CarFree — Page 13

Dave Goes on a Low-Car Diet

September 15, 2010 by Dave Knows 2 Comments

When 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!

You 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!

September 10-12: Muddy Boots, Widmer Oktoberfest, and the Belmont Street Fair

September 9, 2010 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

Friday-Sunday

Muddy Boots Organic Festival 2010

The 5th Annual Muddy Boots Organic Festival, a soulful celebration of sustainable living, takes place Friday through Sunday, September 10-12 2010 at St. Philip Neri Church (2408 SE 16th).

The keynote speakers are filmmakers Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney.

This year’s theme is Nourishing Spirit: City to Farm [more]

Saturday

Widmer Oktoberfest 2010

The 6th Annual Widmer Brothers Oktoberfest kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, September 11th in the gated lot adjacent to the brewery at 929 N. Russell Street.

Widmer’s beers, brats, chicken schnitzel wraps, sauerkraut, and pretzels are available, but that’s where the similarities to most Oktoberfests ends. [more]

Sunday

Belmont Street Fair 2010

The 14th Annual Belmont Street Fair takes place Sunday, September 12 from 10am until 5pm. The fair extends from 20th to 48th on Southeast Belmont, with car free blocks from 34th to 37th.

This is one of my favorite Portland street fairs. Car free streets make it more pleasant than the Hawthorne Street Fair. Most of the fair activities take place within a few car free blocks between SE 34th and 37th, so it’s easy to take in the whole thing. And the Belmont Street Fair is not nearly as crowded as the Mississippi Street Fair. [more]

For more, visit these other fine local resources: PDX Pipeline, Neighborhood Notes, Around The Sun, and Blogging Portland on the Cheap.

September 12: Belmont Street Fair 2010

September 7, 2010 by Dave Knows 1 Comment

The 14th Annual Belmont Street Fair takes place Sunday, September 12 from 10am until 5pm. The fair extends from 20th to 48th on Southeast Belmont, with car free blocks from 34th to 37th.

Sponsored by the Belmont Area Business Association, the fair features over 160 craft booths, four music stages, food vendors, activities for the kids, and an alternative transportation expo. Free shuttles take visitors to various stops the entire stretch of the festival from 20th to 48th.

At the main stage, enjoy performances by Sarah Moon and the Night Sky (11am-12:15), the Pagan Jug Band (12:30-1:45), Eddie Martinez (2:00-3:15), and Richard Arnold and the Groove Swingers (3:30-5pm).

This is one of my favorite Portland street fairs. Car free streets make it more pleasant than the Hawthorne Street Fair. Most of the fair activities take place within a few car free blocks between SE 34th and 37th, so it’s easy to take in the whole thing. And the Belmont Street Fair is not nearly as crowded as the Mississippi Street Fair.

At 2009 Belmont Street Fair Heather and I shared a craft booth with our friend Allison, who sold her hand crafted cards, while Heather offered her paintings for sale.

Meanwhile our friends Justin and Katie manned a booth selling vinyl records, while they worked on their dream of building a boutique vinyl shop, cafe & bar specializing in soul, funk, jazz, latin, hip hop, deep funk and rare groove records. One year later, give or take a few weeks, and their dream has come true! Yup, Hall of Records is open for business, and they’re at 3342 SE Belmont. The official grand opening isn’t until Saturday, September 18th, but they’re soft opening is going well, and of course they will be open during the street fair – stop in for a beer, a sandwich, or record. It’s probably where I’ll be hanging out most of the day!

August 21: Multnomah Days 2010

August 16, 2010 by Dave Knows 2 Comments

Update: Click here for 2011 Multnomah Days info!

The 2010 Multnomah Days festival takes place Saturday, August 21 in Multnomah Village.

Start things off with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at the Key Bank, from 8:30 until 11am ($6 for adults an $4 for kids 12 and under. Cash and checks). Meal includes pancakes, pork sausage, Starbucks coffee and juice.

At 10am the Head of the Dog Parade begins, followed by the Multnomah Days Parade.

From 11am until 4pm let the kids have free reign in the Kid Zone (now four times larger!) at the Multnomah Art Center, and take your dog up to the Lucky Labrador Pub for the 9th annual Multnomah Days Dog Wash, a fundraiser for Dove Lewis (suggested donation $10 per dog).

Surf music with the Steve Bradley Band and Scott Cronin will be featured on the Main Stage, and of course there will be plenty of vendors and food booths to browse.

In the Sip D’Vine Wine and Beer Garden listen to Bill Rhodes and the Party Kings from 6pm until 10pm.

August 21: 2010 Alberta Street Fair

August 16, 2010 by Dave Knows 2 Comments

The 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.

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