August 27, 2009
Festa Italiana takes over Pioneer Courthouse Square August 27-29, 2009. Food, wine, music and dancing. Opens at 4PM today, Thursday, and this is opera night. Friday afternoon there’s a grape stomping competition as well as other entertainment. It’s always fun to just go have a little food from one of the restaurants that have set up stands and watch people.
Schedule of events available at the Square or online at festa-italiana.org
July 10, 2009
Sometimes I succumb to event overload — so many choices of things to do without even leaving town that I can’t choose and end up doing none of them. July and August in Portland are particularly susceptible to this problem with multiple conflicting events.
Just a few I might go to this weekend, free except for food and drink:
Friday July 10 — dusk — Flicks on the Bricks at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Tonight’s free movie is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Saturday July 11 10AM-9PM — street fair on North Mississippi Avenue with live music, barbecue contest and all kinds of people watching. Info at http://www.mississippiave.com/
Saturday July 11 Noon – 8PM — early Bastille Day celebration at Jamison Square Park in the Pearl. Music, pommes frites and a waiter’s race. Info at http://www.afportland.org/bastillepdx/
If you want to take a drive rather than stay in town, check out the Oregon Lavender Festival being held at several nurseries and farms over Saturday and Sunday. List of participating locations and events at each one at http://www.oregonlavenderfestival.com/
June 16, 2009
Is Twitter changing anything about the way you think — or the way you live — or affecting your behavior in any way? This question is not directed at those who say “Twitter — what?” Twitter may be off their radar, at least for now. But for people who are using Twitter — is it changing you?
I’ve been thinking about this for a while (thinking as opposed to writing or tweeting about) and I can see a few places where Twitter has directly changed something I do plus other places where the influences aren’t so direct. Some are good — perhaps some are bad, or at least fattening. (more…)
July 31, 2008
In case you’re not a serious fan, today is Harry Potter’s birthday. In honor of that event we went to visit a new breakfast place. Don’t know if Harry is really a breakfast fan, but I am so that was enough.
New place in the Pearl called 50 Plates just opened this week. It’s not a sit-down and be served breakfast, but has some interesting choices. Several of them would work as carry-out breakfast as well, plus they have an assortment of pastries and coffee. If you want to eat there, you order at the counter and take a seat at one of the bar area tables.
My choice this morning was a waffle sandwich which was stuffed with Canadian bacon, a fried duck egg (larger and richer than your normal chicken egg), and mustard greens (which gave it an appealing bite). Very interesting sandwich which I picked simply because I’ve never had duck eggs for breakfast. My friend had the French toast skewers which came with a very nice berry syrup.
Didn’t realize until we were leaving that they serve New Orleans cafe au lait — didn’t see any indication of beignets though. There’s been considerable food buzz about the dinner and drinks menus, but I’m always interested in breakfast locations. Seems like a place I’d visit again.
June 21, 2008
Did you miss the Portland Farmers Market Berry Days last week? I know I did. But wait, there’s another one this Thursday at the Ecotrust Building, 3:30-7:30, but I remember last year it was a good idea to get there early. Fresh baked shortcake and berries topped off with organic whipped cream. Berry shortcakes will be served to shoppers who make a $5 minimum purchase from any market vendor.
Further details and other Farmers Market news at 
May 31, 2008
Failed to take my camera to the Portland Farmers Market this morning, but strawberries are available at several vendors. There were at least two varieties — the early-ripening Honeoye has been there a couple of weeks now, and at least one vendor today had a sign for Hoods. I didn’t ask every vendor this morning, but the Wednesday market this week also had Seascapes. So no matter which ones are your favorite, it’s time to buy strawberries!
April 29, 2008
The Wednesday Portland Farmers Market returns on April 30, 2008, at 10AM. You can find it in the South Park Blocks, behind the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. If you work downtown, this is the perfect spot to pick up something for lunch — or flowers for your desk.
Full details and schedule for this market and the others around town can be found at
April 17, 2008
No, not that kind of fruit loops… This one involves driving around through the fruit orchards in Hood River and stopping to visit various farms. This weekend, April 19-20, is the spring blossom festival which includes craft shows and a quilt show. Visit http://www.hoodriverfruitloop.com/ for a map and information. Overall information about the Hood River Valley can be found at http://www.hoodriver.org/
Given the forecast cold temperatures this weekend, bundle up and be prepared for anything — even snow.
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