Dave Knows Portland

OMSI After Dark (25-May-2011)

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OMSI After DarkOMSI After Dark presents The Art and Science of Creativity this Wednesday, May 25, 2011.

Treat yourself to childfree, brain-building science fun at OMSI After Dark! Check out live demos, new featured exhibitions, and old favorites. Sample tasty snacks and sweets along with beer and wine, and talk to regional food and beverage artisans about the science behind them. The OMSI Cafe will be open with a special dinner menu and cash bars will be available for those who want more than just a taste! It’s geeks gone wild!

Yup, childfree OMSI! With a bar!

Bring cash for the beer and wine bar. Enjoy special menu items at the OMSI Cafe.

Featured science demonstrations and activities include The Chemistry of Art, You Light Up My Dough: Squishy Circuits, and (Not So) Heavy Metal: Molten Aluminum Art. The A-WOL Dance Collective will mix the worlds of dance and aerial, and more!

Hours are 6pm to 10pm. Admission is $10 for nonmembers (free for members). You can buy tickets online, or at the door (no reservations necessary). 21 and over only!

May 23, 1992: Opening Day at the Oregon Coast Aquarium

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Oregon Coast AquariumThe Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport opened on May 23, 1992 (Eugene Register-Guard, 24-May-1992).

A pair of frolicking sea otters rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska upstaged politicians Saturday at formal opening ceremonies for the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Gov. Barbara Roberts, Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore., and Reps. Les AuCoin and Mike Kopetski, both D-Ore., commended organizers who worked a decade to turn their dream into a “world-class aquarium.”

Most of the aquarium’s exhibits focus on the native flora and fauna of the Oregon Coast, e.g. seals and sea lions, giant pacific octopus, sea bird aviary, and the aforementioned sea otters.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of Oregon’s top tourist attractions, hosting over 40,000 student visitors a year.

OMSI After Dark (27-April-2011)

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OMSI After DarkOMSI After Dark presents Science of the Senses this Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Treat yourself to childfree, brain-building science fun at OMSI After Dark! Check out live demos, new featured exhibitions, and old favorites. Sample tasty snacks and sweets along with beer and wine, and talk to regional food and beverage artisans about the science behind them. The OMSI Cafe will be open with a special dinner menu and cash bars will be available for those who want more than just a taste! It’s geeks gone wild!

Yup, childfree OMSI! With a bar!

Bring cash for the beer and wine bar. Enjoy special menu items at the OMSI Cafe.

Featured science demonstrations and activities include five senses trivia, Miracle Berry (synsepalum dulcificum) tasting, the amazing magic of Adam the Great, Ask the Expert with OHSU Tinnitus Clinic’s Dr. Billy Martin, and enjoy samples from local food artisans.

Hours are 6pm to 10pm. Admission is $10 for nonmembers (free for members). You can buy tickets online, or at the door (no reservations necessary). 21 and over only!

Fruit Trees, Tulips, Spring Beer and Wine, and More! (April 22-24, 2011)

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Ongoing

Tulip FestTulip Fest 2011

Tulip Fest 2011 at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn kicks off Friday, March 25 and runs through Sunday, May 8.

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, . . . beer and wine and . . . [more]

Portland Timbers NASL era logoSoccer City USA: The Portland Timbers and the NASL Years, 1975-1982

The Oregon Historical Society‘s newest exhibit, Soccer City USA: The Portland Timbers and the NASL Years, 1975-1982, kicks off on April 15, 2011 . . .

The museum is located at 1200 SW Park, and the hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Sunday, noon to 5:00pm. The exhibit runs through September 4, 2011. [more]

Friday

Portland Art MuseumPortland Art Museum Free Day!

The Portland Art Museum offers free admission on the fourth Friday of every month from 5-8 p.m. The Museum also offers free admission and special family programming several times a year. [more]

Friday-Sunday

Spring Beer and Wine FestivalSpring Beer and Wine Festival

The 17th annual Spring Beer & Wine Fest takes place once again at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK), this Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, 2011. . . .

The fest features about a million vendors (okay maybe I exaggerate a bit – but there are a lot), seminars, a Tour de Cheese and Chocolatiers, chefs on stage, and live music. [more]

Saturday

Earth DayCity Repair Earth Day Celebration

City Repair’s 2011 Earth Day celebration takes place today, Saturday, April 23rd, at the Washington High School field (SE 12th and Stark).

The 11th annual free event goes from 10am until 7pm, and features:

* Over 100 sustainable and local businesses and organizations
* A Kids Village
[more]

Friends of TreesFruit Tree Giveaway and End-of-Season Tree Sale

Friends of Trees hosts the annual Fruit Tree Giveaway and End-of-Season Tree Sale at their office (3117 NE MLK) on Saturday, April 23, 2011.

The Fruit Tree Giveaway is on a first come, first served basis, and each household is limited to three trees (sorry, no reservations or phone orders!). $5 is the suggested donation per tree. Most of the trees are currently about 3 feet tall. [more]

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

Preview: Soccer City USA: The Portland Timbers and the NASL Years, 1975-1982

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Portland Timbers NASL era logoThe Oregon Historical Society‘s newest exhibit, Soccer City USA: The Portland Timbers and the NASL Years, 1975-1982, kicks off on April 15, 2011 (the day after the Timber’s home opener!).

The exhibit curators are Michael Orr (aka @maofootball ) and Morgen Young (aka @AlderLLC), historians and principals of FC Media LLC, which is dedicated to forming the definitive history of Portland Timbers Football Club.

They have assembled an exhibit which focuses on the years the Timbers played in the original North American Soccer League, and is the largest collection of Timbers artifacts in one place at one time.

The museum is located at 1200 SW Park, and the hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Sunday, noon to 5:00pm. The exhibit runs through September 4, 2011.

Here are a few examples of what you will see:

1981 Warm Up Ball

Warm up ball from 1981 that was accidentally kicked into the crowd. It was later signed by the team at the first home game of the season against Vancouver.

Booster Jacket from the Timbers’ Booster Club, founded in 1976

Booster Jacket from the Timbers’ Booster Club, founded in 1976

Framed poster of the players on the 1975 team, loaned by ex-Timber Roger Goldingay (#16). (Click to embiggen!)

Framed poster of the players on the 1975 team, loaned by ex-Timber Roger Goldingay (#16). The poster is 7 feet wide.