Dave Knows Portland

Back Fence PDX (21-September-2011)

by Leave a Comment

Back Fence PDXThe Back Fence PDX story telling show returns to the Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011.

Story telling show? How’s that work?:

Our Back Fence Storytelling event is the kissing cousin to San Francisco’s Porchlight Storytelling Series. It is an evening with seven people telling true, unmemorized ten-minute stories based on the month’s theme. The stories must not have been performed publicly prior to their Back Fence PDX telling.

Heather and I have thoroughly enjoyed the several Back Fence PDX productions we’ve been to. For one thing free cupcakes from Saint Cupcake make the rounds at intermissions. The story tellers are always courageous and their stories are often amusing, always entertaining, and sometimes gut wrenching or cringe inducing – you really don’t know what to expect!

The theme of the September show is Mistakes Were Made. The lineup includes:

EGAN DANEHY – Host/Producer of Mortified PDX + Changer of Diapers

LAURIE NOTARO – NY Times Best-Selling Author + Scorned Train Passenger

MEG WORDEN – Former Federal Prisoner + Current Nutrition Coach and Yoga Teacher

PRISCILLA G. ROBINSON – Former Forensic Military Photographer/Photojournalist + Current Fragrance Salesperson

SARAH GRACE McCANDLESS – Author of The Girl I Wanted to Be + Comic-Con Celebrity Escort

SAURABH TAK – Born and Raised in India + Current New Yorker + Moth StorySLAM Winner

And the MOMENT IN THE SHOW you’ve come to LOVE!!!! Our super exciting LIGHTNING ROUND!! FIVE randomly drawn audience members will have a chance to strut their narrative stuff by doing their best to tell an entire CAMP story in just ONE MINUTE!

Reserve your tickets now for $12, and bring cash (for everyone’s convenience) to the show to claim them! Reserved tickets are guaranteed until 15 minutes before the show. A few non-reserved tickets ($15) will be available at the door. The show is 21 and over only. Doors will open at 6:30pm for food and drink and chair claiming, and the show starts at 7:30pm.

Portland Polish Festival 2011

by 2 Comments

2012 details here!

Polish FestivalThe 16th annual Portland Polish Festival, my favorite local cultural event, takes place this year on Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25.

The fest features non-stop music (much of it featuring accordions!) and dance performances, polka contests, and a can’t-miss Saturday night street dance. Enjoy Polish food like pierogies, kielbasa, gołąbki (cabbage rolls), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), and other delectable options – and of course delicious Polish beer! In the vendor village, check out the jewelry, clothing, Polish pottery, and sundries for sale.

Below the masthead on the festival website are the words: the best kept secret of Portland, Oregon. This statement hasn’t been true for several years – the Polish Fest is the premier fall festival in the Portland area.

Entrance to the Polish Festival is free. Hours on Saturday are 11am to 10pm and Sunday from noon to 6pm. The fest takes place on North Failing street, on the east side of Interstate, between the St. Stanislaus Church and the Polish Library (3832 N. Interstate). Take the 4 – Fessenden 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, and follow @PDXPolishFest on Twitter!

Heather and I have blogged the festival the past few years:

Mile73.com

Dave Knows

Protip: arrive Saturday evening after sunset to avoid the bulk of the crowd, and the ridiculously long lines. (Read more tips here!)

OMSI After Dark: We’ve Got Game (31-August-2011)

by Leave a Comment

OMSI After DarkOMSI After Dark presents We’ve Got Game, featuring Game On 2.0 this Wednesday, August 31, 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!

Visit the OMSI Cafe for special menu items, and bring cash (only!) for the beer and wine at the bars set up throughout the museum.

Featured science demonstrations and activities include Aggravated Avians in Real Life, PB&J Programming, and Portland Retro Gaming Expo. Polaris Dance Theater will be performing, and attendees will get to meet Indie Game Developers and play Dungeons and Dragons.

Hours are 7pm to 11pm. Admission is $12 for nonmembers and $6 for OMSI members. You can buy tickets online, or at the door (no reservations necessary, but recommended). Bike parking by Bike Racker. 21 and over only!

Weekend Amusements (August 26-28, 2011)

by Leave a Comment

The state fair, a street fair, Sunday Parkways, movies in the park, beer events, and more – looks like a great weekend!

Ongoing

PDX Beer Week 2011PDX Beer Week

The first annual PDX Beer Week takes place August 19 through 28 (yes, a 7 day week isn’t long enough when the theme is beer!) around town.

“Celebrating the city with the most breweries in the world, PDX Beer Week is a great way to explore all that Portland has to offer within its unique craft beer community.” [more]

Movies in ParksMovies in the Park

Movies in the park this weekend:

Friday: Megamind @ St. Johns Park
Saturday: The Social Network @ Laurelhurst Park
Sunday: How to Train Your Dragon @ Argay Park [more]

Oregon State FairOregon State Fair 2011

The 2011 Oregon State Fair runs from Friday, August 26 through September 5, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. Heather and I had a blast at last year’s fair.

Competitions this year include 4-H of course, along with categories such as fine art, farm and garden, photography, floral, creative living, and grill offs. And of course there will be horse shows, and exhibits of livestock and the best part: small animals. [more]

Thursday-Saturday

Festa ItalianaFesta Italiana 2011

The 20th Festa Italiana turns Pioneer Courthouse Square into a piazza Thursday through Saturday, August 25 through 27, 2011.

This is one of my favorite Portland festivals, and not just because of the strolling accordionists. Arrive early to secure a table in the beer and wine garden! [more]

Saturday

Mighty MitesThe Mighty Mites – Session Beer Fest

The first Might Mites Session Beer Fest takes place this Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Coalition Brewing (2724 SE Ankeny), from noon until 7pm.

There is a pernicious assumption among beer fans that in order to bristle with flavor, a beer must be strong. The notion has led to rampant escalation in alcohol content—the steroid era of good beers. But it doesn’t have to be so. Throughout history, brewers have regularly packed intense flavors into small beers. [more]

Sunday

Kraftskiva Crawfish PartyKraftskiva Crawfish Party

House Spirits Distillery‘s first annual Kraftskiva Crawfish Party takes place this Sunday, August 28 at the distillery (2025 SE 7th).

There is a tradition in Sweden that at the end of Summer, in the month of August, they celebrate by having an enormous crawfish party. This year marks our 1st Summer Party Blowout with respect to this age-old occurrence, featuring food and merriment in the Scandinavian style. [more]

Sunday ParkwaysSoutheast Portland Sunday Parkways

Portland Sunday Parkways come to close-in Southeast Portland on August 28, 2011.

Spend your Sunday morning and afternoon (11am to 4pm) winding your way on bike or foot through mostly residential streets free of car traffic, from one park to the next. The 2-way, 6.2-mile Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways route connects Laurelhurst, Colonel Summers and Ivon Parks, plus the Hawthorne Street Fair. [more]

Hawthorne Street Fair 2011Hawthorne Street Fair

The 2011 Hawthorne Street Fair takes place Sunday, August 28, from 11am to 5pm.

For the third year in a row the fair coincides with the Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways, which intersects with Hawthorne at 32nd and 45th. Most of the street fair activities take place between 12th and 51st (take a look at the map). Clusters of arts, crafts, and food vendors pepper the side streets, sidewalks, and adjacent parking lots. [more]

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Oregon State Fair 2011

by Leave a Comment

Oregon State FairThe 2011 Oregon State Fair runs from Friday, August 26 through September 5, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. Heather and I had a blast at last year’s fair.

Competitions this year include 4-H of course, along with categories such as fine art, farm and garden, photography, floral, creative living, and grill offs. And of course there will be horse shows, and exhibits of livestock and the best part: small animals.

Entertainment includes Timbersports (which you can preview at the World Forestry Center in Portland on Wednesday, August 24), rides, animal shows, and five stages of music, including Cheap Trick on Saturday!

Food is provided by 75 food booths and stands, with all the traditional fair goodies like curly fries, corn dogs, snow cones, cotton candy, etc. There’s a Roof Top Pub, where if I were attending this year I would spend much of my time, and there’s also an Oregon Wine Cellar Patio.

Admission and hours vary wildly depending on days you attend, number of days you plan to attend, your age, whether you buy tickets in advance or at the gate, so visit the Oregon State Fair website for details (also check out special days and discounts).