Portland has no shortage of self-love, even though we sometimes may feel like we get no respect from outside Vacationland.

If you've ever supported a local business, band or artist tonight is shaping up to be a big ol' fashioned love fest with the Indie Biz Awards and the release party for the newest album in the "Greetings from Area Code 207" series.

And lucky for all of you both of these shindigs will be taking place within a Portland city block of each other.

The Indie Biz Awards is a first of its kind celebration of all the local places we love to visit and spend our money. Created by the gang behind the Buy Local Campaign, the awards were designed to recognize and bring together members of the city's business community, the long-established and the newbies alike.

Nominees were selected and voted on in seven categories, ranging from "Local Legend," "Portland Soul," and "Beacon of My Neighborhood," which recognizes individuals who have worked to host events, encourage new development and generally make their neighborhood safer.

Aside from getting to chat up your favorite local business owners, artists and neighbors, there will also be live music from Samuel James and Honey Clouds.

The awards begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. at SPACE Gallery, tickets are $8 for Buy Local Members, $10 for everyone else. All money will go towards helping the Buy Local campaign keep up its work.

Just up the street at Empire Dine and Dance Charlie Gaylord unveils "Greetings From Area Code 207, Volume 7" with about as many bands lined-up to play as are featured on the new album.

The series began in 2000 with the first album, a compilation of songs from local acts to help raise money for the St. Lawrence Arts Center on Munjoy Hill in Portland.
Featured on the new album are unreleased songs from Ray Lamontagne, Rustic Overtones, Phantom Buffalo, As Fast As, Seekonk, Darien Brahms and others. The CD will be available at Bull Moose stores and Borders in South Portland, as well as online at the St. Lawrence web site, and Cornmeal Records.

But tonight if you head down to Empire you can snag a copy of the disc and hear live music from Sara Cox (with Chicky Stoltz), The Jason Spooner Trio, Dominic and The Lucid and plenty of other acts. (Special guests are apparently waiting in the wings.)

The party starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10, with all money going to help the St. Lawrence, which is beginning its long renovation and rebuilding process.

So there's a few decent options for tonight, eh?

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