Dave Knows Portland

Free Admission at Lan Su Chinese Garden (January 2-9, 2011)

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Lan Su Chinese GardenPortland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden (NW 3rd and Everett) is offering free admission for eight days from Sunday, January 2 through Sunday, January 9, 2011.

The garden shop expands into a garden pavilion to offer a dazzling display of Chinese New Year items in preparation for the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit on February 3.

Regular adult admission is $8.50, so this is a great deal! Heather and I visited the garden in spring with our friend Kate a couple years ago. Visiting in winter should be an interesting experience. We may have to take advantage of the tea house this time!

The Garden is closed on Saturday, January 1st, but regular hours, from 10am until 5pm, begin again on Sunday, January 2nd.

National Geographic Pre-Holiday Warehouse Sale (December 3-5, 2010)

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National GeographicNational Geographic is holding a Warehouse Sale at the Convention Center (777 NE MLK Jr.) on Friday, December 3 through Sunday December 5.

Fourteen tractor trailers will be loaded with almost everything that National Geographic has offered for sale in the past five years. Many of the items seen in National Geographic gift catalogs as well as 300 book titles will be available. Prices will be discounted up to 90 percent.

“This year’s sale is one of the largest ever. We have more than 600 different products — that’s 200,000 of the best-quality books, maps, DVDs, toys, travel accessories and gifts from around the world,” said Bill O’Donnell, National Geographic’s director of sales, publishing.

Books are discounted 20-90%, and custom prints, and educational materials will also be available.

Admission is free! The sale hours all three days are 9am until 5pm.

Wild Arts Festival 2010 (November 20-21)

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Wild Arts FestivalThe Audubon Society of Portland presents the 2010 Wild Arts Festival this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 20 and 21 at the Montgomery Park Atrium and Ballroom (2701 NW Vaughn).

The Wild Arts Festival celebrates nature in the work of regionally and nationally-known artists and writers. Now in its 30th year in Portland, the Festival has become the northwest’s premier show and sale of nature-related art and books. The participating artists and craftspeople represent a wide variety of media, and the authors present are a mix of novelists, photographers, poets and writers of non-fiction.

The Wild Arts Festival will feature over 70 artists and 35 authors in a festive atmosphere.

Hours Saturday are 10am until 6pm, and 11am until 5pm on Sunday. In addition to the art, artists, and authors there will be available a silent auction, a cafe, and information about Portland Audubon Society’s programs and work. Admission is $5, and there are more details on the Facebook event page.

October 15-17: Offbeat Belly Dance, Art & Beer, Apple Tasting, and Booze

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Friday

Offbeat Belly DanceOffbeat Belly Dance

Every third Friday of the month the Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont) hosts the Offbeat Belly Dance collective, a club rocking, good timing, genre-defying gang of badass belly dancers.

And this third Friday, October 15 2010 is no different – the Offbeat Belly Dance collectives invites you to Freee! Faaaabulous! Funnnn! [more]

Art and Beer 2010Art & Beer at the Museum 2010

Artist Eric Steen has a knack for combining his passions, no matter how incongruous the combinations might at first appear.

His blog, Beer and Sci-Fi, for example, combines discussion about beer, science fiction, utopian dreams, movies, and tall tales with activism and social art. [more]

Friday-Sunday

Apple Tasting Event2010 Apple Tasting Event at Portland Nursery

The 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! [more]

Oregon Distillers Guild Spirits Tasting 2010Saturday

Oregon Distillers Guild Spirits Tasting 2010

With the Great American Distillers Festival still over a week away, what’s a tippler to do this weekend?

Here’s an idea: head out to Troutdale, McMenamins Edgefield to be exact, for the 2010 Oregon Distillers Guild Fall Tasting! [more]

For even more stuff to do this weekend, check out Around The Sun, PDX Pipeline, and Blogging Portland on the Cheap!

October 11: OMSI Science Pub

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Omsi Science PubThe topic of the October 2010 OMSI Science Pub is Cataclysms on the Columbia: The Great Missoula Floods:

One of the greatest sets of geological events to ever have occurred in North America was the Missoula Floods. Occurring as many as 40 times during the last ice age, the floods were caused by waters released from ancient Lake Missoula that scoured the Columbia River basin, carved out the Columbia River Gorge, and swept across at least 16,000 square miles of the Pacific Northwest. This Science Pub will focus on the incredible story of discovery and development of the idea of the floods by J Harlen Bretz and will discuss the effect of the floods on the landscape of the Willamette Valley and the area around us.

Presented by PSU professor of geology Scott Burns, PhD, this Science Pub takes place at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne). The show is from 7pm until 9pm, but arrive early (5pm doors open) to secure your beer, grub, and a seat! There’s a $3.00 suggested donation/cover charge. Minors with adults are welcome, otherwise this event is 21 and over.