The favorite holiday of portly mathematicians everywhere take splace today, March 14, 2012: Pi Day!
Clearly, the best way to celebrate the versatile mathematical constant π is with a versatile pastry pie.
Look no further than Portland pi(e) blog Make Me Some Pie for the comprehensive 2012 Portland-area Pi Day Happenings list, and a little history of the wonderfully nerdy secular holiday.
Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food is the topic of the next Portland OMSI Science Pub on Monday, March 5, 2012 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne):
Americans have been eating genetically modified foods for more than a decade, yet the controversy surrounding them continues, both here and abroad. From Oregon ballot measures to World Trade Organization battles to issues of hunger and food security in developing countries, the topic of GM food has raised scientific and ethical questions and concerns. The approval of several new GM crops such as sugar beets and alfalfa in 2011, as well as the pending approval of GM salmon, continues to capture consumer attention. At this Science Pub, we’ll talk about the real-life experiences and wide-ranging perspectives of the scientists, farmers, policymakers, and grassroots activists on the front lines of this fierce debate, going beyond the hype to address the current questions and answers surrounding genetically modified foods.
The presenter is Dr. Lisa H. Weasel, associate professor of biology at Portland State University, and author of Food Fray: Inside the Controversy Over Genetically Modified Food, which will be available for purchase at the pub.
The science begins at 7pm but arrive early (5pm doors open) to secure your beer, grub, and a seat! There’s a $5.00 suggested donation/cover charge. Minors with adults are welcome, otherwise this event is 21 and over.
Hurray! Portland Saturday Market‘s 39th season begins this Saturday, March 3, 2012. Your long winter without access to hippy candles, knit bags, and tie-dyed t-shirts is over!
Join PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET, March 3 & 4, 2012 for the official opening of the 2012 season. PSM has celebrated arts & crafts in the Pacific Northwest for 39 years.
Show your support of artists and your local economy and join us for a two-day celebration.
• 2 pairs of tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s touring show OVO.
• 5 Daily give-a-ways of $25.00 gift cards
• 2 days of Main Stage entertainment serving up local music with the likes of Johnny Martin. http://www.johnnymartin.com/
• 2 days of Kid’s Activities, featuring Janet Julian teaching children and their families how to create musical instruments out of recycled materials.
• Kid’s Parade at noon through the Market both Saturday and Sunday.
• Flamebuoyant’s circus entertainers will lead the kid’s parade each day with their stilt walkers, jugglers and musicians.
• 21 Food Carts featuring original recipes of local favorites like Horn of Africa’s Vegetarian Sambusa’s, Old Town Burgers Chili Dogs or Katmandu Cafes, Chicken Vindaloo.
• 250+ talented artisans selling their original handcrafted wares.
As per usual the market also features dozens of food carts, live music, and hundreds of vendors every weekend through December 24th! Saturday hours are 10am to 5pm, Sundays 11am to 4:30pm.
Bridgetown Baconfest, a very special OMSI After Dark, takes place this Wednesday, February 29, 2012.
Portland is obsessed with two things – bridges and bacon! Explore the engineering behind Portland’s newest bridge while enjoying the candy of meat!
Science nerds unite for childfree, brain-building science fun at OMSI After Dark!
Sample beer, wine, spirits, chocolate and fudge; take part in demonstrations and activities such as Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, TriMet’s Real Stuff, and the Bridge-Building Challenge; enjoy performances by the Wanderlust Circus; try special menu items at the OMSI cafe grill (including Sweet Potato and Pork Butt Poutine!); and check out the wares of a multitude of vendors, many bacon-related, including Bacon Shirts, Bacon Skateboards, Olympic Provisions, Portland Creamery, and more.
21 and over only. Tickets are $12 for non-members, $6 for members – pre-purchase online – and free for OMSI After Dark members. Visit OMSI.edu for all the details.
Should be a fun Portland weekend – there’s a beer fest, a chowderfest, and a lot of fun option on Saturday. Winter isn’t all bad!
All Weekend
The third annual Winter Nano Beer Fest takes place this weekend, February 24 through 26, 2012, at Max’s Fanno Creek Brew Pub (12562 SW Main St., Tigard).
Featuring big beers by small local breweries, including Astoria Brewing Company‘s Bitter Bitch Imperial IPA, Beer Valley‘s Leafer Madness Imperial Stout, Bend Brewing‘s Sexi Mexi Imperial Stout, Boneyard Brewing’s Notorious Triple IPA, The Common’s Sticke Double Alt, and lots more! [more]
Friday
The Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park) is offering free admission on Friday, February 24, 2012 from 5pm until 8pm.
And there will be food carts! [more]
Where to Watch Portlandia In Portland
Updated for 2012: season 2!
Don’t have a TV? Don’t have the Independent Film Channel? Watch Portlandia, if you’re into that sort of thing, at the Portland venues listed below.
Portlandia season 2 airs of Fridays, beginning on January 6, 2012. [more]
Saturday
The last of the 25th annual series of Portland neighborhood Fix-It Fairs takes place this Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Jefferson High School (5210 N Kerby Avenue).
“Fix-It Fair is a FREE event where you can learn simple and affordable ways to save money and be healthy at home this winter.” [more]
Hillsdale Brewfest and Battle of the Belt
The 19th annual Hillsdale Brewfest and Battle of the Belt takes place this Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 11am until late at the Hillsdale Brewery and Public House (1505 SW Sunset Blvd).
Twenty-two brewers from the vast McMenamins empire bring specially brewed beers to the festival Saturday to be judged (and enjoyed) by festival patrons. [more]
New Old Lompoc Chowder Challenge
New Old Lompoc‘s sixth annual Chowder Challenge takes place Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Fifth Quadrant (3901 N Williams) from noon until 4pm.
Admission to the competition is free, and attendees 12 and older can purchase sample trays for $10 to participate in the tasting. All proceeds will be donated to the Community Transitional School, which provides educational services to homeless and at-risk children. [more]
The latest Entertainment for People extravaganza takes place Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Disjecta (8371 N Interstate).
Hosted by Shelley McLendon and B. Frayn Masters (of Back Fence PDX fame), Entertainment for People is a highly entertaining variety show that offers a snack-sized smorgasbord of music, weird stuff, film, readings, comedy in all forms, and booze. [more]
And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.
