Dave Knows Portland

Archives for April 2010

April 10: Crossroads Carnival

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Commons CarnivalThe Crossroads Carnival, a City Repair sponsored benefit for the Village Building Convergence (VBC), takes place Saturday April 10 at Backspace (115 NW 5th).

Actually it’s not just the upcoming VBC that will benefit, half of the cover charge of $10 will go to support a community building project of your choice (out of 25 neighborhood sites). (Contact City Repair for ticket information.)

Here’s the schedule:

7:00 pm – Doors Open & Tea
7:30 pm – Puppet Show: The Crossroads Dance
8:00 pm – Presentation from Mark Lakeman and Michael Cook
9:00 – Chervona Performance!

We’ll start the night off with a Puppet show of pure magic, inspired from the heart of the Creation Story of City Repair. Little and Big kids are more welcome to come and kiddos under 13 get in free!

Afterwards, look forward to an inspiring and Internationally Renowned presentations given by Mark Lakeman and Michael Cook that explore the principles and passions that have made City Repair so succesful and beloved.

And then at 9pm, the headliners take the stage; amazing Portland band Chervona!

April 10: Kitchen Revival Tour 2010

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Kitchen Tour 2010This year’s Kitchen Revival Tour, assembled by the folks at the Architectural Heritage Center, takes place Saturday, April 10th from 10am to 4pm.

If you’re planning a kitchen project or just love to see inside vintage homes, this is the program for you. Come learn how kitchens have evolved from utilitarian workspaces to the center of family living. You will see first hand that kitchens can be kept intact or appropriately renovated to meet the demands of modern lifestyles. This year the tour showcases creative solutions in a variety of price ranges and in houses that run the gamut from early 20th Century to Mid-Century Modern. Homeowners will be on hand to share their experiences and lend advice.

All the houses in the tour are located in Southeast, Northeast, or North Portland. For the first time a bike friendly route map of the tour will be available.

Tickets are $20 for Architectural Heritage Center members ($25 for the general public). Visit the Architectural Heritage Center website for more information.

April 17: Firkin Fest 2010

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Firkin Fest 2010The 3rd Annual Firkin Fest takes place Saturday, April 17th at the Green Dragon (928 SE 9th).

A firkin, for those unfamiliar with the term, is an old English unit of volume.

For beer and ale a firkin is equal to nine imperial gallons, seventy-two pints, or a quarter of a barrel (40.91481 litres). Casks in this size (themselves called firkins) are the most common container for cask ale.

Now you know.

The Firkin Fest features firkins of beer from twenty Oregon breweries, artisan cheeses and chocolates, and is structured quite differently from most local beer festivals. This beer fest ain’t cheap ($30!), and you have to buy tickets ahead of time (at Rogue.com, or at the Green Dragon by phone or in person). But, the crowding won’t be quite as ridiculous as at some beer fests because attendance is split into two sessions, with only a limited number of tickets sold for each (last year it was 200 per session).

Heather and I attended last year’s event, and thought there were not enough places to sit or lean and prop your pint, there were no lines for most of the beers most of the time, which was a pleasant departure from most beer festivals.

The $30 admission gets you a souvenir glass, eight 6 ounce taster tickets, and two food tickets. The first session runs from 11am to 2pm, and the second from 3pm to 6pm.

Sunday Parkways 2010: Northwest Portland added for September

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Sunday ParkwaysWhen the 2010 Sunday Parkway schedule was announced, a mysterious September parkway was hinted at, but kept secret from the public . . . until now!

The 5th Sunday Parkways route is a mystery no more. On September 26th, people will walk, bike, run and roll along the streets of Northwest Portland. The 4.4-mile route connects SW Stark Street, Old Town Chinatown, Pearl and Northwest neighborhoods. Activities, food and entertainment will be in Couch and Wallace Parks and along the route. And don’t forget to stop and enjoy our city’s wonderful Portland Saturday Market as you move along Naito Parkway.

This will be the first West side Sunday Parkway, and the final of 2010.

Heather and I have taken advantage of two Sunday Parkways; the very first one in 2008, and last year’s Southeast Portland parkway. They’re a lot of fun. The NW route (pdf map) looks like a good one – plenty of places to stop in for a beer on a hot September Sunday afternoon!