Six Great Things to Do This Weekend...
Do it yourself, do it with friends, but do it soon. Summer's making its curtain call, but there's still plenty to do while it lasts. Scavenge the city for a hidden treasure, dance with giant puppets or drink the Oregon moonshine (i.e. small-batch microbrews).
LEARN
Wild Foods in Wilderness Survival
Where: 4125 N Colonial Avenue
When: Sunday, August 29, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $20
Tip: Bring your outdoor shoes.
Knowing which wild plants are edible while hiking through the woods will most likely impress your friends, but if you're lost, knowing which ones are poisonous might keep them alive. This informative lecture, with an accompanying show of slides, is followed by a short, demonstrable walk outdoors.
ENGAGE
The 10th Annual Portland Zine Symposium
Where: Peter W. Stott Main Gym, Portland State University
When: Saturday, August 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday, August 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: FREE, but donations are gratefully accepted
Tip: Bring your own zines to trade for other zines with up to 230 "tablers," or individuals and collectives who buy, trade and sell all things zine.
The nation's longest-running Do-It-Yourself trade show turns 10 this year, and offers countless workshops, panels and discussions covering a broad range of topics, including bookbinding, silkscreening, screen printing, mimeographing, Internet piracy, ethics and even starting your own zine festival.
RELAX
The 2nd Nano Beer Fest
Where: The Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub, 928 SE 9th Avenue
When: Saturday, August 28, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. & Sunday, August 29, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: $10 gets you five taster tickets, additional tasters are $1 each
Tip: Get out from behind the wheel and bike or take public transportation. You won't have to worry about parking and, besides, who wants to punctuate their weekend with a night in the slammer.
Rogue Brewery once again celebrates the scrappy, alchemical conjurings of the "nanos," the tiniest of the Oregon's microbreweries (annual producers of less than 996 barrels of brew). Taste samples from Captured by Porches, Issaquah and Fearless, and find out if the pruriently named Panty Dropper Ale (PDA) makes you more amorous or just makes you want to pee more. Bicycle parking and games shuffleboard and pinball (!) are all free. Food carts are on hand to feed you and your dogs and even your kids are welcome.
CONSUME
Festa Italiana
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square
When: Friday, August 27, noon-11 p.m. & Saturday, August 28, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Tip: Even if you have to work all weekend, you can still make it because this festival goes long into the night.
Allora! A grape stomp. A pizza toss. A Sinatra-soundalike. Wandering accordionists, marionettes, endless entertainment and the best food and music this side of the Mediterranean. All al fresco , all day long. Until late Saturday night, Portland's Living Room becomes its Piazza Italia.
PLAY
Mudeye Puppet Festival
Where: St Johns Plaza (at the corner of N Lombard and Philadelphia)
When: Saturday, August 28 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Tip: You might think they do at first, but dancing life-sized puppets, hallucinogens and wholesome crowds don't mix.
The Mudeye Puppet Company storms the St. Johns Farmers Market to spread the word on how you can reduce, and often, reuse waste (they make their own puppets from discarded, reusable materials). The puppet show begins at 11 a.m., and is followed by giant puppets marching and a puppet dance-off.
EXPLORE
Portland Treasure Hunt
Where: Everywhere
When: Saturday, August 28, 11 a.m.
Cost: $30 for teams of up to six or, you can put the "I" back in team and go it alone for $15.
Tip: You'll need a paper, a pen and, to document your hunt, a digital camera.
Someone has hidden an idol somewhere in they city. It's up to you and your team to find. At stake is a cash prize of $250. There is one big rule made to put you and your fellow competitors on the same playing field: the use of skateboards, Roller Blades, bicycles, cab rides and even "wheeled" sneakers are prohibited. RSVP to rsvpto@yahoo.com to register and to find out the meet-up location.
