Dave Knows Portland

July 29-August 2: Concordia Cup, Bones and Brews, and Bailey’s Taproom Birthday

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Though Oregon Craft Brew Month officially ends Friday, the beer events keep flowing in Portland. I’ve compiled a list below of some of the best this weekend (check out On Tap for a comprehensive list).

concordia150From 11am today until closing time Sunday the Concordia Ale House (3276 NE Killingsworth) is hosting the 2009 Concordia Cup.

12 Imperial IPA’s will battle it out for best Imperial IPA in Oregon. The Winning brewer will also “Captain” Oregon’s BEER BRAWL III team to compete against Washington and California.

$12.00 entitles you to a taster tray and the voting privilege.

bonesandbrews200The 15th annual Bones and Brews fest takes place both Saturday (11am-9pm) and Sunday (11am-7pm) up on NW 15th between Everett and Glisan. The event is a benefit for the Oregon Zoo. Over 20 beers will be available to accompany the BBQ from various vendors, a BBQ contest, and the Kobe Bleu Ball eating contest! There’s also a charity dog wash and live music. Kids and dogs are welcome.

baileysOn Saturday head to Bailey’s Taproom (213 SW Broadway) for their Two Year Anniversary Barrel Aged Beer Festival, aka AnniBrew 2. A tasting glass and three tickets for samples will set you back $10. The beer list is truly astonishing.

July 23-26: Brewers Festival, Division-Clinton Street fair, Parades, and the Timbers

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If you like beer and soccer, the weekend starts on Thursday this week.*

obf09100The Oregon Brewers Parade kicks off the Oregon Brewers Festival today at 11:30.

The parade starts at the Harborside Pilsner Room (0309 SW Montgomery), winds its way downtown (stopping by City Hall to pick up Mayor Sam Adams), and by about noon arrives at the tents on the waterfront. The mayor will tap the ceremonial first keg and the 2009 Oregon Brewers Festival will have officially begun. Anyone can participate in the parade, and you’ll be glad to know the organizers got a street permit from the City of Portland – no tear gas and paddy wagons this year!**

As you know, the Brewers Festival runs through Sunday.

TimbersAt 7pm Thursday the Timbers battle the Puerto Rico Islanders for first place at PGE Park, which you also know. And I don’t even have to remind you about the friendly Saturday against the visitors from England – Burnley FC of the English Premier League (well, beginning next season).

divclint09streetfair200Saturday head out to Southeast Portland for the Division/Clinton Streetfair and Parade. The fair starts at 10am, the parade at 10:45. The parade route extends from 50th and Division to 27th and Clinton.

Again this year the festival highlight is Hammy’s Pizza Eating Contest!!! Actually last year I missed the contest, but it is no doubt a highlight. It starts at 1pm at 21st and Clinton – contact Hammy’s for information on how to participate.

A free shuttle serves the festival area, there’s a lego exhibit, lots of bbq, and an ice cream social. On the Division/Clinton Business Association website the list of the activities is only available as an Excel document. I’m making it available as a PDF for your (slightly more) convenience.

* If you don’t like beer and soccer, you probably also don’t like rain, bikes, public transit, smiles, and unicorns. Sad, really.

** It’s a joke! No riot police were necessary at previous Brewers Parades.

ScanFair 2008: Sights, sounds, and Pickled Herring

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Saturday morning found us at PSU’s Smith Center for the 24th annual ScanFair, celebrating the sight, sounds, tastes and traditions of a Scandinavian Christmas. 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.

Events like the ScanFair are not really my scene. I’m part Norwegian, and who doesn’t occasionally crave some lutefisk? But the ScanFair is primarily a holiday bazaar; there isn’t even a beer or aquavit garden!?

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December 6-7: ScanFair, Radical Books, and Holiday Cheer

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There are other things to do this weekend in besides drinking beer.

ScanFairThe Scandinavian Heritage Foundation‘s 24th Annual ScanFair takes place this weekend at PSU’s Smith Center. Come for the Scandinavian food, crafts, and the 53rd crowning of Oregon’s Lucia Queen of Light. Stay for the Pickled Herring Eating Contest at noon Saturday!

The fair is held at PSU, 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.

From noon to 4pm Saturday the Portland IWW is hosting the 3rd Annual IWW Working Class Book Fair at Liberty Hall (311 N Ivy) from 11am-5pm.

Vendors include Laughing Horse Books, In Other Words, Tarantula Press, Eberhardt Press, Just Seeds, Malkriad@s, Olin, Red Letter Press, Great Northwest Books, Decentra Collective, Black Rose Collective, and others.

From noon to 5 Sunday the Oregon Historical Society hosts the 41st Annual Holiday Cheer event, A Celebration of Oregon Authors and Artists.

Gather for an afternoon with more than sixty Oregon authors and artists as they display, autograph, and sell their latest work at this popular event. It’s the perfect chance to get your holiday

Neighborhood Notes has more information.

Timbers Tidbits: MLS, Jordan, Alvarez, Minnesota, and beer

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Portland TimbersYesterday it was announced that Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has submitted his MLS expansion franchise application. MLS plans to add two expansion teams for the 2011 season. We may know by fall our MLS fate.

This announcement may indicate progress in discussions of Beavers stadium plans. Options were discussed in this Tribune article in early July. At that time the discussion focussed on the possibility of replacing Walker Stadium in Lents Park with a new stadium for the Beavers. Another potential site for a baseball stadium is “across the river from the Rose Quarter in an industrial area along the Willamette River.” And then there’s the mysterious third site, which neither City Commissioner Randy Leonard or Paulson would identify in the article.

The Timbers also announced this week that Bryan Jordan, who had a solid rookie season with the Timbers last year (26 appearances, 5 goals, 1 assist), will be loaned to the Timbers for the remainder of the season. His current club, the LA Galaxy, of course reserves the right to yank him back when and if they desire. Sigh.

Also this week Byron Alvarez received USSF and international clearance. Byron Alvarez can score goals. Lots of goals (41 goals in 96 Timbers appearances over the years).

Which brings us to Minnesota.

The Timbers face the Thunder in Minnesota Saturday, sans the services of Chris Brown (red card suspension), Shaun Higgins, and Justin Thompson (yellow card accumulations). This doesn’t worry me as much as it normally would, as I suspect if Alvarez (skill and a nose for the goal) and Jordan (speed and fearlessness) make appearances, we may actually score some goals. I know, crazy!

Which brings us to beer.

Watch the Timbers take on Minnesota Saturday at 5pm at Rogue Distillery & Public House (1339 NW Flanders). Rogue will be hosting the annual Bones and Brew ribs and beer festival, a benefit for the Oregon Zoo, all weekend on Flanders in front of the pub. The festivities include live bands, a Kobe Bleu Ball (Kobe beef meatballs stuffed with
Rogue Creamery Oregon Bleu cheese!) eating contest, tricycles races, and friggin fire dancers!

(I wish Bob would get back from his honeymoon already; this is exhausting, and I’m not half as good at it as he is!)