A couple of weeks ago, I bounced my workday worries away at a free concert by the All Girl Summer Fun Band. The show was part of Music on Main Street, a summer concert series that features a different band each Wednesday evening through the end of August.
Sponsored by Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA), Music on Main Street was all new to me, and more impressive than I expected. I knew that the bands performed outside on SW Main Street between Broadway and Park, and I just assumed the setup would be festival-style: a stage and lots of empty space.
When I got there, I was impressed that there were tons of chairs set up outside, even a few small tables. Seating was also set up inside the lobby of the Antoinette Hatfield Hall. I appreciated the effort to create an inviting space, even though I didn’t take advantage of it (I don’t sit much at concerts, I realize). But lots of other people did.
All the sitting, however, seemed to make the band uncomfortable. A couple of times, from what I remember, they invited people to come up closer to the stage where there was room for dancing. Eventually, a few enthusiastic souls bounded into the void, and their presence encouraged many others to do the same, including me.
Tonight, National Flower is playing. Be sure to get up and dance early on. Don’t make them ask twice.
You can check out more photos of the All Girl Summer Fun Band performance on Flickr.
For the complete schedule of upcoming Music on Main Street performances, visit the PCPA website.
Admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!
All weekend (July 25–27)
Oregon Brewers Festival: More than 70 breweries will sell their tasty creations at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Admission is free, and non-drinkers can enjoy free sodas and live music. Visit the event website for more information.
Maritime Heritage Festival: The event includes boat shows, boat and water sports demonstrations, children’s activities, log rolling and more at Riverplace Marina & Docks (315 SW Montgomery). Visit the event website for more information.
PDX Pop Now: 50 local bands will perform at Rotture (315 SE 3rd Avenue) in this annual all-ages music festival. For the complete schedule, visit the PDX Pop Now website.
The play “Willy Wonka” will be performed at Washington Park Amphitheatre (400 SW Kingston Avenue). The adult cast will perform all three days at 6:30 pm. Youth casts will perform matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit the event website.
ArtSplash in Tualatin: This juried art show and sale at Tualatin Commons (8325 SW Nyberg Street) will include the work of 50 artists, as well as kids’ activities. Concerts will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings. More information can be found here and here.
Saturday and Sunday (July 26 and 27)
Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” in Laurelhurst Park (SE 35th Avenue and SE Oak Street) at 3:00 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.
Northwest Classical Theatre Company will perform William Shakespeare’s “Troilus & Cressida” at 3:00 pm in Woodlawn Park (NE 13th Avenue & Dekum). For details, visit the event website.
Friday, July 25
Portland Concerts in the Park:Casey Neill and the Norway Rats (Americana rock) will perform at Fernhill Park (NE 37th & Ainsworth) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
What Cheer? Brigade (website) andStarantula (website) will perform at Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th Avenue) at 9:00 pm. Visit the Someday Lounge website for more information.
Dave Evans and Dave Frishberg will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
Miss Michael Jodell (website) and theDim Sons will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
The Goodwill River (website) and Sarah Coleman (website) will perform at Alberta Street Pub at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Chris Margolin (website) will perform at Hawthorne Theatre (1507 SE 39th Avenue) at 9:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Dead Man’s Hand (website),Straitjacket, The Revisions (website) and The Decliners (website) will perform at Slabtown (1033 NW 16th) at 9:00 pm. Visit the Slabtown website for more information.
Tualatin Concerts on the Commons:Norman Sylvester Band (blues/soul/funk) will perform at Tualatin Commons at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Jon Koonce (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
Conroy-DeBrie Trio (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.
Flicks on the Bricks: “The Goonies” will be showing at Pioneer Courthouse Square at dusk. For more information, visit the Pioneer Courthouse Square website.
Portland Movies in the Park: “Bee Movie” will be showing at Holly Farm Park (10819 SW Capitol Hwy) at dusk (between 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm). Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Wilsonville Movies in the Park: “Daddy Day Camp” will be showing at Memorial Park at dusk (lawn opens at 8:15 pm). For more information, visit the City of Wilsonville website and look under “City Seasonal Events.”
Masque Alfrescowill perform Carlo Goldoni’s “Servant of Two Masters” on the Beaverton Library lawn at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Lance Olsen, Noy Holland, Steve Tomasula, Kate Bernheimer and Lidia Yuknavitch will be reading at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.
Saturday, July 26
Division/Clinton Street Fair: Taking place along inner SE Division and Clinton Streets, the fair will include family activities, food vendors, live music and dancing. The event begins with a parade, which starts at 10:45 am. For the parade route and more information, visit the event website.
Water in the Desert Festival: The event includes Butoh theatre, dance and musical performances, and children’s activities. Peninsula Park (700 North Rosa Parks Way), 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Milwaukie Daze Festival: The event will kick off with a parade through downtown Milwaukie at 10:30 am. The day’s activities also include kids’ activities, games, live music and fireworks. Visit the event website for more information.
Hawaiian Festival in Vancouver: Esther Short Park will be filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the islands. There’ll be live music, hula/Polynesian dancing and food vendors. 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. More information can be found here and here.
Beaverton Party in the Park: The celebration includes live entertainment, inflatables, arts and crafts, sports, classic car show and more. Howard M. Terpenning Complex on 158th and Walker Road, 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for the schedule of activities and more information.
GreenWalks: Explore South Waterfront Park with a guide from Portland Parks & Recreation. 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Appropriate for adults and families. Visit the PP&R website for details.
Terrace Trails Park Open House: Share your ideas regarding the development of the park with project staff, and enjoy food and games. SE 107th & Henderson, 10:00 am to noon. Visit the Portland Parks website for more information.
Gil Reynolds Trio (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E Burnside) at 5:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.
Portland Concerts in the Park: Pan Gypsies Steel Drum Band (Caribbean fun) will perform at Powell Butte Nature Park (SE 162 & Powell) at 7:00 pm. For details, visit the event website.
Randy Porter will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
The Hunter-Donnaloia Duo will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags (website), Kasey Anderson (website), and Gabe Rozzell and the Decency (website) will perform at Slabtown (1033 NW 16th) at 9:00 pm. Visit the Slabtown website for more information.
Eric John Kaiser (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
Reina Collins & The Saloonatics (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.
Tualatin Concerts on the Commons:Misty River Band will perform at Tualatin Commons at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Portland Movies in the Park: “ET” will be showing at Kenilworth Park (SE 34th Ave & Holgate Blvd) at dusk (between 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm). Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Tualatin Movies on the Common: “Transformers” will be showing at Tualatin Commons at about 9:00 pm (movie begins after sunset). Visit the event website for more information.
Catch the Reading Bug Show: Ventriloquist Steve Taylor and his puppet friends will perform at Albina Library from 11:00 am to noon. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.
Masque Alfresco will perform Moliere’s “School for Wives” on the Beaverton Library lawn at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Sunday, July 27
International Festival in Vancouver: Celebrating the cultural diversity of the community, the festival includes entertainment from Hispanic, Asian and Polynesian cultures, as well as kids’ activities, puppet theatre and more. Esther Short Park, 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Lake Oswego Wine and Food Festival: Admission is free. The Kruse Way Rotary will be collecting donations, and a portion of wine and food sales will go to community charities. Musicians will provide entertainment. Noon to 8:00 pm, Millennium Plaza Park. Visit the event website for more information.
Portland Concerts in the Park: Linda Hornbuckle (soul-tinged R&B) will perform at McCoy Park (North Fiske between Trenton & Fessenden) at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
Forest Music in Tryon Creek State Park: Rose City Timberliners Barbershop Chorus will perform at Tryon Creek Park at 2:00 pm. Visit the Tryon website for more information.
Freak Mountain Ramblers (website) will perform at LaurelThirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan Street) at 6:00 pm; Harper Simon (website) and Eric Earley (website) will perform at 9:30 pm. Visit the event website for details.
Lake Oswego Concerts in the Park:David Lanz will perform at Millennium Plaza Park at 6:00 pm. Visit the Lake Oswego website for more information.
The film “Kilowatt Ours” will be showing at Bagdad Theater at 6:00 pm (doors open at 5:00 pm). Visit the theater website for details.
The film “Freaks” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Masque Alfresco will perform Carlo Goldoni’s “Servant of Two Masters” on the Beaverton Library lawn at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Author Rhys Bowen will make an appearance at Murder by the Book (3210 SE Hawthorne Blvd) at 5:00 pm. Visit the MBTB website for more information.
If you know of any other free events happening this weekend, please write a comment about it. If you’d like me to include an event in a future round-up, feel free to contact me.
Thomas Kemper Soda Co. will be giving away free root beer floats in Pioneer Courthouse Square tomorrow (Wednesday, July 23) from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. I plan to be there. I love RB floats.
There’s a question I’ve been thinking about that I’d love to get your opinion on:
If an event has a suggested entrance donation of $X, do you consider it to be a free event?
A recent example is Sand in the City, which had a suggested entrance donation of $3 per person or $10 per family.
Do you consider an event like Sand in the City to be a free event? Put another way, would you expect to find it in Around the Sun’s roundup of free weekend events?
Tell me what you think in the poll below and/or via comments. (If you can’t see the poll, this link will take you to it.)
This weekend is a good one for theater. We’ve got JAW, Willy Wonka, lots of Shakespeare, and something not easy to describe called “Promenade.”
Admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!
All weekend (July 18–20)
Cathedral Park Jazz Festival offers three days of live jazz performances. The park is located near the St. Johns Bridge. For the schedule of performances and more information, visit the event website.
JAW Playwrights Festival: With JAW, Portland Center Stage opens its developmental process to the public. This weekend, the festival will include readings of new plays, a chance to schmooze with theater folks at the Theater Fair, and more. For more information, visit the event website.
The play “Willy Wonka” will be performed at Washington Park Amphitheatre (400 SW Kingston Avenue). The adult cast will perform all three days at 6:30 pm. Youth casts will perform matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit the event website.
Friday and Saturday (July 18 and 19)
Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “Julius Caesar” in Washington Park at 7:30 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.
Robin Hood Festival in Sherwood: The two-day festival takes place in downtown Sherwood and includes entertainment (both medieval and not so medieval), crafts and more. There will also be a parade on Saturday. For details, visit the event website.
Saturday and Sunday (July 19 and 20)
Northwest Classical Theatre Company will perform William Shakespeare’s “Troilus & Cressida” at 3:00 pm in Woodlawn Park (NE 13th Avenue & Dekum). For details, visit the event website.
Friday, July 18
Kidical Mass: Kids and their families are invited to this guided bike ride through part of downtown Portland. The ride starts at 6:30 pm at BTA World Headquarters (233 NW 5th Avenue) and will last about 45 minutes. For more information, visit Neighborhood Notes.
Portland Concerts in the Park:Vagabond Opera (Bohemian cabaret) will perform at Fernhill Park (NE 37th & Ainsworth) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
H Duo (website) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
Mood Area 52 (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. (Please note, Oregon Artbeat will be filming this evening for a piece on the band.) Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Tualatin Concerts on the Commons:St. James’s Gate (traditional Irish/Celtic) will perform at Tualatin Commons at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Mark Alan (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
Kevin Barber Band (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.
Movie in Happy Valley Park: “Surf’s Up” will be showing at dusk (around 8:30 pm). Visit the event website for more information.
Author Craig Johnson will do a book signing at Murder by the Book (3210 SE Hawthorne Blvd) at 6:00 pm. Visit the MBTB website for more information.
Saturday, July 19
5th & 6th Avenues Street Fair will take place in downtown Portland between SW Washington and Taylor Streets from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm. Enjoy live music and family-friendly activities to celebrate the progress of MAX construction. Visit the event website for more information.
“Promenade”: This family-friendly combination of art, sound, dance and audience participation will take place at South Waterfront Neighborhood Park (SW Moody & Curry Streets). The show begins an hour before sunset. Visit the Oregonian to learn more.
Troutdale SummerFest includes a parade, pirates, a duck derby and more. For more information, read this article or contact the West Columbia Gorge Chamber at 503-669-7473.
Gresham Art Walk: Downtown Gresham will host live music and children’s craft activities. More than 85 artists from Oregon and Southwest Washington will sell their work. 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visit the event website for details.
GreenWalks: Explore Washington Park with a guide from Portland Parks & Recreation. 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Appropriate for adults and families. Visit the PP&R website for details.
Stevens Creek and Multnomah Village Guided Walk: This is a challenging four-mile loop through natural areas, Green Streets, Gabriel Park and Multnomah Village. 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Meet at Wilson High School parking lot. For more information, visit the event website.
Women’s Bike Clinic: The Bike Gallery will give a 3-hour hands-on clinic covering basic bike maintenance, flat repair and cleaning techniques. Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Highway), 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
Ex-boyfriends (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E Burnside) at 6:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.
Margaret Slovak (website) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
The Bittersweet Trio (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Unkle Nancy (website) will perform at Hawthorne Theater (1507 SE 39th Avenue) at 9:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Acoustic Minds (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
The Old Yellers (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.
Spellapalooza: Adults will be spelling words for prizes. Central Library, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information or to register to participate, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
The film “The HollywoodLibrarian: A Look at Librarians through Film” will be showing at 3:00 pm at Capitol Hill Library. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.
Tualatin Movies on the Common: “Shrek the Third” will be showing at Tualatin Commons at about 9:00 pm (movie begins after sunset). Visit the event website for more information.
The Fascinating World of Reptiles: Families are invited to pet a python andview other reptiles with The Reptile Man, Richard Ritchey. Belmont Library, 4:00 pm. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.
Author Teri Brown will talk about her book “Read My Lips” at 1:00 pm at Barnes & Noble, Tanasbourne. Visit the B&N website for more information.
Portland Concerts in the Park: Django’s Cadillac (hot swing) will perform at McCoy Park (North Fiske between Trenton & Fessenden) at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
Forest Music in Tryon Creek State Park: Millennium Woodwind Quintet will perform at 2:00 pm. Visit the Tryon website for more information.
Spoonshine (website) will perform at The Laurelthirst Public House (2958 NE Glisan Street) at 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Lake Oswego Concerts in the Park:Amadan (Celtic-inspired rock) will perform at Millennium Plaza Park at 6:00 pm. Visit the Lake Oswego website for more information.
Jim Fischer’s Piano Summit: Culture, Class and the Musical Caravan: Concert pianist Jim Fischer and special guests will perform at Northwest Library at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
The film “This is War: Memories of Iraq” will be showing at Hotel deLuxe at 6:30 pm. Contact the hotel to RSVP, 503.219.2093. For more information, visit the Hotel deLuxe website.
The film “The Wild One” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Artist Lotte Streisinger will talk about her book “The Potter and the Muse” at 2:00 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Craft. Visit the MCC website for more information.
Learn to make earrings: Local crafter Susan Beal will teach you how to make sparkly drop earrings, a design from her new book, “Bead Simple.” She will provide supplies for you to make one pair of earrings. Central Library, 12:30 pm–3:30 pm. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
If you know of any other free events happening this weekend, please write a comment about it. If you’d like me to include an event in a future round-up, feel free to contact me.
I visited Japan for the first time in 1994. While preparing for the trip, I learned that a handkerchief was a part of the uniform of everyday life. No one in Japan left home without one. The reason, I was told, was practical. Public restrooms did not provide hand towels or dryers. So for my new adventure, I bought a few handkerchiefs. I’d never owned one before.
Almost 15 years later, I still have those handkerchiefs, but I don’t use them. Why? Practical reasons. The culture of public restrooms in the States ensures I don’t need one like I did in Japan. But not using them seems like such a waste. I paid good money for them, and now they just sit in my closet while I throw away paper towels day after day. If I used my handkerchiefs regularly, as I did in Japan, I’d be respecting my financial investment and the environment at the same time.
So starting today, July 14, I will carry a handkerchief with me every time I leave the house. I’m calling my new leaf the Handkerchief Project.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. I wanted to tell you about my project in the hope that it’ll encourage me to stick with it. It seems like such a simple idea, and I don’t remember having any trouble with it while I was in Japan. But last week I realized that it’ll be harder than I thought. To try it out, I brought a handkerchief to work a few days last week…and I still used paper towels. I found that if my mind drifted during the three seconds that I was washing my hands, I picked up a paper towel without thinking. The action was automatic, like breathing. The revelation surprised me.
This will be as hard as learning any new habit. But since I like to challenge (or sabotage?) myself, I am adding a Part B to my plan. In addition to carrying a handkerchief with me, I will keep a few cloth napkins at work to use whenever I eat in the office. I have lots of cloth napkins, and I use some of them at home on a regular basis. Others, however, live in permanent storage because I have too many. I need to put them to work.
So the rules of the Handkerchief Project are as follows (I warn you that this may be TMI):
Each day, I will leave the house with a clean handkerchief. I will use my handkerchief to dry my washed hands rather than using the hand towels or dryer in public bathrooms. I will not, however, use my handkerchief to blow my nose. Sorry, I just can’t go there.
At the start of each week, I will bring five cloth napkins to work and keep them in my cube. I’ll use them whenever I eat in the office (typically three to five days a week), rather than using a paper napkin or paper towel. I will take home any used napkins at the end of each day.
Currently, I do one to two loads of laundry per week. I don’t expect the Handkerchief Project to alter my routine.
It’ll probably take a few weeks for the Handkerchief Project to become the Handkerchief Habit. I look forward to the day when my hand automatically reaches for cloth rather than paper.
Do any of you use handkerchiefs on a regular basis? Got any tips for me?
Today I spent the afternoon with my friend and her little girl at the Animal Planet Expo. The free event continues tomorrow (July 13) at Fernhill Park, and I recommend checking it out, especially if you have kids. I snapped a few photos to give you an idea of what to expect.
Even though Fernhill Park is a big place, the expo was easy to spot:
We got there just in time for one of the Frisbee dog shows. Show times were 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm. I assume the schedule will be the same tomorrow.
The live animal show gave us a glimpse of exotic creatures, like this yellow python. Show times were: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm.
Inflatables (like the slide shown below), face painting and animal exhibits thrilled my friend’s daughter.
Animal Planet made sure animals had fun too by providing a small dog entertainment area and setting out water bowls.
As if the free admission and activities weren’t enough, we also got lots of freebies, like these meerkat fans. In addition, my friend’s daughter got a yo-yo, Frisbee, bubble bottle that doubles as a whistle, and a pen that barks like a dog. I picked up a couple of reusable grocery bags, which they were giving away to encourage people to live more sustainably so that animals can continue to live in their natural habitats.
Tomorrow (July 13), the Animal Planet Expo runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Fernhill Park (NE 37th Avenue and Ainsworth Street).
As always, admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!
All weekend (July 11–13)
The play “Willy Wonka” will be performed live at Washington Park Amphitheatre (400 SW Kingston Avenue) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Saturday and Sunday (July 12–13)
Animal Planet Expo: TV channel Animal Planet is bringing exotic animals, Philippe Cousteau, Frisbee dogs and more to Fernhill Park (NE 37th Avenue & Ainsworth Street), Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
2008 US Open Footbag Championships: Many of the sport’s top athletes and entertainers from North America will display their footwork. Saturday—Willamette Park (SW Macadam Avenue & Nebraska Street), 12:30 pm. Sunday—Pioneer Courthouse Square, 12:30 pm. Visit the event website for details.
Friday, July 11
Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “Julius Caesar” in Washington Park at 7:30 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.
Free Dance Lessons at Portland Dance Festival: The public is invited to learn country two step, night club two step, and line dancing. Classes start at 6:00 pm at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. For details, visit the event website.
First Friday in Camas: Due to the July 4 holiday, the monthly first Friday event in Camas is happening tonight. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visit the Downtown Camas website for more information.
Portland Concerts in the Park: The LaRhonda Steele Band (soulful R&B) will perform at Fernhill Park (NE 37th Avenue & Ainsworth Street) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Tony Pacini will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
Pete Krebs will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Tualatin Concerts on the Commons:Fools in Paradise (marimba) will perform at Tualatin Commons at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Liberty Plaza Concert Series:Dry County Crooks and Robbie Laws will perform at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, respectively. Liberty Plaza is located in downtown Oregon City next to the Clackamas County Courthouse. Visit the event website for more information.
Timothy Hull (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
Sonny Hess Trio (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.
Multnomah Outdoor Cinema: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will be showing at the Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Hwy) at dusk. Visit the Multnomah Arts Center website for more information.
Wilsonville Movies in the Park: “Bee Movie” will be showing at Memorial Park. Lawn opens at 8:15 pm. Movie starts at dusk. Visit the event website for more information.
Editor Ellen Sussman will talk about the book “Dirty Words” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.
Art Exhibit Opening Reception: This event celebrates the opening of Robert Mars’ Beauty in Hindsight exhibit at Guestroom Gallery (4114 N Vancouver Avenue, Portland). The press release also says the free food will be awesome. 6:00 pm. Visit the Guestroom Gallery website for more information.
Saturday, July 12
Bastille Festival in the Pearl: Festivities include waiter race, live music, dog parade, children’s activities, fencing and pétanque demonstrations, and more. Jamison Square Park (810 NW 11th Avenue), 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
Pix Patisserie Bastille Day Block Party: Pix has organized a full day of fun, including live music, grape stomping contest, pet parade, mass pillow fight, French bingo, waiter race and more. The party will surround the Pix North location at 3901 North Williams. Visit the Pix website for details.
Mississippi Ave Street Fair: The festival includes live music, dance lessons, children’s activities, parade, barbecue rib-off and more. North Mississippi Avenue between Skidmore and Fremont, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Mississippi Ave website.
KEEN Stand Festival: Celebrating sustainable living, the festival features live music, Mudeye Recycled Puppet Show, art-making activity with SCRAP, and more. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
East Portland Multicultural Fair: The fair features African, Asian, Latino and Russian musical acts, as well as ethnic cuisine and children’s activities. Hazelwood Hydropark (1017 NE 117th Avenue), noon to 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
PDX Air Fair: The folks at the Portland Airport will show you how the airport works. You’ll see things like de-icing and fire fighting equipment, and enjoy interactive displays, marimba music and acrobatic shows. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Beneath the Big Blue Dome: This event is geared toward families and offers music, theater, puppetry, craft tables, a parade and more. The Artistery (4315 SE Division Street), 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Visit the Artistery website for more information.
Community Open House at Gilbert Heights Park: You’ll get to talk with the people who are working on the new design for the park and share your ideas. Plus there’ll be activities and food. SE 130 & Boise, 10:00 am to noon. Visit the event website for more information.
Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “Julius Caesar” in Washington Park at 7:30 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.
GreenWalks: Explore Mount Tabor Park with a guide from Portland Parks & Recreation. 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Appropriate for adults and families. Visit the PP&R website for details.
GreenFest in Vancouver: The festival includes activities, exhibits and music focused on sustainability. Ellis Jones, author of “The Better World Handbook,” will speak at 10:00 am. Marine Park and the Water Resources Education Center, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visit the event website for details.
Kids’ Archeological Dig at McLoughlin House (Oregon City): Kids aged 8–12 will learn about archeology and “dig” for artifacts in specially prepared boxes. Registration begins at 9:30 am; classes are at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Each class is limited to 20 kids. Visit the event website for details.
Portland Concerts in the Park: Sassparilla (insurgent blues) will perform at Rose City Park (NE 62nd Avenue & Tillamook Street) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Nancy Curtin will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
Lincoln Crockett (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
Thad Beckman Trio (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.
Portland Movies in the Park: “Jumanji” will be showing at Dickinson Park (SW 55th Avenue & Alfred Court) at dusk (between 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm). Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Tualatin Movies on the Commons: “Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix” will be showing at Tualatin Commons at about 9:00 pm (movie begins after sunset). Visit the event website for more information.
West Linn Movies in the Park: “We Are Marshall” will be showing at Mary S. Young Park at dusk. Visit the West Linn Parks website (look under “Upcoming Parks & Recreation Events & Activities”) for more information.
UC Davis Brewing Professor Charles Bamforth will talk about his book “Grape vs Grain.” BridgePort Brewpub + Bakery, 1:00 pm. Visit the BridgePort website for more information. for more information.
Ashley Maceachern will talk about her children’s book “Lance in France” at 11:00 am at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.
Sunday, July 13
Craft PDX Festival: The Museum of Contemporary Craft is hosting a block party featuring live music, art activities, lectures and artist talks. NW 8th & Davis, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visit the MCC website for more information.
Lisa Loeb (website) will perform songs from her new children’s album at 2:00 pm at Barnes & Noble, Clackamas Towne Center Mall. Visit the B&N website for more information.
Pickin’ on Sundays Concert at Doug Fir:Little Sue and Pete Krebs will perform on the Doug Fir patio at 3:00 pm. 830 E Burnside. Visit the Doug Fir website for more information.
Chris Marshall (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E Burnside) at 6:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.
Innisfree (traditional Irish music) will perform at Tryon Creek State Park (11321 SW Terwilliger Boulevard) at 2:00 pm. Visit the park website for more information.
Portland Concerts in the Park: Rhythm Culture (reggae meets blues) will perform at McCoy Park (N Trenton Street & Newman Avenue) at 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Jim Fischer’s Piano Summit—Culture, Class and the Musical Caravan: Concert pianist Jim Fischer and special guests will perform at the Central Library at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
The History and Mystery of the Blues: Local bluesman Steve Cheseborough will play and talk about blues from the 1900s–1930s. St. Johns Library, 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
Lake Oswego Concerts in the Park:3 Leg Torso will perform at Millennium Plaza Park at 6:00 pm. Visit the Lake Oswego website for more information.
Caroline Oakley (website), Maggie Brunjes (website) and Professor Banjo (website) will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
Guided Walk in Tryon Creek State Park: 3:15 pm. Visit the park website for more information.
The movie “Shampoo” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Author Aaron Elkins will be speaking at Murder by the Book (3210 SE Hawthorne Blvd) at 5:00 pm. Visit the MBTB website for more information.
Poets Matt Schumacher, Christopher Luna and Casey Bush will talk about their respective books at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.
If you know of any other free events happening this weekend, please write a comment about it. If you’d like me to include an event in a future round-up, feel free to contact me.
