Dave Knows Portland

Portland Weekend Amusements (August 10-12, 2012)

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Used to a more robust Weekend Amusements blog post from me? Cut me some slack – TWINS!

Ongoing

Friday

Saturday-Sunday

Saturday

Sunday

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.

Alberta Street Fair (11-August-2012)

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Alberta Street Fair 2012The 15th annual Alberta Street Fair takes place Saturday, August 11 2012 on Alberta, from NE 10th through 30th.

Things kick off at 11 a.m. with the Kids Parade – which starts at 15th. Enjoy the line up of activities for kids and families throughout the day.

But the festival isn’t just for kids. From 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. enjoy car free streets, dozens of vendors, and the beer garden (at 11th at the Radio Room – 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.). Food carts, other food vendors, and Alberta’s restaurants will make sure you don’t starve.

Live entertainment, including music and dancing, is scheduled all day on three stages, at 11th, 21st, and 30th.

Also this year there’s a 3v3 Street Soccer tournament, and a TXAKPARTI – visit the fair website for more details.

Union Pacific 150th Anniversary Celebration (July 13-14, 2012)

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UP: 150 yearsUnion Pacific celebrates 150 years of railroading this Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14, 2012 at Portland’s Union Station (800 NW 6th) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

150 Years ago President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, allowing Union Pacific to set forth on an ambitious journey. In 2012, Union Pacific celebrates the shared stories that have shaped our country since 1862. To mark the 150th anniversary, we invite you to explore how the nation’s largest railroad came to be and how UP continues to build America with innovation and tenacity, touching the lives of nearly every citizen.

A Streamliner E-9 and the Promontory traveling museum car will be on display, and a portable locomotive simulator will give visitors a chance to see up-close how trains are operated.

Portland Weekend Amusements & Events (July 29-July 1, 2012)

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Beer, bikes, music, movies, a Slavic Festival, and more on this Canada Day weekend!

All Weekend

NAOBFNorth American Organic Brewers Festival

The 2012 North American Organic Brewer Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, June 29, 30 and July 1 at North Portland’s beautiful Overlook Park.

One of my two favorite Portland beer festivals, celebrates its 8th year with over 60 organic beers and ciders, live music, organic foods, vendors, and even activities for the kids. The beer selection looks fantastic! [more]

Friday-Saturday

Pedalpalooza 2012Pedalpalooza 2012

“Pedalpalooza is 3+ weeks of bikey fun. With 272 different events, most organized by individuals, bikers of all persuasions are likely to find many events of interest. Nearly all events are free.”

Runs June 7-30. [more]

Movies in ParksPortland Movies in the Park

Portland Parks and Recreation has released the 2012 summer schedule of Movies in the Park. From June 29 through September 18 sprawl out at one of Portland’s fine municipal parks several times a week for an evening of free entertainment.

Friday 6/29: The Adventures of Tintin @ Knott Park

Saturday 6/30: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial @ King School Park [more]

Saturday

Slavic FestivalPortland Slavic Festival

The 2012 Portland Slavic Festival takes place Saturday, June 30 at Oaks Amusement Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The largest Slavic festival in the Northwest features art shows, dance groups, singers, choirs of children and adults, sports, and lots more. Vendors will be offering Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, and Armenian food. [more]

St Johns NoFest 2012St Johns NoFest

The st johns nofest is a free music and arts festival with over 90 performances this year. the event begins at noon in the historic town square, and continues across multiple venues late into the night. every conceivable and perceivable music genre is represented, as well as installations, micro film fests, and a spoken word/comedy showcase. growing into its 5th year, the SJNF is evolving and expanding. [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, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

LA’s Transit Tourist Visits Portland

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The SourceThe Source, Transportation News and Views about LA’s Metro, runs an occasional series called The Transit Tourist.

The Transit Tourist takes a look at other transit systems across the globe from the first person perspective of a visitor. What can Metro learn from how these other systems treat the uninitiated – and often bumbling – tourist?

London and New York have been featured, so of course it’s Portland’s turn!

Blogger Carter Rubin recently visited our fine city for a few days, rode our fine public transit, and filed this report: The Transit Tourist: Portland, Ore.

During my week-long visit to Portland, my primary agenda was to explore a city that is often held as a model of good public transportation and urban design.

I got very lucky on the weather front: six consecutive sunny days. That made touring the city on transit and foot even easier, though perhaps I didn’t quite get a representative experience of a city known for its seemingly perpetual drizzle and rain.

The good weather made Portland even more comfortable to explore on foot. Especially in downtown and its environs, the sidewalks tend to be very generous, the streets pretty narrow, and the blocks very short — all of which make the city feel more intimate and accessible. And those are all features that make it pleasant being out in public and taking transit…weather permitting.

Read the rest at The Source.