Dave Knows Portland

Kick Ass Oregon History: Episode 3

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Kick Ass Oregon HistoryKick Ass Oregon History is the latest series of podcasts from the enthusiastic historians behind ORHistory.com.

Episode 3 dropped friday: Balloon Bombs!

The previous episodes:

  • Kick Ass Oregon History Vol 1 #1: The Roseburg Blast – The city of Roseburg goes up in smoke
  • Kick Ass Oregon History Vol 1 #2: The Eggs! – 1942 poisoning at the Oregon State Hospital for the Insane.

The brains behind this project are the crack hustlers of Oregon History Doug Kenck-Crispin and Andy Lindberg. Doug is a graduate student studying Public History and Pacific Northwest History at PSU, and Andy, though a Portland native, is currently working as an actor in New York City. Doug does most of the research and writing for the podcasts with input from Andy, who voices the broadcasts with a thespian’s flair.

With the Kick Ass Oregon History podcast they plan to cover just the good stuff: Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll and Earth Shattering, Devastating Destruction.

Ultimately, our goal is to take Oregon History out of the hallowed halls of the academy, get folks excited and enthused about this shared history, and get them out into the state, digging it and experiencing it. Get them to embrace it, and get their boots muddy in the process. It’s all OUR History; nobody owns it.

Visit ORHistory.com and stay tuned to @Oregon_History on Twitter for further details on specific episodes and the series.

Theater, Beer, Burns, Soccer, Mochi, and more! (January 28-30, 2011)

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Seriously fantastic weekend emerges for fans of theater, film, Scottish beer, mochi, soccer, and more!

Ongoing

Fertile GroundFertile Ground: A City-Wide Festival of New Works (January 20-30)

Fertile Ground 2011 is a 10-day arts festival that will be held January 20 through 30 in Portland, Oregon. This city-wide festival is focused on new work in the Arts. It will feature up to 30 world premiere projects, staged readings and a myriad of other arts events from the Portland creative community. [more]

Friday

Australia Day Party Australia Day Party

If you can hold out until Friday, January 28, the Portland Power Australian Rules Football Club is throwing an Australia Day Party at the Buffalo Gap Saloon (6835 SW Macadam).

An Aussie menu, featuring roast lamb and vegetables, Pavlova, pies and chips, Lamingtons, and more, is available at 5pm. In addition there will be cold Aussie beer and decent Aussie wine, and live music. [more]

PortlandiaWhere to Watch Portlandia In Portland

Miss the big premiere event? Don’t have a TV? Don’t have the Independent Film Channel? Watch Portlandia, if you’re into that sort of thing, at the Portland venues listed below. [more]

Saturday

VictoryTimbers Army Screening of Victory

The Timbers Army is hosting a free screening of the soccer film Victory on Saturday, January 29 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne).

If you haven’t seen the 1981 film, you’re in for a treat! Victory stars the actors Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, an Max von Sydow, but also features numerous soccer legends including Pelé, Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Paul Van Himst, and others. [more]

Cascade Barrel HouseScottish Ale Festival

Cascade Brewing‘s First Annual Scottish Ale Festival takes place Saturday, January 29, 2011 . . .

Nine regional brewers will be on hand from 3pm until 11pm at the Cascade Barrel House (939 SE Belmont), serving up Scottish and Scotch ales. [more]

Sunday

Mochitsuki 2011Mochitsuki Portland

Portland’s 15th annual Mochitsuki takes place Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the Scottish Rite Center (1512 SW Morrison), from 11am until 4pm.

“Welcoming the New Year is the major celebration in the Japanese community: a time of special foods rich with symbolic meaning and gathering with family and friends.” [more]

Robert BurnsPub Sing to Honor Robert Burns’ Birthday

The Portland Revels‘ Pub Sing to Honor Robert Burns’ Birthday takes place Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the Lucky Labrador Beer Hall (1945 NW Quimby).

“We’ll sing songs from the Scottish tradition of work songs, lullabies, children’s songs, songs of love and of Bonnie Prince Charley.” [more]

The Nervous Breakdown PDX 2011The Nervous Breakdown’s Literary Experience

The Nervous Breakdown’s Literary Experience: Boxing with Elephants takes place Sunday, January 30 2011 at Hall of Records (3342 SE Belmont).

The Nervous Breakdown is an online literary magazine featuring reviews, commentaries, fiction, poetry, and more. [more]

And for even more weekend events and activities, visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and PDX Pipeline!

Mochitsuki Portland (30-January-2011)

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Update: 2012 Mochitsuki HERE!

MochitsukiPortland’s 15th annual Mochitsuki takes place Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the Scottish Rite Center (1512 SW Morrison), from 11am until 4pm.

Welcoming the New Year is the major celebration in the Japanese community: a time of special foods rich with symbolic meaning and gathering with family and friends. Mochi is a sticky rice cake that symbolizes starting the New Year with a full belly in hopes of abundance in the year ahead. Visitors to Mochitsuki 2011 will see steamed rice pounded into mochi with huge mallets and taste samples made from the humming electric machines popular in Japan today.

Three stages will feature everything from classical Japanese dance to hip hop and J-pop.

Food and drink options include bento, sushi, Hawaiian fare, green tea, sake, and more!

Advance tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+) and students (with ID), and $3 for kids 2-12. (Visit the website for advance ticket purchase options).

At the door admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $5 for kids.

Bonus Back Fence PDX: Part 2 of Adam Arnold’s Japan-Venture

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Back Fence PDXOne of the highlights of the September 22 2010 Back Fence PDX was Portland fashion designer Adam Arnold‘s story of a childhood obsession which culminated with a trip to Japan with his grandmother. He picks up the story upon their arrival in the video below:

BACK FENCE PDX: PART II OF ADAM ARNOLD’S JAPAN-VENTURE! from Frayn Masters on Vimeo.

The next Back Fence PDX storytelling show takes place Wednesday, November 17 2010 – the theme is Off the Hook!

August 7: Obonfest 2010

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Obonfest 2010Honor your ancestors at the 2010 Obonfest on Saturday, August 7 from 3pm until 9pm.

Sponsored by and held at the Oregon Buddhist Temple (3720 SE 34th, at Powell Blvd), Obonfest features:

Food items: yakisoba, yakiniku, yakitori, shave ice, manju, chirashi sushi, beer garden, soft drinks, Spam musubi
Program: Tanuki Taiko, Portland Taiko*, Martial Arts Demonstration, Temple Talks, Bon Odori (public dance)
Others: Omiyage shop, T-shirt sale, children’s corner, outside vendors, raffle

Yup, a beer garden and spam musubi!