Dave Knows Portland

Maifest (19-May-2012)

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Maifest 2012Celebrate spring the German way at Maifest on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Oaks Amusement Park.

Join Zeitgeist Northwest for a unique experience of German culture and a day of fun for the whole family! We bring an old German tradition, the celebration of spring, to town.

The details of the Maifest custom vary in the German states, and sometimes even from town to town. All celebrations have in common the raising of a Maypole, dances, get togethers, drinks – a especially brewed for the occasion Maibock beer – and food.

In the Kids’ Zone the kinder will find craft workshops by Spielwerk Toys, music workshops by Musikhaus PDX, games, and more.

Performing on stage will be the Liederkreis Choir, the Portland Kinderschule May dancer, folk and pop singer Chris Gabriel, Jodelclub Edelwyss, Magician Tom Waldrop and the Portland based band Bodacious.

Food vendors include Urban German (bratwurst!), Sultan’s Kitchen (döner kebabs!), Fressen (pretzels and cakes!), and more. And of course, there’s a beer garden!

The fest runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and admission is free! Visit Zeitgeist Northwest’s event page for more details. Zeitgeist Northwest is a 501(3) c non-profit organization that provides a link to modern German culture, the German language and the arts.

Portland Weekend Amusements (April 27-29, 2012)

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Whew, what a weekend! Beer, spirits, story telling, books, the last weekend of the Tulip Fest, and lots more!

Ongoing or All Weekend

Tulip FestTulip Festival 2012

Tulip Fest 2012 at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn kicks off Friday, March 30 and runs through Monday, April 30.

What, exactly, is a tulip fest? On weekdays it’s 40 acres of blooming tulips (and daffodils), a cafe, country store, farm equipment on display, Dutch sausages, and a gift shop. And on weekends you get all that, plus pony rides, a crafters market, Mexican food, wooden shoe making demonstrations, steam tractors, entertainment, and beer and wine! [more]

Friends of the LibraryFriends of the Library Spring Used Book Sale 2012

Friends of the Library present the annual Spring Used Book Sale this weekend, Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29, 2012.

20,000 Donated Books and Materials include audio tapes, CDs, DVDs, videos, gently used books, children’s books, etc. – starting at $.50! [more]

Singlehandedly 2012Portland Story Theater presents Singlehandedly 2012

Singlehandedly, the fourth annual festival of new solo works, runs from Friday, April 27 through Friday, May 11, 2012 at Hipbone Studio (1847 E Burnside).

Presented by Portland Story Theater, Singlehandedly is a festival of opening nights and every night is different. [more]

Friday

Portland Art MuseumPortland Art Museum Free Day

The Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park) is offering free admission on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 5pm until 8pm.

The museum offers free admission ever fourth Friday (5pm-8pm) of the month, so if you can’t make it this week, mark May 25, 2012 on your calendar! [more]

Friday-Saturday

National Park ServiceNational Park Week

National Park Week takes place April 21 through April 29, 2012. Admission is free at all 397 national parks during the celebration.

“Looking for something fun, free, and fantastic to do with family and friends? Head out to America’s national parks where millions of stars light up the dark night sky, deer and antelope (and a few other critters!) play on the wide open range, and history is an unbelievable experience, not an exam.” [more]

Saturday

Bailey's GermanFestGermanFest at Bailey’s Taproom

The 2nd annual GermanFest at Bailey’s Taproom (213 SW Broadway) takes place Saturday, April 28th, 2012.

German-style beers brewed by Oregon breweries will be featured, including: 10 Barrel Rude Boy Rogenbier, Amnesia Dusseldolf Alt, etc. . . . [more]

Saturday-Sunday

TOASTTOAST: The Oregon Artisan Spirit Tasting

The Oregon Distillers Guild presents the second annual T.O.A.S.T.: The Oregon Artisan Spirit Tasting this Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, 2012.

Featuring more than fifty local, national, and international artisan spirit producers pouring over one hundred spirits, TOAST is the largest public tasting of craft spirits in North America. [more]

Stumptown Comics Fest 2012Stumptown Comics Fest 2012

The 9th annual Stumptown Comics Fest takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK).

“The 9th Annual Stumptown Comics Fest is set to be the best yet! With special guests like Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai and multi-talented artist and writer Mike Allred (Madman, iZombie), this year’s celebration of comics in the city of Portland shouldn’t be missed.” [more]

Sunday

Dill Pickle ClubA Place Called Home: Lectures on Filmmaking in Portland Animation Program

Portland’s creative cultural club, The Dill Pickle Club, presents A Place Called Home: Lectures on Filmmaking in Portland, this Sunday, April 29, 2012.

“A Place Called Home is a monthly presentation series examining the history of filmmaking in Portland. Held at roving venues on last Sundays at 1PM, lectures aim to orient recent transplants and residents to the city’s rich lineage of film and how it informs our sense of place.” [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.

GermanFest at Bailey’s Taproom (28-Saturday-2012)

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Bailey's GermanFestThe 2nd annual GermanFest at Bailey’s Taproom (213 SW Broadway) takes place Saturday, April 28th, 2012.

German-style beers brewed by Oregon breweries will be featured, including:

10 Barrel Rude Boy Rogenbier
Amnesia Dusseldolf Alt
Alameda Beaumont Bock
Astoria Kolsch
Bend Ching Ching Berlinerweisse
Block15 Corvallis 1/2 Marathon Gose
Breakside Hopfenbier – German-style IPA
Burnside Berlinerwiesse
The Commons Sticke
Double Mountain Das Boot Alt
Flat Tail Doppel Dunkel
Heater Allen Rauchbier
Hopworks Kellerbier
Lompoc Jolly Bock
Ninkasi Helles Belles
Oakshire Wir Trinken Hellesbier
Occidental Maibock
Seven Brides Maggie’s Marzen
Silver Moon Bridge Creek Pilsner

Whew! Admission is free at 4 p.m., but of course you have to pay for the beer. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $25; VIPs not only receive a souvenir stein and six tastes, but also get in two hours early! You can buy your VIP ticket online now. For more details visit the Bailey’s Taproom website and Facebook event page.

Wurstfest 2012

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Dust off your Lederhosen, starch up your Dirndl and join the happy folk in Mount Angel for two fun days of celebration in honor of the WURST!

WurstfestWurstfest: A Mount Angel Celebration of German Sausage returns to Mount Angel for a fourth year.

Wurstfest was dreamed up in 2009 by the Bavarian-phile merrymakers in Mount Angel, Oregon, home of Oregon’s largest Oktoberfest celebration every fall. Heather and I attended the inaugural festival and enjoyed it immensely – it’s just like Oktoberfest, but in the winter.

Mount Angel area sausage makers present their best wursts at the fest, authentic German beers are on tap, and regional wines and Bavarian glühwein is available. Entertainment includes Oktoberfest-style music and dancing.

This year’s fest takes place at the brand new Mt. Angel Community Festhalle on Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18. Hours both days are 11am until 11pm. Included in the $10.00 adult admission fee is a souvenir glass Bavarian beer mug or wine glass (for first 2000 attendees). Anyone under 21 gets in free with an adult.

In 2009 we visited Wurstfest on Valentines Day, which coincidentally is Oregon’s Birthday. Read Heather’s review of the festival, I Went To A Sausage Fest, and check out the festival’s rendition of Happy Birthday Dear Oregon:

Happy Birthday Dear Oregon from Mile73 on Vimeo.

Weekend Amusements (October 21-23, 2011)

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Holy crap – we’re deep into October and the weekends still rock. We’ve got festivals dedicated to film, apples, killer beer, and booze; a costume sale, belly dance, a spectacular spectacle, and Oktoberfest straggler, and more!

Ongoing

Portland Latin American Film FestivalPortland Latin American Film Festival 2011

The 2011 Portland Latin American Film Festival (PDXLAFF) runs from October 20 through 26 at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy).

Serving the community as a non-profit cultural promoter under the guidance of Film Action Oregon, the 5th annual PDXLAFF is dedicated to showcasing perspectives of Latin American culture through an annual exploration of Latin film . . . [more]

All Weekend

Apple Tasting Event at Portland NurseryPortland Nursery Apple Tasting Event 2011

Portland Nursery‘s 24th Annual Apple Tasting Event takes place over the next two weekends (Friday-Sunday, October 14-16, and 21-23) at the SE 50th and Stark location.

After the beer-focused festivals, this is my favorite fall event. Apple tasting, old fashioned cider pressing, apple desserts, cooking demonstrations, and live music – what’s not to like? Heather also freakin’ loves apples! [more]

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, October 21, 2011, is no exception – the Offbeat Belly Dance collectives invites you to October Offbeat OMG! Free show! This Friday! Good times! Woooo! [more]

Saturday-Sunday

Costume SaleOregon Ballet Theater Costume Sale

Looking for the perfect Halloween costume? How do you feel about tights?

You’ll find something at the Oregon Ballet Theater Costume Sale this Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23, 2011. [more]

Whiskey!Great American Distillers Festival

The 7th annual Great American Distillers Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24 2011 at the Left Bank Annex (101 N Weidler), 1pm until 7pm both days.

This festival is a gathering of small distillers from across the country who come to Oregon – the Mecca of craft distilling, to share their products, their passion and their expertise in handcrafting spirits.There will be tastings, seminars, a mixology contest for bartenders and more! [more]

Saturday

City of Portland Free Financial Planning Day

The City of Portland and the Financial Planning Associations of Oregon and SW Washington bring you Portland Financial Planning Day this Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Portland Building (1120 SW 5th), second floor.

Dozens of Portland Area financial planners will offering free one-on-one counseling and seminars on budgeting, income taxes, investment strategies, mortgages and foreclosures, retirement planning and more. The advice will be offered on a “no strings attached” basis – planners will not be giving out business cards or selling financial products or services. [more]

North Portland Oktoberfest 2011North Portland Oktoberfest

Now that fall is definitely here, it’s time for the 2nd annual North Portland Oktoberfest, held this Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Historic Kenton Firehouse (8105 N. Brandon) from 3pm to 10pm.

The fest features a German bratwurst, kraut and pretzel dinner – with Widmer Brewing beer! Attendees receive a commemorative glass mug, a sponsor coupon book, and of course a fantastic experience. [more]

KillerBeerFest

Brewpublic‘s third annual Killer Beer Week takes place from Sunday to Sunday, October 16 through 23, 2011. KillerBeerWeek aims to deliver some of the best and most interesting beers the region has to offer at some of the best pubs in the Portland area.

Saturday, October 22, 4pm-close: KillerBeerFest @ Bailey’s Taproom (213 SW Broadway) [more]

Moulin Rouge!Moulin Rouge Spectacular Spectacle

The 4th annual Moulin Rouge Spectacular Spectacle, brought to you by Fleur de Lethal Cinematheque, takes place Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd).

For one night only the legendary Bagdad Theater transforms into a champagne and absinthe drenched Montmarte as Fleur de Lethal plays host to the 4th Annual “Sing Out” screening of Baz Lurhmann’s 2001 musical epic starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. [more]

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.