Archives for September 2010

October 2: 2010 Oregon Archives Crawl

September 27, 2010 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

October is Oregon Archives Month. By way of celebration four downtown Portland historical archive locations will be welcoming visitors from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, October 2 – it’s the First Annual Oregon Archives Crawl.

Travel at your leisure between the Portland Archives and Records Center, the Portland State University Library, Multnomah County Central Library and the Oregon Historical Society. At each place you can tour the facilities and participate in activities that bring history to life. The Oregon Historical Society and the Multnomah County Central Library will also be hosting displays by other area archives including the Oregon Jewish Museum, Willamette University, Lewis & Clark College, the Oregon State University, the Mazamas and the Washington County Museum. Each location and participating organization will have family friendly activities throughout the day.

Archives Crawl passports will be issued to participants to help in navigation. The event, and passport, is free. Begin your crawl at the Portland Archives and Records Center (1800 SW 6th), the Portland State University Library (1875 SW Park), or the Multnomah County Central Library (801 SW 10th). Get stamped at each location and you’ll be entered in a raffle at the Oregon Historical Society (1200 SW Park), where there will be an after party with refreshments and live music.

Of additional note, on Friday October 1, the Oregon Historical Society is having an open house, with free admission and special programs!

Portland Polish Festival 2010

September 26, 2010 by Dave Knows 2 Comments

The weekend I look forward too all year finally arrived, with bonus beautiful weather! But after tying one on Friday night at the Oaks Park Oktoberfest, I wasn’t sure how much enjoyment I could endure at my favorite Fall event, the Portland Polish Festival. But I had no need to worry – once again the experience lived up to my exalted expectations!

Heather and I had noted last year that the Polish Festival crowds start to thin around sunset, which also means the wait in the placki ziemniaczane (potato pancake) line becomes tolerable, and walking from point A to point B does not necessitate time consuming and frustrating navigation around multiple double-wide strollers and dawdling perambulators. Despite knowing this, however, we arrived around 5:30pm. We endured, however, with the help provided by a couple bottles of piwo.

With the help of said beer we perused the offerings of the fest.

In the vendor village we were tempted, but did not give in to, the Kiss Me I’m Polish wear. For one thing, neither of us are Polish. But when at the Polish Fest, we wish we were!

Because of the crowds, we decided the best course of action was to find a comfortable spot to establish a home base, and wait until sunset for things to open up a bit.

Fortunately we secured a couple seats at the back of the main tent with our friends Brent and Lesley.

We fueled up for the rest of the evening with potato pancakes.

From our vantage point we watched and listened to the Polka Beats perform during the polka contests.

The Polka Beats have played every year we’ve been going to the Polish Festival. They, needless to say, rock.

After the polka contests, they played until dark, at which point they moved into the Polish Hall building to play for the rest of the evening.

Next up on the outdoor stage were the headliners, Chervona!

Heather and I first heard Chervona play at last year’s Polish Festival. We were blown away, so to speak. This band is amazing. They play every Last Thursday at the Alberta Street Public House, and lots of other places. Follow them on Facebook!

We had a fantastic time. And we learned that bouncing up and down to Chervona while photographing yourself leads to blurry photos.

See you next year! The Portland Polish Festival in 2011 takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25!

Oaks Park Oktoberfest 2010

September 25, 2010 by Dave Knows 2 Comments

Last night after work Heather and I made our annual pilgrimage to the Oaks Park Oktoberfest. The festivities go on all weekend, but we have a date with the Polish Festival Saturday, and Sunday is catch up on blogging day.

The Main Festhalle is where most of the action – dancing and drinking – takes place.

And every year I have gone, the Polkatones have performed.

We had a few beers with our friends Andy, Adrian, and Tim.

Heather, as you can tell, was having a great time!

One of other reasons I love me some Oktoberfest is the accordions . . .

. . . and the lederhosen and dirndl-clad entertainers!

But mostly, I love the bier.

Alas, because we went on Friday, we missed the weiner dog races this year. But we’ll be back next year. Those doggies are cute! We’ll have to make due with Heather’s 2009 footage of the magical event.

Wiener Dog Races at Oktoberfest 2009 from Mile73 on Vimeo.

Aufiderzein until 2011!

September 25: Paddy’s Oysterfest 2010

September 25, 2010 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

Paddy’s 2nd Annual Oysterfest takes place today, September 25 2010 from noon until midnight.

The street in front of Paddy’s (65 SW Yamhill) will be closed off to traffic so that four bands, and of course bagpipers and Irish dancers, can entertain you in the big tent while you consume thousands of oysters and Guinness!

Band schedule:

Miriam’s Well plays at 2:30pm
Rhythm Culture at 4:30pm
David Vest Band at 7pm
The headliners, Hello Morning, play at 9pm.

This year there’s an $8 cover (or $10 – Facebook says former, poster says latter), but it benefits The Fresh Water Trust. Kids under 12 get in for free.

Greek Festival 2010 (October 1-3)

September 24, 2010 by Dave Knows 3 Comments

The 59th Annual Greek Festival takes place Friday, October 1 through Sunday, October 3 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (NE 32nd and Glisan).

Over 15,000 guests are expected to come out to enjoy the greek food (feta, lamb, souvlaki, spanakopita, koulourakia, diples, bougatsa, etc.), cooking demonstrations, crafts, and of course beer and wine! Festival goers can also enter a raffle, visit the Ethos Bookstore, and sign up for guided tours of the church. Entertainment includes Greek Folk Dancing performances and music.

This festival continues to elude me – but I may just make it this year! I did attempt to attend one year but found the lines so excruciatingly long that I gave up and went to the Horse Brass Pub instead. I suspect that, like the Polish Festival the key to avoiding the worst of the crowds is to arrive either right at opening (10am Friday and Saturday, noon Sunday), or to arrive after sundown, two or three hours before the festival wraps up in the evening (10pm Friday, Saturday and 8pm Sunday). Also, of course, weather can be a major factor on attendance.

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