Dave Knows Portland

August 26: Festa Italiana, 7th Planet Picture Show, and the Timbers!

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Holy moly what a Thursday!

Italian FlagFesta Italiana, my favorite downtown festival, kicks off at noon at Pioneer Courthouse Square:

This is one of my favorite Portland festivals, and not just because of the strolling accordionists. I recommend arriving early to secure a table in the beer and wine garden at the top of the bowl on the SE side of the square. You’ll have an excellent view of the stage in the middle of the square. Wine is available by the bottle or the glass; and you’ll find the Festa Italiana drink prices to be more reasonable than at most festivals. Beer is available too. [more]

Megaforce!7th Planet Picture Show presents Megaforce at the Mount Tabor Theater (4811 SE Hawthorne) at 7pm.

Portland’s weekly answer to MST3K, the 7th Planet Picture Show, takes place at 7pm this Thursday, August 26 2010 at Mount Tabor Theater (4811 SE Hawthorne).

Host Will Radik and guests Robert Wagner, Jay Mackin, and Twazu present Megaforce! [more]

TimbersPortland Timbers vs Austin Aztex

The Austin Aztex and their league leading offense visit PGE Park to take on the Portland Timbers – kickoff is at 7pm.

Preceding the game at 5pm is the Jimmy Conway testimonial match. Gates open at 4:30pm. [more]

August 26-28: Festa Italiana 2010

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Italian FlagThe 19th Festa Italiana turns Pioneer Courthouse Square into an Italian piazza from Thursday, August 26 through Saturday August 28.

This is one of my favorite Portland festivals, and not just because of the strolling accordionists. I recommend arriving early to secure a table in the beer and wine garden at the top of the bowl on the SE side of the square. You’ll have an excellent view of the stage in the middle of the square. Wine is available by the bottle or the glass; and you’ll find the Festa Italiana drink prices to be more reasonable than at most festivals. Beer is available too.

Italian and Italian-ish restaurants (including Piazza Italia, Bastas Trattoria, La Bottega, a Cena, Mita’s Italian Ice, and Gelato Maestro) from all over set up shop in the square for the festival, offering gelato, pizza, etc.

The entertainment line up is impressive. Musicians from all over regale the crowds with everything from opera to Sinatra, and plenty of accordion. In addition to the music enjoy the grape stomp competition, cooking and pizza tossing demonstrations, marionette shows, and folk dancers. Check out the whole event calendar here.

Admission is free. Hours are noon until 11pm Thursday and Friday, and 11am until 11pm on Saturday.

April 10: Crossroads Carnival

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Commons CarnivalThe Crossroads Carnival, a City Repair sponsored benefit for the Village Building Convergence (VBC), takes place Saturday April 10 at Backspace (115 NW 5th).

Actually it’s not just the upcoming VBC that will benefit, half of the cover charge of $10 will go to support a community building project of your choice (out of 25 neighborhood sites). (Contact City Repair for ticket information.)

Here’s the schedule:

7:00 pm – Doors Open & Tea
7:30 pm – Puppet Show: The Crossroads Dance
8:00 pm – Presentation from Mark Lakeman and Michael Cook
9:00 – Chervona Performance!

We’ll start the night off with a Puppet show of pure magic, inspired from the heart of the Creation Story of City Repair. Little and Big kids are more welcome to come and kiddos under 13 get in free!

Afterwards, look forward to an inspiring and Internationally Renowned presentations given by Mark Lakeman and Michael Cook that explore the principles and passions that have made City Repair so succesful and beloved.

And then at 9pm, the headliners take the stage; amazing Portland band Chervona!

January 23: The Groove Movement Fundraiser for Haiti, with Chervona

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Join The Groove Movement this Saturday, January 23rd at the Mount Tabor Theater (4811 SE Hawthorne) for a benefit for Haiti earthquake relief.

Chervona headlines, one of my favorite local bands since I saw them perform at last summer’s Polish Festival.

Intervision and Voltronic will perform as well.

If you’re not familiar with The Groove Movement:

The Groove Movement is our approach to making change in the world, where that change is needed most! The idea was born out of our love for music and a passion to help those who truly need it. It is our belief that we can promote and create change, bring awareness to the many struggles throughout our modern World, and deliver hope to even the darkest corners of our Earth… all… through Music.

Doors open at 8pm, music starts at 9pm. All donations ($8 per person recommended) support Haiti Earthquake Relief.

Via Chervona’s Twitter

November 14: Keep Portland Weird Festival

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kpwfest09This whole Keep Portland Weird thing is trite and unoriginal. Never the less, the Keep Portland Weird Festival 2009 this upcoming Saturday, November 14 looks like it will be a fine time:

Portland is a place of passionate people pursuing interesting, and sometimes strange, pastimes. Join us for a day of discovery as a wide variety of organizations share what they do and why they do it.

The festival takes place at the Central library (801 S.W. 10th) from noon until 4pm.

From 12:30 until 1pm, Cascade Zydeco will be offering beginning zydeco dance lessons, so that from 1:15 to 2pm you’ll be able to enjoy the zydeco music performed by Bon Ton Roulet. A lineup from the Paul Green School of Rock Music School plays from 3 to 4pm. (Admission to these performances is free, but space is limited. Pick up free tickets for seating at the Keep Portland Weird Information Table near the Welcome Desk 30 minutes before to each program.)

Meanwhile in the Children’s Library PDXSwap will be hosting kids’ clothing and toy swaps (see the webpage for a detailed schedule).

On the second floor of the library America’s Smartest Girl, Nicole J. Georges will be holding court at an advice booth.

On the third floor, from noon–12:30pm the Renegade Rose Morris troupe will be morris dancing to music on accordion, concertina, mandolins, and whistle. PDXYar takes over from 1 to 2pm for epic scale pirate games (!?), and Flash Choir perform from 2 to 3pm.

In addition various organizations will be presenting demonstrations, lessons, and information through out the library on sundry topics, including tracking, knitting, stereoscopic 3D, and more.

Visit the Keep Portland Weird! A Community Festival web page for more information.