Dave Knows Portland

Archives for May 2011

May 14, 2011: First Portland-Seattle “Derby” of the MLS Era

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Portland TimbersThe Portland Timbers travel north today, May 14, 2011, to face the Seattle Sounders for the first time in regular season Major League Soccer play.

The rivalry dates to 1975, when the Portland Timbers joined the NASL. The teams have faced each other upwards of 60 times since then (by some counts this is the 75th matchup), in various leagues and competitions. The game today has no doubt received more media coverage than any previous match.

Previews and intrigue:

Happy Van Holiday! (14-May-2011)

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Van HolidayWhat is Van-Holiday?

Van-Holiday is the celebration of your Inner Rock Star!

The guy who can belt out anthems that change the world. The woman who’s voice melts hearts and calls birds and small woodland creatures. The deadbeat, piece of used jet trash that can’t remember what town he’s in and never packs his own suitcase.

Each of us has one . . . simmering deep inside, waiting for that opportunity to dance on the table and release our demo.

Van-Holiday takes place every Saturday the 14th. What you do on Van-Holiday is up to you. To paraphrase the great American philosopher David Lee Roth, the beauty of Van Holiday is that there are no rules and no schools. You just make it up as you go.

WWDLRD?

The St Johns Bizarre and Parade, which take place today, strike me as very Van-Holidayish events. Or maybe the UFO Festival, hmmm . . . lots of rock star worthy events this weekend!

Van-Holiday is the brainchild of my friend Dan Ermey, who by most standards celebrates his inner rock star every day. He wants the rest of us to have our chance too. Visit the Van-Holiday website to share your Van-Holiday photos and stories! And remember the wise words of David Lee Roth, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how good you looked!

May 13, 1854: Charity Lamb Kills Husband – First “Murderess” in Oregon

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On the evening of May 13, 1854 in a pioneer cabin on the Clackamas River about nine miles east of Oregon City, Nathaniel Lamb was seated at the dinner table regaling his children with a tale of shooting a bear. His wife, Charity Lamb, sneaked up behind him with an axe and twice brought it down violently upon his head. Both strikes pierced his skull, one dug two inches into his brain. He died a week later.

With very few facts yet gleaned, frothing newspaper editors immediately expressed outrage; calling the deed cold blooded and atrocious, declaring it a Revolting Murder, and portraying Nathaniel as an unfortunate and innocent cuckold and his wife Charity a lascivious, conniving, and remorseless cheater and murderer.

Of course the story was much more complicated. Nathaniel had repeatedly abused and threatened his wife, and Charity may or may not have been all there, so to speak. The newspapers insinuated that both Charity and her nineteen year old daughter Mary Ann had been involved with a roving Lothario named Colin who stayed at their place for a while working as a hired hand, though the truth was never established, and the most likely scenario was that Mary Ann saw Colin as a possible way out of a dysfunctional family situation.

The jury returned their verdict of guilty of second degree murder, urging mercy from the judge. Charity Lamb was sentenced to life in prison and died at the SE Portland’s Hawthorne Insane Asylum in 1879.

Source: The Tragedy of Charity Lamb, Oregon’s First Convicted Murderess by Ronald B. Lansing. Published in the Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. 101, No. 1 (Spring, 2000).

Norwegian Constitution Day Celebration and Parade (17-May-2011)

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Join Portland’s Grieg Lodge Sons of Norway at the Norse Hall (111 NE 11th) for a celebration and parade commemorating Norway’s Constitution Day on May 17, 2011.

May Seventeenth, “Syttende Mai” (set-na-my), is Norway’s most important holiday. On this date in 1814, with the signing of the Norwegian Constitution, Norway was declared an independent country.

Admission to the celebration is free! Visit the Oslo Lounge, inside the Norse Hall, for authentic Norwegian food, music and dance performances, and other activities. Doors open at 4pm. The Grand Flag Parade starts at 6pm rain or shine, and features traditional costumes, Norwegian fjord horses, vintage cars, marching bands and more!

After the parade, back at the Norse Hall, Little Leikarringen performs, followed by a special Lapskaus Cabaret, a lively stew of Norwegian theater, music, comedy and dance. Performing in our cabaret will be local Norwegians with traditional and specially commissioned pieces.

Visit the Norse Hall website for more details.

EVERYONE MOST WELCOME!! – Alle er hjertelig Velkommen!!

St. Johns Bizarre and Parade, Sound and Vision, UFO Fest, and more! (May 12-15)

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Thursday-Saturday

Sound and Vision FestSound and Vision Fest

The Sound and Vision Fest, a benefit for Portland’s historic, and non-profit, Hollywood Theatre, is a “three day festival featuring works in progress by Michel Gondry and Lance Bangs, new work from Spike Jonze and Matt McCormick, a rare screening of ‘Who Took the Bomp: Le Tigre on Tour,’ as well as performances by Eluvium, Goodnight Billygoat, the Corin Tucker Band and Hurry Up (featuring members of the Thermals).” [more]

Friday-Saturday

UFO FestUFO Festival

On Thursday, May 11, 1950, at a farmhouse just outside of McMinnville, Ore., Evelyn Trent went out to feed her chickens and rabbits behind the farmhouse where she and her husband Paul lived. While attending to her chores, Evelyn was astonished to see a large, metallic looking, disc-shaped object hovering silently in the sky. After a little scrambling as they looked for their trusty Kodak camera, they both ran back outside. Paul Trent clicked off two snapshots. These photos are still considered to be some of the most credible images of UFOs to date.

In honor of the Trents and their sighting, McMenamins began the annual UFO Festival which features both serious and fun for believers and skeptics alike. [more]

Saturday

St Johns Bizarre and Parade 2011St. Johns Bizarre and Parade

The 5th annual St. Johns Bizarre, “a one-day Art/Craft/Music event in downtown St. Johns celebrating the unique character of North Portland”takes place Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 10am until 6pm.

At noon join the revelers to take in the 49th annual St. Johns Parade.

The Bizarre boasts over 75 craft booths, four music stages, and a beer garden! [more]

FredFestFredFest 2011 – Sold Out!

What started as a small surprise 80th birthday party for world-renowned beer writer Fred Eckhardt is coming back around in its sixth year as one of the most anticipated beer events of the year.

Attendees will be treated not only to a rare assortment of hand-selected beers, but also light fare cooked in beer and a birthday cake — complete with a round of “Happy Birthday” — just for Fred.[more]

Portland Indie Wine and Food FestivalPortland Indie Wine and Food Festival

Grab your food-and-wine-loving friends and spend the day tasting your way through Oregon’s best craft wineries. Stop along the way to enjoy food from the city’s most talked-about restaurants. Talk with the winemakers and chefs themselves, as you discover new wines that you love, and taste food that you’ve been dying to try. [more]

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and PDX Pipeline!

Saturday-Sunday

Wonder NWWonder Northwest

Wonder Northwest is an amalgamation of pop-culture subcultures. Here you will find regular folks co-mingling with super heroes, pirates, geeks, nerds, cosplayers, film enthusiasts, gamers and other nice people! Our vendor room will feature comic books, toys, video games and more from some of the best dealers from across the country. Contests, panels and other special events will be open for all attendees to enjoy. [more]