Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Every year, the City of Roses throws itself a big party, and this year the Portland Rose Festival (May 24 – June 9) has adopted ”Portland’s Party” as its theme, promising more fun and festivity than ever. Best of all, you’re invited!

The fest kicks off with a spectacular fireworks show on Friday, May 24. For a great view, grab a seat on the Ferris wheel in the waterfront CityFair, which features rides, food and beer and live music. (This year, there’s also a second night of fireworks, on June 7.)

The 2013 concert lineup includes pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen (June 9), country quartet Little Big Town (June 2), and indie rock bands Fitz And The Tantrums (May 26) and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (May 25).

The evening Starlight Parade (June 1) features illuminated floats and a “Portlandia” section with syncopated drummers, roller derby teams and the Portland Zombie Walk. The fest’s hallmark event, the Grand Floral Parade (June 8), travels from Memorial Coliseum (where reserved seating is available), across the Willamette River and through downtown, delighting crowds with 17 all-floral floats, 18 marching bands and 19 equestrian units – in addition to vintage vehicles, colorful dancers and more. For a closer look at the impressive floats, check out the Grand Floral Float Showcase (June 8-9), adjacent to the CityFair.

Get to the fragrant source at the Portland Rose Society 125th Annual Spring Rose Show (June 6-7), the nation’s largest and longest-running rose show with more than 4,000 blooms in the Lloyd Center Ice Rink.

Last but not least, the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race (June 8-9) brings the party to the river as 80 local, national and international teams compete in ornate boats provided by the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association.

First came microbrews and Willamette Valley wines; today, Portland is also the epicenter of the craft distilling movement.

The Great American Distillers Festival (Oct. 19-20), now in its eighth year, will attract more than 50 small-batch spirit makers to Portland’s Tiffany Center for a weekend full of wet whistles. Friday night’s cocktail competition lifts everyone’s spirits as bartenders use bottles featured at the event to mix up holiday libations. And over the two days, the event overflows with seminars and tastings — not to mention plenty of handcrafted hootch. A one-day pass to the event costs $15 and comes with five taster tickets, while the two-day pass provides 10 tickets and costs $25.

The annual mixer is a great warm-up for Portland Cocktail Week (Oct. 21-25), an industry event that attracts professional bartenders from around the country to Portland’s lively hotels and bars; evening events let consumers get in on the fun. This year’s schedule is in the works, so check their website for updates.

Hungry Heart Cupcakes (photo by Viva Barrows, bePortland)

Last Saturday, I — along with 3,000 other folks — indulged in the annual Portland food cart festival known as Eat Mobile. Three thousand people + 52 carts = lots of lines. But each wait was rewarded with a delicious sample. I focused on trying out new-to-me carts and came away with several favorites:

Fuego de Lotus

This cart served up Venezuelan arepas (corn cakes) with green chili chicken or pork belly in a spicy red chili maple sauce. Both were delicious, but the pork belly ranked as one of the best things I’ve eaten in recent memory. Besides discovering a new food, I found out that this cart is within walking distance of my house … and then I ate lunch there on Sunday.

PDX 671

The samples could have been bigger, but my first little tastes of Guamanian food convinced me that I’ll be back for more! Luckily, this cart — which took home the Eat Mobile judges’ award — is also at the D-Street Noshery on Southeast Division, right next to Fuego De Lotus.

Hungry Heart Cupcakes

Anyone who thinks cupcakes are a trend that’s run its course needs to try a “Dark and Dusty”: dark chocolate and cacao nib cake topped with dulce de leche frosting and Maldon sea salt. (more…)

Summer is a great time to soak up some Portland, whether you’re enjoying outdoor food carts, farmers markets, or a long scenic hike. And it’s also a wonderful time to enjoy a variety of arts festivals and events. Here are some upcoming art events that are sure to inspire and delight the senses!

Estacada Summer Celebration 2011
This free festival of music and art takes place July 22-23 in the heart of beautiful downtown Estacada.

Behind the Shoji Art Show & Sale
The Portland Japanese Garden will showcase a collection of artful handmade items including pottery, glass, jewelry, wood carvings, textiles and more. This one-of-a-kind sale featuring Asian-inspired original artwork and unique gifts runs July 23 through September 5 and is open during regular garden hours (10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and noon-7 p.m. Mondays).

Art in the Pearl
More than 120 artists offer their creations at this Labor Day weekend event in Portland’s North Park Blocks of downtown Portland, Sept 3-5. The festivities include artist demonstrations, music and food.

Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival
PICA’s annual Time-Based Art Festival (TBA) draws artists from across the country and around the globe for a convergence of contemporary performance and visual art in Portland, Oregon. Now in its ninth year, the TBA Festival is presented September 8-18, 2011, with visual art exhibits running through October.

Spoke art by Carye Bye.

Portland celebrates the bicycle all year ‘round, but summer is when our spoke cards really fly. The season gets up to speed with Pedalpalooza – “2+ weeks of bikey fun” – with events throughout the city in June. Feeling adventurous? Strip down for Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride (ours was the largest in the Americas last year) on June 18. Check the Pedalpalooza calendar for other events, including bike-in movies, mobile dance parties and unicycle jousting. (more…)

June is just around the corner and Portlanders know what that means: It’s Rose Festival time! This year’s theme is “Carnival of Roses,” and with Portland’s drag icon Darcelle XV as the grand marshal for the Starlight Parade, it’s going to be a carnival extravaganza. 

The festival — which was named the best in the world in 2007 – begins with the opening of CityFair (formerly known as the Waterfront Village) on Friday, May 27 with a free concert by Curtis Salgado followed by a spectacular fireworks display. CityFair will be open three full weekends from May 27 – June 12. Tip: Admission is free on opening night.   (more…)

"Lotus Flower in June," photo courtesy of the Beijing Dance Academy

Last weekend was Chinese New Year, with festivities throughout Portland kicking off two weeks of celebration. One of the highlights of the new year, or ALL year, if you ask me, is the U.S. premiere of the Beijing Dance Academy’s “The Butterfly Lovers.” This performance of “China’s Romeo and Juliet” by one of the finest dance troupes from China will not be quickly forgotten. Portland is fortunate to be only one of four cities in which the show will be performed — an opportunity not to be missed! The shows are at the Newmark Theater downtown, on February 23 and 24.

Throughout this week and next, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is holding all sorts of classes, activities and demonstrations every day of the week. (more…)