Dave Knows Portland

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival (25-June-2011)

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The 83rd annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival takes place on June 25, 2011 at Portland’s Oaks Park.

Scandinavians have a long tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires or raising of the Maypole (Majstång). Here in Portland that tradition has been celebrated for 83 continuous years at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Midsummer in Scandinavia’s northern climate is the biggest coming out celebration of the year and everyone is invited. At Portland’s Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, it is a celebration of fertile fields, warmer and longer days with games, dancing, food, Scandinavian crafts and of course the raising of the Maypole.

However, Scandinavian roots are not required to celebrate at this summer solstice festival. As all people of Nordic descent know, it’s always a fun, family friendly and important day with century old traditions.

The festival runs from 11am until 9pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for kids (6-12), and $15 for families (2 adults, 2 kids). Two stages feature live music (acts include Maiastra, whose performance we enjoyed last weekend in Astoria), vendors will be offering their wares, there will be dancing (6pm-9pm), and there’s a beer garden (open noon until 8pm)! The Maypole will be raised at 1pm. Visit the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation website for more information, including full entertainment schedule.

Norwegian Constitution Day Celebration and Parade (17-May-2011)

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Join Portland’s Grieg Lodge Sons of Norway at the Norse Hall (111 NE 11th) for a celebration and parade commemorating Norway’s Constitution Day on May 17, 2011.

May Seventeenth, “Syttende Mai” (set-na-my), is Norway’s most important holiday. On this date in 1814, with the signing of the Norwegian Constitution, Norway was declared an independent country.

Admission to the celebration is free! Visit the Oslo Lounge, inside the Norse Hall, for authentic Norwegian food, music and dance performances, and other activities. Doors open at 4pm. The Grand Flag Parade starts at 6pm rain or shine, and features traditional costumes, Norwegian fjord horses, vintage cars, marching bands and more!

After the parade, back at the Norse Hall, Little Leikarringen performs, followed by a special Lapskaus Cabaret, a lively stew of Norwegian theater, music, comedy and dance. Performing in our cabaret will be local Norwegians with traditional and specially commissioned pieces.

Visit the Norse Hall website for more details.

EVERYONE MOST WELCOME!! – Alle er hjertelig Velkommen!!

December 2-5: Holiday Ales, ScanFair, Repeal Day, and More!

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There’s a lot going on this weekend, so choose wisely. In addition to the events featured below some ongoing options include visiting the Pittock Mansion for A Northwest Christmas: The Natural Beauty and Bounty of Oregon, and the zoo for Zoolights. Also this is a good time to visit the Architectural Heritage Center, which is offering free admission throughout December. My plan is the hit up the Ale Festival on Friday, the ScanFair and Zoolights on Saturday, and then glide through Sunday with no obligations.

All Weekend

Holiday Ale FestivalHoliday Ale Festival

The 2010 Portland Holiday Ale Festival takes place December 1 through 5 at the usual place – Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Stay warm and dry and claustrophobic under the big tent. Take the Max or bus home after you enjoy too many beers with too high an alcohol content and too much cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. [more]

Thursday

Timbers ArmyTimbers Army First Thursday

Come on out to the Bitter End Pub (1981 W Burnside) on Thursday, December 2 for the Timbers Army First Thursday.

“To put it plainly, holiday shopping is a drag. The lines, the endless quest for parking, the untold sums from your wallet…if only you had a place to go to, where you see happy smiling faces, there are drinks all around, and endless discussions about MLS 2011.” [more]

Friday-Sunday

Holiday ExpressAll Aboard the Holiday Express

The 2010 Holiday Express begins boarding on Friday, December 3.

The Oregon Pacific Railroad operated trains depart Oaks Park Station for a 40 minute ride along the river. I don’t know how he finds the time, but Santa Claus will make an appearance on each train. [more]

National GeographicNational Geographic Pre-Holiday Warehouse Sale

National Geographic is holding a Warehouse Sale at the Convention Center (777 NE MLK Jr.) on Friday, December 3 through Sunday December 5. . . .

Books are discounted 20-90%, and custom prints, and educational materials will also be available. [more]

Friday

Cort and FatboyThe Cort and Fatboy Midnight Movie: Scrooged

The final Cort and Fatboy Midnight Movie of 2010 takes place Friday, December 3 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne).

For this very special Midnight Movie event, the doors of the Bagdad open early. At 8:30pm Cort and Fatboy present Faces of Meh – Live! At 10:30pm David Walker’s Black Santa’s Revenge will be shown, followed by Scrooged at 11pm. [more]

Saturday-Sunday

ScanFairScanFair

The Scandinavian Heritage Foundation’s 26th Annual ScanFair takes place this weekend at PSU.

Come for the Scandinavian food, crafts, and the 55th crowning of Oregon’s Lucia Queen of Light. Stay for the Pickled Herring Eating Contest at noon Saturday. [more]

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

Sunday

Holiday CheerHoliday Cheer: A Celebration of Oregon Authors

The 43 Annual Holiday Cheer: A Celebration of Oregon Authors, takes place Sunday, December 5 2010 from noon until 5pm at the Oregon Historical Society (1200 SW Park).

This celebration of Oregon writers is a popular holiday tradition. Dozens of authors will be on hand displaying, autographing, and of course selling their latest works. [more]

Repeal DayA Toast To Repeal Day 2010

Sunday, December 5 2010 marks the 77th anniversary of Repeal Day, the day in 1933 when three quarters of the states ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and thus repealed the federal prohibition on the sale, manufacture, and consumption of alcoholic beverages!

Every red-blooded American is obligated to toast to our brewers, vintners, distillers, distributors, publicans, bartenders, waitrons, and friends on this anniversary. [more]

ScanFair 2010 (December 4-5)

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I'm a Viking!The Scandinavian Heritage Foundation’s 26th Annual ScanFair takes place this weekend at PSU.

Come for the Scandinavian food, crafts, and the 55th crowning of Oregon’s Lucia Queen of Light. Stay for the Pickled Herring Eating Contest at noon Saturday.

The fair is on the 3rd floor of the Smith Memorial Center (1825 SW Broadway). Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and children under 12 get in free.

The event raises funds for PSU Nordic language classes and the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, the mission of which is to preserve, communicate and celebrate Scandinavian heritage and culture.

Though primarily a holiday bazaar, there is an impressive entertainment lineup, including live traditional music and folk dancing performances and classes.

Our favorite part of the fair, however, is the annual pickled herring eating contest! We were out of town last year, but in 2008 we witnessed Nick Capri’s impressive win (see video below!). He took home as a prize a bottle of Krogstad Aquavit, made by Portland’s House Spirits.

Pickled Herring Eating Contest from Dave Knows on Vimeo.

June 25-27: Organic Beer, Scandinavian Midsummer, Sunday Parkways, and the Timbers

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Friday-Sunday


NAOBFNorth American Organic Brewers Festival 2010

The 6th annual North American Organic Brewers Festival takes place this Friday through Sunday, June 25th through 27th, at Overlook Park (Yellow Line will take you right there!).

This is my favorite summer brewers festival. It does not (yet . . .) get nearly as crowded as the Big One, and it’s not as expensive as the Pearl One. And so far (this will be the 6th NAOBF) the crowds aren’t nearly as obnoxious. [more]

Saturday

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival 2010

The 82nd annual Scandinavian Heritage Foundation Midsummer Festival takes place this Saturday, June 26th at the German American Cultural Center (7901 SE Division). Karelian Folk Ensemble will all be there [more]

Sunday

Sunday ParkwaysNorth Portland Sunday Parkways

The second Sunday Parkways of 2010 takes place this Sunday, June 27th in North Portland.

This is an opportunity to spend a pleasant summery Sunday morning and afternoon (10am to 3pm) winding your way on bike or foot through the mostly residential, car free, streets of North Portland. The routes take you from one park to the next, where you can check out the vendors and demonstrations, or just sit down and relax. For this week’s event, the parks include Peninsula, Arbor Lodge, Kenton, Trenton, and the Willamette Bluff. [more]

TimbersPortland Timbers vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

The FC Tampa Bay Rowdies make their inaugural trip to Portland this Sunday, June 27th to take on the Portland Timbers at PGE Park. Kick off is an early 5pm.

The Timbers are coming off their league first road win in a long time, last Saturday at Minnesota. The Timber also beat the Kitsap Pumas this week in a US Open Cup match. The Seattle Flounders visit Portland next Wednesday, June 30th in a third round matchup.