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When the sun comes out so do the bathers, beer drinkers and winery tourists. Whether you're looking for lawn games, pinot and salmon, or hundreds of beers under one tent, Portland's got it. What follows is a sampling of events intent on the celebration of lovely liquids--and none of them requires swimsuit apparel. Wickets and Wine
Find a cheap set at a yard sale or watch Heathers a few times to prep for a game of croquet. This romantic lawn game, popular on oceanfront greens in Cape Cod, is a most appropriate fund-raiser for furthering wine appreciation. The culmination of four days of competition among eight of the world's best mallet-wielding players, the final match will be narrated and followed by a courtside lunch. Afterwards there will be a pro-am tournament. Proceeds benefit the creation and maintenance of the Oregon Historical Society's Oregon Wine Archive. The Resort at the Mountain, 68010 E Fairway Ave., Welches, (503) 306-5229.10:30 am-4:30 pm Saturday, June 6. $25. Pinot Noir Debut Dinner
The nifty nine haven't been disclosed, but Oregon's best 1996 vintage pinot noirs will be served with a four-course dinner created by chef Joe Nouhan. That's more than two per course, so bring a chauffeur. Atwater's Restaurant, 111 SW 5th Ave., 223-9636. 6:30 pm Saturday, June 6. $85, reservations required. Portland Rose Festival Homebrew Competition
The ungloved one, Michael Jackson, whose grisly visage bears no semblance to that of the purified pop star, hunkers down with Fred Eckhardt for a challenge that exceeds the barbaric Century Club. In 1997, its first year, the contest received more than 300 entries. The $4 submission fee almost guarantees that hundreds of zymurgists will again send in their little brown bottles for approval. Brewery tours, music, crudités and general festivity are open to non-homebrewers, too. Nor'Wester Beer Co., 5875 Lakeview Blvd., Lake Oswego, 699-9524. 10 am-7 pm Monday, June 20. Free. Summer Boogie Barbecue
Proving that dancing in the streets can take place outside of New Orleans and music videos, Portland Brewing hosts its second annual block party. There's no grass to romp around on but the spacious landscape of industrial Northwest allows for plenty of elbow room to get down and get loose. Jugglers, acrobats, belly dancers and a balloon artist will commingle with revelers shimmying to Golden Delicious, Rubberneck and Bill Elliott's Swing Orchestra. Portland Brewing's usual lineup of MacTarnahan's, Haystack Black, etc., will be augmented by its Summer Ale. Portland Brewing Loading Dock, 2730 NW 31st Ave., 228-5269. 3-10 pm Saturday, July 11. Cover. Explore the Romance of Champagne
The French are all smart, slim, stylish, stuck-up and irresistibly romantic. Not even--but their homeland's reputation for amazing wines and cheeses is well-deserved. Celebrate Bastille Day with a comparison tasting of local and overseas champagne and sparkling wine, cheese and paté. This is a good opportunity for wedding planners to sample special bubbly. Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway, 228-2000. 1-3 pm Saturday, July 18. $55 per couple. Oregon Brewers Festival Dinner
To get the full immersion in beer up-to-your-earlobes experience of the bloated Brewers Festival, steel your stomach with a big platter of barbecue at the pre-fest cookout. Four pints of any of the 30 beers offered are yours for the swilling--a boon, considering most of them will not be featured at the three-day drinking daze. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 274-0019. 6-10 pm Thursday, July 23. $25 advance. Oregon Brewers Festival
What started out with 16 draft beers in 1987 has, 11 years later, snowballed into a massive fair involving 72 breweries, packaging designers displaying beer-label art and fermentation students tracking microorganisms. Now that Oregon State offers classes in fermentation science, student brewers will man a sniffing booth at the festival, allowing passers-by to detect positive and defective aromas. Education continues throughout the park as rare dunkels, dortmunders, helles lagers and marzenbiers are passed around. A thousand-person dinner will also be held July 23 (see above). Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 778-5917. Noon-10 pm Friday and Saturday, noon-7 pm Sunday, July 24-26. Free admission, $2 mug, $1-$3 per beer. Il Palio
Who but Catholics would honor Siena's patron saint, the Blessed Virgin of the Assumption, with a bareback horse race through the town square? Assaggio pays homage to the weeklong celebration of Il Palio with five nights of unusual festivities and special wine. Super Tuscans, Montepulciano and of course Chianti Classico share the table with regional party food. Assaggio, 7742 SE 13th Ave., 232-6151. Tuesday-Saturday, Aug. 11-15. A la carte. The Bite: A Taste of Portland
Is it a representation of Portland's finest cuisine or a tacky, amorphous outlet for cable networks? The Bite does feature 20 Oregon wineries, such as Eola Hills and Willamette Valley Vineyards, and at least 20 area restaurants, but with places like Downtown Deli and Greek Cusina and Jackie's Ribs scheduled to serve, it hardly seems to be an accurate sampling of the best eats in town. Further muddying the Bite's identity are national commercial vendors: Michelob supplies beer, VH1 brings a mobile stage and passé rockers Cheap Trick, QVC showcases a portable gourmet kitchen and "Local Flavors" chef Jeff Parker. At least it's for a good cause--proceeds benefit Oregon Special Olympics. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 248-0600. Noon-10 pm Friday-Sunday, Aug. 14-16. $2 suggested donation. Chef Series Dinners
The June 13 affair with sought-after guest chef Philippe Boulot of the Heathman Hotel is sold out, but WillaKenzie Estate promises more delectable dining throughout the summer. Free-lancing gourmet Mark Gould, formerly of Atwater's and Red Star Roast House, joins Ken Wright representing his cellars for a four-dish meal and even more glasses of wine in August. In September, try the elegant fixings of Greg Higgins (of Higgins Restaurant) sans beer. WillaKenzie Estate, 19143 NE Laughlin Road, Yamhill, 662-3280. Hors d'oeuvres reception 6 pm, dinner 7 pm Saturdays, Aug. 15 and Sept. 12. $75, reservations required. Cueno al Fresco
Just like a typical Italian temperament, Gino Cueno's wines are fiery and all red. No pale whites or blush wines will be found mingling with the robust pasta and freshly grilled game at this vintner's dinner. Used as the setting for many weddings, the outdoor courtyard on the upper deck at RiverPlace--complete with romantic gazebo--provides a summery background with plenty of room to digest a multicourse meal. RiverPlace Hotel, 1510 SW Harbor Way, 228-3233. 6:30 pm Saturday, Aug. 15. Price TBA. |
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