08 December 2010

Around the Community–December Events

Hawthorne Boulevard Holiday Stroll
Thu. 12/9 6-9pm
SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Free Admission

The 1st Annual Hawthorne Holiday Stroll features extended business hours for Hawthorne merchants, live music and entertainment, complimentary snacks and hot drinks, neighborhood carolers, and kid friendly festivities–the Bagdad is showing free Holiday Family Movies from 6-8 PM, with free popcorn for the kids and Mcmenamins wine tasting for the big kids. Come check out Portland’s original “shop local” district with over a hundred businesses that are dedicated to the ideals of community involvement and making Hawthorne a desirable place to work, shop, and live. There will be a holiday tree auction to benefit Impact NW, which has been providing emergency food and help to people in need for 36 years and serves over 65,000 people in the Portland Metro area yearly. Participating stores will also donate a portion of sales to Impact NW. More info>>

*
Rain Garden Workshop for Professionals
Thu. 12/9 8:30am-5pm
EMSWCD Office, 5211 N. Williams Ave. Portland
$50.00, includes lunch & materials, register here

This hands-on course is designed for landscape contractors, designers and building contractors to give them the information they need to successfully incorporate rain gardens into their projects. Workshop topics include stormwater management, site assessment, rain garden sizing and design, construction and maintenance, plants appropriate for rain gardens, rain garden designs for challenging sites, and sustainable landscape construction materials. More info>>

*
Naturescaping and Native Plants Workshops
Sat. 12/11, 9am-1pm
Kenilworth Church, 4028 SE 34th Ave. Portland
Free, register here

This free workshop introduces the concept of naturescaping and explores time and maintenance savings, reduction/elimination of water and chemical use, increasing and improving wildlife habitat, watershed stewardship, and basic site or project planning. Workshop participants get to view before and after naturescaping examples, take a field trip to a nearby project, get advice on landscape design and native gardening, network with neighbors, and identify native plants. Every participant receives a comprehensive workbook and a native plant to help them get started. More info>>

*

Crafty Wonderland
Sat-Sun 12/11-12/12
Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Free admission

With a rotating line up of talented vendors, Crafty Wonderland is the place to go to find the best handmade goods in the NW, as well as affordable work from talented visual artists. It’s an event meant to bring together crafty people with those who appreciate cool handmade items, to support artists, and to spread the joy of craft throughout our community. The show even offers a kids’ area where budding young artists can set up and sell their work! Each Crafty Wonderland features a free DIY area where local artists share their talent and teach visitors how to make a craft of their own to take home.  More info>>

*

House Spirits Booze Bazaar
Sat. 12/11 11am-5pm
2025 SE 7th Ave. Portland
Free Admission

Help House Spirits Distillery celebrate their 5th Annual Booze Bazaar, a festive holiday tasting and shopping event that will feature Cellar Door Coffee Roasters, Theo Chocolate, Violetta’s Etta truck, and PFM vendors Jacobs Creamery and Olympic Provisions. House Spirits will release a special limited House Spirits White Dog (a 100% malted barley un-aged whiskey), and they’ll be sampling spirits, mixing mini-cocktails, and selling gift boxes full of bartending goodies ranging from the novice shaker up to the experienced cocktail-maker. More info>>

***

*

Season’s Eatings
Sat. 12/11, 12-6pm
New Deal Distillery, 1311 SE 9th Ave. Portland
Free Admission

Join New Deal Distillery at the 2nd Annual Season’s Eatings, a curated market event featuring some of the area’s best handmade cheese, chocolate, pastry, charcuterie, wine and spirits, and benefitting the Oregon Food Bank. Vendors include Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery, Xocolatl de David, Clive Coffee, Briar Rose Creamery, Confectionery, The Hop and Vine, Gales Meadow Farm, Riverwave Foods, Unbound Pickling, Dessert Labs, and People’s Sandwich of Portland. Read more>>

***

*
Mozzarella 201: Artisanal Mozzarella
Sat. 12/11 1-4pm
Kookoolan Farms, 15713 Hwy 47, Yamhill
$50, includes cheese tasting and $10 coupon for farm store

Taught by cheesemaker and author Mary Rosenblum, this class is a step up in complexity and flavor from the basic quick-method handmade mozzarella.  Start with handmade curd from raw cow milk, refrigerated overnight, then get hands-on experience kneading and forming the curd using traditional, artisanal, slower methods. This class does not have a brought-in cheese tasting plate because you’ll be eating the cheese you make today, along with fresh bread, herbs, cured meats, and condiments. No prerequisite, and highly recommended for beginners. Call Kookoolan Farms at 503.730.7535 to sign up. More info>>

*
InFARMation (and Beer!)
Tue. 12/14, 5:30-8:30pm
Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. Portland
Free, 21+ only

Friends of Family Farmers hosts InFARMation (and Beer!) each month to bring the issues that Oregon family farmers face onto the radar of urban consumers, and the community in general. The topic changes each month, but always focuses on the larger picture of the connection between food and farms in Oregon. This month is InFARMation’s End of the Year Party, a celebration of FoFF’s work in 2010, tabling by local food and agriculture groups making a difference in our local food system, great food by Holocene, live music by the Greasy Chain String Band and others, and the first annual silent auction! More info>>

*
***
Native Plants For The Urban Garden
Thu. 12/16, 6-8:30pm
East Multnomah Count SWCD Office, 5211 N Williams Ave. Portland
Free, register here

Not all yards are alike, so you’ll learn about the various features of common microclimates found in urban landscapes and highlight the growing conditions suitable for each of the native plants covered in this class. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll be prepared to choose which plants will work best in your own yard!

*

Presents For Procrastinators
Sat. 12/18 11am-5pm
Art Department, 1315 SE 9th Ave.
Free Admission

For one day only, the Art Department warehouse will transform into a bustling local marketplace filled with intricate handmade jewelry and baubles, fabulous clothing from emerging designers, collections of modified vintage treasures and gorgeous illustrations. It’s an event designed to unite art and local commerce, while offering a place for crafters to network and build community. It’s also a great chance for attendees to support our vibrant local economy. Domo Dogs will be onsite, vending their delicious Japanese-fusion hot dogs, and wine tastings will be offered to adults by Hip Chicks Do Wine, who will also be selling bottles of their locally-made wine. Post-shopping sugar rushes will be provided by Miss Zumstein Cakes and Desserts, who will be sampling treats and taking holiday orders. More info>>

*
Winter Solstice Celebration
Tue. 12/21, 4-6pm
Nature Center, Tryon Creek State Park
11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Free, register here

Celebrate the year’s shortest day and longest night at the Tryon Creek State Park Nature Center. An indoor audience participation program kicks off the event, followed by nature walks led by naturalists in the winter forest. Mingle and warm up with some cider and Dutch oven goodies to commence the evening. This is a free event for individuals and families alike. Pre-registration required!

*

Volunteer Opportunities
Looking to give back this holiday season?  Consider one of the organizations below or volunteer at a local soup kitchen or shelter.

Oregon Food Bank: Oregon Food Bank works to eliminate hunger and its root causes by distributing recovered food to 20 regional food banks across Oregon. Donate food or services such as packaging, boxing, storing or transporting food.
Loaves & Fishes: Provides hot meals to homebound seniors and at meal centers throughout the region.  Deliver meals or become a kitchen helper.
Sisters of the Road: Their goal is to provide a safe place, low-cost hot meals and employment opportunities for the homeless and poverty stricken. Work at the cafe prepping, preparing and serving meals.
Impact Northwest: Their mission is to help people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and to prevent and alleviate the effects of poverty. Donate food, clothing or houshold items.
Northwest Pilot Project: Provides services that prevent and end homelessness for very low income and disabled seniors. Assist seniors moving into housing or donate a holiday stocking.
Hands On Greater Portland: Connects volunteers with opportunities in the Portland area that match their interests and schedule.
Volunteer Match: Online service that matches volunteers with nonprofit organizations.