Race for the Cure
When you participate in an event like Race for the Cure, you know you're part of something big. This powerful event brings people together for an amazing cause: to raise money toward breast cancer awareness and research.
Run, walk, sponsor a team, make a donation: There are so many ways you can participate. Learn more about Portland's Race for the Cure, which happens 9/18.
See the Portland Events Calendar for September.
Do You Do Bumbershoot?
If you'd like to check out Seattle's amazing 3-day festival of music, arts, comedy, and literary goodness, head to Bumbershoot over Labor Day weekend. This jam-packed weekend features hundreds of performers in every genre imaginable. Headliners this year include Ray LaMontagne and Broken Social Scene.
Check the lineup for details. There are comedy stages, art galleries, films, and performing arts events all weekend, too, so you can't possibly be bored for even a minute. Tickets start at $35 for a single day.
The Bite of Oregon: August 12–14
The annual Bite of Oregon comes to Waterfront Park this coming weekend, and this year's lineup of local fare and entertainment make for an excellent event.
Restaurants from from all over the state will participate, so you'll get to sample cuisine that you may not have tried otherwise. Menu items include Oregon Dungeness crab cakes, smoked ribs, and grilled Oregon salmon.
You'll see tons of live music, plus the increasingly popular Iron Chef competition (not-to-be-missed!)
Admission is $10 at the door ($15 for a weekend pass) and includes entertainment. Learn more about the Bite of Oregon at their official website.
August Events in Portland
What's your favorite summer event in Portland? This month, you can compete in the Hood to Coast relay, experience the Hawthorne Street Fair, and tiptoe through the Dahlias at the annual Dahlia Festival. Consult the August Event Calendar to find out more about these and other events in Portland.
Blueberries are Ripe for the Picking!
Do you love picking berries? If you've never done it, I highly recommend it. Yes, it's more time consuming than buying them by the carton, but going directly to the farm for food feels fantastic, and so does having a fridge (and freezer) full of delicious fruit. Plus, you save a lot of money by picking your own.
I recommend heading to Sauvie's island for your berry-picking adventure. It's not too far, and while you're there you can also enjoy the beach, a hike, or a bike ride.
Before you go, visit the official Sauvie Island website, and call the farms to make sure they've got what you want. Prepare to get a little bit dirty, and bring your own containers if you've got 'em.
Free Outdoor Movies in Downtown Portland!
Have you heard? Pioneer Courthouse Square is a movie theater on Friday nights during the summer. The event is called Flicks on the Bricks, and it's free for the whole family.
Pop some corn, pack a chair, and head to the square this Friday evening. Upcoming movies include Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade on July 29 and Westside Story on August 5
Get the full schedule for Flicks on the Bricks.
Concerts in Portland Parks
There are free concerts in the parks all over Portland this summer. Tuesday, July 26, you can catch a show at one of the city's most beautiful green spaces: Mount Tabor. The show starts early in the evening (around 6:30) and the events are friendly for the whole family, including art activities for children will begin at 6 p.m. Bring the kids, bring the dog, and don't forget a blanket and a picnic basket.
Gruner in Bon Appetit Mag
Restaurant food and drinks editor, Andrew Knowlton, whose column appears in Bon Appetit Magazine, highlighted his recommendations for Germanic restaurants across the United States. Not surprisingly, Gruner tops his list, nestled in next to top restaurants in New York and San Franscisco.
Gruner's focuses on fresh, farm-to-table fare, and eating there will change the way you think about Germanic food. I had no idea it could be so light, so flavorful, and leave me wanting more. Gruner is located at 527 SW 12th in downtown Portland.
Visit the Bon Appetit article
Oregon Ballet at Director Park
Now through Saturday, the Oregon Ballet Theater is holding Nutcracker rehearsals for the public to watch. It's called OBT Exposed, and it's happening right downtown, at Director Park (next to the Fox Tower).
These incredibly talented dancers are leaping, pliéing and pirouetting on an outdoor stage and everyone is invited to take a peek. There's no charge for the event. Here are the details.
When: July 18 - 23. Times vary. Check the schedule.
What: In addition to watching rehearsals, OBT Exposed is offering other events such as free dance classes, a movie screening, and lunch on a first-come, first-served basis on Friday.
Where: Director Park, SW Park & Yamhill in downtown Portland
Cost: FREE
This Weekend: Sand in the City
If you could build a sandcastle to look like anything in the world, what would it be? A skyscraper, a dragon, or maybe a replica of your favorite classic car? This weekend, at Sand in the City, you can witness some of the most spectacular sand structures you've ever laid your eyes on. 450 tons of sand will be shipped into Pioneer Courthouse Square, and competitors will go to great lengths to win the competition. Plus, it's all for charity.
Here are the details:
When: July 15 - 17, 2011
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square (701 SW 6th Avenue)
What: Sand sculptures, interactive youth exhibits, live entertainment, and more to benefit Impact NW.