Dave Knows Portland

Portland Area Weekend Amusements (October 12-14, 2012)

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Fall kicks in with a gusto this weekend – rain and wind; the Portland Nursery Apple Tasting Event, Friends of the Library Fall Sale, and lots more!

Ongoing

Portland Nursery Apple Tasting Event (October 12-14 and 19-21)

Portland Nursery‘s 25th Annual Apple Tasting Event takes place over the next two weekends (Friday-Sunday, October 12-14, and 19-21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day) at the SE 50th and Stark location.

This is my favorite fall event (after the Polish Festival and Oktoberfests). Apple tasting, old fashioned cider pressing, apple desserts, cooking demonstrations, and live music – what’s not to like? Heather also freakin’ loves apples! [more]

Willamette Pedestrian CoalitionWalktober PDX 2012

Walktober PDX 2012 runs from Saturday, October 6 through Halloween (the greatest walking holiday of the year).

Inspired by Pedalpalooza, three weeks of bikey fun in Portland held every June, the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition conceived Walktober to promote walking as a fun, healthy, ubiquitous activity in the Portland metro region. [more]

Pittock Mansion in the aftermath of the Columbus Day StormPittock Mansion and OHS Commemorate 1962 Columbus Day Storm

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Columbus Day Storm this year, in partnership with Oregon Historical Society, whose exhibit, The Mightiest Wind, examines the 1962 Columbus Day Storm’s effects throughout Oregon, Pittock Mansion’s members will receive free reciprocal admission to OHS between October 12 and 31. [more]

All Weekend

Friends of the LibraryFriends of the Library Fall Used Book Sale 2012

The 2012 Friends of the Library Fall Used Book Sale takes place Friday through Monday, October 12 through October 15, at the DoubleTree Hotel (1000 NE Multnomah St.).

The 39th annual sale opens Friday for members only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Non-members can join Friends of the Library at the door or online. Basic memberships are only $10, family memberships $15. [more]

WordstockWordstock 2012

Wordstock, Portland’s book and literary festival, runs from October 11 through 14, 2012 at venues around town. The fest sets up shop at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK JR Blvd) on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14 for the big Wordstock Book Fair.

“Wordstock is a literary art and education organization that celebrates and supports writing in the classroom and in the community. Our mission is to use the power of writing to effect positive change in people’s lives.” [more]

Zompire VS The H.P. Lovecraft Film FestivalZompire VS The H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival

Zompire vs. the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival takes place this weekend, Friday, October 12 through Sunday, October 14, 2012. Things kick off Friday night with a pre-party at the Lovecraft Bar (421 SE Grand).

The Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton) then hosts two nights of fright flicks to get your Halloween season off to a great start. Saturday enjoy an evening of undead shorts and classic features, followed on Sunday by a special preview of next spring’s H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. [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, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Friends of the Library Fall Used Book Sale 2012

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Fall Used Book SaleThe 2012 Friends of the Library Fall Used Book Sale takes place Friday through Monday, October 12 through October 15, at the DoubleTree Hotel (1000 NE Multnomah St.).

Nearly 100,000 Donated Books and Materials

  • Gently Used Books
    • Children’s books, pocket-sized paperbacks start at $0.50
    • Hardcover books and large paperbacks start at $1.50
  • Audiovisual Materials
    • DVDs, Videos, CDs, Audio tapes, LPs
    • Sheet music, Pamphlets, and Maps

The 39th annual sale opens Friday for members only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Non-members can join Friends of the Library at the door or online. Basic memberships are only $10, family memberships $15.

Saturday through Monday the sale is open to the general public. Hours Saturday are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday is 50% discount day!

Proceeds of the sale directly support the Multnomah County Library system.

Pittock Mansion and OHS Commemorate 1962 Columbus Day Storm (October 12-31, 2012)

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Pittock Mansion in the aftermath of the Columbus Day StormThe 1962 Columbus Day Storm nearly destroyed the then privately owned Pittock Mansion. A fundraising effort by concerned citizens spurred the City of Portland to purchase the mansion in 1964 (for $225,000!). It was restored and in 1965 the historic house opened as the museum we know it as now.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the storm this year, in partnership with Oregon Historical Society, whose exhibit, The Mightiest Wind, examines the 1962 Columbus Day Storm’s effects throughout Oregon, Pittock Mansion’s members will receive free reciprocal admission to OHS between October 12 and 31. Non-member visitors receive $2 off OHS admission and OHS visitors receive $2 off Pittock Mansion admission too (don’t forget your receipt!).

Wordstock 2012

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WordstockWordstock, Portland’s book and literary festival, runs from October 11 through 14, 2012 at venues around town. The fest sets up shop at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK JR Blvd) on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14 for the big Wordstock Book Fair.

Wordstock is a literary art and education organization that celebrates and supports writing in the classroom and in the community. Our mission is to use the power of writing to effect positive change in people’s lives.

Founded by Portland author Larry Colton, our programs include Wordstock for Teachers, a professional development program for K-12 teachers that trains them to change the way they teach writing; Wordstock for Kids, our creative writing instruction program for students that works in the Portland Public Schools; an annual series of skill and knowledge workshops for practicing writers, called Wordstock for Communities; and an annual weekend showing of movies adapted from literary works, called The Wordstock Book-to-Film Festival. Our flagship program is our annual book and literary festival in Portland, by far the largest such event in the Northwest, known nationwide as Wordstock. We believe showcasing the artistic accomplishment of contemporary writers at our festival is one of the most compelling examples of writing’s power that we can provide.

Scores of authors will be at the fest, and the full schedule includes readings, workshops, and book signings throughout the week and weekend. Admission to the weekend festivities at the Convention Center is $7 for a single day, and $10 for both days (the fest runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days). Visit the festival website for more details, including discounted group ticket options and additional venues and ticketed events.

Tuesday Night Free Lecture: The History of Old Town (9-October-2012)

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Portland Oregon sign (photo by Wikipedia user Steve Morgan)The Jack London bar (basement of the Rialto, SW 4th and Alder) hosts a fun, educational lecture most Tuesday evenings. Free to get in, but must be 21 or over – there’s a full bar!

The topic of the installment this Tuesday, October 9, 2012 is The History of Silver Falls, presented by Joe Streckert:

It’s been known as Whitechapel, the North End, and the Tenderloin. It’s been a domain of sailors, loggers, workers, and immigrants. For most of its history, the Portland neighborhood just North of Burnside has been something of an outcast part of Portland- a rough patch where crime, hard labor, and destitution could find quarter. It’s Old Town, Portland’s skid row. Find out how a historic neighborhood right on Downtown’s doorstep became a domain of squalor on October 9th.

This free event is 21 and over only. Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.

Photo credit: Portland Oregon sign by Wikipedia user Steve Morgan, used here under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.