Dave Knows Portland

Archives for April 2012

OMSI Science Pub: Penguins of Portland (17-April-2012)

by 1 Comment

Omsi Science PubThe Penguins of Portland is the topic of of the next Portland OMSI Science Pub on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at the Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan):

If you are thinking, “wait a minute, there aren’t any penguins in Oregon,” you’re right. But Oregon does have another group of seabirds that are very similar – the alcids or auks. This unrelated group of seabirds is so similar to penguins that visitors to the Oregon coast will call Audubon asking what kind of penguins they saw at Cannon Beach. Penguins and alcids are not related but they have both evolved to be the best swimming/diving birds in the world, except for one big difference. No penguins can fly but all living alcids can. Why would this be when everything else about them is so similar? Naturalist and author James Davis will present a program on the Northwest’s alcids and why they can fly while their ecological equivalents the penguins cannot. James will dress in costumes to make it easy to identify our three most common alcids as we explore the world of deep diving seabirds. James’s adds a touch of nostalgia by showing 35mm slides of our subjects – No PowerPoint!

James Davis, naturalist for Metro Parks and Natural Areas, and author of The Northwest Nature Guide, presents.

The science begins at 7pm 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.

Weekend Portland Amusements (April 13-15, 2012)

by Leave a Comment

Who says April sucks?! Well, I have, but I’m wrong this weekend: Filmed by Bike, Attack of the Flix, Packy’s 50th Birthday, Criminal Craft’s book launch – and more!

Ongoing

Tulip FestTulip Festival 2012

Tulip Fest 2012 at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn kicks off Friday, March 30 and runs through Monday, April 30.

What, exactly, is a tulip fest? On weekdays it’s 40 acres of blooming tulips (and daffodils), a cafe, country store, farm equipment on display, Dutch sausages, and a gift shop. And on weekends you get all that, plus pony rides, a crafters market, Mexican food, wooden shoe making demonstrations, steam tractors, entertainment, and beer and wine! [more]

Filmed By BikeFilmed By Bike

The 10th annual Filmed by Bike film festival takes place Friday through Sunday, April 13-18, 2012 at the Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton).

The festival kicks off Friday night with a street party on Clinton Street in front of the theater from 5:30pm to 11:30pm. The street party includes a beer garden and entertainment – including break dancers! [more]

Friday

Criminal CraftsCriminal Crafts Book Launch

At 6pm on Friday, April 13, head to Bridge City Comics (3725 N. Mississippi) for The Official Criminal Crafts Book Launch and Signing.

“Are you feeling unlucky punk? It’s Friday the 13th, we’ve got black cats walking under ladders, dudes in ski masks spooking out the campers and me shilling my book of bad vibes and ill will. Come on down and get an autographed copy, and do some comic shopping while you are at it.” [more]

Saturday

Packy Turns 50!Packy the Pachyderm’s 50th Birthday

The Oregon Zoo‘s famous pachyderm, Packy, was born on April 14, 1962. He was the very first baby elephant to be conceived, born and to survive in a zoo in the United States.

And this Saturday, April 14, 2012, the zoo is throwing a 50th Birthday Party for Packy. [more]

Sunday

Attack of the FlixAttack of the Flix #04

Attack of the Flix, presented by Microflix, is a monthly competition for Portland filmmakers held at the Curious Comedy Theatre (5225 NE MLK). This month’s show takes place Sunday, April 15, 2012.

Submit your film if you are an Oregon or Washington filmmaker! Entries must be 10 minutes or less, and submitted on USB thumb drives encoded as AppleTV (see the FAQ for full details). [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, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Attack of the Flix #04 (15-April-2012)

by Leave a Comment

Attack of the FlixAttack of the Flix, presented by Microflix, is a monthly competition for Portland filmmakers held at the Curious Comedy Theatre (5225 NE MLK). This month’s show takes place Sunday, April 15, 2012.

Submit your film if you are an Oregon or Washington filmmaker! Entries must be 10 minutes or less, and submitted on USB thumb drives encoded as AppleTV (see the FAQ for full details).

Films are shown in the order they are submitted, and screened live on the interwebz!

Vote for your favorite flicks – the first place winner receives a golden trophy!

Admission is free (a donation bucket will be at the door). Curious Comedy Theatre is an all ages venue, and has a full bar.

This recurring show takes place every third Sunday. Visit the Microflix website and the Attack of the Flix Facebook page for more details.

Criminal Crafts Book Launch

by Leave a Comment

Criminal CraftsMiss Demeanor, malfeasant proprietor of Criminal Crafts, invites all her felonious fans to a celebration of the completion of her book Criminal Crafts: From D.I.Y. to F.B.I. Outlaw Projects for Scoundrels, Cheats, and Armchair Detectives:

Two years in the making and a lifetime of scheming and bad behavior all led to this… The Criminal Crafts book is complete! Come celebrate with flaming drinks and Atomic Cherry Bombs. We’ll have a brief reading- highlights (or low moments) from the book and a couple guest speakers dishing the dirt on Portland’s criminal past, including resident historian Doug Kenck-Crispin of Kick Ass Oregon History. Fishnets, stiletto heels and master disguises encouraged, though knowing my friends it’s what you’re wearing already!

The party goes down Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at the Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th). The fun begins at 6pm!

Take a couple days to recover, and then at 6pm on Friday, April 13, head to Bridge City Comics (3725 N. Mississippi) for The Official Book Launch and Signing.

Are you feeling unlucky punk? It’s Friday the 13th, we’ve got black cats walking under ladders, dudes in ski masks spooking out the campers and me shilling my book of bad vibes and ill will. Come on down and get an autographed copy, and do some comic shopping while you are at it. Refreshments will be served and special prizes for the best WRITTEN story of hard luck you bring in, bonus points for haiku or couplets which utilize the words Ponzi, grifter or reprobate.

Visit the Criminal Crafts website for more events, some criminally amusing crafts, and a sneak peak of the book!

Packy the Pachyderm’s 50th Birthday (14-April-2012)

by 1 Comment

Packy Turns 50!The Oregon Zoo‘s famous pachyderm, Packy, was born on April 14, 1962. He was the very first baby elephant to be conceived, born and to survive in a zoo in the United States.

The Sunday Oregonian reported on the auspicious event on the front page:

It’s a boy!

Bell, who has been elephanticipating for 635 days, presented the nation with its first home-born elephant in 44 years at 5:58 a.m. Saturday.

Mother and her fuzzy-faced baby are doing fine. In fact, “Fuzzy-Face” made his public debut at the elephant house six hours after birth when he and his mother made an appearance behind the glass in the show window of the elephant house. . .

His tail is longer than his trunk. His eyes are bigger than his appetite, red-rimmed and brown like his mother’s. He is altogether ridiculous, but obviously the apple of his mother’s eye.

Fuzzy-Face, named Packy in a radio contest, is now one of the largest Asian elephants in the country, 10 feet 6 inches tall at he shoulder and weighing over 6 tons.

And this Saturday, April 14, 2012, the zoo is throwing a 50th Birthday Party for Packy.

The schedule:

9 a.m. – zoo gates open
10 a.m. – party begins, with live music, games and activities throughout the day
Noon – cake is served to partygoers courtesy of Lamb’s Wilsonville Market
1:45 p.m. – competition winners parade Packy’s cake to the elephant exhibit
2 p.m. – Packy gets his cake and is knighted by the Royal Rosarians
4 p.m. – Packy’s party ends and gates close

For more details on the party and the special day at the zoo, visit the Oregon Zoo website.