow, though, so that the venue can be staffed correctly. Also, please let us know if anyone's coming with you. Thank you!