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Weekend Amusements (November 25-27, 2011)

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There is no shortage of events and spectacles this Thanksgiving weekend, including the Macy’s parade, several tree lightings, and of course frenzied shopping. But what you’re really after is Canadian football and booze, right?! My picks are below, and make sure to visit our friends at Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com for even more!

Ongoing

Pittock MansionPittock Mansion Holiday Season 2011

Once again Portland’s historic Pittock Mansion is going all out for the holiday season. This year, from November 21 through January 2, the theme is Christmas Around The World.
“Every year, starting more than 40 years ago, dozens of volunteer decorators, designers, and local organizations donate their time and talents to transform Pittock Mansion into a Christmas wonderland for approximately 17,000 delighted visitors during the holiday season.” [more]

Tannenbaum MadnessTannenbaum Madness 2011

Alberta Main Street‘s Tannenbaum Madness is a walking window tour of whimsical, wacky and artistic trees.
“Tannenbaum Madness is an event, inviting families and art lovers to bundle up and take a stroll up Alberta Street this holiday season. Businesses up and down NE Alberta Street create a walking tour of whimsical, artistic, and unique holiday trees on display it in their front windows.” [more]

Zoolights!ZooLights 2011

The 2011 ZooLights ignite for the first time on Friday, November 25. The sparkling lights and brilliant hues will be cast each evening (except Christmas Eve and Day) through January 1, 2012.
“More than a million lights transform the Oregon Zoo into a luminous winter wonderland filled with moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and animal silhouettes.” [more]

Friday

Portland Art MuseumPortland Art Museum Free Day

Though the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park) is closed on Thanksgiving Day, enjoy free admission on Friday, November 25, 2011 from 5pm until 8pm.
The museum offers free admission ever fourth Friday (5pm-8pm) of the month, so if you can’t make it this week, mark December 23, 2011 on your calendar! [more]

Friday-Saturday

BoozeClear Creek Distillery Thanksgiving Weekend Open House

Portland artisan spirits pioneer, Clear Creek Distillery (2389 NW Wilson), will be hosting their annual Thanksgiving Weekend Open House this Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26, 2011.
“We will be hosting guests in our production area, which is usually closed to the public, explaining our production process and providing tastings. Visitors can see the stills, fermentation tanks, etc., and see what we are currently making, as well as talk with the people who actually make our spirits.” [more]

Saturday

D.B. CooperD.B. Cooper Symposium

Thanksgiving Day this year marks the 40th anniversary of the infamous D.B. Cooper hijacking, so it’s only appropriate that Portland will be playing host to a D.B. Cooper Symposium this weekend, on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at the Portland Hilton (921 SW 6th) to be exact. [more]

Sunday

Grey Cup 2011Grey Cup in Portland (2011)

The 99th Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League‘s championship game, takes place this Sunday, November 27, 2011.

This year BC Place Stadium will host the game. Unfortunately the half time entertainment is provide by Nickelback. The home-town BC Lions will be facing the Winnepeg Blue Bombers! [more]

September 16, 1964: President Johnson and Prime Minister Pearson Mark Ratification of Columbia River Treaty

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Photo and caption from The Oregonian, 17 September 1964U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson traveled to Blaine, Washington on September 16, 1964 to mark the ratification of the Columbia River Treaty (The Oregonian, 17 September 1964).

More than 10,000 Americans and Canadians crowded into the border-straddling Peace Arch International Park, built in 1931 to symbolize 100 years of peace along border, for the meeting.

As a result of the Columbia River Treaty, high-voltage power lines would stretch across central Oregon, connecting the metropolises of Southern California with Columbia River dam generated electricity from Canada, Washington, and Oregon. Dams also made flood control easier, and both countries would share revenues from eleven Columbia River dams in the United States.

January 5, 1846: No More Sharing Oregon With Britain

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Oregon CountryOregon Country is what a huge swath of the Pacific Northwest was called by the USA back in the first half of the 19th century (the British called it Columbia District). For decades the British and the USA disputed where, exactly, the borders should be drawn. The Brits thought maybe it should be somewhere near Northern California, whereas the USA thought perhaps it should be up near the Yukon.

But then, on January 5 in 1846 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for an end to sharing the region with Britain.

Arguably the US claim was strongest south of the Columbia River, but for various political and economic reasons the push was on to make the 49th parallel the border, which is where the modern day border with Canada is. The Brits weren’t that interested in fighting another war, and the 49th parallel was quite a bit lower than up near the 54th parallel, where some Americans thought the line should be. So they compromised in 1846 with the Oregon Treaty.

Credit: Oregon Country map by Wikipedia user Kmusser. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

November 26-27: Booze, Art, Rudolph’s Nose, Canadian Football, and the Pittock Mansion

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Sure, you could spend the day fighting your way through obnoxious department stores crowds, or sitting on the couch watching football, but if you want some culture, follow me . . .

Friday

Portland Art MuseumFree Admission at the Portland Art Museum

In celebration (?) of Black Friday, the Portland Art Museum is offering free admission today from 5pm until 8pm.

“Browse the Museum’s permanent collection, explore sculptures, paintings, and works on paper by one of the Pacific Northwest’s most distinguished artists, and see one of the most important examples of 19th-century American painting.” [more]

Portland Oregon SignRudolph Gets His Red Nose on Friday at Willamette Week Online

Old Town’s “Made in Oregon” sign, now the “Portland, Oregon” sign, will illuminate downtown once again starting this Friday after a two-year battle between the University of Oregon and the City of Portland for control of the sign.

At Friday’s ceremony to christen the new version of the old sign, city officials will also turn the white stag’s nose red, temporarily turning the deer into “Rudolph” for the winter shopping season … er, Christmas. [more]

Friday-Saturday

Cranberry Liqueur from Clear CreekClear Creek Distillery Open House

One of the pioneers of artisan alcohol production in Portland, Clear Creek Distillery (2389 NW Wilson), opens their doors on Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27 2010 for a rare open house.

Clear Creek’s Williams Bear Brandy and Apple eaux de vie are two of my favorite spirits. If I get up the gumption to leave the house and brave the consumerist frenzy [doubtful] that is the weekend after Thanksgiving, Clear Creak Distillery will be my first (and perhaps only) stop. [more]

Sunday

Grey Cup 2010Where to Watch the Grey Cup in Portland

Hang on to your toque and prepare your poutine, the 98th Grey Cup takes place this Sunday, November 28 2010. The Grey Cup is Canada’s Super Bowl – the Canadian Football League’s championship game.

In a rematch of last year’s Cup, defending champions Montreal Alouettes face the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. [more]

Ongoing (Through January 2, 2011)

Pittock MansionVisit the Pittock Mansion during the Holidays

The Pittock Mansion has been closed the last few days as volunteers, designers, and local charities prepare it for the holidays. On November 22nd the public is invited in again to share in A Northwest Christmas: The Natural Beauty and Bounty of Oregon. The mansion will have been transformed into a holiday wonderland. Festive decorations, ribbon, garland, poinsettias, and more than 15 Christmas trees will fill the historic house. [more]

And for more, visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and PDX Pipeline!