Dave Knows Portland

Archives for July 2011

Kick Ass Oregon History: Chinatown Special Edition Part 2

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Kick Ass Oregon History: Chinatown Special EditionKick Ass Oregon History is the latest series of podcasts from the enthusiastic historians behind ORHistory.com.

Part 2 (out of 4) of the Chinatown Special Edition has just dropped!

Chinatown Special Edition Part 2, In which we learn that the possibility of successfully navigating Chinatown is approximately 3,720 to 1.

Listen to part 1 here:
Chinatown Special Edition Part 1, In which we learn that Portland’s Historic Chinatown was once a hive of scum and villainy.

The previous episodes:

The brains behind this project are the crack hustlers of Oregon History Doug Kenck-Crispin and Andy Lindberg. Doug is a graduate student studying Public History and Pacific Northwest History at PSU, and Andy, though a Portland native, is currently working as an actor in New York City. Doug does most of the research and writing for the podcasts with input from Andy, who voices the broadcasts with a thespian’s flair.

With the Kick Ass Oregon History podcast they plan to cover just the good stuff: Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll and Earth Shattering, Devastating Destruction.

Ultimately, our goal is to take Oregon History out of the hallowed halls of the academy, get folks excited and enthused about this shared history, and get them out into the state, digging it and experiencing it. Get them to embrace it, and get their boots muddy in the process. It’s all OUR History; nobody owns it.

Visit ORHistory.com and stay tuned to @Oregon_History on Twitter for further details on specific episodes and the series.

July 8, 1858: John Whiteaker Inaugurated as First Governor of Oregon

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John Whiteaker, 1st Oregon GovernorAnticipating statehood, Oregon voters elected John D. Whiteaker governor in June, 1857. The inauguration took place on July 8, 1858.

But it wasn’t until eight months later, after Oregon was granted statehood on February 14, 1859, that he assumed office.

Just in time for the Civil War.

His pro-slavery position alienated him from a substantial number of the citizens of Oregon at the outbreak of the Civil War. Whiteaker was vilified as a traitor, but continued to serve until the end of his term in September 1862. As governor he urged development of home industries, citing soap, socks and pickles as products Oregonians could make for themselves. His frequent nickname was “Honest John,” but was also known as “Old Soap, Socks and Pickles.”

He did not run for reelection when his term expired in 1862, but remained in politics. He served in the Oregon legislature and senate, reached the U.S. Congress, and was appointed tax collector in Oregon in 1885, the position from which he retired in 1889. He died in 1902.

Operation Pitch Invasion Launches

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Operation Pitch InvasionOperation Pitch Invasion, a charity dedicated to building, revitalizing, and maintaining soccer fields throughout the Portland area, has launched!

Brainchild of the 107 Independent Supporters Trust (107ist) and the Timbers Army, the inaugural project kicks off on July 16:

On July 16, we will be doing our first project — a dry-run of sorts: restoration and maintenance of existing fields at Ed Benedict Park (SE 100th Ave & Powell Blvd.). The following week, OPI will be part of 107ist’s contribution to the labor at James John Elementary School, one of the AC Portland sites. In August, OPI will do another care-and-maintenance-type project with the Portland Parks. And in the fall, we will build our first fields at a park in SE Portland. In coming years, with fuller budgets and more experience, we may do as many as 15-20 projects per year; the region isn’t running out of parks or schools with crappy fields, after all.

To volunteer initially you must be a member of the 107ist (visit the 107ist member forums to sign up), but anyone can donate and suggest future projects.

For more information and background on Operation Pitch Invasion visit Pitch-Invasion.org, and read GREEN IS THE COLOR: Operation Pitch Invasion Wants You! by Shawn Levy at TimbersArmy.org, and The Bachscore of July 4th by Rachel Bachman at The Oregonian.

Weekend Amusements (July 8-10, 2011)

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The part of the summer where there are more worthy festivals and events happening each weekend than you can possibly make it to is upon us. Behold:

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Movies in ParksMovies in the Park

The second 2011 installment of Portland Parks and Recreation movies in the park kicked off a couple weeks ago, but now things really kick in – with a movie every night this weekend!

Friday, July 8: Imagine That at Dickinson Park
Saturday, July 9: The Karate Kid (2010) at Brooklyn Park
Sunday, July 10: Shrek Forever After at Wilshire Park.

Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30pm and movies begin as soon as it’s dark. [more]

Friday

Churn-A-MentChurn-A-Ment: Ice Cream Competition

Dairy Farmers of Oregon presents the first annual Churn-A-Ment (pdf) on Friday, July 8, 2011 at Pioneer Courthouse Square. From 11am until 1:30pm witness celebrity chefs creating ice cream the old fashioned way, and enjoy free ice cream! [more]

All Female Artists ShowcaseFAB PDX: All Female Artists Showcase

Join FAB PDX, “a custom fabrication company operating in the heart of the industrial arts district in SE Portland,” for a special All Female Artists Showcase this Friday, July 8, 2011. The showcase opening event takes place the FAB PDX Art Space (1317 SE 9th) from 6pm to 9pm. [more]

Saturday

Mississippi Street Fair 2011Mississippi Street Fair

The 10th annual Mississippi Avenue Street Fair takes place Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 10am until 9pm – on North Mississippi Avenue, of course, between Skidmore and Fremont. [more]

The Cans FestThe Cans Fest

The Can Fest takes place Saturday, July 9, 2011 at The Guild Public House (1101 East Burnside).

This first annual event “provides an opportunity for local and out-of-town beer enthusiasts to taste canned craft beers.” [more]

Bastille DayBastille Day Festival in the Pearl

The 9th Annual Bastille Day Festival takes place Saturday, July 9, 2011, from noon until 8pm at Jamison Square Park in the Pearl District. Admission is free.

The Fête de la Bastille commemorates the storming of the Bastille Prison on le quatorze juillet, 1789. [more]

Sunday

Portland TimbersPortland Timbers vs Seattle Flounders

The Portland Timbers (5-8-3) host the Seattle Sounders (8-4-8) for the first time ever in MLS league play on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at Jeld-Wen Field. Kickoff is at 1pm.

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Match Day (7-July-2011): Portland Timbers vs. Club América

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Portland TimbersThe Portland Timbers host Club América in a friendly tonight at Jeld-Wen Field. Kickoff is at 8pm.

Expect a great atmosphere tonight, as we’ve experienced in previous visits by Club América to Portland (the Clásico de Clásicos de leyendas in 2007 and the Club America Reserves friendly in 2009).

Match will be shown live at www.portlandtimbers.com, or listen on 750 AM The Game or La Pantera 940 AM.

Match previews and intrigue