Dave Knows Portland

October 2-3: Prost! Oktoberfest

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ProstProst! Portland (4237 N Mississippi) is throwing an Oktoberfest celebration this Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3 2010.

The Mississippi Marketplace food carts are also joining the festivities, and of course Prost makes a mean pretzel sandwich too.

Greg Meier and his band will be providing traditional German music on both Saturday and Sunday.

For $30 you can buy a liter glass boot to keep, filled with bier. But get there early, there are only 30 of them!

$20 gets you your own liter stein to keep, also filled with bier. Refills for the boot or stein are $10.

For $15 you can get a 1/2 liter ceramic 200th anniversary Hofbrau Oktoberfest mug (only 40 of them!), and refills are only $5.

Additionally on Sunday as part of the festivities, the Prost! Oktoberfest Bier Challenge features nine local breweries competing for best Okotoberfest bier. All proceeds go to charity. Customers plus a panel of local Bier Critics will be the judge. The winning brew gets a tap handle at Prost through the month of October.

Hat tip Food Carts Portland!

July 9-12: Mississippi Street Fair, NW 23rd Street A-Fair, Bastille Day, and Soccer

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A hell of a weekend is in store – summer like weather accompanies Portland’s largest street fair, one of the largest French themed festivals on the West Coast, and soccer up the wazoo – on film, on the world stage, and at PGE Park!

Mississippi Street FairMississippi Street Fair 2010

The 2010 Mississippi Avenue Street Fair takes place Saturday, July 10th from 10am until 9pm. On North Mississippi Avenue, of course. This is my favorite Portland street fair. It’s compact, only five blocks from Skidmore to Fremont, so you’re guaranteed to run into your friends amongst the 30,000 or so other festival goers. [more]

Bastille DayBastille Day Festival in the Pearl

The Fête de la Bastille commemorates the storming of the Bastille Prison on le quatorze juillet, 1789. In Portland we celebrate with the 6th Annual Portland Waiters Race, musical acts, French food and wine and a themed market, pétanque demonstrations and lessons, a singing of La Marseillaise, and a Jardin of Wine and Beer [more]

23rd Ave Street A-FairNW 23rd Avenue Street A-Fair 2010

Looks like there’s yet another event for you this Saturday, July 10th, 2010: the NW 23rd Avenue Street A-Fair takes place between Hoyt and Johnson on NW 23rd from 11am until 8pm (other events this weekend include the Mississippi Avenue Street Fair, Bastille Day in the Pearl, and several soccer options!). [more]

Soccer in PortlandSoccer Weekend in Portland – Pelada, World Cup, and the Timbers!

If you like soccer, you’re going to love this weekend. Multiple soccer related events take place Friday through Sunday in Soccer City USA . . . The film Pelada, about soccer away from the bright light and manicured field, debuts in the Rose City on Friday, July 9th at the Hollywood Theater (4122 NE Sandy). The Portland Timbers host Miami FC on Saturday (don’t miss the Timbers Army Beer, Bachelors, and History Tailgate starting at 3pm!), and Club Atlas on Sunday. And of course the World Cup Final takes place Sunday at 11:30am! [more]

July 16: Unicorn Pub Crawl 2010

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Unicorn Pub CrawlThe first annual PDX.FM Unicorn Pub Crawl takes place Friday, July 16th on North Mississippi Avenue.

Calling all of the demented, fanciful, whimsical, and unparalleled inhabitants of the ancient unicorn burial ground also known as Portland, Oregon…

You have been cordially invited to join forces with PDX.FM and march from watering hole to watering hole as we pay tribute to our magical four legged ancestors, the unicorn.

The drinking and antics begin at 7pm at Amnesia (Beech and N Mississippi), then it’s on to Mississippi Pizza (3552 N Mississippi), the Crow Bar (3954 N Mississippi), and ultimately Prost (4237 N Mississippi) – where das boot (aka the Bierstiefel) awaits. Each location features drink specials, prizes, and competitions, including Unicorn Break Dancing, The Glitter Grab, and the Straight Line Gallop. For more details visit PDX.FM and listen to Morning Submission, weekdays at 8am!

Music, Puppetstock, and T’ai Chi at The Garden at Lot 13

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The Garden at Lot 13The Garden at Lot 13 is a private park, open to the public (during daytime hours unless there is a private or ticketed/paid event) on North Mississippi. It’s right behind Moxie RX, next door to the Fresh Pot building at Shaver.

During the summer it’s also a venue for various events, including music, Puppetstock, and T’ai Chi.

And the first events of summer 2010 begin next week.

T’ai Chi Classes led by Steve Marsh begin on Tuesday, June 22nd.

Steve Marsh, Accredited T’ai Chi Chih Teacher, will teach all 20 movements of this non-martial arts moving meditation. The 8 session class begins Tuesday, June 22nd from 9:15-10:30 a.m. Steve has taught at the Chinese Garden, VA, Overlook House, and OEA. He co-hosts free weekly Saturday morning practices thru much of the year at the Chinese Garden (free entry), Washington Park Rose Garden, and the Overlook House.

Pre-registration is required.

PuppetstockAs part of Puppetstock, Mudeye Puppet Company presents Deepsy Diver on Friday, June 25th.

Come explore an underwater world with Deepsy Diver and learn how to protect our watershed! Stick around after the show to meet the puppets up close and ask questions about how they were made. $5/person

Visit Puppetstock.com for more information about Summer Puppet Theatre in Portland.

And check out the Garden at Lot 13‘s website, Lot13.info, for more information about the park, including the Garden Rules, and the up-to-date summer schedule of events.

Grasshoppers at Mee Sen Thai Eatery

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grasshoppersMee Sen Thai Eatery (3924 N Mississippi) features traditional Thai noodle soups, in addition to a number of Thai restaurant staples. They also have a full bar with interesting house drinks like the Tamarind Whiskey Sour and Tom Yum Cocktail. At Happy Hour, impressively, they give you discounts on beer and wine, regular menu small bowls, specialty cocktails, and a special menu.

And on that special Happy Hour menu (pdf), one item is particularly interesting:

HH10. TAK KA TAN TOD
Fried grasshoppers $5

I was dining with Heather the first time the grasshoppers were brought to my attention, but she inexplicably demonstrated not merely disinterest, but actual repulsion at the suggestion we should put in an order. Alas, the kitchen reported they had run out.

Yesterday, however, found Heather safely ensconced in Beaverton (shopping for a bridesmaid dress) for a few hours after work, so I met Jake and Laurie at Mee Sen for happy hour.

We ordered the grasshoppers.

I was surprised at their appearance when they arrived at the table (sorry – no photo! I only had my iPhone, and it takes crappy photos in low light Update: added photo below 07/15/2010!). I expected something cricket sized, and coated in batter or breading. But these were grasshoppers. Big ones, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches long. With legs and everything. They had a slight reddish tinge to them.

Grasshoppers

I tried a few.

They have a faint saltiness, but really there is not much flavor. A slathering of the red pepper sauce from the condiments dishes on the table improved them. I am not one to eat sunflower seeds in the shells or shrimps with the heads – and that’s sort of what the grasshoppers reminded me of – the legs and carapace were crunchy and clearly un-digestible. But the abdomen was less crunchy, and had a bit of meat to it. I can see how these have come to be recognized as food around the world. I may well order these again sometime (when Heather is not present). They go down easy with a cold bottle of Singha.