I suppose, as a women, it’s a burden that I must bear (bare!). I’m sure I’m not alone when I suggest that this smooth face of mine is bringing me down. Not all the time, but first in November — my inability to participate in National Beard Month, and now this… missing the opportunity to participate in the West Coast Beard & Mustache Championships, Sunday, January 23.

My father, the life-long mustachio, has possessed the natural mustache (what I like to call the “Tom Selleck”) for as long as I can remember. A man’s man from birth, his mustache has set him apart from the boys. You may not believe it, but even some of the family photos at Grammy’s show my dad at eight, possessing a world-class mustache and a sweet pair of knickers, a photo I would love to share, but Grammy isn’t going to give that up without a fight, and she’s strong… trust me. I’d like to say it’s in my genes, but being a girl, I am missing all the joys of facial hair: the warmth, the fuzzyness,  the potential for disguise, the hiding of odd facial features, and, of course, the itch.

My Dad: stash for life

I’m not going to let a lack of itch bring me down, because competitors from all over will be vying for the title “Best in the West” in the fine city of Portland! Located on the floating floor of the beautiful Crystal Ballroom (I heard rumors of dancing), this event is bound to be a hootenanny! If you go downstairs to Ringlers Pub, say “hi” to my favorite (and also bearded) bartender, Michael.

This is an all-ages event, so if your eight-year-old is already sporting the stash, or even if you are a grown-up beard-o, I encourage participation. If you want to watch, you’d better get tickets soon, because it isn’t just a show, it is an opportunity to do some dancing and enjoy some of the finest brews in the Northwest, brought to you, in-part, by McMenamins. So go and cheer on your favorite hairy-faced man, woman, or knicker-wearing child. Go Dad!

You’re not going to want to miss this. Click here for tickets!

If you are looking for even more beard and mustache action, check out Magnificent Specimens, a photo exhibit dedicated to World Championship Beard and Mustache Portraits, showing in Portland, right now. Or this, Beards are Beautiful, a site devoted to increasing beard awareness, brought to you from our own local music community.

Thank-you for a fine tribute to facial hair