Green Friday with Portland Pedal Power

November 24, 2010

Join Portland Pedal Power and Seven Planet for Green Friday, a sustainability-oriented event with green merchandise, geocaching, a food drive and more!

Portland Pedal Power, a bike-powered delivery service with connections to restaurants and retail stores, can deliver all manner of food and goods, and their partnerships help their affiliates to be more sustainable and locally minded. This organization is also active in the Portland community and involved with events like their upcoming answer to Black Friday, dubbed Green Friday. In partnership with Seven Planet, which is the first green general store chain in the world, Portland Pedal Power brings you a shopping event that will leave you feeling better about the state of your soul and the world than maxing out your credit card at Nordstrom ever does.

From 10 am until 6 pm, Seven Planet on NW 4th and Couch will headquarter the event, while geocaching activities go on around NW. Seven Planet, which began in Idaho, sells organic, sustainable, locally sourced and fully “green” apparel, groceries, health and household products and more. Their products look great, but as you would expect, this stuff is more expensive than what you would find at Fred Meyer. But their amazing 20% discount on everything in the store during the Green Friday event makes it so worthwhile to do some shopping there. Bring in 5 nonperishable food items to donate for the Oregon Food Bank and receive an additional 10% off your purchases, for maximum savings of 30%!

This event is about more than shopping, though. Through the promotional material one can tell how excited Portland Pedal Power is about Friday’s geocaching activity. Geocaching is a treasure hunt using GPS and social media, so if you follow Portland Pedal Power and Seven Planet on Facebook and Twitter, you can see the clues they will publish throughout the day. Be the first to find two Pedal Power bicycles and win prizes! Find Seven Planet on FB here and Portland Pedal Power here.

Have an excellent Thanksgiving tomorrow, and if you feel like shopping on Friday November 26, make it to Seven Planet where you’ll find great savings on high-quality, sustainable and local products. Seven Planet is located at 412 NW Couch St in Portland and the event takes place from 10am to 6pm.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown

PDX Weekend Happenings: November 12-14

November 12, 2010

Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away, and while we still have awhile until we commence the stuffing of our faces, food is definitely on all of our minds.  This week is when you really have to start narrowing down your Thanksgiving plans, and in honor of this preparation all of this weekend’s happenings are focused around food.

Make Your Own Cookbook Straight From Your Garden

What: Portland-based artists, gardeners and cooking enthusiasts Lexa Walsh and Nicole Penoncello want to make you a cookbook. Through their program Your Garden Cookbook, they will assess your garden and then make a custom, handmade cookbook designed to utilize your garden’s bounty to its fullest.  I love this idea and it really makes me hunger for my own garden once again.

Event Details: This workshop is FREE; for more details visit their blog.

When: Saturday, November 13; 12pm-2pm

Where: 2505 SE 11th Ave., No. 106

People’s Food Co-op turns 40

What: People’s Co-op is having a birthday party and everyone is invited. You’ll find natural foods, a cake in the shape of the store and a “People’s Co-op through the Ages” presentation. T-shirts bearing the winning design of a T-shirt contest will also be for sale.

Event Details: This is a FREE event.

When: Saturday, November 13; 5pm-8pm

Where: 3029 SE 21st Ave

Portland Opera’s Hansel and Gretel

What: This is not your kids’ Hansel and Gretel.  This show by Engelbert Humperdinck, the German composer,  features a terrifying chorus of cooks, flying food, and murder.

Event Details: $20+; call for full ticket pricing 800-745-3000 .

When: Saturday, November 13; 7:30pm

Where: Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St

Kenny & Zuke’s Thanksgiving Dinner To Go

What: Who wants to really go through all that effort just for one Thanksgiving dinner?  Wouldn’t you rather be enjoying yourself and spending time with family than slaving over your stove all day?  That’s why at Kenny & Zuke’s delicatessen they want to take care of the entire dinner for you!  They’ll be offering turkey stuffed with wild mushrooms, along with sides like cornbread stuffing, twice-baked truffled potatoes and three different pies. Yummy!

Details: Call 222-3354 or visit www.kennyandzukes.com for full menu. Orders must be placed by 3 pm Monday, Nov. 22

Where: Kenny & Zuke’s Delicatessen, 1038 SW Stark St.

PDX Weekend Happenings: September 24-26

September 24, 2010

So in an attempt to do my part to “Keep Portland Weird,” I am focusing on those events this weekend that are strange, bizarre, and down right WEIRD. Keep it up Portland because it is events like these that make this the most interesting city to live in in the entire country!

Portland’s 2010 Thrill the World Dance: Michael Jackson’s Thriller Practice

What: The first of seven practices to prepare you for the world-wide “Thrill the World” dance party on October 23.  Last year Portland had 175 dancers in Pioneer Courthouse Square, and this year they want even more, but you have to practice the dance first in order to participate.

When: Friday, September 24, 6-8pm

Where: Fremont United Methodist Church, 2620 NE Fremont

Upright Brewery’s Punk Rock Bottle Release Party

What: A release party to celebrate their newest beer created in the style of 70′s and 80′s British Punk Rockers who fought the law to death and glory in the clash of the lower class leftists with limited career opportunities (their words not mine).

Event Details: Special beers on tap, bottles & t-shirts available for purchase, and a DJ spinning classic punk records.

When: Friday, September 24; 4:30-9pm

Where: 240 N. Broadway @ Leftbank Project Suite 2

The Juggling and Vaudeville Extravaganza

What: The best jugglers and variety acts from around the world come together in a single evening of live entertainment.

Event Details: Tickets cost $8-$16

When: Saturday, September 25; 7pm

Where: Benson High School Auditorium, 546 NE 12th Ave

Portland’s Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day

What: Perhaps one of the most interesting events I have ever heard of in Portland.  You have the unique opportunity to meet pretend time-travelers or pretend to be a time-traveler yourself.  The travelers will dress up as people from any age throughout history (or the future) and wander around Portland finding clues, talking to pedestrians and perhaps drinking beer (?).

When: Saturday, September 25

Where: No clue on the time because the details of the event were apparently written by a time traveler who doesn’t speak English very well.  Good Luck!

PDX Weekend Happenings for September 10-13

September 10, 2010

There are way too many events happening this weekend to be able to cover them all, and so I thought I would do something I don’t normally do, which is not focus on the food and beer festivals and instead highlight all of the great causes happening around town.

Annual Proper Festival & Education Rally

What: The youth department of Celebration Tabernacle Church in North Portland is teaming up with the community development organization PROPER, to hold a rally for education in Kenton Park.  According to reports, the graduation rate of Portland Public Schools has dropped to 53% and budget cuts continue to increase.  As someone whose significant other is a public school teacher, I have seen first hand how these cuts have effected the teachers and students.  This is a great chance to show your support and get involved in the education of our future leaders.

Details of Event: There will be live music and artists, speakers, a bike and car show, free food with vegan and vegetarian options, a kids area, and various support and educational booths.

When: Saturday, September 11; Noon-5pm

Where: Located at Kenton Park, which is around the corner from the Paul Bunyan Statue on N Interstate and Denver intersection at N Kilpatrick.

The Candlelit Concert For Clean Energy | Local Music, Global Aid

What: This is a sustainable event: candlelit, acoustic, and paperless. And 100% of ticket prices, sponsorships, and donations go towards the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund in its efforts to assist families affected by the Gulf oil spill, as well as to help St. Davids retrofit its mid-century building for greater energy efficiency.

Details of the Event: The musical lineup features Valery Saul, Scott Belleri, Joel Kleinbaum, and Christy Kuiken from the innovative Cooperating Teaching Artists program at the Music Studio on Harrison Hill; members of the Portland Peace Choir; instrumental jazz odes by Plum Sutra; local music maverick Bill Crane; and old world European folk trio Shicky Gnarowitz and The Transparent Wings of Joy, among many others. General admission is $10, $7 for seniors, students, and seniors.

When: Saturday, September 11 at 7:30pm

Where: 2800 SE Harrison Street

The Heroes Ball Presented by the Rose City Rollers

What: The Rose City Rollers, Portland’s favorite philanthropists on wheels, are hosting a Heroes Ball with a portion of the proceeds going to the Portland Firefighters Association in their effort to erect a memorial for fallen firefighters.  The ball will include a DJ dance party, a super strength silent auction, fun Heroes-themed photos, and of course the heroes of the night: RCR skaters and Portland Firefighters. Singles $20, Couples $35.

When: Saturday, September 11; 8pm-midnight

Where: The Jupiter Hotel at 800 E Burnside St

“Many Hands” a Family Benefit Concert for Haiti

What: An all-ages benefit concert for Haiti with performances by  featured artists on the new CD release Many Hands. The CD includes songs by Pete Seeger, Dan Zanes, Elizabeth Mitchell, Randy Kaplan, Recess Monkey and many other top family music artists and will be available for sale at the event.  Featuring kid-friendly crafts from Thinker Toys, and Amiri’s Lemonade Stand, benefiting Mercy Corps’ fund for Haiti.

Details of the Event: This show is one of several family benefit concerts hosted around the country. Proceeds from this release will benefit the Haitian People’s Support Project and their long-standing work to help the people of Haiti.  Ticket prices are $10 adults/$7 children in advance/ $12 adults/$8 children at the door.

When: Saturday, September 11; 11am-12:30pm

Where: Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy

PDX Weekend Happenings: August 20-22

August 20, 2010

Summer had a very slow start in Portland, and there is definitely a sense of urgency to hold as many events as possible outside while the weather is still nice.  Unlike last weekend, when the weather was a little too warm for hanging out long periods in the sun, this weekend is promising to be clear blue skies and a pleasant 70 degrees.  Perfect weather to hit up several events.  Wine, crawdads, rivers and flying high, this weekend has more unique options than Lady Gaga’s wardrobe.

Alberta Street Fair

What: Three stages of entertainment, over 150 local vendors, a parade, kids corner, and of course to get through it all they’ve got a beer garden.  What more could you possibly need?

When: Saturday, August 21 from 11am-9pm

Where: Alberta St. of course :)

Website: http://www.albertastreetfair.com/alberta-street-fair/

High Art: A Surreal Portrait of the Soul

What: This is what Pendulum has to say about this show, “Told through Pendulum’s signature aerial work, High Art takes the audience through the cycle of life using canvas and paint as metaphors for how our personalities and interactions are shaped. Each of the show’s eight acts are inspired by a work of fine art from a 20th century master. Echoing the human and artistic need to add layers without sacrificing clarity and authenticity, High Art offers a revealing look into the nuanced depths of the soul.”  Which translates into, it is a visually pleasing performance!

When: August 19-20; see their website for times & ticket prices.

Where: The Kridell Grand Ballroom, Portland Art Museum

Website: http://www.pendulumaerialarts.org/index2.htm

Forest Grove: Uncorked

What: This is an annual downtown event to promote and celebrate the food, wine and micro-brew providers of our local communities. The event includes live music, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Forest Grove Fire Department.  Tickets are $10 each.

When: Saturday, August 21 from 4pm-9pm

Where: Main St. Forest Grove

Website: http://fgcityclub.com/uncorked/uc.htm

Mt. Hood Crawdad Festival

What: Crawdad’s aren’t really a popular meal in the NW, but when cooked right boy are these things tasty!  The Crawdad Festival promises to show us how they do it in the South with a crawdad barbecue, live music, face painting, and apparently a dunk tank (curious to find out what they use that for).  $5 entry fee.

When: Saturday-Sunday, August 21-22 from 3pm-10pm

Where: Skyway Bar and Grill, 71545 E Highway 26, Zigzag, Oregon

Website:  http://www.skywaybarandgrill.com/

RiverFest

What: A family-friendly event focused on the Willamette River. The festival includes art events, Sam Adams, live music, a Portland Trail Blazers Basketball Clinic, The Freshwater Trust Portland Triathlon, Portland Audubon events, the Festival at South Waterfront, Kayak Tours, and the SOLV Cleanup.  Most events are free.

When: Friday through Sunday, August 20-22; see website for times

Where: Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Northwest Glisan Street and Naito Parkway

Website: http://www.portlandriverfest.org/

WeVillage Provides Child Care for OMSI After Dark

August 12, 2010

Sure as a parent you have probably been to OMSI many times with your kids, watching them run around discovering the joy and wonder of science, but have YOU really ever been to OMSI?  OMSI offers just as much fun and interesting things for adults as it does for children, and it a really great place to visit with friends or a significant other without kids in tow.

In my opinion, a perfect date night would be going to OMSI After Dark.  The After Dark events are 21 and over only, and include live demos, a planetarium show, Science on a Sphere, Samson the T. Rex, new featured exhibits, and old favorites. You get to sample tasty snacks and sweets along with beer, wine, and craft soda, and talk to regional food and beverage artisans about the science behind them.The OMSI Market Cafe will be open with a special dinner menu from local artisans featuring local, sustainable ingredients and cash bars will also be available for those who want more than just a taste!

Can’t find or don’t want to deal with the hassle of finding a babysitter?  Bring your kids along and childcare is provided at OMSI by the wonderful staff at WeVillage.  This way you get to have some much needed adult time, and your children get to spend a fun evening in the Science Playground.  It is a win-win situation!

WeVillage, located in the Pearl District, is all about encouraging parents to get out there and enjoy each other and life as an adult.   Whether you want to start a date night, go to the gym, or see a show, WeVillage is available until 10pm M-Th and midnight on the weekends! They understand that not everyone leads a 9 to 5 life and so they are available to provide flexible day care in a nontraditional atmosphere of learning and fun, and so their partnership with OMSI After Dark is a perfect match.

The next OMSI After Dark is Wednesday, August 25 from 7pm to 11pm.  The cost is FREE for OMSI members and $10 for nonmembers.  Registration is not required for this event, but it is required for child care.  Pre-register your child online here.

WeVillage supports the local community by partnering with other small businesses, like The Bar Method, Laughing Planet, Ten01, Whole Foods and now OMSI, to provide the best for you and your children.  To learn more about them and find out about their childcare services visit their website here.

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