Dave Knows Portland

Archives for May 2011

Sunday Parkways, Kenton Street Fair, Timbers, & More! (May 20-22, 2011)

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Friday

Offbeat Belly DanceOffbeat Belly Dance

Every third Friday of the month the Blue Monk hosts the Offbeat Belly Dance collective, a club rocking, good timing, genre-defying gang of badass belly dancers.

And this third Friday, May 20, 2011 is no exception – the Offbeat Belly Dance collectives invites you to Offbeat Belly Dance! THIS FRIDAY! Blue Monk! FREEEE! Wooo! [more]

Saturday-Sunday

Mt Tabor Art WalkMt Tabor Art Walk

The Mt. Tabor Art Walk showcases the many artists who live in this neighborhood. This annual event is sponsored by a community of artists supporting each other. It is designed to promote high-quality visual art in a variety of media within the unique setting of the Mt. Tabor neighborhood. [more]

Saturday

Portland TimbersPortland Timbers vs Columbus Crew

After last weekend’s inspired performance and resulting draw up north the Portland Timbers (4-3-2) return home tonight to host the Columbus Crew (3-2-4).

The Timbers’ record at Jeld-Wen in league play is a perfect 4-0-0 while the Crew’s record on the road is a paltry 0-2-2. The Crew, however, don’t necessarily suck. [more]

Sunday

Kenton Street FairKenton Street Fair

The 2011 Kenton Street Fair takes place Sunday, May 22 from 11am to 7pm in the historic Kenton commercial district on North Denver between Schofield and Willis. . .

The street fair features dozens of vendors, activities for kids, the Coaster Car Exhibition, and plenty of entertainment, including lots of live music at four stages. [more]

Sunday ParkwaysEast Portland Sunday Parkways

East Portland‘s first Sunday Parkways takes place May 22, 2011 from 11am to 4pm.

The 7 mile traffic-free route connects Lents, Bloomington, Ed Benedict, and Gilbert Heights Parks. Bike, skateboard, jog, or walk from park to park. Observe and take part in activities including disc golf with the pros, a soccer tournament, a kids circus, dance and fitness classes, free bike repair, bike skills track, live music, and more. [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!

Offbeat Belly Dance (20-May-2011)

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Offbeat Belly DanceEvery third Friday of the month the Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont) hosts the Offbeat Belly Dance collective, a club rocking, good timing, genre-defying gang of badass belly dancers.

And this third Friday, May 20, 2011 is no exception – the Offbeat Belly Dance collectives invites you to Offbeat Belly Dance! THIS FRIDAY! Blue Monk! FREEEE! Wooo!

Yiyiyi! It’s time!

Join us THIS FRIDAY for this month’s edition of the one, the only, the original gangster – Offbeat Belly Dance!

This month we have glorious returning champions!
…
Vee!

Ziggy!

Jasmine!

Karissa!

We have the thrilling return of…

Samira

And Kalilah!

Finally and fabulously, we have the debut performance of …

Jadzia!

Plus one player to be named later! Building suspense! Can you feel the excitement? It’s electric 😀

Ye gods, such variety! Old friends! New friends! Each one a fantastic dancer, and each one looks forward to dancing for you, noble Portlander. Yes you. And other noble Portlanders too, of course, but really. You should join us. Forsooth, it shall be off the hook, yo. Come get some of our awesomeness!

As always, the show is freeeeeeeeeeee!

As always, the show is fabulous!

Join Karissa, the Ringleader of Offbeat Belly Dance (pictured to the right), and the other fabulous dancers at the show Friday night.

Individually, the members of the Offbeat Belly Dance collective perform at shows throughout the Portland area, but on the 3rd Friday of the month they come together at the Blue Monk to perform in a rollicking belly dance revue. One of the things that makes it offbeat, is that the dancers choose whatever kind of music they like. Karissa tells me this has included traditional Middle Eastern music, zydeco, AC/DC, Strauss, The Pogues, hip hop, jazz, blues, Old Crow Medicine Show, the Spice Girls, and just about everything else.

The shows are free, and go from about 7pm until 10pm.

Visit OffbeatBellyDance.com for more information. You can also become a fan on Facebook, and follow the genre-defying, good timing gang of belly dancers in Portland OR, w/Karissa as ringmaster/carnival barker/propagandiston on Twitter at @OffbeatBelly

Photo credit: Offbeat Belly Dance

May 19, 1841: Star of Oregon Launched from Swan Island

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The Star Of Oregon, the first American-built oceangoing sailing ship built in Oregon, launched on May 19, 1841.

The schooner was designed by former Hudson’s Bay Company carpenter Felix Hathaway, with the assistance of fur trapper, and former sailor, Joseph Gale. Their plan, which they executed perfectly, was to build the ship, sail it to California, trade her for cattle, and then drive the cattle overland back to Oregon.

Construction began in the fall of 1840 on the east side of Swan Island, which at the time was forested and relatively wild. After her May 19, 1841 launch the 53 foot 8 inch long schooner moved out to Oregon City for finishing touches, including sails and ropes.

In California, then part of Mexico, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo bought the Star of Oregon for 350 head of cattle and renamed her the Jóven Fanita, after his daughter.

Kenton Street Fair (22-May-2011)

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Kenton Street FairThe 2011 Kenton Street Fair takes place Sunday, May 22 from 11am to 7pm in the historic Kenton commercial district on North Denver between Schofield and Willis.

The Kenton Fair is an annual celebration of diverse and engaged communities aimed at promoting local growth and a sustainable future for Historic Kenton.

The street fair features dozens of vendors, activities for kids, the Coaster Car Exhibition, and plenty of entertainment, including lots of live music at four stages.

For more information visit the Kenton Business Association website, and the Facebook event page.