Dave Knows Portland

Oregon Symphony Waterfront Concert and Fireworks (3 or 4 September 2015)

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Fireworks
“Lacroix display WFC2010” by Fieldington at English Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Join the Oregon Symphony on Thursday, 3 September 2015 (rain date: Friday, 4 September) for the
Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods Waterfront Concert – an afternoon musical festival and concert – at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

The afternoon music festival runs from 1 PM to 6:30 PM where you’ll have an opportunity to see and listen to the OSU Steel Drum Choir, Irish Fiddler Kevin Burke, Hillsboro School District Mariachi Band ‘Una Voz,’ Stephanie Schneiderman and Tony Furtado, and other performers.

The Oregon Symphony concert starts at 7 PM and wraps up about 9:30 PM. The traditional grand finale is a performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with an elaborate fireworks show, which includes shots from military cannons from the Oregon Army National Guard 218th Field Artillery.

Visit the Oregon Symphony website for more information, including the full schedule, symphony program, and a list of arts partners participating.

The concert is free! No tickets needed. Bring a picnic and low chairs or blankets for the lawn seating.

Fireworks photo credit: “Lacroix display WFC2010” by Fieldington at English Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.

Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2015

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Swirling SwiftsJoin the Audubon Society of Portland in September for the annual Swift Watch in Northwest Portland.

In September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts coalesce into a giant undulating swirl in Northwest Portland near Chapman School after spending the day eating bug. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the school’s huge old chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of mesmerized and picnic-sated Portlanders stare into the sky from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets while their oblivious children roll down the grassy hill screaming. Cheers erupt from the crowd when the slippery swifts dodge the opportunistic Peregrine falcons, boos when the predators get lucky.

Vaux Swifts 2009 from Mile73 on Vimeo.

The Audobon Society of Portland maintains the Swift Watch webpage, which includes details on the best times to show up, explanations of the phenomena, and FAQs answering all your questions on the natural history of the swifts, the bird counts, and sundry. Oregon Field Guide did a segment on the Vaux Swifts fifteen years ago, and there’s even a movie, called On The Wing.

In 2008 and 2009 Heather and I blogged about our first visits to see the Chapman swifts:

Your moment of Zen, courtesy of Mike Vogel:

Festa Italiana (27-29 August 2015)

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Festa ItalianaThe 24th annual Festa Italiana tranforms Pioneer Courthouse Square into an Italian piazza Thursday through Saturday, August 27 through 29, 2015.

Arrive early to grab a table in the beer and wine garden (in my experience the beer and wine prices are very reasonable) where you’ll have an excellent view of the stage. Entertainment runs the gamut from marionettes, ballet, and opera to Sinatra tributes and of course (of course!) plenty of accordions!

Fantastic food, mostly Italian, will be available from several local restaurants and food carts. And of course gelato, dolce and Italian ice treats will also be available.

Admission is free. Visit Fest-Italiana.org for more details.

Portland Weekend Amusements (21-23 August 2015)

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A Timbers match is a nice way to start a weekend, and three cheers for fireworks and hot dogs! Sunday Parkways isn’t a bad way to top it off.

Friday

Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo

Portland TimbersThe Timbers (11-8-6), undefeated in August and on a two match winning streak, host Houston Dynamo (8-9-7) at Providence Park this Friday, 21 August 2015 at 8 PM.

Houston lost on the road at New England last week, while the Timbers are coming off a rare road win at Salt Lake City.

The Timbers are in 4th place in the West. Houston, in 7th, is one spot out of the playoffs and four points under the Seattle Sounders, who the Timbers travel to face next week.

Saturday

Summer Spiritsfest

Portland Saturday MarketSaturday from 11 AM to 4 PM Portland Saturday Market is throwing a booze fest!

Spiritsfest highlights local distillers who are shaking up Portland’s vibrant scene. It is all about meeting the makers of the local crafted spirits and the wonderful concoctions people can create using local spirits.

Zach’s Shack 12th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest!!

Zach's Shack8 entry fee, sign up at the Shack.
Participant space is limited so sign up early!

But there is plenty of room to come on down and cheer on your favorite wiener! (har har)

Last year the champion consumed 24 dogs in 10 minutes! Who will go home with the belt this year, and how many dogs will it take?!

MAX Orange Line Picnic and Fireworks Spectacular

Tilikum CrossingCelebrate the impending opening of the new MAX line and Tilikum Crossing at the MAX Orange Line Picnic and Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, 22 August 2015 at Zidell Yards (3030 SW Moody Ave.).

The picnic starts at 5 PM. The fireworks begin at 9 PM. Though there will be picnic tables and benches, bring a lawn chair for the show.

Sunday

Southeast Sunday Parkways

Sunday Parkways

Make your Sunday drive a bike ride – or walk – through mostly residential streets free of car traffic, from one park to the next on the 2-way, 7-mile Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways route connecting Laurelhurst, Colonel Summers, Ivon Parks, and Sewallcrest Park.

Ongoing

Movies in the Park

Movies in Parks

Friday, August 21

Saturday, August 22

Concerts in the Park

Concerts in the Park 2015

Friday, August 21

MAX Orange Line Picnic and Fireworks Spectacular (22 August 2015)

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Tilikum CrossingCelebrate the impending opening of the new MAX line and Tilikum Crossing at the MAX Orange Line Picnic and Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, 22 August 2015 at Zidell Yards (3030 SW Moody Ave.).

TriMet will host a public viewing and picnic area complete with a BridgePort beer garden, food carts live music, and stunning views of the show. It’s the only place in town where you can taste BridgePort’s new Tilikum Orange Line IPA and Salt & Straw’s Catch the Orange ice cream in one place!

The picnic starts at 5 PM. The fireworks begin at 9 PM. Though there will be picnic tables and benches, bring a lawn chair for the show.

Show and picnic is free. Parking for cars is not provided. Bike (bike parking will be provided) or take the 35-Macadam/Greeley or the Streetcar to SE Moody and Meade.