Dave Knows Portland

Fun on Foster (September 29, 2012)

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Fun on Foster 2012The 2012 Fun on Foster festival and art walk takes place Saturday, September 29 on Southeast Foster Road from 49th to 93rd.

The multi-block party features all the usual suspects: vendors, artists, live music, food and drink; and also DJs, face painting, Tango, bicycle fun, a cruise-in, and more.

Check out the schedule for the entertainment, open house, and DIY workshop events.

The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the festival website, the Facebook Page, and FosterArea.org, the website of the Foster Area Business Association, for more information.

Portland Weekend Amusements (September 21-23, 2012)

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Truly the best weekend of the year, the third full weekend in September never quits. My two favorite fall festivals take place this weekend, the Oaks Park Oktoberfest and the Polish Festival, and this year we also have Feast PDX, Rheinlander’s Oktoberfest, train and streetcar events, and lots more – and weather looks delightful!

Ongoing

Swift WatchChapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2012

Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. After spending their day eating bugs, the Swifts coalesce in Northwest Portland, flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky above the school. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of Portlanders stare mesmerized at the sky, from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons get lucky. [more]

All Weekend

Feast PortlandFeast Portland

Feast Portland, a celebration of Oregon Bounty, takes place Thursday through Sunday, September 20 through 23, 2012.

Presented by Bon Appétit, the fest is a four-day dynamic exchange of ideas, inspiration and dialogue that Feast Portland will create with food enthusiasts from Oregon, across the U.S. and around the globe. [more]

Bier!Oaks Park Oktoberfest

The 2012 Paulaner Oktoberfest at Oaks Park takes place Friday through Sunday, September 21 through 23.

This is one of Heather‘s favorite Portland festivals, because of the weiner dog races of course. I’m especially fond of the beer and accordion music! [more]

Friday

Offbeat Belly Dance

Avast! Noble Portlanders!

This Friday! Grab your party hat and head to the Blue Monk for the September edition of Offbeat Belly Dance!

Ah yes, the Blue Monk! Home of delicious beer! Complex and intriguing mixed drinks! Tasty food! Air conditioning! [more]

Friday-Saturday

Der Rheinlander Oktoberfest

Portland, Oregon’s favorite Rheinlander Oktoberfest will be Friday, September 21st & Saturday, September 22nd. Our family day “Family Fest” on Saturday from noon – 5pm.

Raise a Stein in the Rheinlander and Gustav’s Bier Stube’s Oktoberfest beer garden on the corner of NE 50th & Sandy Blvd! [more]

Saturday-Sunday

Heather at Portland Polish Festival 2010Polish Festival

The 17th annual Portland Polish Festival, my favorite local cultural event, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, 2012.

Below the masthead on the festival website are the words: the best kept secret of Portland, Oregon. This statement hasn’t been true for several years – the Polish Fest is the premier fall festival in the Portland area. [more]

VegFestPortland VegFest 2012

Oregon’s largest plant-based food event!

VegFest celebrates and promotes sustainable, compassionate and healthy food choices and lifestyles. This low-cost, fun and food-filled event welcomes everyone! [more]

Saturday

Portland Streetcar Central LoopPortland Streetcar Central Loop Grand Opening Celebration

The Portland Streetcar Central Loop Grand Opening Celebration takes place Saturday, September 22, 2012.

As part of the celebration, streetcar rides are free all day Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, 2012. Catch a ride to OMSI between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to attend the celebration. Visit the Portland Streetcar website for a full schedule of celebration events. [more]

SP 4449Oregon Rail Heritage Center’s Grand Opening

The grand opening celebration for the Oregon Rail Heritage Center takes place Saturday, September 22, 2012 from 10am -5pm. “See the three steam locomotives in their new home!”

Giveaways & Prizes * Live Music * Gift Shop * Kid’s Activities * Guides to tell you about us * Light Refreshments * ADA Accessible [more]

Back Fence PDXBack Fence PDX

As always we have an amazing lineup of storytellers ready to tell never-been-told-before true stories based on the theme HASHTAG NERD. From Portland: Iron Man comic book scribe, MATT FRACTION, Best Selling Thriller writer, CHELSEA CAIN, Co-host along with Felicia Day of a Geek & Sundry podcast, KIALA KAZEBEE, and Former High School Mathlete GABE CARLETON-BARNES. From Seattle: Jezebel staff writer LINDY WEST and math genius/creator of video games, BRUCE OBERG. [more]

For even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Oaks Park Oktoberfest 2012

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Bier!The 2012 Paulaner Oktoberfest at Oaks Park takes place Friday through Sunday, September 21 through 23.

Entertainment (PDF) is provided by the usual suspects, including Greg Meier, the Polkatones, Still Kickin’, the Country Dutchmen, Wisler Accordion, and more.

Compete in (or watch) contests (PDF) like the pretzel toss, condiment art, chicken dance, the sausage eating contests, and the Oktoberfest Bear Hug Race throughout the weekend.

In addition there’s a vendor village where you can buy lederhosen and dirndls, and plenty of stuff for the kids.

This year the food menu gets interesting, with multiple food vendors offering their own take on Oktoberfest food, including (click links for PDF menus) EastBurn, Edelweiss Deli, Eis Hutte and Schnitzel Haus, the Scandinavian Cafe, Urban German, and more – everything is reasonably priced, and two festhallen and a multitude of outdoor picnic tables means there are plenty of places to sit down with your beers and friends.

Admission is $5 for adults 16 to 61, $3 for 62 and over, and kids get in for $2. Friday the fest goes from 3 p.m. to midnight (rides 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.), Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight (rides noon to 10 p.m.), and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (rides noon to 7 p.m.).

This is one of Heather‘s favorite Portland festivals, because of the weiner dog races of course. I’m especially fond of the beer and accordion music!

We usually attend on Friday night, which is usually rather laid back (it is Senior Excitement night at the fest after all). But it serves as a nice way to ease into a full weekend of festing (Saturday night we usually hit the Polish Festival, which unfortunately is always on the same weekend). This year the weekend is also shared by Feast Portland – whew, what a busy weekend! To give you an idea of what to expect, check out our reviews from past years:

Heather’s:

Mine:

And here’s a weiner dog race video!

Weiner Dog Race! from Mile73 on Vimeo.

Portland Weekend Amusements (September 14-16, 2012)

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Holy crap what a weekend – the only thing this weekend lacks is fireworks!

Ongoing

Swift WatchChapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2012

Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. After spending their day eating bugs, the Swifts coalesce in Northwest Portland, flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky above the school. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of Portlanders stare mesmerized at the sky, from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons get lucky. [more]

Friday

K+S Word 2012Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival Friday is last day

The Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival, an annual series of events that bring together soccer and film enthusiasts to celebrate the beautiful game, touches down in four cities this year: Liverpool, New York City, London, and Portland, Oregon. . .

On Thursday and Friday films, including Argentina Futbol Club, Loucos de Futebol Gringos at the Gate, A Most Improbable Life, and [more]

Saturday

El Grito 2012El Grito y Fiestas Patrias

Join Consul Enrique Romero-Cuevas and Portland Mayor Sam Adams in celebrating Portland’s El Grito y Fiestas Patrias at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday, September 15 2012 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.

El Grito refers to the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence. The event is remembered and celebrated each year on the night of September 15. [more]

Slabtown Community Festival 2012Slabtown Community Festival

The sixth annual Slabtown Community Festival takes place Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the NW Portland library parking lot.

“Over the past six years, support of the Slabtown Community Festival has been tremendous. The neighborhood came together, participating as volunteers, merchants and festival-goers.” [more]

Portland TimbersCascadia Cup Match: Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Flounders

The Portland Timbers (7-14-6) play host to their Cascadian rivals, Seattle Sounders (13-6-8), at Jeld-Wen Field Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

A rare bright spot for the Timbers this season has been their play against the Cascadia rivals, Seattle and Vancouver – two wins and one draw – a win Saturday would go a long ways toward securing the Timbers’ first Cascadia Cup since 2010, and first ever against all three rivals in MLS.

Saturday-Sunday

Serbian Fest 2012Portland Serbian Fest 2012

The sixth annual Serbian Fest takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16, 2012 at St. Stephen in Milwaukie (11447 SE 27th).

The fest features delicious serbian food: barbecue, roast pig and lamb, desserts and live music, National Dance, beer & wine, kids’ activities, and much more! [more]

Maker FairePortland Mini Maker Faire

Portland Mini Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly showcase of creativity and cool technology, and a celebration of the Maker movement. It’s inspiring, stimulating, and fun for all ages.

Maker Faire is a weekend filled with an incredible variety of exhibits, talks, demonstrations, and performances bridging arts, crafts, science and engineering—many of them hands-on and all of them engaging. Maker Faire, presented by Intel and MAKE Magazine, is a reflection of our community at its very best. [more]

Sunday

Gay Fair in the SquareGay Fair on the Square

Join the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and dozens of other LGBT organizations for a day of music, fun, and information in Portland’s living room. Meet other members of the community and learn all about the various organizations and teams throughout the Willamette Valley. Whether you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, just out, considering coming out, or an ally to the gay community, it’s guaranteed to be a wonderful event. [more]

Attack of the FlixAttack of the Flix #9

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, September 16, 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]

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary Party

Join the Kick Ass Oregon History crew and the fine folks from Nestucca Spit Press on Sunday, September 16, 2012 as they present the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary Party at Mississippi Studios (3939 N. Mississippi) – the celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. [more]

For even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

El Grito y Fiestas Patrias (15-September-2012)

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El Grito 2012Join Consul Enrique Romero-Cuevas and Portland Mayor Sam Adams in celebrating Portland’s El Grito y Fiestas Patrias at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday, September 15 2012 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.

El Grito refers to the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence. The event is remembered and celebrated each year on the night of September 15. Mexican President Calderón is expected to ring the bells of the National Palace in Mexico City, and give his 2012 version of el Grito from the balcony of the palace to the assembled masses in the Plaza de la Constitución. Throughout Mexico, and parts of the world with Mexican expatriate communities, similar celebrations will take place.

The Portland festival entertainment features ballet folkórico and Aztec dancers, live mariachi, salsa, cumbia, pop music. Food and beverage and other vendors and booths will be on hand as well. And don’t miss the singing contest! Visit ElGritoNW.com for more details.