Dave Knows Portland

Back Fence PDX: At A Crossroads (24-May-2012)

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Back Fence PDXBack Fence PDX returns to the Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan) on Thursday, May 24, 2012 with their fourth anniversary storytelling show!

Storytelling show? What the hell is that?:

BACK FENCE PDX: LIVE STORYTELLING has been playing to packed audiences since 2008. The show pays great homage to New York’s THE MOTH, the grandaddy of live storytelling, and is also the kissing cousin to San Francisco’s PORCH LIGHT storytelling series.

The evening features six local and national storytellers telling true 8-13 minute personal tales based on the night’s theme.

Most of these stories have never been told publicly. Or even to significant others.

The theme of the March show is At A Crossroads.  The lineup includes John Roderick,  Laura Gibson, Cheryl Strayed, Carlos Kotkin, Nathalie Weinstein, and Brian Tibbetts. Artist Gary Hirsch will also be on hand, giving audience members their very own domino-sized, hand-painted, one-of-a-kind Decision Bot!

Oh, and there’s a Popina Swimwear Fashion Show, featuring the Dolly Pops Dance Troupe!

Back Fence PDX comes highly recommended – Heather and I have thoroughly enjoyed the several Back Fence PDX productions we’ve been to. For one thing free cupcakes from Saint Cupcake make the rounds at intermissions. The story tellers are always courageous and their stories are often amusing, always entertaining, and sometimes gut wrenching or cringe inducing – you really don’t know what to expect!

Tickets are $12 in advance, at $15 at the door (note: skip the convenience & handling fees by getting your tickets in person at the Crystal Box Office, Bagdad Theater and the Edgefield gift shop). Those doors open at 6:30 p.m. The fashion show starts at 7:15 p.m., and the story tellers take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Norwegian Constitution Day Celebration and Parade (17-May-2012)

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Join the Grieg Lodge Sons of Norway at the Norse Hall (111 NE 11th) for a celebration and parade commemorating Norway’s Constitution Day on May 17, 2012.

EVERYONE MOST WELCOME!! – Alle er hjertelig Velkommen!!

May Seventeenth, “Syttende Mai” (set-na-my), is Norway’s most important holiday. On this date in 1814, with the signing of the Norwegian Constitution, Norway was declared an independent country.

Admission to the celebration is free! Visit the Oslo Lounge, inside the Norse Hall, for authentic Norwegian food, music and dance performances, and other activities. Doors open at 4pm. The Grand Flag Parade starts at 6pm rain or shine, and features traditional costumes, Norwegian fjord horses, vintage cars, marching bands and more!

After the parade, back at the Norse Hall, Little Leikarringen performs, followed by a special Lapskaus Cabaret, a lively stew of Norwegian theater, music, comedy and dance. Performing in our cabaret will be local Norwegians with traditional and specially commissioned pieces.

And you won’t want to miss the Centennial NorskArts Fair, Local artists/artisans of all things Norwegian & Nordic will have booths and demonstrations of both fine arts and traditional/contemporary crafts on May 16 & 17.

Visit the Norse Hall website for more details.

Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend Amusements (March 16-18, 2012)

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It’s a heavy duty weekend in Portland – plenty of beer, of course, and other amusements.

Guinness StoutPortland area Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Friday

Offbeat Belly DanceOffbeat Belly Dance

Every third Friday of the month the Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont) hosts the Offbeat Belly Dance collective, a club rocking, good timing, genre-defying gang of badass belly dancers.

This Friday, March 16, 2012 is now exception: Offbeat Belly Dance! This Friday! Fun! Fabulous! Free Show! [more]

Friday & Saturday

ExIT ShoesThe Art and Science of Shoemaking

Join shoemaker Jeff Mandel this Friday or Saturday, March 16 or 17, 2012 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day, for a free lecture on The Art and Science of Shoemaking at Halo Shoes (938 NW Everett).

“Come learn about the interdisciplinary pursuit that is making shoes by hand.” [more]

Saturday

Farmers MarketPortland Farmers Market Opening Day

The Portland Farmers Market returns to the Portland State University campus this Saturday, March 17, 2012.

“Nothing screams spring quite like the opening of the PSU Market! Come join us as we welcome back your favorite vendors and introduce some new faces.” [more]

Sunday

Attack of the FlixAttack of the Flix

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, March 18, 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. [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.

The Art and Science of Shoemaking (March 16 & 17, 2012)

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ExIT ShoesJoin shoemaker Jeff Mandel this Friday or Saturday, March 16 or 17, 2012 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day, for a free lecture on The Art and Science of Shoemaking at Halo Shoes (938 NW Everett).

Come learn about the interdisciplinary pursuit that is making shoes by hand. I will show how measurements lead to a last which gives rise to a pattern that can be made into a shoe. Along the way we’ll visit the diverse world of of shoemaking including design, drawing, sewing, sculpture, biology, chemistry, physics and math.

Drop in or stay for the whole presentation. Jeff runs ExIT Shoes, a one man custom handmade shoe shop in Portland, Oregon.

Portland Saturday Market 2012 Season Begins (March 3, 2012)

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Portland Saturday MarketHurray! Portland Saturday Market‘s 39th season begins this Saturday, March 3, 2012. Your long winter without access to hippy candles, knit bags, and tie-dyed t-shirts is over!

Join PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET, March 3 & 4, 2012 for the official opening of the 2012 season. PSM has celebrated arts & crafts in the Pacific Northwest for 39 years.
Show your support of artists and your local economy and join us for a two-day celebration.
• 2 pairs of tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s touring show OVO.
• 5 Daily give-a-ways of $25.00 gift cards
• 2 days of Main Stage entertainment serving up local music with the likes of Johnny Martin. http://www.johnnymartin.com/
• 2 days of Kid’s Activities, featuring Janet Julian teaching children and their families how to create musical instruments out of recycled materials.
• Kid’s Parade at noon through the Market both Saturday and Sunday.
• Flamebuoyant’s circus entertainers will lead the kid’s parade each day with their stilt walkers, jugglers and musicians.
• 21 Food Carts featuring original recipes of local favorites like Horn of Africa’s Vegetarian Sambusa’s, Old Town Burgers Chili Dogs or Katmandu Cafes, Chicken Vindaloo.
• 250+ talented artisans selling their original handcrafted wares.

As per usual the market also features dozens of food carts, live music, and hundreds of vendors every weekend through December 24th! Saturday hours are 10am to 5pm, Sundays 11am to 4:30pm.