Dave Knows Portland

Archives for October 2011

October 19, 1805: Lewis and Clark Spot Hat Rock

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Hat RockOn October 19, 1805 Lewis and Clark recorded in their journals that from their camp near the Walla Walla River they traveled southwest down the Columbia 14 miles to a rock in a Lard. resembling that a hat. They has spotted Hat Rock, nine miles east of what is now Umatilla, Oregon.

Hat Rock is one of the few landmarks in this area remarked upon by Lewis and Clark that is not now under the waters of Lake Wallula, which formed behind McNary Dam when it was completed in the early 1950s.

The columnar basalt outcropping dating from a lava flow 12 million years ago is now part of Hat Rock State Park.

Photo credit: Hat Rock by John Calnan (JohnCalnan on flickr), used here under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.

Portland Poutine Turns 2!

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Foster Burger PoutineFrench fries. Cheese curds. Gravy. We have much to learn from Canada.

Two years ago Heather and I launched Portland Poutine. The site is our homage to Portland versions of Canada’s curious culinary treat, poutine.

In the past year we’ve discovered, and reviewed, several new poutines. Most recently we stopped in at Foster Burger to try a couple poutines – the regular menu now features six different varieties! Last February, we finally made it to Gravy during a weekday lunch hour to try their gravy fries – which are not on the weekend brunch menu. In November we were delighted to discover that the new Hawthorne Hophouse offered poutine with the tastiest vegetarian gravy yet.

And stay tuned! Several poutine purveyors are on our list, including Bunk Bar‘s Fries w/ Debris Gravy and Bunk Cheese, and the Gravy cheese fries with italian pork sausage gravy at the Sunshine Tavern. Whenever a new bar or restaurant opens in Portland my first query is whether or not they offer poutine.

Thank you for reading, and please consider offering your own reviews – we accept contributions!

Out of the Night and Into the Light: The Secret World of Bats (18-October-2011)

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Omsi Science PubOut of the Night and Into the Light: The Secret World of Bats is the special Halloweeny topic of of tonight’s OMSI Science Pub at the Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan)

Let’s face it-bats freak a lot of people out. But much of the folklore about bats isn’t even true. In this Halloween Science Pub special we’ll explore the secret world of bats and find out what you REALLY need to be afraid of: the possible demise of our bat populations due to disease, wind turbine collisions, and global climate change.

Bats represent one of the most diverse groups of mammals and include over 1000 species. They have spectacular life histories. Did you know that female bats can get pregnant in the fall, pause gestation for months over the winter, and resume in spring once insect prey becomes available again? They provide critical ecosystem services, but are notoriously difficult to study, and we still don’t understand some basic things like where they go in the winter and whether our local Northwest populations are stable or in decline. Join us in a discussion about the secret world of bats and get the latest updates on research and conservation issues facing Oregon’s bats.

The presenter is National Park Service ecologist, and University of Idaho PhD candidate, Tom Rodhouse, who studies, pikas, and other small and hard to find cuties (charismatic microfauna!).

The science pub goes from 7pm until 9pm, but arrive early (5pm doors open) to secure your beer, grub, and a seat! There’s a $5.00 suggested donation/cover charge. Minors with adults are welcome, otherwise this event is 21 and over.

City of Portland Free Financial Planning Day (22-October-2011)

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The City of Portland and the Financial Planning Associations of Oregon and SW Washington bring you Portland Financial Planning Day this Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Portland Building (1120 SW 5th), second floor.

Dozens of Portland Area financial planners will be offering free one-on-one counseling and seminars on budgeting, income taxes, investment strategies, mortgages and foreclosures, retirement planning and more. The advice will be offered on a “no strings attached” basis – planners will not be giving out business cards or selling financial products or services.

Portland Financial Planning Day is free and open to the public, and runs from 10am to 4pm. Online registration is available at www.FinancialPlanningDays.org/Portland, or by calling toll free at 877-861-7826. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Moulin Rouge Spectacular Spectacle (22-October-2011)

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Moulin Rouge!The 4th annual Moulin Rouge Spectacular Spectacle, brought to you by Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque, takes place Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd).

For one night only the legendary Bagdad Theater transforms into a champagne and absinthe drenched Montmarte as Fleur de Lethal plays host to the 4th Annual “Sing Out” screening of Baz Lurhmann’s 2001 musical epic starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.

At long last! You will not be asked to leave the theater if you sing at the top of your lungs and dance in the aisles! In fact,at this interactive screening, we may turn you away if you don’t!

The night includes pre-show cabaret performances, a costume contest, and a Can Can Showdown where participants can win cash and prizes.

Doors open at 8:30pm, show begins at 9:30pm. The show is 21 and over only, and admission is a mere $5 (or consider the $25 Ooh La La V.I.P. package, which includes a pair of tickets, a bottle of sparkling wine, and a commemorative portrait booth photo). Purchase advance tickets online.