Dave Knows Portland

Wordstock, Portland’s Book Festival (7 November 2015)

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Wordstock

Literary Arts is relaunching Wordstock, Portland’s Book Festival this Saturday, 7 November 2015, at the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park).

The festival will include author discussions and activities for readers of all ages, an extensive book fair, pop-up readings and concerts, a beverage garden and local food trucks. Wordstock is also offering a series of workshops, and tuition includes admission to the festival. The weekend of literary celebration will kick off with a special Friday night opening event, the Bookmark Ball.

Wordstock runs from 9 AM to 6 PM. Visit the Wordstock website for more details, including ticket options.

Portland Halloween Weekend Amusements 2015

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Halloween

I’m not a huge fan of Halloween, but I have kids now, so there you go. Lots of Halloweeny things going on this weekend – a few are highlighted below!

All Weekend

Dia De Los Muertos at Portland Mercado

Portland Mercado Dia De Los MuertosVisit Portland Mercado to experience the important and festive holiday of Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead. Dia de los Muertos, a holiday that originated in Mexico, is celebrated throughout Latin America to commemorate the lives of the deceased with activities we all enjoy in life: eating, drinking, music and celebrating with family and friends. We are excited to partner with community groups to honor our heritage throughout the weekend, and we hope you will join us to celebrate yours.

Friday

Squishing of the Squash

Oregon ZooThe Oregon Zoo’s annual Squishing of the Squash, in which some of the world’s largest land animals demolish some of the area’s largest pumpkins, will be held Friday, Oct. 30, at 10:30 a.m.

The Squishing of the Squash is a precursor to the zoo’s Howloween celebration on Saturday, Oct. 31. Events on Saturday include a fun scavenger hunt that directs trick-or-treaters to easily accessible activity stations throughout the zoo where they can collect candy and prizes.

Saturday

The Great Pumpkin Event

The Great Pumpkin EventJoin Portland Farmers Market for the annual Great Pumpkin Event at PSU! An all ages pumpkin carving contest will begin at 9 am, followed by a children’s costume parade starting at Noon. Goody bags will be provided to parade participants and costumes are highly encouraged!

Halloween Family Fun at the Portland Aerial Tram

Portland Aerial Tram CarDon’t be spooked by autumn! Head down to South Waterfront and enjoy some family time at the Portland Aerial Tram. There will be arts and crafts for the kids from noon to 4 pm. Our face painter will be on duty to make your little ones scary or adorable, depending on your trick-or-treat strategy.

And you won’t need a broomstick to fly above the rooftops – take a ride on the Tram and enjoy the views!

Need more Halloweeny events?

Photo credit: Tram photo by Wikipedia user Cacophony. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

Portland Weekend Amusements (23-25 October 2015)

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If you enjoy walking, craft beer, artisan spirits, books, and the Timbers – you’re in for a treat or three this weekend!

All Weekend

Friends of the Library Fall Used Book Sale 2015

Friends Of The LibraryThe annual Friend of the Library Fall Used Book Sale takes place October 23-26, 2015 at the Lloyd Center DoubleTree Hotel Exhibit Hall (1000 NE Multnomah).

“100,000 Donated Books and Materials – Well Sorted

Gently Used Books
Children’s books, pocket-sized paperbacks start at $0.50
Hardcover books and large paperbacks start at $2.00

Saturday

BoozeGreat American Spirits Festival

The Great American Spirits Festival takes place Saturday, 24 October 2015 from 2 PM to 10 PM at the Tiffany Center (1410 NW Morrison).

Over 40 distillers will be on hand – including 20 from Oregon – offering tastings, cocktails, and sharing recipes.

Killer Beer Fest

Killer Beer Fest 2015Brewpublic tops off the 7th annual Killer Beer Week with the Killer Beer Fest at Bailey’s Taproom (213 SW Broadway) on Saturday, 24 October 2015 from noon until 11 PM.

The beer list includes:

Finn River: Black Oak
Gigantic: Ginormous
Vertigo: Coconut Porter
Trinity: Menacing Huckleberry
Upright: Oregon Native . . .

Sunday

McMenamins’ 30th Anniversary of the First Brew

McMenaminsOn October 25, 1985, McMenamins’ first beer was brewed in a small copper kettle at Hillsdale Brewery. It was a liquid malt extract brew, highly hopped for the era, brewed by the Hillsdale’s first brewer Ron Wolf and dubbed “Hillsdale Ale.” Falling loosely in the ‘Special Bitter’ classification of beer styles, Hillsdale Ale became McMenamins first bona-fide company standard beer, pre-dating Terminator, Hammerhead and Ruby.

Match Day: Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids

Portland TimbersAfter an exhilarating two match 6 points road trip, the Timbers return to Providence Park to host the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, 25 October 2015 for an afternoon match.

Though tied on points with the 3rd place team in the West, the Timbers are not yet assured of a playoff spot – a win Sunday could seal the deal.

Ongoing

Walktober

WalktoberWalktober 2015, the greatest walking holiday of the year takes place in Portland throughout October.

“Walk anywhere, everywhere, for any reason, or for no reason at all. This is Walktober: walking fun October 6th through Halloween (the greatest walking holiday of the year).”

Inspired by Pedalpalooza, three weeks of bikey fun in Portland held every June, the Oregon Walks conceived Walktober to promote walking as a fun, healthy, ubiquitous activity in the Portland metro region.

Friends of the Library Fall Used Book Sale 2015

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FriendsOfLibraryspring_sale.1.1.5The annual Friend of the Library Fall Used Book Sale takes place October 23-26, 2015 at the Lloyd Center DoubleTree Hotel Exhibit Hall (1000 NE Multnomah).

The Selection

100,000 Donated Books and Materials – Well Sorted

• Gently Used Books
Children’s books, pocket-sized paperbacks start at $0.50
Hardcover books and large paperbacks start at $2.00

• Audiovisual Materials
DVDs, CDs, Audiobooks on tape and CD, some LPs

• Sheet music, Comics, Pamphlets, and Maps

Categories

Art, Biography, Children’s, Classics, Cooking, Crafts, Gardening, History, Hobbies, Literature, Math, Mystery, Old Books, Popular Fiction, Reference, Romance, Science, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, Sports, Travel, Westerns

Scanners, Smartphones and Electronic Devices Usage

Allowed only during General Sale (not during Friday’s Members Only Pre-Sale), at book sale tables, and on individual items. Items may not be set aside to be scanned later.

The Members Only Pre-Sale takes place on Friday, 23 October from 6 PM to 9 PM.

The General Sale hours are as follows:

Saturday, October 24, 9 am – 9 pm – Literary trivia (with cash bar) 6-9 pm
Sunday, October 25, 11 am – 5 pm – Costume contest 1 pm
Monday, October 26, 9 am – 3 pm – 50% discount day

Visit the Friends of the Library website for all the details, including more on Literary Trivia, Costume Contest, and the benefits of membership.

Great American Spirits Festival (24 October 2015)

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BoozeThe Great American Spirits Festival takes place Saturday, 24 October 2015 from 2 PM to 10 PM at the Tiffany Center (1410 NW Morrison).

Over 40 distillers will be on hand – including 20 from Oregon – offering tastings, cocktails, and sharing recipes.

From the press release:

For the price of admission, attendees of the one day festival can sample the depth and complexity of the whiskeys, vodkas, rums and liqueurs, and experience spirits crafted from locally owned and operated distillers and blenders to see why local distillers are quickly earning national recognition in a growing northwest spirits industry. Also, artisan distillers will be on hand to discuss the passion and expertise that lies at the heart of these home-grown products.

The $25 admission includes 7 tasting tickets (buy online in advance to save $5) Food – and additional tickets – will be available at the venue too. This 21 and over only event benefits the Oregon Distillers Guilde.