Dave Knows Portland

Archives for November 2010

History Pub: Code Name High Pockets: Portland’s Forgotten Heroine of WWII (29-November-2010)

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I Was An American SpyCode Name High Pockets: Portland’s Forgotten Heroine of WWII Speaker: Sig Unander, Historian and Filmmaker is the History Pub topic for Monday, November 29 2010 at the Kennedy School Theater (5736 NE 33rd).

Portland native Claire Phillips – actress, singer, guerilla leader, war hero and author – lived enough danger, drama, triumph and tragedy for several lifetimes.

Phillips’ espionage and humanitarian activities in the Philippines during World War II earned her fame, high honors and the gratitude of prisoners of war whose lives she saved. She risked death to help them and to collect vital intelligence for the war effort, found and lost her true love, endured brutal torture, escaped execution and lived to publish a riveting autobiography that inspired a Hollywood film.

The film was I Was An American Spy, starring Ann Dvorak. Claire Phillips co-wrote the autobiographical book Manila Espionage. In 1951, the same year the film was released, Claire Phillips was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, upon recommendation of General Douglas MacArthur.

This History Pub is free and open to all ages. Presentation begins at 7pm. Bring a canned good for the Oregon Food Bank!

Tuesday Timbers Tidbits (23-November-2010)

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TimbersThe MLS Cup Final took place Sunday (Colorado are the new champs), and Monday each MLS club announced which eleven players they would protect from the MLS Expansion Draft on Wednesday. (For all the expansion draft 2010 protected lists, visit Dropping Timber.)

Teams were permitted to begin wheeling and dealing yesterday, and the Timbers have already picked up a player. Portland exchanged their third round draft pick in the SuperDraft (which takes place in January) for Jeremy Hall from Red Bull New York.

It will be interesting to see what else Gavin and the Timbers have up their sleeves as Wednesday approaches.

Also on Monday the LA Galaxy traded an international roster spot to the Timbers in exchange for allocation money.

Stay tuned to the Timbers blog at The Offside and Dropping Timber for updates (and for realtime updates, follow them on twitter: @maofootball and @DroppingTimber respectively). Late Addition: And add the OregonLive Timbers Blog to the mix. Per comment below, Kip (@kipkesgard) will also be covering the expansion draft.

In supporter news, Timber Jim and the 107ist can’t seem to stop doing good deeds. The latest involves volunteering labor and money raised from selling scarves to help build Harper’s Playground, a inclusive playground structure for children and adults of all abilities, at Arbor Lodge Park. The $3500 check will be presented today (Tuesday, November 23 2010) to Portland Parks Commissioner Nick Fish by Timber Jim, representatives of 107ist, and Cody Goldberg, father of 5 year old Harper Goldberg, who has Emanual Syndrome, and for whom Harper’s Playground is named.

Clear Creek Distillery Open House (November 26, 27 2010)

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Apple BrandyOne of the pioneers of artisan alcohol production in Portland, Clear Creek Distillery (2389 NW Wilson), opens their doors on Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27 2010 for a rare open house.

Clear Creek’s Williams Bear Brandy and Apple eaux de vie are two of my favorite spirits. If I get up the gumption to leave the house and brave the consumerist frenzy [doubtful] that is the weekend after Thanksgiving, Clear Creak Distillery will be my first (and perhaps only) stop.

From 9am until 5pm visitors will have a chance to tour the production area, learn about the distillation process, and sample Clear Creek products. This is your only chance of the year to take a tour. No reservations are required.