Weekend!Life: Your guide to the next 72 hours
Eat it up: The Bite of Oregon
Two-time champion Daniel Mondok of Olea will defend his Iron Chef crown at the Bite of Oregon.
©2007 Kurt Johnson
FESTIVAL
The Bite of Oregon
Perhaps never before in The Bite’s 24-year history has there been so much national focus on Oregon’s culinary scene. All the better for the state’s restaurant industry and, of course, the lucky diners.
This year’s Bite boasts several stars of Portland’s much-inked food scene — including Tommy Habetz of Meriwether’s and Daniel Mondok of Olea, who will be battling for Oregon’s Iron Chef crown.
With 24 restaurants and more than 20 wineries and breweries offering nibbles and sips it should be easy for everyone to get a taste of what all the foodies are fussing about.
“Next Food Network Star” chef Guy Fieri shares his cooking ideas throughout the weekend. Radio Disney presents a cooking demonstration to give kids some creative food for thought.
— Lee Williams
With this year’s headliners including country favorite Robert Earl Keen, blues legend Dr. John and a rare performance by punk-poetess Patti Smith, the Bite of Oregon has outdone itself on the entertainment front — and that’s just scratching the surface.
Regional standouts like the Freak Mountain Ramblers, Dr. Theopolis and Dirty Martini also appear in this three-day event, which raises funds for the Special Olympics of Oregon. Don’t miss the graceful, yearning sounds of Australian rock band Augie March, which was handpicked to open for Crowded House back home.
— Barbara Mitchell
11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10-12, Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 750 S.W. Naito Parkway, 503-248-0600, www.biteoforegon.com, $7 adults, free for children under 12
DANCE
Showing by Dance Makers
Six choreographers, including Paris-based Luca Veggetti, Spaniard Cayetano Soto, New York’s Thaddeus Davis and Oregon Ballet Theatre founding Artistic Director James Canfield, present world premiere works following two weeks of intense preparation at Northwest Professional Dance Project. A talkback concludes each evening.
— Eric Bartels
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 10-11, Portland State University, Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 S.W. Park Ave., 503-421-7434, www.nwpdp.com, $22-$25
MOVIE
Home Movie Day
Saturday is Home Movie Day at the Hollywood Theatre. Local film archivist Rob McIlwain has enlisted a group of volunteers to help clean and inspect the 8 mm, 16 mm or Super8 footage of your dad carving a pumpkin in 1954.
Selected home movies will be screened. Archivists will talk about why home movies are important to our cultural and social history.
— Liz Colie Gadberry
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, Hollywood Theatre, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd., 503-281-4215, www.homemovieday.com, free
PERFORMANCE
EsoZone
It’s time to get offline and meet some people in the flesh. Put on your black clothes and head down to Designer Reality Expo, a three-day event that brings together people of all stripes.
It includes bands, readings and discussions, and culminates with “an epic meditation by cult phenomenon artist Paul Laffoley.”
Workshops include “Innovative Sorcery Techniques” and “The Magical and Ritual Use of Animal Parts.” (Some of the quieter events will be held next door at Backspace. Check schedule.) Artists include alternative Internet radio personalities the Viking Youth, the London theater troupe Foolish People and local performance artist the Red King.
Other organizers include the Key 64 Web zine, the online community Irreality.net and the Foolish People. This is Burning Man for people who don’t like crowds — or light.
— Joseph Gallivan
6 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11-12, Someday Lounge, 125 N.W. Fifth Ave., 503-248-1030, www.esozone.com, $14.95 Friday, $49.95 Saturday or Sunday, $99.95 all three days
AIRSHOW
Oregon International Air Show
Oregonian Greg Poe will take to the skies on wings a bit greener than most planes. Poe flies the world’s only ethanol-fueled unlimited aerobatic plane.
His fast-flying Fagen MX-2 has been featured on a host of network and cable shows, and from the ground surprised spectators just might begin chanting Poe’s motto: “Ethanol kicks gas!”
— LW
Gates open 6 p.m., show begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10- 12, Hillsboro Airport, 3355 N.E. Cornell Road, Hillsboro, 503-629-0706, www.oregonairshow.com, $15 advance purchase for adults, ($20 at the gate), $10 seniors and kids 6 to 12 years old, free for kids under 6