Dave Knows Portland

House Spirits’ St. Valentine’s Day Bazaar (11-February-2012)

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House SpiritsHouse Spirits Distillery‘s first annual St. Valentine’s Day Bazaar takes place this Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the stillroom (2025 SE 7th).

We have one event this month, but it’s going to be a big one! Join us for our very first, and hopefully annual, St. Valentine’s Day Bazaar. We will be throwing open the doors of the Still Room and releasing Volstead, our first vodka in over a year. There will be cocktails, food and a slew of our wonderful neighborhood vendors with gifts for your Valentine.

Joining House Spirits will be Olympic Provisions, Stumptown Coffee, Scout Books, 2550 Degrees Candles, Salt & Straw, Olo Fragrance, Pink Slip Jam, The Good Flock, Theo chocolate, Woodblock chocolate, and Xocolatl chocolate.

Admission is free, and all ages are welcome (with parent or guardian). The fun goes from 11am to 6pm.

Holiday Booze Bazaar (3-December-2011)

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Whiskey!The 6th annual Holiday Booze Bazaar takes place Saturday, December 3 at House Spirits Distillery (2025 SE 7th).

It’s that time again for our big holiday blowout here at the distillery. And as we’ve done just about every year we having a wonderful new spirit to release into the world. This year we are releasing our 2nd batch of House Spirits Coffee Liqueur, which our 1st batch was a huge success last year. With this batch we made a double distilled, 100% Barbados Molasses Rum and blended it with a special batch of cold brew Stumptown Coffee (Guatemala Antigua Buenavista fair trade coffee), sweetened it every-so-slightly with Demerara sugar syrup and hinted it with cinnamon and sweet orange peel. Man, it is delicious!

Vendors this year include Chop Butchery, Dishing Up Oregon book (author Ashley Gartland will be at event), Imbibe Magazine, Stumptown Coffee, Theo Chocolate, and more!

Heather and I have attended this event in years past and can attest that this is a holiday bazaar you’ll actually enjoy!

Mini cocktails and spirit samples will be available, as well as booze gift boxes, barware, bitters, mixers and cocktail books. This event is free, but you must be over 21 to attend. It runs from 11am until 6pm.

Things to do in Portland on Thanksgiving Day (2011)

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Update: Things to do in Portland on Thanksgiving Day (2012)

Coffee

Anna Bannanas (8716 N Lombard & 1214 NW 21st) is opening at 8:30am and closing when it slows down, probably early evening.

Cloud Seven Cafe (901 NW 10th) – is open 8am to 1pm on Thanksgiving Day.

The worker-owned Red & Black Cafe is open 10am to 7pm on Thanksgiving Day.

Beer and Booze

Barfly Magazine maintains a respectable list of bars open 365 days a year.

rialto200And here are some more picks:

Rialto (529 SW 4th) stays open 365 days a year, 9am to 2:30am. While drinking beer play some pinball and pool, watch football on the ginormous TVs, or place some off-track bets.

The Hop & Vine (1914 N Killingsworth) is open from 10am to 1pm Thanksgiving Day for last minute needs!

McMenaminsMany downtown hotel restaurants and bars will be open on Turkey Day.

Quite a few McMenamins will be open on Thanksgiving day. Check the calendar for holiday buffets and movie showings.

Bottles NW (5115 NE Fremont) opens at 6pm on Thanksgiving Day!

You can also place bets at the track: Portland Meadows is open on Thanksgiving Day, and is offering a special traditional breakfast for only $5 (free fo Portland Meadows Rewards Members).

ProstAnd Prost (4237 N Mississippi) opens the doors on Thanksgiving Day at 6pm for their 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Dinner, featuring, in addition to bier, booze, and hot cocktails for sale, a complimentary turkey dinner!

Henry’s Tavern (10 NW 12th) is open noon until 8pm, offering a special holiday menu.

The Radio Room (1101 NE Alberta) will be opening for Thanksgiving at 5pm to 2am, and will be featuring a turkey dinner special,and many drink specials.

Saraveza (1004 N Killingsworth) is open 9am to 1pm-ish on Thanksgiving Day for Packers Fans and last-minute holiday beer!

Restaurants

The Oregonian‘s Michael Russell has the roundup of Portland Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner.

Eater PDX also has some suggestions as to Where to Eat Out Turkey Day.

And PortlandFoodAndDrink.com‘s annual Thanksgiving Roundup is now live too!

Shopping

Powell's BooksAvoid the holiday crowds that will ensue on Black Friday by visiting Powell’s Books (1005 W Burnside location) on Black Friday Eve (aka Thanksgiving Day). The store will be open from 10am to 6pm.

Groceries

Though not likely to be open all day, many grocery and convenience stores will be open for limited Holiday hours. Usually from late morning until early afternoon.

Activities

OregonZooThe Oregon Zoo is open on Thanksgiving day, with special Beast Feasts for the animals.

Watch Oregon Zoo animals enjoy special snacks and Thanksgiving-themed enrichment items like papier-mâché turkeys stuffed with yummy treats.

In West Linn, you might consider participating in the Turkey Trot. If you’re into that sort of thing.

Many bowling alleys and movie theaters are open Thanksgiving Day!

Transit

TriMet buses and MAX, as well as the Portland Streetcar, will run on Sunday schedules.

Coffee Fair 2011

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Coffee Fair 2011The 2011 Coffee Fair takes place Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6, 2011 at the World Forestry Center (4033 SW Canyon Road).

Fuel your caffeine addiction with Coffee Fair, a special event dedicated to espresso, lattes, and the plain ol’ Cup O’ Joe. Smell, taste, and learn about specialty coffees from knowledgeable local roasters.

Activities and workshops include coffee cuppings, [coffee] home brew workshops, and how to brew the perfect cup. The K&F Coffee Lounge set up at the fair will be offering coffee drinks, coffee tastings, and complimentary WiFi. At the Roasters Corner try coffee from over 10 roasters and coffee themed treats.

The fair runs 10am to 3pm both days. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (62+), and $5 for children (3-18).
Visit the World Forestry event page for more details, including a vendor list.

Season’s Eatings at New Deal Distillery (11-December-2010)

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Season's Eatings 2010The 2nd Annual Season’s Eatings at New Deal Distillery (1311 SE 9th) takes place Saturday, December 11 2010 from noon until 6pm.

Some of the region’s best chocolates, cheeses, wines, spirits, charcuterie, baked goods, and pasta will be available to sample and to purchase, and it’s all a benefit for the Oregon Food Bank. Admission is free with one non-perishable food item or cash donation.

The Little Red Bike Cafe may be defunct, but Ali and Evan certainly aren’t. Ali will be at Season’s Eatings offering artisan jams and handmade granola under the moniker ‘Little Branch‘. Outside Evan will be manning Lucy’s Original, offering hamburgers and milkshakes!

Also in attendance will be Dessert Labs, Tails and Trotters, Gales Meadow Farm, Confectionary, Xocolatl de David, Clive Coffee, Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery, Briar Rose Creamery, The Hop and Vine, Riverwave Foods, Unbound Pickling, and People’s Sandwich of Portland – whew!