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2010 Apple Tasting Event at Portland Nursery

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Portland NurseryThe 23rd Annual Apple Tasting Event takes place over the next two weekend (Friday-Sunday, October 8-10, and 15-17) at the Portland Nursery location (5050 SE Stark location).

This has become one of Heather and my favorite annual events. Apple tasting, old fashioned cider pressing, apple desserts, cooking demonstrations, and live music – what’s not to like? Also, Heather just happens to freakin’ loves apples!

Last year’s apple tasting featured over 65 varieties of apples and pears, and I have no doubt this year’s will also be spectacular [I’ll link to the lineup when it’s released]. Arrive early before the line gets too long. The same varieties of apples and pears in the tasting are available to take home by the pound.

Wandering Aengus CiderworksA treat last year was the 1st Annual Artisan Hard Cider Festival. Salem’s Wandering Aengus Ciderworks is back again this year as host of the 2nd Annual Portland National Cider Festival with a variety of hard ciders to taste ($5 tasting fee) and buy to take home (on Saturday and Sunday both weekends).

And there’s live music too!

On Saturday the 9th, Sue Weaver & Lynn Conover play from 10am until noon. Followed by the Midnight Serenaders from 1pm until 4pm. Sunday the 10th features Trashcan Joe from 1pm until 4pm.

The next weekend, on Saturday the 16th, Kung Pao Chickens plays from 10am until noon, and the Klezmocracy Quintet from 1pm until 4pm. On Sunday the 17th the Pete Krebs Trio starts things off from 10am until noon, followed by Mood Area 52 from 1pm until 4pm.

Best Portland Blogs You’re Not Reading #1: Unexpectedly Bart

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This is the first of a soon to be occasional series of posts on the Best Portland Blogs You’re Not Reading.

Periodically I visit each of the blogs on my blogroll (which you’ll find just below the ads on the right). Many are popular and well trafficked, others are infrequently updated, but contain some gems. And then there are the ones that are almost always well written or entertaining, and routinely updated, but don’t get the traffic, I think, they deserve (I have some not so nefarious ways of determining this, e.g. open Sitemeter stats).

Unexpectedly BartUnexpectedly Bart

You probably know Portlander Bart King as the author of the tomes The Pocket Guide to Brillance, The Pocket Guide to Mischief, The Big Book of Boy Stuff, The Big Book of Gross Stuff, and several more books in that vein. Oh, he also wrote An Architectural Guidebook to Portland. Yes, he’s got some range. And he blogs at Unexpectedly Bart.

Here are the titles of some recent stories:

Unexpectedly Bart serves as a repository for Bart King’s always amusing takes on random internet memes, Boing-Boing-esque curiosities, absurd news headlines, and the writer’s life. Most of the posts take the form of Bart rifting succinctly on silly YouTube videos or photos from news stories.

In my opinion, Unexpectedly Bart is one of the Best Portland Blogs You’re Not Reading – go read it!

Oh, and in addition to Unexpectedly Bart, Bart King maintains two other blogs that should also be on your reading list:

October 3: Hidden Portland Reading & Walking Tour of Oldtown – Chinatown

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Hidden PortlandJoin Carye Bye, of Hidden Portland, on Sunday, October 3 2010 for the Hidden Portland Reading & Walking Tour of Oldtown – Chinatown.

Starting at 2pm at Union Station (800 NW 6th), author, illustrator and museum lady Carye Bye will lead a tour as she reads from Hidden Portland: Museums & Collections, which is now available on wide-release. The tour should go until about 5pm.

Visit HiddenPortland.com for more details on the tour, and the book!

Portlanders! Time is Running Out to Behold the Golden Spurtle!

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Golden SpurtleThe 17th Annual World Porridge Making Championship takes place on October 10, 2010 in the Scottish Highland village of Carrbridge.

At last year’s championship, Oregonian Matthew Cox, representing Bob’s Red Mill, won the Golden Spurtle for making the world’s best oatmeal!

For the past year the Golden Spurtle has been on display, as I have witnessed, at the Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Store in Milwaukie (5000 SE International Way).

Golden Spurtle!

But soon, the Golden Spurtle must return to Scotland to be awarded on October 10th to the next winner. Bob’s Red Mill and Matthew Cox are preparing to defend their crown (or win a different one in the Specialty Porridge category!):

Now it’s possible Bob’s Red Mill and Matthew Cox will take home the Golden Spurtle for a second time, but are you willing to take that risk?

September 18: Hall of Records Grand Opening!

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Hall of RecordsThe official Grand Opening party at Hall of Records (3342 SE Belmont) takes place Saturday, September 18 2010 from 2pm until Midnight!

The celebration features DJs all day, vinyl and gift certificate raffles, food samples, discounts, giveaways and more!

Hall of Records is a boutique vinyl shop, cafe & bar specializing in soul, funk, jazz, latin, hip hop, deep funk and rare groove records. It is a social environment to listen, share and discover new music, with listening stations, open turntables and beer & wine.

Hall of Records already had its soft opening, so stop by before Saturday too. Hours are 11am until 10pm on Sunday and Monday, 11am to 11pm Tuesday through Thursday, and 11am until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

There are specials throughout the week (and every week!):

  • Monday – 1/2 Price Sandwich Nite 6pm until close
  • Tuesday – Pint Nite! $3 local drafts from 6pm until close
  • Wednesday-Friday – Happy Hour 5pm until 7pm – $1 off beer and wine
  • Sunday Funday – Happy Hour all day, plus $4 Gerry’s

Heather and I stopped by Sunday during the Belmont Street Fair and snapped some pictures.

Hall of Records storefront

The storefront – the right side of what used to be It’s A Beautiful Pizza.

Justin and Katie behind the bar

Justin and Katie manning the bar.

Dameian behind the bar

Dameian is the third partner in this venture – that’s him behind the bar.

Beer and Wine

Lots of good beer and wine available. Not pictured are two of my favorites currently on tap: Natian‘s Destination Honey Red and HUB‘s Organic Lager.

Specials

Make sure to check the specials board when you arrive. [Why yes, that is Moon Dog!]

Records

A sample of what’s in store in the bins.

DJ Booth and records

The DJ booth and record store take up one corner of the space. Browse and listen to records (there are a couple listening stations available) while enjoying your beer – genius!

See you Saturday!