Eating Contest

ScanFair 2012

November 27, 2012 by Dave Leave a Comment

I'm a Viking! Celebrate the sights, sounds, tastes and traditions of a Scandinavian Christmas at the 28th annual Portland ScanFair, presented by the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, this Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2, 2012.

The fair returns this year to the Exhibit Hall in the Memorial Coliseum (300 N Winning Way). Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and children under 12 are free. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Though primarily a holiday bazaar featuring Scandinavian food, crafts, and sundry, there is also an impressive entertainment lineup (pdf) featuring live traditional music and folk dancing performances and classes.

But my absolute favorite part of the fair is the annual pickled herring eating contest! Check out Nick Capri’s impressive 2008 win below. He took home as a prize a bottle of Krogstad Aquavit, made by Portland’s House Spirits. This year’s contest goes down at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday – don’t miss it!

Portland Weekend Amusements (September 7-9, 2012)

September 6, 2012 by Dave 1 Comment

September always treats Portlanders to the best summer-like weather of the year; perfect for the furious rush of street fairs and festivals! This weekend treat yourself to Baconfest, Widmer’s Oktoberfest, the Belmont Street Fair, and more!
Ongoing

Portland Movies in the Park – last weekend!

Portland Parks and Recreation has released the 2012 summer schedule of Movies in the Park. From June 29 through September 18 sprawl out at one of Portland’s fine municipal parks several times a week for an evening of free entertainment.

Friday 9/7: Funny Face (1957) @ Director Park
Friday 9/7: Hugo @ Multnomah Arts Center
Saturday 9/8: Pee-wee’s Big Adventure @ Wallace Park [more]

Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2012

Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. After spending their day eating bugs, the Swifts coalesce in Northwest Portland, flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky above the school. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of Portlanders stare mesmerized at the sky, from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons get lucky. [more]

Friday

Exhibit Opening: Streetcars Build a City

Streetcars Build a City, the new exhibit at the Architectural Heritage Center (701 SE Grand), opens Friday, September 7, 2012 with a free showing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“In Portland, our urban neighborhoods are a product of the pre-automobile era.” [more]

Friday-Saturday

Widmer Oktoberfest

The eighth annual Widmer Brothers Brewing Oktoberfest expands to two days this year, taking place Friday and Saturday, September 7 and 8, 2012 at the brewery (929 N. Russell Street).

Widmer’s beers, brats, chicken schnitzel wraps, sauerkraut, and pretzels are available, and of course there will be accordions! [more]

Saturday

Belmont Street Fair

The 16th Annual Belmont Street Fair takes place Saturday, September 8, 2012 from noon until 7 p.m. The fair extends from 20th to 48th on Southeast Belmont, with car free blocks from 34th to 38th.

The fair features over 100 craft booths, two music stages, food vendors, and activities for the kids. There will be a beer garden at SE 33rd! [more]

PDX Baconfest

The fourth annual Portland Baconfest takes place Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 18th and East Burnside, adjacent to the East Burn (1800 E Burnside), from noon until 9 p.m. – it’s a giant street festival celebrating bacon!

Thousands of bacon lovers attended last year’s fest, thoroughly lubricating their cardiovascular system and contributing hundreds of pounds of food to the Oregon Food Bank. [more]

Kennedy School Oktoberfest

When you imagine Oktoberfest, what comes to mind? Oom-pah bands, loads of beer, bratwurst and hamburgers and more! One and all are welcome to participate in the German celebration that is Oktoberfest! Begun as a wedding party for Germany’s Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1810, today Oktoberfest is celebrated all over the world with music, singing, dancing, beer, food and revelry. [more]

For even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

PDX Baconfest 2012

September 4, 2012 by Dave 4 Comments

The fourth annual Portland Baconfest takes place Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 18th and East Burnside, adjacent to the East Burn (1800 E Burnside), from noon until 9 p.m. – it’s a giant street festival celebrating bacon!

Thousands of bacon lovers attended last year’s fest, thoroughly lubricating their cardiovascular system and contributing hundreds of pounds of food to the Oregon Food Bank.

Entertainment includes four live bands and a skate competition, sponsored by Bacon Skateboards.

Festival goers can compete in the Ultimate Bacon Eating Contest, the Bacon Dance Off, Greasy Slip N Slide, and the Triathlon De Pig – prizes include iPods, grills, and more!

Dozens of sponsors and vendors will be on hand offering their bacon, and non-bacon, related wares.

Admission is a mere $5 and a suggested donation of 2 canned food items for the Oregon Food Bank. Must be 21 or over to enter! For more details visit the Baconfest website or the Facebook event page. Arrive early to sign up for the contests.

Portland Weekend Amusements (August 24-26, 2012)

August 23, 2012 by Dave Leave a Comment

Ongoing

Portland Movies in the Park

Portland Parks and Recreation has released the 2012 summer schedule of Movies in the Park. From June 29 through September 18 sprawl out at one of Portland’s fine municipal parks several times a week for an evening of free entertainment.

Friday 8/24: Hugo @ Laurelhurst Park
Saturday 8/25: Gamera vs Zigra @ Sewallcrest Park
[more]

All Weekend

Fiesta Italiana

The 21st Festa Italiana turns Pioneer Courthouse Square into a piazza Thursday through Saturday, August 23 through 25, 2012.

One of my favorite Portland festivals, and not just because of the strolling accordionists, I recommend you arrive early to secure a table in the beer and wine garden! [more]

Saturday

Powell’s Block Party

Powell’s Books, Portland’s pride and joy and the largest independent bookstore in the world, opened 41 years ago this year on West Burnside.

Through the end of the year Powell’s is celebrating with special author events, sweepstakes, and this Saturday, August 25, 2012 – a Block Party to kick things off! [more]

UnRock the Bowl

Let’s make a beach in downtown Portland! UnRock the Bowl will take place Saturday, August 25 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park – in the grass bowl just south of Hawthorne Bridge.

Rip-wrap rocks installed in the 1980’s have migrated to the water’s edge. We will simply pick these rocks up and put them back on the bank. [more]

Cascadia Cup Match: Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

Cascadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps (10-9-7) and the Portland Timbers (5-13-6) meet again at Jeld-Wen Field on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The only bright spot this season is that the Timbers sit atop the Cascadia Cup standings – tied with Seattle . . . a good result against Vancouver Saturday will put them back in the driver’s seat . . .

Sunday

Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways

The fourth of five 2012 Sunday Parkways takes place this Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Southeast Portland.

From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. wind your way on bike or foot through mostly residential streets free of car traffic, from one park to the next. This year’s route is 9 miles long. [more]

Hawthorne Street Fair

The 2012 Hawthorne Street Fair takes place Sunday, August 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard.

For the fourth year running the fair coincides with the Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways . . . Most of the street fair activities take place between 12th and 51st . . . Clusters of arts, crafts, and food vendors pepper the side streets, sidewalks, and adjacent parking lots. [more]

42nd Avenue Street Fair

The third annual 42nd Avenue Street Fair takes place Sunday, August 26, 2012 at Northeast 42nd and Alberta Court.
Join the fun from noon until 5 p.m.

The fair features live music, kids’ activities, vendors, a beer garden, and more! [more]

Zack’s Shack Hot Dog Eating Contest

The 9th annual Zach’s Shack Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place Sunday, August 26, 2012 at the shack (46th and SE Hawthorne).

The entrance fee is a mere $5, and includes all the hot dogs and buns you can eat in 10 minutes – but remember, regurgitation is grounds for disqualification. No puking! Spectators get in free. Shit goes down at 4 p.m. [more]

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Zack’s Shack Hot Dog Eating Contest (26-August-2012)

August 21, 2012 by Dave Leave a Comment

The 9th annual Zach’s Shack Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place Sunday, August 26, 2012 at the shack (46th and SE Hawthorne).

The entrance fee is a mere $5, and includes all the hot dogs and buns you can eat in 10 minutes – but remember, regurgitation is grounds for disqualification. No puking! Spectators get in free. Shit goes down at 4 p.m.

Read the tale of last year’s thrilling competition – are you man or woman enough?

The contest this year takes place the same day as the Southeast Sunday Parkways and Hawthorne Street Fair – make a day of it!