Dave Knows Portland

September 26: Northwest Portland Sunday Parkways

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Sunday ParkwaysThe final Sunday Parkways of 2010 takes place Sunday, September 26th in Northwest Portland.

Take the opportunity to spend a pleasant (hopefully) summery Sunday morning and afternoon (10am to 3pm) winding your way on bike or foot through the mostly car free streets of Northwest, and a sliver of Southwest, Portland. The routes take you from one activity area to the next, where you can check out the vendors and demonstrations, or just sit down and relax. For this week’s event, the activity areas include Couch and Wallace Parks, the Pearl District, and the Saturday Market.

NW Portland Sunday Parkways 2010

(Click map to download in PDF format.)

Dave Goes on a Low-Car Diet

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Zipcar Low-Car DietWhen I filled out the survey applying for a spot in the 2010 Portland Zipcar Low-Car Diet, I didn’t expect I would be accepted. For one thing, I’m already a Zipcar member (heck, I was a Flexcar member).

Oh yeah, and I’ve been car free since 2003!

I signed up in anticipation of maybe, just maybe, convincing my new wife Heather to join me on the Low-Car Diet. Alas, she had little interest in filling out the survey.

But the good news is she has promised to try a Low-Car Diet too this month, even though her efforts will not be officially Zipcar sanctioned. Fortunately the schwag bag Zipcar gave me has enough goodies for two!

Portland Zipcar 2010 Low-Car Diet Kickoff EventYou may be wondering at this point what the Low-Car Diet entails? Annually Zipcar issues a challenge: for 30 days, put down your keys, dust off your bike, trike or roller skates and find out what the Zipcar way of life is all about. In each Zipcar city a group of volunteers is selected to participate.

The Portland kickoff event took place yesterday at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The participants gathered around a podium while representatives of Zipcar, Trimet, and Multnomah County gave brief speeches. Then the Ceremony of the Keys took place. As our names were called, each of us stepped forward, dropped our car key into the Zipcar-branded fish bowl on the table in front of the podium, stepped to the side, and received our bag of schwag.

For the next 30 days we promise to go as car free as possible!

For updates on our efforts, visit the Zipcar Low-Car Diet website, and follow the Twitter hashtag #lowcardiet. And I may blog more here – stay tuned!

August 28: Biketobeerfest 2010

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Biketobeerfest 2010The 2010 Biketobeerfest takes place Saturday, August 28 at Hopworks Urban Brewery (2944 SE Powell), from noon until 10pm.

Activities include a group ride, Huffy toss competitions, kid’s bike games, a handbuilt bike showcase, and BMX trick ride demonstrations.

Music will be provided on the keg-supported stage by the likes of Boy Eats Drum Machine, Hillstomp, and DJ Shortchange (visit the website for the full detailed schedule).

And there will be beer. Fifteen Hopsworks beers to be exact.

Ample bike parking (bring your own lock!) will be provided, naturally, so bike there!

Admission is a mere $2, the proceeds of which are split 50/50 with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Sunday Parkways.

August 21: 2010 Alberta Street Fair

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Alberta Street Fair 2010The 2010 Alberta Street Fair takes place Saturday, August 21st . . . on NE Alberta!

From 11am until 9pm, enjoy three stages of entertainment, miles of vendors (150 of ’em!) and car free streets between 10th and 30th.

And did I mention there’s a beer garden featuring local beers?

The three stages are at 30th, 21st, and 11th, and feature live music from around noon until 8pm (full music schedule here).

And stop by the Community Cycling Center bike shop (1700 NE Alberta) for free bicycle quick fixes and to have your picture take with your bike.

The kids parade starts at 2pm from 6th and Alberta, but before that kids are invited to the Kids Corner at 17th to decorate bikes and other conveyances as floats.

August 13-15: Twilight Criterium, Crawfish Fest, Soapbox Derby, Hawthorne Street Fair & More!

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This weekend is going to be hot, and it’s going to be epic. Check out the featured and recommended events below, and visit Around the Sun and PDX Pipeline for more!

Friday

Twilight Criterium2010 Twilight Criterium

The 2010 Portland Twilight Criterium takes place Friday, August 13 in the North Park Blocks (near NW 9th and Couch).

I recommend watching from the Widmer beer garden. The event opens at 4pm, and racing begins at 6:30pm. [more]

Friday-Saturday

Tualatin Crawfish Festival 2010Tualatin Crawfish Festival 2010

The 60th Tualatin Crawfish Festival takes place this Friday and Saturday, August 13 and 14, 2010.

Did you know that Oregon is the second largest commercial producer of crawfish in the country (with 10%), after Louisiana (90%)? I didn’t know either, but that’s impressive, eh? [more]

Saturday

Soap Box DerbyPDX Adult Soapbox Derby 2010

The 2010 PDX Adult Soapbox Derby takes place Saturday, August 14 at Mount Tabor.

The 2010 roster includes 42 teams, divided into two categories: art, and science.

Watch from one of the designated viewing areas, one option is the BYOB beer garden. [more]


Central Library Block PartyCentral Library Block Party 2010

The 2010 Central Library Block Party takes place Saturday, August 14 from noon until 3pm on SW Taylor between 10th and 11th Avenues.

This event is primarily for the kids. The Lions of Batucada will be on hand to provide some samba-style percussion, and activities include henna craft with Silk and Stone, bug petting with the Oregon Zoo, circus skills with W.E. C.A.R.E., and Seussical bouquets with artist Kathy Karbo. [more]

Sunday

Sunday ParkwaysSoutheast Portland Sunday Parkways

The fourth Sunday Parkways of 2010 takes place Sunday, August 15 in Southeast Portland.

This is an opportunity to spend a pleasant summery Sunday morning and afternoon (10am to 3pm) winding your way on bike or foot through the mostly residential, car free, streets of Southeast Portland. The eight mile route take you from one park to the next, where you can check out the vendors and demonstrations, or just sit down and relax. [more]


Hawthorne Street Fair 2010Hawthorne Street Fair 2010

The 2010 Hawthorne Street Fair takes place Sunday, August 15 from 11am until 5pm. . .

Fair activities can be found all along Hawthorne, but especially between 30th and 43rd. [more]

India FestivalIndia Festival 2010

Come to Pioneer Square to experience the sights and sounds of India and the Subcontinent Sunday August 15 from 11am-9pm at the India Festival 2010. There will be music and dance exhibitions, as well as food! [more]