Dave Knows Portland

September 26-27: Polish Festival 2009

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2012 details here!

Polish FestivalThe Polish Festival is one of Portland’s best annual cultural events (and one of my favorites), and it takes place this weekend: Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27th.

Below the masthead on the festival website are the words: the best kept secret of Portland, Oregon. Well, the secret is out. According to the press release, last year over 12,000 people attended, making it the largest Polish festival in the Western United States. To meet demand this year, for the 15th annual event, organizers have ordered over 25,000 pierogies and 6000 bottles of Polish beer. And of course there will be plenty of kielbasa, gołąbki (cabbage rolls), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), and other delectable options available to festival goers.

Scene from last year's festival

The Polish Festival also features non-stop music and dance performances, a street dance, and polka contests too.

Krakow Cafe & Pub (3990 N. Interstate ), one block north, is joining the fun this year, with live music on the sidewalks between noon and 9pm, featuring Russian folk singer Natalie Hougin, jazz duo Barry Glick and Jim Putnam, folk singer Carley Baer and Dale Miller.

Heather and I both attended last year and wrote up reviews:

The festival is not a secret anymore – it’s one of the premier fall festivals in the Portland area.

Entrance to the Polish Festival is free. It takes place Saturday, September 26th, from 11am to 10pm and Sunday the 27th, noon to 6pm, and is held on North Failing street, east side of Interstate, between the St. Stanislaus Church and the Polish Library (3900 N. Interstate). To get there take the 4 to Mississippi and Failing and then take the Failing Street Pedestrian Bridge across the freeway and you are there. Or take the Yellow Line MAX to the Overlook Stop – Failing street is two blocks north up Interstate. Check out the festival website for more information.

February 14, 2009: Oregon’s Birthday, Pierogies, and Zwickelmania

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sesquiValentine’s Day is also the anniversary of Oregon’s admission into the union.

Celebrations of Oregon’s 150th Birthday are taking place throughout the state. In Portland the Oregon Historical Society is offering free admission all weekend, the library is hosting sundry events, and the Architectural Heritage Center has put together a program illustrating 150 years of Portland architecture. (Around the Sun has assembled a list of free events this weekend, including these and more.)

But the big events are the first annual Best Pierogi Competition at Krakow Koffeehouse and Cafe (3990 N Interstate) Saturday at 12:30pm, which I wrote about yesterday, and the Oregon Brewers Guild sponsored Zwickelmania.

What the heck is Zwickelmania?

This President’s Day weekend, dozens of Oregon breweries and brewpubs will open their doors to visitors for the state’s first annual Zwickelmania, a one day event similar to the open houses held by Oregon wineries over Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends.

Zwickelmania, hosted by the Oregon Brewers Guild (OBG), is a free statewide event that offers visitors a chance to tour Oregon breweries, meet the brewers and sample their favorite beers – all during Oregon’s Sesquicentennial weekend.

What the heck is a Zwickel? Chad Kennedy from Laurelwood Brewing, beer in hand, explains:

My sweetheart and I are going to have a fantastic weekend.

But there’s no excuse not to have a fantastic weekend this year, even if you don’t have a sweetheart.

Celebrate Oregon’s Sesquicentennial and Valentines Day with Pierogies

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Krakow Koffeehouse and Cafe (3990 N. Interstate) hosts its first annual Best Pierogi Competition this Saturday, February 14th at 12:30pm.

The contest honors Oregon’s birthday (150 years young!) and Portland’s Polish community, which has been thriving for 130 years in North Portland.

From the Portland Sentinel:

Bring your freshly cooked pierogi plate for The Judgement.
The competition will judge entries in three categories:
a) Pierogi Russkie (core ingredients of cheese, cabbage and potatoes).
b) Pierogi Kapusta (core ingredients mushrooms and a meat)
c) Best “Martha Stewart pierogi.” The best production of one Martha’s public recipes.
Martha Stewart, of course, born Martha Kostyra, the business magnate, publisher and TV host, is of Polish ancestry. Entrants placing hand saws or files in the batter will be automatically disqualified.

Polish Festival Tips

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Polish FestivalHere are some tips to help you get the most out of the best Fall festival in town, the Portland Polish Festival.

  • Bring cash! The longest line at the fest is the ATM line. Pay cash for the $1 tokens to buy drinks and food.
  • Take MAX! Get off at the Overlook stop on the Yellow Line and walk 2 blocks up Interstate.   You don’t want to have to drive or ride your bike after a few Black Bosses (see second to last tip below)
  • Stay late Saturday night! The street dance from 7:30-10pm is the most fun you’ll ever have in a parking lot listening to the Polka Beats!
  • Go for the combo plate and the placki! Enough pierogis, gołąbki, kiełbasa, bigos, and potato pancakes for a small village; share with a friend!
  • Beware the Black Boss! Delicious but strong (9.4% strong!)
  • Post-Fest: The Alibi – literally stumbling distance from the festival; one block up Interstate.