Dave Knows Portland

Portland Humanist Film Festival (October 26-28, 2012)

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Portland Humanist Film FestivalThe third annual Portland Humanist Film Festival (PHFF), 35mm closer to reality, takes place Friday, October 26 through Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st).

Sponsored by the Center For Inquiry, the PHFF was established to be a provocative and enlightening cultural experience indicative of the rapidly growing Humanist movement in the Pacific Northwest.

Its mission is to provide, through the medium of film, an expansive window into many of the aspects of existence, morality, history, science and philosophy that reflect the Humanist perspective. By presenting a fusion of film genres that affirm the Humanist philosophy, the Portland Humanist Film Festival offers a meaningful dialogue for those who are curious about Humanism and its societal impact.

Films featured this year include Flatland, Kumaré (this is the Oregon premiere), Chocolat, Homeopathy: Cure or Con, and more – check out the full schedule on the website.

Tickets for individual films or single and mult-day passes are available online.

OMSI Science Pub: “SPILLOVER: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic” (October 22, 2012)

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Omsi Science PubOMSI Science Pub presents a special author event on Monday, October 22, 2012 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne) – SPILLOVER: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic:

In this age of speedy travel, we hear troubling news reports of diseases that could threaten a worldwide pandemic: Ebola, SARS, AIDS, and something called Hendra killing horses and people in Australia. What those reports fail to mention is that such phenomena are part of a single pattern: the bugs that transmit these diseases all originate in wild animals and pass to humans by a process called spillover.

The presenter is David Quammen, author of Spillover and The Song of the Dodo, among other books.

The science begins at 7 p.m. but arrive early 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.

History Pub: “Miss Doris, Driving: A Roaring Twenties Teen from Portland Hits the Road” (15-October-2012)

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The Doris DiariesMiss Doris, Driving: A Roaring Twenties Teen from Portland Hits the Road is the theme of the special bonus History Pub at the Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd), on Monday, October 15, 2012.

It’s 1925, and Doris Bailey, 15, has chopped off her hair, raised her skirts, climbed out a window and driven off after a cute boy. True story! Award-winning journalist and blogger Julia Park Tracey presents a fascinating program that draws from the real-life diaries of Doris Louise Bailey, a Portland girl who started writing in the Roaring Twenties. Whirling around a dance floor, kissing an a-dor-a-ble boy, getting into Daddy’s gin stash, or driving off into the sunset – Doris reveals all and pulls no punches.

“These delicious diaries provide a colorful portrait of the Jazz Age as seen through the eyes of a teenager. Doris would have fit right in with Gatsby himself,” according to author and San Francisco Chronicle book critic Jonah Raskin.

The presenter is Park Park Tracey, the great-niece of the diary’s writer, Doris Bailey Murphy (1910-2011), and an award-winning writer and editor. Read more about her writings, and her great aunt, at TheDorisDiaries.com, and follow @TheDorisDiaries on Twitter!

The show begins at 7 p.m., entrance is free, and this event is all ages.

OMSI Science Pub: The Physics of Ballet (16-October-2012)

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Omsi Science PubOMSI Science Pub presents The Physics of Ballet on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne).

Ballet dancers’ grace and beauty of movement is awe inspiring. They seem to float across the stage as if gravity doesn’t exist for them, but the laws of physics govern ballet dancers’ movements just as much as they determine how the rest of us move throughout our day. Dancers have learned how to use physics concepts such as force, impulse, inertia, and conservation of angular momentum to harness the energy created by their bodies and channel it into artful jumps and turns that wow audiences.

But how do these concepts work? How do the countless hours of practice help dancers use physics to their advantage? How do these forces differ in their effect on regular audience members? At this Science Pub we will have live performances by dancers from Oregon Ballet Theatre, help from physicists from PSU, and audience participation, all of which will help define and demonstrate how the laws of physics can be used to create the art of dance.

The presenters are Ralf Widenhorn, PhD, a researcher and professor of physics at Portland State University; and Anne Mueller, is the artistic coordinator and a former principal dancer for the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Dr. Widenhorn will assisted by PhD students Lester Lampert, William Porter and Justin Dunlap, all of whom are members of n the leadership team of the Science Outreach Society (S.O.S.), a non-profit organization run by volunteers, PSU students, and faculty to bring science education to Portland communities and people of all ages.

The science begins at 7 p.m. but arrive early 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.

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.