Getting On Our Soapbox

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The product of curatorial selections from this city's sharpest writers and artists, Finder is Willamette Week's annual magazine-style guide to the Portland that's worth a damn. This week, the Portland that's worth a damn just happens to be the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby, featured in Finder on page 155. To marvel at the other 161 pages, find a free copy of Finder at one of our coffee-shop release parties, or visit wweek.com/finderlocations.

Do It Yourself Build a Soapbox Racer

By Brian Creany, 10-year veteran of the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby, as told to Natasha Geiling 

  1. Find some wheels. Search for scrap material to make your chassis. Bike wheels and deconstructed bike parts work well. There’s a limit ($300) for how much you can spend on your Derby car, so be resourceful.
  2. Drink some beer and talk about a concept. Some people go for speed, while others go for something artistic and original. If you want to go fast, look at others who have raced and see what they did right or wrong. Always understand that this isn’t a racecar; there’s no way of driving it, so you need to think about what works best in terms of gravity. For artistic concepts, that’s where the beer comes in.
  3. Wake up early to sign up for the Soapbox race (registration closed for 2011).
  4. Roll the course on Mount Tabor to get a sense of what you’re up against. Be wary of some big curves that might be hard to navigate.
  5. The Derby is held Saturday, Aug. 13, at Mount Tabor Park (soapboxracer.com). Never overlook the beer drinking.

Headout Picks

THURSDAY, AUG. 11

[MOVIES] TOP DOWN: THE OUTSIDERS

A fine homage to Nicholas Ray and a great excuse to gaze upon the denim-strangled packages of Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez and the Karate Kid. Hotel deLuxe parking garage, Southwest 15th Avenue and Yamhill Street. 8 pm. $9.


FRIDAY, AUG. 12

[MUSIC] QUIET MUSIC FESTIVAL, DAY ONE: KYP MALONE, TOM GREENWOOD AND MORE

A two-day, all-ages, cheap and beautifully curated festival with smart local acts and big names alike (Kyp Malone from TV On the Radio? Stephen Malkmus!?). Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate Ave. 8 pm. $7 (or $12 weekend pass). All ages.

[FOOD] BITE OF OREGON

It's a wonderland of food-related fun, with bites from more than a hundred of the state's restaurants, plus craft beer, wine and dessert pavilions. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Southwest Naito Parkway between Southwest Harrison and Northwest Glisan streets. 11 am-10 pm Friday-Saturday, 11 am-8 pm Sunday, Aug. 12-14. $10 one-day pass, $15 weekend pass, $5 early bird (before 2 pm Friday). 

[DANCE/MUSIC] BLUE CRANES/NORTHWEST DANCE PROJECT

Two of Portland's most original and compelling performing-arts groups reconnect after winning raves in their collaboration last year. Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater, 400 SW Kingston Ave., 823-3636. 6 pm. Free.


SATURDAY, AUG. 13

[DRINK] POK POK SOM PARTY

House Spirits hosts a pucker-faced release party for Pok Pok's legendary drinking vinegars, which you can now get in adorable little 16-ounce retail bottles. The distillery promises mini-cocktails and food from Pok Pok. House Spirits, 2025 SE 7th Ave., 235-3174. 11 am-6 pm. Free.


SUNDAY, AUG. 14

[MUSIC] EXPERIMENTAL MINIFEST OF NEW MUSIC

The much-anticipated Contemporary Portland Orchestra Project makes its debut here, in the company of other bold sonic adventurers. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. 8 pm. $6-$12.


MONDAY, AUG. 15

[MUSIC] SADE, JOHN LEGEND

Take one of the most influential divas of the last 25 years and pair her with the most socially aware R&B superstar of his generation—this might be the Rose Garden's best show of 2011. Rose Garden, 1401 Wheeler Ave. 235-8771. 7:30 pm. $49.50-$149.50. All ages.

WWeek 2015

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