Dave Knows Portland

Archives for June 2010

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits (06/22/2010)

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TimbersTimbers win!

Ryan Pore scored on a penalty kick early in the shut out win at Minnesota. In the first regular season win since April, Josh Cameron scored late in the match to make the final 2-0. (Visit Dropping Timber for a video recap, straight outta Minnesota.)

Tonight the Timbers travel to Bremerton, Washington for a US Open Cup match against the Kitsap Pumas. If I were superstitious, my fingers would be crossed. The team then returns to Portland for a Sunday match against FC Tampa Bay.

Win Free Tickets to Portland Timbers vs Manchester City Friendly!

Looking for tickets to the Portland Timbers friendly vs Manchester City on July 17th? Don’t want to pay an arm and a leg to some scalper, or commit to season tickets yet [Ed: if not now, when!?]? Well I may be able to help you out. I’m at a wedding the day of the match, so I am giving my pair of tickets away. Just follow the steps on this blog post, and you may be the lucky recipient of those tickets – drawing takes place Sunday, June 27th!

June 27: North Portland Sunday Parkways

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Sunday ParkwaysThe second Sunday Parkways of 2010 takes place this Sunday, June 27th in North Portland.

This is an opportunity to spend a pleasant summery Sunday morning and afternoon (10am to 3pm) winding your way on bike or foot through the mostly residential, car free, streets of North Portland. The routes take you from one park to the next, where you can check out the vendors and demonstrations, or just sit down and relax. For this week’s event, the parks include Peninsula, Arbor Lodge, Kenton, Trenton, and the Willamette Bluff.

North Portland Sunday Parkways

(click map to download in PDF format.)

Heather and I missed the first one this year, but we’ve participated in two Portland Sunday Parkways – we walked the very first one in North Portland in 2008, and last year we rode bikes in the Southeast Portland event. We plan to take part this Sunday!

Dave Goes: Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival 2010

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For the second year in a row Heather and I descended upon Astoria, Oregon for the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Optog

We arrived in town Friday evening, so we missed the Coronation of Miss Scandinavia, the bonfire, and the queen’s ball. But Saturday we took in the Optog (aka the walking parade through downtown Astoria) and then made our way to Clatsop County Fairgrounds for the whole tamale. Here’s a quick, illustrated, recap (read a more thorough and better written re-cap at Mile73.com!):

At the fair entrance I made sure my allegiances were clear.

Swedes Boo

I tested out new axes for Timbers. This one wasn’t cartoony enough.

New Axe

The band playing in the beer garden Saturday afternoon had this guy, on bass and oxygen.

Oxygen

And of course we had some beer.

Beer guy

Sunday after we checked out of our hotel, we wandered around the Astoria Sunday Market.

You knew Clark Gable began his acting career in Astoria, Oregon, right? Yup, just before the theater (and much of the town) burnt down. And right before he sold ties at Meier and Frank in Portland. This plaque is adjacent to the public restroom.

Clark Gable

Finally, at noon, Fort George Brewery opened. We had a beer and headed home. Here’s Heather enjoying a crisp and hoppy oatmeal pale ale:

Heather beer!

That’s all I got, but go visit Heather’s Mile73.com for more!

June 26: Scandinavian Midsummer Festival 2010

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The 82nd annual Scandinavian Heritage Foundation Midsummer Festival takes place this Saturday, June 26th at the German American Cultural Center (7901 SE Division).

Scandinavians have a long tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires or raising of the Maypole (Majstång). Here in Portland that tradition has been celebrated for 82 continuous years at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Midsummer in Scandinavia’s northern climate is the biggest coming out celebration of the year and everyone is invited. At Portland’s Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, it is a celebration of fertile fields, warmer and longer days with games, dancing, food, Scandinavian crafts and of course the raising of the Maypole.

However, Scandinavian roots are not required to celebrate at this summer solstice festival. As all people of Nordic descent know, it’s always a fun, family friendly and important day with century old traditions.

And there’s a beer garden, Scandinavian food, and vendors! Also Viking re-enactors and music, dance, and games for the kiddies. Admission is only $6 for adults, $3 for kids 6-12 years old. Visit the event website for the entertainment schedule. Sigtuna Brass Band (Sweden), Pekka & Perttu Accordianists (Finland), and the Karelian Folk Ensemble will all be there (after all just appearing at the Astoria Scanfest last weekend).