Dave Knows Portland

Subscribe to Dave Knows Portland by Email

Portland Weekend Amusements (15-17 July 2016)

by Leave a Comment

Just your typical mid-July weekend in Portland: Timbers, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, Highland Games, Berry Festival, OMSI After Dark, and more!

All Weekend

Cathedral Park Jazz FestivalCathedral Park Jazz Festival

As the longest-running FREE Jazz Festival west of the Mississippi River, CPJF celebrates its 36th year with three days of world-class music. The Festival begins Friday night with dynamic Blues, R&B, and Soul. Saturday and Sunday will feature all the multiple styles of Jazz in all its glory. Keep checking our website to see who is performing this year.

The stage is situated in a natural amphitheater with a backdrop of the beautiful Willamette River to the west and the mighty St Johns Bridge overhead . . .

Friday-Saturday

Oregon Berry FestivalOregon Berry Festival

The Oregon Berry Festival is made for berry lovers, who know it’s summer in Oregon when the ripest, juiciest berries start appearing perfect for making pies, jams and other decadent treats.

Come on down to the Oregon Berry Festival to find all the freshest Oregon berries including everything from Marionberries to Ollalieberries and the best blueberries and strawberries you will find anywhere. The festival showcases everything berry!

Saturday

Portland Highland GamesPortland Highland Games

The Portland Highland Games brings the sights and sounds of the Scottish highlands to Portland, Oregon. The third Saturday in July brings out the highland dancers, bagpipe bands, and athletes to Mt Hood Community College to compete. With traditional Scottish foods and activities for the whole family, you’re sure to have a great time.

OMSI After DarkOMSI After Dark: On the Rocks & Off the Grill

Shoot off water rockets, concoct chemical creations, and explore the wonders of OMSI with no kids in sight! Enjoy a glass of wine while learning about robots, tornados, or fossils. Talk to a brewer about the science behind beer, or taste how an extra 10% cacao can make a difference in chocolate.

All that and more with OMSI After Dark, a night at the museum for the 21-and-over crowd filled with food, drink, and science fun!

Sunday

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Flounders

Timbers LogoCascadian rival Seattle visit Providence Park on Sunday, 17 July 2016 to face the defending MLS champion Portland Timbers.

The Timbers, undefeated in their last eight league matches and currently seventh in the Western Conference standings, hope to retain their good form – and maybe even get a win – on Sunday when rival Seattle visit.

Seattle, second to last in the standings but coming off a big 5-0 (!) win Wednesday against first place Dallas, will be without their aging star Clint Dempsey, who received a red card in that same match.

The match begins at noon.

Ongoing – in the Parks

Movies in the ParkMovies in the Park

  • Fri, July 15 – Irving Park (NE 7th Ave & Fremont St ) – Star Wars – The Force Awakens (2015)
  • Sat, July 16 – Glenhaven Park (NE 82nd Ave & Siskiyou St) – Raiders of the Lost Ark (2015)
  • Sat, July 16 – Hoyt Arboretum (4000 SW Fairview Blvd) – Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (1993) PG
  • Sun, July 1y – Denorval Unthank Park (510 N Shaver St) – Avengers Age of Ultron (1993) PG

Concerts in the Park

  • Friday, July 15 – Fernhill Park (NE 37th, North of Ainsworth St) – The Quick & Easy Boys

Original Practice Shakespeare FestivalOriginal Practice Shakespeare Festival

OPS Fest brings a new style of Shakespearean performance to the Portland area by reviving the old.

This weekend’s performances at Laurelhurst Park:

  • Romeo & Juliet – July 8 @ 7PM
  • The Tempest – July 9 @ 2PM
  • Hamlet – July 9 @ 7PM
  • Hamlet – Fri. July 15 @ 7PM
  • Much Adoe About Nothing – Sat. July 16 @ 2PM
  • The Tempest – Sat. July 16 @ 7PM
  • The Comedie of Errors* – Sat. July 16 @ 10PM
  • The Taming of the Shrew – Sun. July 17 @ 2PM
  • Romeo & Juliet – Sun. July 17 @ 7PM

Portland Weekend Amusements (13-15 May 2016)

by Leave a Comment

Street Fair season has arrived, just as the rainy weather returns. Of course. Belgian beer and a Timbers match too though, so it’s going to be a lovely weekend all around.

Friday-Saturday

Cheers to Belgian Beers

Cheers to Belgian Beers 2016Cheers to Belgian Beers is back for its 10th year in 2016. The Belgian-style Beer Festival will feature a single yeast strain, with which brewers will brew a unique Belgian Style beer. This year the yeast strain is 58 Lioness. In order to demonstrate the diversity the yeast strain, as well as show off the creativity of Oregon Craft Brewers, the color and strength of each brewer’s beer is determined by a dart throw. When Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers started in 2007, it was to help introduce Oregonians to the breadth of style and flavors of beers brewed in Belgium. The 2015 Cheers to Belgian Beers featured 60 beers from 57 brewing companies.

Saturday

Portland Train Day 2016Portland National Train Day 2016

Trains, trains, trains! What better way to celebrate Portland Train Day than at Oregon Rail Heritage Center – the only working rail museum in Portland? Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation is resurrecting Portland’s celebration of trains with the first annual Portland Train Day. ORHF’s Portland Train Day joins Train Days across the country in commemorating the completion of the first transcontinental railroad with the pounding of the ‘Golden Spike’ at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869.

St. Johns Bizarre

St Johns Bizarre 2016The St Johns Bizarre is a uniquely-crafted celebration that kicks off the summer street fair season in Portland. Held annually on the second Saturday in May, the Bizarre brings music, crafts, and food to the crowds attending the St Johns Parade, now in its 54th year. After the parade, the entire six block area of the business district in the St. Johns is closed to traffic, and filled with over 70 juried craft vendors, several stages for music, great food, and tons of games and activities. It’s an amazing community event with something for everyone. The event is free.

Sunday

Sunday Parkways – East

Sunday ParkwaysCity of Portland Sunday Parkways presented by Kaiser Permanente promotes healthy active living through a series of free events opening the city’s largest public space – its streets – to walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation while fostering civic pride, stimulating economic development, and represents the community, business, and government investments in Portland’s vitality, livability, and diversity.

Kenton Street Fair

Kenton Street Fair 2016The 7th annual Kenton Street Fair, an annual celebration of diverse and engaged communities aimed at promoting local growth and a sustainable future for Historic Kenton, takes place Sunday, 15 May 2016 in the Kenton Business District on North Denver Avenue (between N. Willis & N. Watts).

The festivities include live music performances on multiple stages, a children’s parade and other activities for the kids, vendors galore, and a whole bunch of people dressed as Paul Bunyon!

Portland Timbers vs. NYC FC

Timbers LogoNew York City Football Club visit Providence Park on Sunday, 15 May 2016 to face the Portland Timbers.

The Timbers aim to regain form after two consecutive losses on the road. NYC FC, winners of their last two matches, hopes to continue their recent strong form against Portland.

The match begins at 4:30 PM.

Portland Weekend Amusements (29 April – 1 May 2016)

by Leave a Comment

This weekend: Support your library (and your books habit), the Timbers, and the international labor movement and/or pagan spring fertility rituals.

Sunday

May Day Celebration at Kennedy School

McMenaminsLive music, Kids’ Music, Amanda “The Face Painter,” Maypole Dancers and more – free and all ages!

Children skipping around the maypole has been a century-long tradition at Kennedy School on May Day. All ages are invited to come watch kids from local schools dance around our Maypole, and enjoy facepainting and balloon twisting. Stay for dinner, more live music and maybe a movie in the theater.

Portland Timbers vs. Toronto FC

Timbers LogoToronto FC visit Providence Park on Sunday, 1 May 2016 to face the Portland Timbers on a lovely afternoon [forecast is 83 and sunny!].

The Timbers look to stay or improve upon the form that gave them a draw Wednesday at New England, and a home win against San Jose two Saturdays ago. Toronto, a formidable opponent featuring former Timber and Canadian National Team star Will Johnson, have played all their matches on the road so far this season, and have won the last two.

The match kicks off at 12:30 PM.

All Weekend

Spring Used Book Sale 2016

Friend of the Library Spring Book SaleThe 43rd annual Friend of the Library Spring Used Book Sale takes place 29 April through 2 May 2016 at the Gresham Station Shopping Center (1271 NW Civic Center Dr., Gresham, Oregon 97030).

The Selection

Tens of thousands of donated books and materials – well sorted!

• Gently Used Books
Children’s books and pocket-sized paperbacks start at 50 cents.
Hardcover books and soft cover books start at $2.

• Audiovisual Materials
DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, audiobooks on tape and CD

• Comics, sheet music, pamphlets and maps start at 50 cents.

Portland Weekend Amusements (18-20 March 2016)

by Leave a Comment

You’re the problem if you don’t have fun this weekend: Timbers, St. Patrick’s Day festivities, and more!

All Weekend

St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

Stout and soda breadA collection of collections:

Saturday

CSA Share Fair

CSA Share FairMeet and talk directly to local farmers who grow our food! More than 40 local farmers, ranchers, and fishers will showcase CSA options, including vegetables, fruits, pastured meats, wild fish, eggs, flowers, honey, and more. . .

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a growing movement that connects eaters and farmers. This is a win-win: You get healthy, fresh, farm-direct food every week, and your farmer gets freedom and security. Other benefits of CSA shares include getting to know your farmer, eating more vegetables, supporting a local business, connecting with your food, and investing in low impact farming practices that protect our drinking water, soils, and wildlife habitat.

Timbers Logo

Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake [goddamn that’s a stupid name] visit Providence Park on Saturday, 19 March 2016 to face the Portland Timbers in their second home match of the regular season.

The Timbers look to bounce back from a loss last weekend against an undefeated RSL team coming off a 2-1 victory over Seattle.

Some matchup factoids for you:

The match on Saturday will be the 19th competitive game (regular season, postseason and U.S. Open Cup) between the two teams. This marks the first time that Portland has faced an MLS opponent 19 times since the Timbers first joined the league in 2011.

In 2015, the Timbers led all of MLS with the most shots in both the regular season and the postseason. To start this season, Portland is again getting shots off at an impressive clip with 36, good for second-most in the league. [More]

Ongoing

2016 Tulip Fest

Tulip FestOur favorite time of year is when the tulips bloom!

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest is an invitation from our family to yours to enjoy all things that make spring in the Northwest. Stroll through 40 acres of stunning beauty, experience expansive views of vineyards, distant mountains, and a few mud puddles. Fresh flowers, food, and fun for the entire family!

Portland Weekend Amusements (4-6 March 2016)

by Leave a Comment

In another sign of spring, Saturday Market opens this weekend. Your MLS-champ Timbers kick off the 2016 season, and Barleywines and SE Portland art round out a solid weekend.

Friday-Saturday

19th Annual Lucky Lab Barleywine Festival

Lucky LabVisit The New School for the Beer List for the Lucky Labrador Barleywine Festival.

Come join us for the big, crazy beers at this year’s Barleywine Festival at the Quimby Beer Hall on Friday and Saturday, March 4th and 5th, noon to 10 p.m. both days. An event glass and four tokens are just $15 and extra tickets are $2 each for a four ounce pour. We have over 50 different beers. We will have about 25 on tap at any one time so you might want to make this a two day event.

Saturday

Portland Saturday Market – opening day 2016

Portland Saturday MarketOn March 5th, PSM opens once again to showcase Oregon’s best handmade products for our 43rd year.

PSM will feature:

  • Instagram Contest “Why I love handmade” Post pictures of products purchased from PSM. Win a $25 gift card. Stay connected socially with #handmade happiness
  • Five give-a-ways of $25 gift cards per day
  • Main Stage entertainment is serving up local music with the likes of The Talbott Brother and Cardboard Songsters
  • Kids’ Korner featuring Amazama Circus Arts Team will teach kids to juggle, balance things and much more
  • Flamebuoyant’s Circus entertainers will meander Saturday with their stilt walkers, jugglers and musicians.
  • 21 Food Carts featuring original recipes of local favorites like Angelina’s Greek Cuizina -chicken gyro, Jalisco’s vegetarian burrito and Tim’s Thai chicken satay with peanut sauce.
  • 250+ talented artisans selling their original handcrafted wares.
  • PSM is a FREE event and open to all ages. Come discover the best of PDX in one place.

Saturday-Sunday

SE Area ARTWalk

SE Area ArtWalkNearly 70 artists will provide a blaze of colors, shapes, textures, and visual stimuli in SE Portland neighborhoods for the annual SE Area ARTWalk on Saturday and Sunday, the first weekend of March. The ARTWalk map area includes the boundaries of SE 9th Ave to SE 41st and SE Powell to SE Hawthorne Blvd. Artists show in their own creative space or are hosted by local residents and businesses allowing you to visit indoor locations on the free, self-guided tour. The SE Area ARTWalk is a community-building event that has strengthened the connection between businesses, artists, and neighbors.

Sunday

Portland Timbers’ 2015 MLS Cup Championship Celebration and home opener against Columbus Crew SC

Portland TimbersThe Portland Timbers host the Columbus Crew at Providence Park on Sunday, 6 March 2016 in the 2016 league opener for both teams, at 1:30 PM.

Oh yeah, and we’ll be celebrating winning the 2015 MLS Cup!

The celebration will include:

  • The official 2015 MLS Cup Championship banner unveiling, with the help of Timber Jim and Timber Joey
  • A commemorative MLS Cup Championship pennant giveaway for the first 7,500 supporters into Providence Park
  • MLS Cup trophy display and photo opportunity at the matchv
  • A large-scale banner and flag display on the Providence Park pitch pre-game
  • As is tradition, the Timbers Army will sing the national anthem