Dave Knows Portland

Archives for January 2011

Pub Sing to Honor Robert Burns’ Birthday (30-January-2011)

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Robert BurnsThe Portland Revels‘ Pub Sing to Honor Robert Burns’ Birthday takes place Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall (1945 NW Quimby).

We’ll sing songs from the Scottish tradition of work songs, lullabies, children’s songs, songs of love and of Bonnie Prince Charley. Songs like “The Work of the Weavers,” “Sae Will We Yet,” “Loch Lomond,” “Broom of the Cowdenknowes,” “Bonnie Dundee,” ” Mairi’s Wedding,” “Dumbarton’s Drums,” and many others. All songs will be led and there’ll be chorus sheets so no one’s left out.

Singing commences at 6pm and continues until about 8:30pm. This event is a fund raiser for the 2011 Christmas Revels – the suggested donation is $10 per adult, $5 for kids. Reserve a place by calling Dick Lewis (503-282-6004 or ra_lewis@comcast.net).

January 25, 2006: SP&S 700 Declared a Historic Place

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SPS LogoOne of the city of Portland’s three locomotives, the Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700 was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 25, 2006.

Built in 1938, the SP&S 700 is the only surviving specimen of the E-1 class 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive. It’s the third largest operating locomotive in North America. The driving wheels are 6 foot 5 inches tall.

The SP&S 700 and two other locomotives reside at the SE Portland Brooklyn Roundhouse. But they are being evicted! The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation is working to secure a new home for these historic behemoths near OMSI.

Two years ago Heather and I had an opportunity to check out the SP&S 700 in person. Our friend Brent worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe at the time and he invited us to a holiday visit by the locomotive to the Vancouver, Washington rail yard. Read more (and see more photos!) at Mile73.com: Visiting the Holiday Choo-Choo, and my post: The Locomotives of Portland.

OMSI After Dark (26-January-2011)

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OMSI After DarkThe theme of the latest OMSI After Dark is Sex, Love, and OMSI After Dark. It takes place Wednesday, January 26, 2011.

Treat yourself to childfree, brain-building science fun at OMSI After Dark! Check out live demos, new featured exhibitions, and old favorites. Sample tasty snacks and sweets along with beer and wine, and talk to regional food and beverage artisans about the science behind them. The OMSI Cafe will be open with a special dinner menu and cash bars will be available for those who want more than just a taste! It’s geeks gone wild!

Yup, childfree OMSI! With a bar!

Bring cash for the beer and wine bar. Enjoy special menu items at the OMSI Cafe.

Featured science demonstrations and activities following the Sex, Love theme include Flower Dissection, Aphrodisiacs, Sexual Selection, Spreading of STDs, and DNA Extraction.

The Wanderlust Circus will be performing, and several other special activities and events take place – visit the OMSI After Dark webpage for more information, including schedule.

Hours are 6pm to 10pm. Admission is $10 for nonmembers (free for members). You can buy tickets online, or at the door (no reservations necessary). 21 and over only!

7th Planet Picture Show: The Purple Ball (27-January-2011)

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Commies in Space - 7th Planet Picture Show January 2011Portland’s weekly answer to MST3K, the 7th Planet Picture Show, takes place at 7pm this Thursday, January 27, 2011 at Mount Tabor Theater (4811 SE Hawthorne).

Commies in Space is the theme of this month’s films.

The Purple Ball is part science-fiction, part fairy-tale, all deliriously insane nonsense. Somehow it has a charm to it that also surpasses the other 3, but not enough to charm us into not making fun of it…

The film this week is The Purple Ball:

Spaceship Cyrno responds to a distress message sent from the planet TEM 4. But, upon arrival, the inhabitants deny sending any message, or that anything is wrong. Smelling the rampant fishiness, our heroes decide to stay for a while and investigate… [more]

Show is free, but there’s an entirely optional suggested donation of $5. There’s a bar too, so you must be 21 and over to attend!

Scottish Ale Festival (29-January-2011)

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Cascade Barrel HouseCascade Brewing‘s First Annual Scottish Ale Festival takes place Saturday, January 29, 2011.

Both Scottish and Scotch ales traditionally go through a long boil in the kettle for a caramelization of the wort. This produces a color ranging from deep amber to dark copper, and a higher level of unfermentable sugars that creates a rich mouthfeel and malty flavors and aromas. In Scottish ales, overall hop character is low, light floral or herbal, allowing the signature malt profile to be the highlight. Scotch ales are sweeter and fuller-bodied, with a much more pronounced malty caramel and roasted malt flavor.

Nine regional brewers will be on hand from 3pm until 11pm at the Cascade Barrel House (939 SE Belmont), serving up Scottish and Scotch ales. The lineup:

To accompany the delicious Scottish beer, bagpipers and the band Stone Porridge (featuring Cascade Brewing’s brewmaster Ron Gansberg) will be playing traditional Scottish music. The regular menu will also feature some Scottish specialties. Admission is free, but of course you’ll have to pay for the beer. Tasting mugs are $3, but you can also use your old OBF or Holiday Ale Fest plastic mug!