Dave Knows Portland

Archives for May 2012

Rose Festival Fireworks Spectacular (25-May-2012)

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4th of July 2012 Firework info here!

Fireworks!The 2012 Rose Lighting Ceremony & Fireworks spectacular (which this year they’re calling the RoZone Fireworks Experience presented by Pacific Power) takes place Friday, May 25.

Portland’s downtown waterfront illuminates during the Fireworks Spectacular, the Portland Rose Festival’s kick-off event.

One of Oregon’s largest fireworks displays, this thunderous pyrotechnics show soars over CityFair beginning at nightfall.

Festivities begin at 8pm at Tom McCall Waterfront Park with a musical entertainment.

The Rose Lighting Ceremony takes place at 9:45pm, followed at 10pm by the one of the state’s largest fireworks displays.

Admission is free, and the good fireworks viewing can be found any place with a nice view of the Willamette River downtown.

Stumptown Stories: The Dark Side of Greek and Roman Myth (22-May-2012)

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Greek and Roman MythologyThe Stumptown Stories Tuesday Night Free Lecture Series series, geared to everyone who loves this city we live in, takes place most Tuesdays at Jack London bar (basement of the Rialto, SW 4th and Alder). Free to get in, but must be 21 or over – there’s a full bar!

On Tuesday, May, 22, 2012, enjoy a cold beer and listen to Kate Bruner present: The Dark Side of Greek and Roman Myth.

Learn about King Lykaon, cannabilism, werewolves, lamia, vampires, vrikolakas, the Underworld, Cerberus, why Persephone is childless, and the significance of running water! Discover secrets about unusual sex and the minotaur! Find out what Captain America and Hercules have in common! Unearth the connection between earthquakes and The Devil.

Doors open at 7 p.m. for this free event (21 and over only). Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.

History Pub: Finding David Douglas (21-May-2012)

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David DouglasFinding David Douglas, a documentary about the famous botanist, will be shown at the latest History Pub at the Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd), this Monday, May 21, 2012.

The compelling story of the intrepid 19th century Scots botanist David Douglas is told in this tri-national production. Finding David Douglas transports viewers to England and Scotland; treks through locations in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia; sweeps across the high Canadian Rockies to remote York Factory on Hudson Bay; and reaches Douglas’s mysterious final destination on the Big Island of Hawaii. The film focuses on Douglas’s groundbreaking contributions to science – the Douglas fir and many more plant and animal species are named for him. It details his relations within the multi-cultural community of the Hudson’s Bay Company and the many Indian tribes he visited.

After the screening, filmmaker Lois Leonard will host a Q&A.

Join event co-sponsors Oregon Historical Society and Holy Names Heritage Center at 7 p.m. Monday for a beer and history! Admission is free and this event is all ages.

Multnomah County Fair 2012

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Bunny at Multnomah County Fair 2010The 2012 Multnomah County Fair takes place on Memorial Day Weekend at Portland’s historic Oaks Park. The fair celebrates 106 years this year.

Seriously, don’t miss this! Heather and I had a blast at the 2010 fair – what’s not to like about red necks, funnel cakes, and award winning vegetables? And bunnies!? And this year you can have your photo taken, for free, with a 9 foot tall bigfoot!

Strengthen your urban kids’ immune systems at the E. coli petting zoo, pony rides, pig races, and the Alpaca Pavilion. And the exotic animal exhibit is bigger than ever!

Of course there will also be vendors, food booths, traditional fair exhibits, a talent show, live music, and the Oaks Park thrill rides – don’t miss a chance to ride Looping Thunder, Portland’s, uh, biggest roller coaster! 😉

Nigel the Camel is back again this year!

The fair is open from noon until 7 p.m. each day – Saturday, May 26 through Monday, May 28. Admission, and parking, is free!