Dave Knows Portland

Archives for June 2010

June 19, 20: Sweet Cakes, Long Journey: A Walking Tour of Portland’s Chinatown

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Sweet Cakes, Long JourneyJoin the Dill Pickle Club on either Saturday, June 19th or Sunday June 20th for Sweet Cakes, Long Journey: A Walking Tour of Portland’s Chinatown.

The tours offer a unique opportunity to learn about the neighborhood through its architecture, oral history and little-known cultural heritage. A rare lecture by visiting scholar Dr. Marie Rose Wong offers a broader sociological and historical view of the area.

Highlighting many of Chinatown’s lesser known landmarks, the walk encompasses Yat Sing Music Club, New Market Theater, historic Chinese association buildings, as well as the original Chinatown on the south side of Burnside. Along the route, elders will meet the tour to share their memories. The walk will stop at sites more familiar to most, including Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Portland’s Chinatown gate and Lan Su Chinese Garden.

The Saturday tour goes from 3pm to 6pm, and the Sunday tour 2pm-5pm. Tickets are $15 ($10 for members). Visit the club’s events page for information on how to get tickets.

Here’s a preview:

Preview of Sweet Cakes, Long Journey: A Walking Tour of Portland’s Chinatown from dill pickle club on Vimeo.

The Dill Pickle Club is a Portland creative cultural club, which organizes educational tours, lectures, and publications. For more information visit the website, and consider becoming a member.

Portland Chinatown Gate photo (only visible when post is “featured”, or as thumbnail on front page), by user Cacophony at Wikimedia Commons.

Review: Milk Carton Boat Races 2010

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Milk Carton Boat Races 2010Summer debuted with gusto this past weekend. Saturday bore the brunt of it, delivering to many of us our inaugural sunburn of 2010. Between the Rose Parade, USA vs England at Director Park, and Cirque Du Cycling, it was hard to keep in the shade.

There was one last event to attend to Sunday, and the sun looked like it was staying out for a second day. In the morning Heather and I reluctantly slathered on the sun screen we had forgotten Saturday, and headed down to Westmoreland Park with a pair of lawn chairs.

Yup, we were on our way to the 2010 Milk Carton Boat Races.

After a several year hiatus, the races returned last year. In my review of the 2009 event I groused a bit about the lack of a beer garden, the predominant boat-building choice of milk jugs over milk cartons, and the lack of spectacularly disintegrating boats. But this year, knowing better what to expect, I enjoyed the event much more. It’s a family friendly event, as it were. So though no beer garden, there was free chocolate milk, strawberry yogurt, and root beer floats.

And gorgeous weather.

Casting Pond

The Dairy Farmers of Oregon had the coolest boat, but it was just for the conveyance of dairy princesses.

Milk Carton Boat

Friend of the blog Mike Vogel entered the race this year.

Mike Vogel and Boat and Prize

Damn straight, that’s a fourth place participant ribbon! (Mike was originally going to enter an amazingly creative looking boat in the showboat category, but there were papier-mâché issues.)

Notice the fine chicken wire and broken off wood support workmanship on Mike’s entry:

Mike's Boat

Here’s one of the rare boats actually made from milk cartons:

Milk Carton Boat

Here are two of the show boats. The one it back, as you can no doubt tell, is a school bus. Or something. The one in the foreground was one of the best build milk carton boats I’ve seen. And it was pretty fast, with the peddling and the kayak oar. It was christened the Dairy Air.

Dairy Air

A wholesome time was had by all. Like last year Heather and I are inspired to enter a boat. In all probability the enthusiasm will dissipate by this time next year, but stranger things . . .

Read Heather’s much more entertaining take at Mile73.com: Hello Summer

TriMet Mobile Debuts

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TriMetTriMet has launched a mobile-friendly site for riders using smartphones: Trimet Mobile (m.trimet.org)

Now, if you have a mobile device with the right capabilities, you have yet another option to find schedules, arrivals, and assorted TriMet transit information.

TriMet Mobile includes the following rider tools:

  • TransitTracker arrival times
  • Trip Planner
  • Service Alerts
  • Route and system maps
  • Nearby stop look-up (coming soon)
  • Schedules (coming soon)

The TriMet App Center has a fairly comprehensive list of other applications, tools, and websites. (And of course you can always call 238-RIDE.)

Portland Timbers Roundup (06/11/2010)

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TimbersAnother draw was the result Wednesday, but this one doesn’t feel quite as bad as some of the others. The Portland Timbers shut out the highest scoring team in the league, the Austin Aztex, in Texas. Some recaps:

Game 10: Austin 0 – Timbers 0 by mao at Portland Timbers USL Blog at The Offside

A nil-nil draw was all the Portland Timbers could muster in only their third road game this season, away to Austin Aztex at House Park. It can be described that way because the Timbers again outshot their opponents and again rung the post on several occasions without the satisfaction of putting one in the net. Despite that failure, the ability to complete a clean sheet against the league’s most explosive offensive team is a fine accomplishment for Steve Cronin and the four at the back. Obviously the Timbers need to be earning more than shared points going forward, but considering Austin had not lost since April, picking up a tough away point on Wednesday was a good result. [more]

Timbers hold Aztex Scoreless in nil-nil draw by paulsepp at Dropping Timber

The Portland Timbers held the Austin Aztex to a nil-nil draw last night. The Timbers are the only team to get a shut out against the Aztex so far this season. The Timbers defense held off the highest scoring team the league, as the offense once again got opportunities but failed to capitalize. The woodwork has been unfriendly this season, as our shots continue to bounce off and not in, as Josten did from 30 feet out. We wish we could talk about more details of the game, but the streaming feed from Austin was unwatchable, a league wide problem that hopefully can be fixed by playoff time. Great fan video below. [more]

In corporate and MLS Timbers news:

Portland Timbers hope new logo is a bridge between past and future by Rachel Bachman at The Oregonian

The business meeting in the bowels of PGE Park speeds through plans for the Portland Timbers’ biggest party ever — will they sell souvenirs? Yes. Beer? Definitely — but hangs on one question:

What if they unveil the new logo… and nobody cheers? [more]

Burgerville inks deal as Portland Timbers sponsor for 2011 Major League Soccer by Allan Brettman at The Oregonian

Burgerville, known for its mantra of serving the greater community, will be named today as the Portland Timbers first “founding partner.”

The Vancouver-based fast food restaurant chain will be among a half dozen or so highest-visibility companies sponsoring the Timbers as it approaches their inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2011. [more]

In player news:

Timbers release forward O.J. Obatola at PortlandTimbers.com

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club and forward O.J. Obatola have come to a mutual agreement to release the player from his contract.

Obatola, 22, appeared in six games for the Timbers during the regular season, totaling 348 minutes, one goal and one assist. He joined the club April 7 after playing four seasons in Singapore. [more]

2010 World Cup reconnects some members of Portland Timbers with their home countries by Geoffrey C. Arnold at The Oregonian

New Zealand has yet to play its first World Cup match, but the team has already earned a dubious distinction — it has been tagged by bookmakers as the least likely country to win the championship.

But the underdog role hasn’t prevented Portland Timber defender and New Zealand native Cameron Knowles from expressing hope for the team. [more]

In Timbers history news:

Rose Festival Cup 1977………… by Kurt Schubothe at Throw Ins

On this day May 11th 1977 the Portland Timbers 3 and the Seattle Sounders 0. I do not have the exact records but I do know the Portland held the Rose Festival Cup for many seasons during Rose Festival. Looking back over the NASL seasons Seattle was the team we played during Rose Festival week here in Portland. It took place for four seasons from 1977 to 1980. Portland won 3 out of the 4 cups. Below is game report from the St. Petersburg Times June 13 1977. [more]

And don’t forget Saturday, June 12th:

World Cup Viewing Party – Logo Launch

The Timbers, who mark their debut MLS season in 2011, will unveil the team’s new crest at halftime of the United States-England match during a free World Cup viewing event at Director Park in downtown Portland on Saturday, June 12. The new logo symbolizes the Timbers ascent to Major League Soccer in 2011, proudly signifying Portland’s deserved place in top-flight soccer. Merchandise featuring the new logo will be available for purchase at Director Park immediately after the unveiling of the team’s new crest. [more]

June 11-13: Used Books Fair, Cirque du Cycling, Soccer, and Milk Carton Boat Races

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Friday-Saturday

Rose City Used Book Fair2010 Rose City Used Book Fair

This unpretentious book fair is sponsored by the Portland Area Used Booksellers’ Association, and features thousands of books from independent booksellers from Portland and beyond. Over thirty exhibitors will be displaying and selling used books, bargain books, collectible books, prints, and ephemera. In addition experts will be on hand for appraisals, several seminars are scheduled, and there will be door prizes. [more]

Saturday

TimbersUSA vs. England World Cup Match, Timbers MLS Crest Unveiling

The World Cup match will be shown on one of those big ass truck-portable TVs used for these sorts of events, there will be a beer garden and at halftime the Timbers will reveal the new Timbers MLS logo (view the video clues on the TimberFC YouTube channel). [more]

Cirque du Cycling

Cirque du Cycling

As if there wasn’t already enough to do on Saturday, June 12th, the 2010 Cirque du Cycling takes place on North Mississippi Avenue, from 11am until 7pm.

The Cirque is a street festival, a circus, a bike race and a parade – and a benefit for Albina Youth Opportunity School. [more]

Sunday

Milk Carton Boat Races 20102010 Milk Carton Boat Races

My favorite Rose Festival affiliated event, the Milk Carton Boat Races, takes place this Sunday, June 13th at the casting pond in Westmoreland Park. Races begin at 11am.

Heather and I, with our friends Katie and Justin, attended last year’s event. I was disappointed there was no beer garden, but the event sponsors, the Dairy Farmers of Oregon, did hand out a bunch of freebies, including root beer floats! [more]