Dave Knows Portland

OMSI After Dark: Gaming (24 February 2016)

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OMSI After DarkOMSI AFter Dark, a night at the museum for the 21-and-over crowd filled with food, drink, and science fun presents Gaming on Wednesday, 24 February 2016.

Shoot off water rockets, concoct chemical creations, and explore the wonders of OMSI with no kids in sight! Enjoy a glass of wine while learning about robots, tornados, or fossils. Talk to a brewer about the science behind beer, or taste how an extra 10% cacao can make a difference in chocolate.

Featured demonstrations and activities include Musical Tesla Coils, Atoms & Bits panelist discussions, Colorblind Challenge, and more.

Hours are 6 PM to 10 PM. Admission is $15 for non-members, $7.50 for OMSI members, and free for OMSI After Dark members. OMSI recommends buying tickets in advance for this one since it may sell out.

Portland Weekend Amusements (19-21 February 2016)

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Beer fests galore this weekend. February! Who knew?! Black Out Beer Fest, Hilldale Brewfest, Firkin Fest – plus the Chowder Challenge and a Fix-it Fair!

Friday

Lompoc BrewingBlack Out Beer Fest

Lompoc Brewing‘s fourth annual Black Out Beer Fest – featuring over two dozen dark beers, live music, and food specials – takes place Friday, 19 February 2016 at the Sidebar (3901A N. Williams) from 4 PM to 10 PM.

“Featuring a range of styles including porters, stouts, coffee beers and black IPAs, the Black Out Beer Fest offers dark beer lovers an evening to celebrate.”

Saturday

Fix-it Fair

Fix-It FairThe last Fix-It Fair of the 2015-2016 season takes place this Saturday, 20 February 2016 at George Middle School (10000 N Burr).

“The Fix-It Fair is a FREE City of Portland event where you can learn simple ways to save money and connect with resources. Join your neighbors and talk to the experts about how to spend less and stay healthy.”

From 9:30 AM to 3 PM visit exhibits and attend workshops on water and energy savings, health, food and nutrition, recycling and composting, yard and garden care, transportation, and more.

McMenamins23rd Annual Hillsdale Brewfest

The 23rd annual Hillsdale Brewfest takes place Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the Hillsdale Brewery and Public House (1505 SW Sunset Blvd).

“Many of the finest beers from McMenamins’ breweries will be sent in to battle, their brewers vying for bragging rights as well as the notorious championship belt.”

Chowder Challenge

Chowder ChallengeLompoc Brewing‘s 10th annual Chowder Challenge takes place Saturday, 20 February 2016, at the Lompoc Fifth Quadrant (3901 N Williams)…

This blind tasting competition features New England-style chowder entries from Lompoc Beer 5th Quadrant, Burnside Brewing Co, Cascade Brewing Barrel House, D’S BAR, Farm House Cafe, Pelican Brewing Company, Produce Row Cafe, Saraveza, Sports on Tap, Stormbreaker Brewing, Uptown Market and Widmer Brothers Brewing. The top vote-getter will be named the People’s Choice Winner and will be awarded the Chowder Cup. Prizes will also be awarded to the first two runners-up.

9th Annual Firkin Fest

Firkin FestRogue Ales will host the 9th Annual Firkin Fest at the PDX Green Dragon in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, February 20th, 2016.

The event will feature firkin beers from 30 of Oregon’s top breweries – Firkin beers are unpasteurized, unfiltered, naturally carbonated in the cask and served at cellar temperature.

Chowder Challenge (20 February 2016)

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Chowder ChallengeLompoc Brewing‘s 10th annual Chowder Challenge takes place Saturday, 20 February 2016, at the Lompoc Fifth Quadrant (3901 N Williams).

Admission to the competition is free. Attendees 12 and older can purchase sample trays for $10 to participate in the tasting. All proceeds will be donated to the Community Transitional School, which provides educational services to homeless and at-risk children.

This blind tasting competition features New England-style chowder entries from Lompoc Beer 5th Quadrant, Burnside Brewing Co, Cascade Brewing Barrel House, D’S BAR, Farm House Cafe, Pelican Brewing Company, Produce Row Cafe, Saraveza, Sports on Tap, Stormbreaker Brewing, Uptown Market and Widmer Brothers Brewing. The top vote-getter will be named the People’s Choice Winner and will be awarded the Chowder Cup. Prizes will also be awarded to the first two runners-up.

The reputation of the New Old Lompoc’s clam chowder was the motivation behind the original Chowder Challenge. The New Old Lompoc restaurant on NW 23rd Ave. won the inaugural Chowder Cup; the Morrison Hotel stole it away in the following year, but it was wrested back by the New Old Lompoc at the next four events. In 2013, with the New Old Lompoc out of the competition while being rebuilt, the Ice Axe Grill swooped in and took the cup. In 2014, the New Old Lompoc – revived as the Lompoc Tavern – returned the cup to its original hands, and won again in 2015.

The all-ages Chowder Cup festivities include a beer garden (naturally), live music, and a raffle.

Black Out Beer Fest (19 February 2016)

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Lompoc Blackout Beer Fest 2016

Lompoc Brewing‘s fourth annual Black Out Beer Fest – featuring over two dozen dark beers, live music, and food specials – takes place Friday, 19 February 2016 at the Sidebar (3901A N. Williams) from 4 PM to 10 PM.

Featuring a range of styles including porters, stouts, coffee beers and black IPAs, the Black Out Beer Fest offers dark beer lovers an evening to celebrate. Participating breweries include 54°40′ Brewing, Baerlic Brewing, Buoy Beer, Breakside Brewery, Burnside Brewing, Cascade Brewing, Coin Toss Brewin, Double Mountain Brewery, Ecliptic Brewing, Everybody’s Brewing, Fire On The Mountain, Fort George Brewery, Gigantic Brewing, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Kells Brew Pub, Lucky Labrador Brew Pub, pFriem Family Brewers, Portland U-Brew & Pub, Roots Organic Brewing, Stormbreaker Brewing, Three Creeks Brewing, Upright Brewing, Uptown Market and Widmer Brothers Brewing.

This event is 21 and over only. $15 tasting packages are available at the door. In addition to the Sidebar space, there will be a heated tent in the adjacent parking lot. Visit the FB event page for more information.

23rd Annual Hillsdale Brewfest (20 February 2016)

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McMenaminsThe 23rd annual Hillsdale Brewfest takes place Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the Hillsdale Brewery and Public House (1505 SW Sunset Blvd).

Many of the finest beers from McMenamins’ breweries will be sent in to battle, their brewers vying for bragging rights as well as the notorious championship belt. Patrons order trays of beer samples, arranged from lightest to darkest. It is our guests’ official duty to decide who deserves the coveted title. The beers cover the spectrum of brew styles – from hefeweizen to oatmeal stout, barleywine to smoked amber ale and beyond. Each taster casts one ballot that lists his or her top three choices. (And beware the brewers’ shameless vote-mongering. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.)

Battle of the BeltIn past years the winning brewer earned the right to represent the McMenamins empire at the Oregon Brewer Festival, though it seems that tradition may be over. There’s still the belt though! It’s a stunner.

Visit the event page for more details, including the beer list.