Countdown to Feast 2014

August 13, 2014 by 2 Comments

Can you believe it’s almost mid-August? Where did the entire summer go? Is it really the time of back to school sales already – and did those commercials for school supplies seem to run way early this year?

I haven’t been in school for a long time, and with no kids, September has not meant a reason to go shopping for school supplies. Instead it was just a time to start putting the summer strappy dresses away and taking out the cardigans for layering outfits. In a way, I missed that excitement of what a milestone September used to be, when it was time to go back and see all my school friends and be back with my social tribe.

Actually though, last September and this September I’ve been feeling that same enthusiasm and anticipation as the first day of school used to bring… and that’s because of Feast Portland.

Looking back on some of my stuff for the scrapbook of Feast Portland 2013

Feast 2014 is a huge food and drink festival that will run this year from Thursday September 18 – Sunday September 21st, 2014. That’s only 5 weeks away!

Most of the over 30 food and drink events are located in various locations in downtown Portland, and draws food lovers from all over as the premier Portland food and drink festival of the year.

In fact Fodor lists it as one of the top 15 North America food festivals alongside The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, NYC Wine & Food Festival, and Aspen’s Food and Wine Classic. Pretty good since this is only Feast’s third birthday.

The festival draws food lovers and big food names from all over, varying from the fellow West Coasters of California and Washington to the cosmopolitan cities of Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, New York, Boston… and you can expect that many established and rising stars of Portland will also be there.

What this means to me is that like a special 4 day summer camp for adults, food lovers will be gathering at Feast to learn and share knowledge and most important, do a lot of eating and drinking of deliciousness.

When I attended Feast last year (both with a Feast Media pass and because I bought tickets to a couple events on my own dime), I came home every day with a big bag full of cards and pamphlets of new products I had just been introduced to, lots of scribbled notes of tips and ideas for future scrumptiousness, and a tummy full of so many distinctive bites and sips. For instance, what you see below was from just 2 hours in of Feast on Day 1…
Some swag from Feast Portland 2013

If you’ve been to Feast before I’m probably preaching to the choir, so let me help give an overview to those who haven’t attended Feast before, and why you should strive to attend at least one event.

First, you should know that the tickets for each of these events is always all inclusive. That means all food and drink are included in your price. Also, all the events for ages 21 and over only.

Second, you should also keep in mind that the net proceeds of Feast go towards ending childhood hunger in Oregon through Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Share Our Strength. In it’s first two years, Feast has been able to raise $46,000 in 2012 and more than $52,000 in 2013 so far. So your money is not only getting you admission to all this food and drink, it’s also for a worthy and important cause.

Third, if you can’t afford a ticket, you might also consider applying to volunteer for Feast. Remember it’s all for a valuable cause, and also promoting so much culinary delight!

The Type of Events at Feast

There are 4 main types of events at Feast.

1. Hands On Classes

These are workshops where in small groups like in a hands on cooking class, you will be tutored on a specific subject, and all the classes are spread throughout the days of Saturday and Sunday of Feast food camp. They all take place at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.

What makes these stand out from normal cooking classes is that you will be learning from a nationally, even internationally, recognized expert in that subject!

Six of the eight the classes have already sold out, so I won’t tease you with those. The classes that are still open as of this post in case this is something you want to be schooled by one of the best include

Feast Portland Classes 2013 c/o Shawn Linehan, Tea Blending class
Photo Credit: Shawn Linehan CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

Saturday, September 20, 2014
  • Soda Jerk: Artisanal Soda Making with Ross Hunsinger. Learn how to craft amazing soda with fruit syrups and infusions in your own kitchen so you can make your own spruce cola, birch root beer, etc that are restaurant quality from Ross, the founder of Atlas Sodaworks and who provides soda for Aviary 3-4:30 PM for $65
Sunday, September 21, 2014
  • Juicy Juice with Portland Juice Company. Have you been hearing about the juicing trend, varying from those on juice cleanses to those who just want to incorporate more healthy juices in their regular diet? Portland Juice Company can help you create winning combinations that are enjoyable and healthy. Class is from 11-12:30 PM for $65

2. Tasting Panels

These are classes where you get to taste a large variety of a special beverage while being educated on that particular beverage by expert tasting panel. Most of these run on Friday and Saturday and are held at the Portland Art Museum, outdoors under a tent in the museum’s sculpture area.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Tasting Panel 2013 c/o Katie Acheff for Feast Portland
Photo Credit: Katie Acheff CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

  • Chardonnay is for Lovers aims to introduce you to a fresh perspective on this white wine from 12-1:00 PM for $55
  • A Walk on the Sour Side explores sour beers from 2-3:00 PM for $55
  • Negroni O’clock explores the classic negronis from various negroni experts of Seattle, Portland, and New York from 4-5:00 PM for $55
Saturday, September 20, 2014

Tasting Panel 2013 c/o Katie Acheff for Feast Portland
Photo Credit: Katie Acheff CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

  • Tiny Bubbles takes a look at the bubbly beverages ranging from champagne to prosecco from 11-12:00 PM for $55
  • Beans and Booze mixes coffee cocktails with you from 12:45-1:45 PM for $55
  • Tastes Great. Less Filling challenges you to try lighter lager beeers from 2:30-3:30 PM for $55
  • Get Lei’d: It’s Tiki Time takes you on a tiki cocktail journey from 4:15-5:15 PM for $55

3. Dinner Series

These are 10 dinners from Thursday to Sunday of Feast food camp. Each of unique dinners is a mash-up of chefs from various restaurants and various cities all contributing their skills and culinary perspective to a singular dinner experience for that one night. Every dinner includes drink pairings – remember, it’s all inclusive.

If you were to continue this school analogy, this would be the final projects of various self-selected groups… and your ticket to the dinner means you get to be the judge of how well the end project result is. And the groups are all made of your teachers.

Feast Portland Dinner Series 2013 c/o Shawn Linehan Feast Portland Dinner Series 2013 c/o Shawn Linehan
Photo Credit: Shawn Linehan CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

Last year, I did not buy a dinner series ticket, as I had decided to splurge on a ticket to High Comfort. This year, I decided that I wanted one of these special Dinners instead.

Nine out of ten of these once in a lifetime dinners are already sold out, including the one I have a ticket to – the State of the Art with Adelsheim Vineyard and Willamette Valley Vineyards and chefs from 5 different cities but all individually defining the boundaries of modernist cuisine.

There is only one dinner left with tickets on sale, if you are interested:

  • Dessert for Dinner brings together 5 dessert chefs plus pairings of the courses with Sherries and Madeiras for one sweet time on Thursday September 18th at 7 PM for $100

I’ll try to take as many photos as I can of my dinner experience with State of the Art so you can see for yourselves what these final project report outs are like!

4. Main Marquee Events

Finally, the events that are like the school science fairs… but better because instead you can eat these, and the booths are all about deliciuosness.

These are five Marquee events which operate similar to open markets for you to sample from various tables. Unlike the previous three types which are in smaller groups, the Marquee events involve you being a lot more on your feet and in control of what, when, and where you’ll be as you wander as you’d like to each sampling station.

If you have ever seen on shows like Top Chef when the chefs each are manning a station putting forth a small sample dish they have conceived- that’s what these first four Marquee events are like.

Sandwich Invitational

The official name of this marquee event is Widmer Brothers Brewing Sandwich Invitational Presented by Dave’s Killer Bread. This runs on Thursday September 18th from 6-9:00 PM in Director Park.

Feast Portland Sandwich Invitational 2013 c/o John Valls
Photo Credit: John Valls CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

For $95 , for those 3 hours you can have at least 14 slider sized or better sandwiches, one from each of the 14 chefs in the lineup, including from visiting chefs like Hugh Acheson, Chris Cosentino, Paul Kahan and Matt McCallister as well as ten more Portland chefs from fine restaurants and the reigning sandwich kings of Portland, Rick Gencaralli of Lardo and also Tommy Habetz and Nick Wood of Bunk Sandwiches.

Feast Portland Sandwich Invitational 2013 c/o Allison Jones
Photo Credit: Allison Jones CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

Oh yeah, and there’s also free flowing Widmer Brothers beer, cocktails by Reyka Vodka, and six wineries pouring all night. I attended this event last year – you can see my recap that was in my post in 2013 here – and I’ll also be attending this year!

Night Market

This is always the first Marquee Event to sell out- and it has just indeed sold out in the past week! The official name of this event is USA Pears Night Market at Zidell Yards and runs on Friday September 19th from 6-9:00 PM at Zidell Yards.

Feast Portland Night Market 2013 c/o Allison Jones Feast Portland Night Market 2013 c/o Allison Jones
Photo Credit: Allison Jones CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

For $125, for those 3 hours you can journey to the markets of Asia to eat street food, courtesy of 20 chefs, each presenting their interpretation of a street food plate for you. You won’t be thirsty though with 10 breweries, 6 wineries, and 9 distilleries keeping your glasses full. Given the famous names in the chef lineup, it’s no surprise this event is so popular.

High Comfort

Of all the five events, this is the one that is the fancy dress up and dine on comfort food like you were the 1%. The official name of this marquee event is Oregonian Media Group High Comfort at the Nines, held at the Nines Hotel on Saturday September 20th from 6-9:00 PM.

For  $175, for those 3 hours you can eat comfort food that has been upped in decadence and luxury from 20 different chef stations while enjoying generous pours of Widmer Beer, cocktails by Hendrick’s Gin, or keeping your wine glass full thanks to 15 wineries.

Feast Portland High Comfort 2013 c/o John Valls Feast Portland High Comfort 2013 c/o John Valls
Photo Credit: John Valls CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland

I attended High Comfort last year in 2013: here’s my recap if you are interested in what it was like, and I’m sure it will be even better this year.

Brunch Village

This is a new marquee event for Feast’s third year. The Tillamook Brunch Village is taking over Pioneer Square held at the Nines Hotel on Saturday September 20th from 11-:200 PM.

For $75, you get a long and leisurely 4 hours to enjoy brunch bites from several nationally known chefs including the familiar faces of BBQ King Aaron Franklin and Ace of Cakes/Charm City Cakes Duff Goldman and more, plus the 5 breweries and 5 wineries.

All this eating and drinking will be while also watching a Brunch Brawl on the Main Stage as five bartenders compete to make the best brunch cocktail. The pictures below are from the Portland Monthly Country Brunch I covered earlier, but I am guessing that the concept will be similar in that there will be enticing brunch bites like this…

Chef Johanna Ware from Smallwares brought one of my favorite Asian breakfast dishes, Breakfast congee with Chinese Sausage, egg, scallion, granola and maple ponzu at Portland Monthly's Country Brunch 2014 at Castaway benefiting Zenger Farm Chef Rick Gencarelli from Lardo of course brought the fat with a Pork Belly Egg Benedict with a buttery buttermilk biscuit, big hunk of pork belly, fried quail egg, and Frank's hollandaise. Portland Monthly's Country Brunch 2014 at Castaway benefiting Zenger Farm  Chefs Michael Madigan & Jeff McCarthy from TenTop did a unique take with their Miso Soy Ginger Bagel with bulgogi beef, kimchee schmear, and cured egg yolk at Portland Monthly's Country Brunch 2014 at Castaway benefiting Zenger Farm

I’ll be at the Brunch Village event, reporting back with my recap of this event after I probably waddle home and take a big long nap.

Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting

This two day marquee event is like the best farmers markets you have ever visited- be it your local city one, Pike Place Market in Seattle or Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver or the great big markets in Europe or Asia.

Don’t be surprised if you are even a little overwhelmed by all the various booths of artisans. After all, there are 15 breweries, 33 wineries, and 16 artisan product stands and more… with each stand usually having multiple items for you to sample, and most with a winemaker or the artisan maker of the food product right there on the other side of the table for you to ask all the questions you want.

Feast Portland Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting 2013 c/o Allison Jones
Photo Credit: Allison Jones CopyrightAll rights reserved by Feast Portland
The $60 ticket to the Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting Presented by Alaska Airlines is good for all that that day (either Friday or Saturday) from 12-5:00 PM at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Feast Portland Logo

I’ll be back in a few weeks with specific tips on how to make the most of Feast 2014 if you attend. Meanwhile, I hope this post has been helpful to understand what will be going on in mid-September and how delectable it is all going to be! If you want to find out more, visit FeastPortland.com

Disclosure: I was granted a Blogger Pass for Feast Portland 2014 for blog post and social media coverage but I am not otherwise being compensated. Even before I was given the Blogger Pass I already had tickets for some Feast events though- it just means I will have more to recap for you! Follow me on Instagram @pechluck or Twitter @pechluck and check this blog during Feast for updates, or check the hashtag #feastpdx.

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Nodoguro July 2014 Tanabata Mitsuri

July 17, 2014 by 6 Comments

Another month, another dinner recap, so here’s me reporting in with the Nodoguro July 2014 menu.

Pretty much Nodoguro PDX is part of my monthly budget now. The menu changes every month, and I don’t know any other place I can get this kind of experience and level of complexity of flavors in any Japanese restaurant in Portland. Every menu, even from week to week or day to day, changes based on the produce availability and freshness of the ingredients, so if I don’t go that month, I will never see that combo again. Damn you Ryan.

Even though this is a pop-up in the Evoo space, Elena does an amazing job transforming the space each time with simplicity and grace and warmth based on that month’s theme. What a supercouple.

A peek at Elena of Nodoguro PDX on the bottom right and some of the colorful lanterns in the Evoo space A peek at Ryan talking to one of the guests at the Nodoguro pop up

Lovely decorations by Elena, and one of the sake curated by Carl for the dinner Lovely decorations by Elena, and a peek at Mark in the upper right

Add in the unique produce from Mark of Phantom Rabbit Farms who is providing so many of their ingredients. Apparently they just sat down with some coffee with a Japanese seed catalog and oh, decided what to grow all year. Psssh. These geniuses. Check out the Phantom Rabbit Farm website for their series of farm dinners – I hope to visit sometime.

Oh, and then there are the additional drinks from Carl Donheiser (he wasn’t at my July dinner and was missed, though it was his menu). It’s no wonder that Michael Russell named Nodoguro one of the best pop up restaurants in Portland that cumulatively add up to the Oregonion’s Restaurant of the Year.

For this dinner, we got to write wishes that we then tied onto a tree Each month, along with a change in theme is a new painting by Elena's dad for Nodoguro!

I don’t know what else to say but to share the photos.

The Menu for Nodoguro July 2014

Cucumber soup with fermented ume, and Nasturtium
Nodoguro July 2014 Cucumber soup with fermented ume, and Nasturtium Nodoguro July 2014 Cucumber soup with fermented ume, and Nasturtium Nodoguro July 2014 Cucumber soup with fermented ume, and Nasturtium

Oregon Albacore, wasabi and mitsuba bud with aged soy and citrus

Nodoguro July 2014 Oregon Albacore, wasabi and mitsuba bud with aged soy and citrus Nodoguro July 2014 Oregon Albacore, wasabi and mitsuba bud with aged soy and citrus

Sesame tofu with Uni, caviar, and water pepper

Nodoguro July 2014 Sesame tofu with Uni, caviar, and water pepper Nodoguro July 2014 Sesame tofu with Uni, caviar, and water pepper

Air dried Mackerel, crushed turnip, yuzu kosho, myoga and shiso

Nodoguro July 2014 Air dried Mackerel, crushed turnip, yuzu kosho, myoga and shiso Nodoguro July 2014 Air dried Mackerel, crushed turnip, yuzu kosho, myoga and shiso

Kakuni pork belly , onsen egg, mizuna and mustard 

Nodoguro July 2014 Kakuni pork belly , onsen egg, mizuna and mustard Nodoguro July 2014 Kakuni pork belly , onsen egg, mizuna and mustard

Orach, pickled burdock, fennel, and cucumber blossom

Nodoguro July 2014 Orach, pickled burdock, fennel, and cucumber blossom Nodoguro July 2014 Orach, pickled burdock, fennel, and cucumber blossom

“Bento”  with Soy cured trout pressed sushi, futomaki, and ikura don 

Nodoguro July 2014 Bento with Soy cured trout pressed sushi, futomaki, and ikura don Nodoguro July 2014 Bento with Soy cured trout pressed sushi, futomaki, and ikura don Nodoguro July 2014 Bento with Soy cured trout pressed sushi, futomaki, and ikura don Nodoguro July 2014 Bento with Soy cured trout pressed sushi, futomaki, and ikura don

Dashimaki Tamago

Nodoguro July 2014 Dashimaki Tamago

Frozen Koji cream with hazlenut and raspberry syrup

Nodoguro July 2014 Frozen Koji cream w/ hazlenut, and raspberry syrup Nodoguro July 2014 Frozen Koji cream w/ hazlenut, and raspberry syrup

“Young momoji” Manju with Roasted Buckwheat tea

Nodoguro July 2014 Young momoji Manju with Roasted Buckwheat tea Nodoguro July 2014 Young momoji Manju with Roasted Buckwheat tea Nodoguro July 2014 Young momoji Manju with Roasted Buckwheat tea

Besides Nodoguro now on my regular pop up circuit, I have Holdfast, Laangbaan, and DaNet on my wishlist to try out.

Have you been to any pop up restaurants in Portland yet? Which ones?

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Oregon Cider Week Highlights

June 19, 2014 by 6 Comments

Just  a couple weeks after Portland Beer Week, and just before Oregon Beer Month (July) is Oregon Cider Week, which runs June 20-29 2014 this year. That’s right, so it starts tomorrow! Oddly, just like PDX Beer Week, the “week” is actually more like 10 days than an actual 7 day week… more for everyone!
oregon cider week in 2014

This is the third year that the Northwest Cider Association (NWCA) has promoted this celebration of craft cider with a variety of events, varying from special ciders and cider tap takeovers to cider classes to cider and food pairing dinners. I wanted to highlight a few of the events of Cider Week, similar to what I had done previously for PDX Beer Week during my June 2014 Roundup.

So here are my Oregon Cider Week Highlights. Be sure to visit the Oregon Cider Week website for a full listing of events!

Cider Cocktails and Cider Pastries at St Honoré

Friday, June 20, 2014 – Sunday, June 29, 2014

St. Honoré Boulangerie on SE Division in Portland St. Honoré Boulangerie on SE Division in Portland

For the entire Cider Week, St. Honoré Boulangerie, besides their usual eight different draft cider on tap at their SE Division location on 3333 SE Division St, will be offering 5 types of unique cider cocktails, priced at merely $5-6 during their happy hour 4pm-close. Yep, those are the hours. You an also enjoy a cider flight of 4 from those draft ciders for only $6.

St. Honoré Boulangerie Cider Program - 5 cider cocktails and 6 draft ciders plus some draft beers as well

I was fortunate enough to get a little preview of these cider cocktails earlier this week at a Media Event the other day. Frenchman Chef Dominique Geulin, owner and head baker and also winner of a prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France in the boulangerie category, and mixologist Jacob Grier just happened to be on hand to explain how they deftly maneuver around not having a liquor license to still produce the amazing cocktails with cider, and how they are jumping full into the cider festivities with cider and cider food and even a cider dinner (the Cider Feast, more details below in the post).

St. Honoré Boulangerie Cider Program Media Preview, Frenchman Chef Dominique Geulin the owner and head baker at St. Honoré and winner of of a prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France in the boulangerie category St. Honoré Boulangerie Cider Program Media Preview, Frenchman Chef Dominique Geulin the owner and head baker at St. Honoré Boulangerie, and Portland mixologist Jacob Grier St Honore Cider Program Media Preview, Jacob Grier making a cocktail for me

Seriously, these cider cocktails are fantastic, if anyone comes to visit me here in Portland, I will definitely take you here. Cider Cocktails is definitely a niche I want to encourage and see explored more.

St Honore Cider Program Media Preview, the Cider Sangrias, Blanc with apple honey and mint or Rouge with raspberries orange, pineapple and honey

The five cider cocktails that Jacob Grier has crafted include

  • Midnight in Paris: Finnriver Farmstead Cider, Lillet Blanc, sweet orange vinegar, elderflower syrup and orange peel  Aromatic and floral.
    St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Cocktail of Midnight in Paris: Finnriver Farmstead Cider, Lillet Blanc, sweet orange vinegar, elderflower syrup and orange peel
  • Yuzu-Pippin: Reverend Nat’s Revelation Newtown Pippin single varietal cider, Yuzu citrus vinegar, mint and lemon. A citrus-forward drink that is simple, refreshing, and light. You can also see all the pretty cider taps behind the photo of the drink below!
    St Honore Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Cocktail of Yuzu-Pippin: Reverend Nat's Revelation Newtown Pippin single varietal cider, Yuzu citrus vinegar, mint and lemon A citrus-forward drink that is simple, refreshing, and light. You can also see all the cider taps behind it! St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Cocktail of Yuzu-Pippin: Reverend Nat's Revelation Newtown Pippin single varietal cider, Yuzu citrus vinegar, mint and lemon A citrus-forward drink that is simple, refreshing, and light St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Cocktail of Yuzu-Pippin: Reverend Nat's Revelation Newtown Pippin single varietal cider, Yuzu citrus vinegar, mint and lemon A citrus-forward drink that is simple, refreshing, and light
  • Cider Sangria (Rouge): Finnriver Black Current Cider, raspberries, orange, pineapple and honey
  • Cider Sangria (Blanc): 2 Towns Bright Cider, apple, honey and mint
    St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Sangria (Rouge): Finnriver Black Current Cider, raspberries, orange, pineapple and honey St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Sangria (Rouge): Finnriver Black Current Cider, raspberries, orange, pineapple and honey
  • Snake Bite: A fifty-fifty mix of cider and beer, garnished with a lemon wedge
    St Honore Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Cocktail of Snake Bite: A fifty-fifty mix of cider and beer, garnished with a lemon wedge

At all three of the St. Honoré locations (so also including NW Thurman and Lake Oswego) there will also be pastries, dessert, and bread made with cider! One example of this is this Grillé aux Pommes, a Caramelized Apple Butter Tart with puff pastry, apple butter made with slow roasted apples and apple cider, finished with apricot glaze.

St. Honoré Boulangerie Cider Program Media Preview, Grillé aux Pommes, a Caramelized Apple Butter Tart with puff pastry, apple butter made with slow roasted apples and apple cider, finished with apricot glaze St. Honoré Boulangerie Cider Program Media Preview, Grillé aux Pommes, a Caramelized Apple Butter Tart with puff pastry, apple butter made with slow roasted apples and apple cider, finished with apricot glaze

They have a clay firebrick bread oven that is used to make these perfect Tarte Flambées, which are Alsatian-style Flatbread pizzas baked to order. The ones below include one on the regular menu, a Lardon Et L’oignon (Bacon and onion) with Bacon lardon, fresh onions, crème fraiche, and also a special one with cider they had added, a Tarte Flambée with crème fraîche sauce, apples, Fourme d’Ambert bleu cheese, baked and topped with arugula, toasted walnuts and a cider gastrique.
St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Tarte Flambée, an Alsatian-style Savory tart baked to order, this one is LARDON ET L'OIGNON Bacon lardon, fresh onions, crème fraiche St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Tarte Flambée, an Alsatian-style Savory tart baked to order, this one is a special one with crème fraîche sauce, apples, Fourme d'Ambert bleu cheese, baked and topped with arugula, toasted walnuts and a cider gastrique. St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Tarte Flambée, an Alsatian-style Savory tart baked to order, this one is a special one with crème fraîche sauce, apples, Fourme d'Ambert bleu cheese, baked and topped with arugula, toasted walnuts and a cider gastrique.

Then there are also Cider and Green apple macaroons, Cider Marcarpone Tarts (Almond cream and caramelized apples, layered with tangy cider-rhubarb gelee, and vanilla bean mascarpone mousse) and Cider Bread with little slivers of apple here or there.
St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, cider-green apple macaroons St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Marcarpone Tart, Almond cream and caramelized apples, layered with tangy cider-rhubarb gelee, and vanilla bean mascarpone mousse St. Honoré Boulangerie, Cider Program Media Preview, Cider Bread with little slivers of apple here or there

And, if you haven’t been there already, you should know to be prepared to still want to take home some extra baked goods, because they are lovely here. I’ll just point out oh, this Bacon Roll just bread baked with oven roasted bacon, or Pain aux Lardons just croissant dough rolled with bacon bechamel and red pepper sauce then sprinkled with Emmentel cheese and Jacobsen’s sea salt. Because you needed to know these delights exist.
St. Honoré Boulangerie, a Bacon Roll with traditional bread baked with oven roasted bacon

Or want more apple with your cider? How about this Chausson aux Pommes (French style turnover with apple sauce filling) or Normandy Apple Toast with Viennoserie pastry pieces baked in a rum and vanilla custard and fresh apples on top. Yum… They have many other things, varying from quiches to spaetzle and salads and sandwiches like my favorite, a decadent Croque Madame… if you haven’t been before, I highly highly recommend that you must visit!
St. Honoré Boulangerie, Chausson aux Pommes, French style turnover with apple sauce filling St. Honoré Boulangerie, Normandy Apple Toast with Viennoserie pastry pieces baked in a rum and vanilla custard and fresh apples on top

 

The new cider cocktails will be available at St Honore all summer long!

Cider Tastings at Bushwhacker Cider

Sunday, June 22, 2014 – Sunday, June 29, 2014

All Tastings are complimentary, most are scheduled for 6:00-9:00 PM unless otherwise noted at Bushwhacker Cider located at 1212-D SE Powell.

  • June 22nd: Oregon Cider Week Event – Red Tank Meet the Maker & Portland Juice Co. 2-5pm
  • June 23rd: Oregon Cider Week Event – EZ Orchards & Steve Jones from Cheese Bar 6-9pm
  • June 24th: Oregon Cider Week Event – Finnriver & Salt & Straw 6-9pm
  • June 25th: Oregon Cider Week Event – Woodchuck Cider & Smitten Truffles 6-9pm
  • June 26th: Oregon Cider Week Event – Bull Run Cider & Brooklyn House 6-9pm
  • June 27th: Oregon Cider Week Event – Schilling with Olympic Provisionspm
  • June 28th: Oregon Cider Week Event – Cider Riot & PNW Kale Chips 2-5pm

Cider Appreciation Class with Reverend Nat’s

Thursday, June 19, 2014 8:00pm – 10:00pm

Reverend Nat's Hard Cider logo. The Apple's Deepest Purpose Realized

Reverend Nat’s Cidery & Public Taproom at 1813 NE 2nd Ave is holding an event where Rev Nat walks participants through 25+ all apple ciders from around the world so you can taste the wide range of apples and cider styles, including ciders from England, France, Spain (Basque and Asturias), New Zealand, Germany, Eastern US and Western US. Tickets are $40, either by buying online at Brown Paper Tickets or at the cidery (503-567-2221).

Cider Summit PDX in the Pearl District

Saturday June 21 – Sunday June 22 2014

This year the  Cider Summit PDX is celebrating its 4th year in Portland at the northern Pearl District at Fields Neighborhood Park at 1099 NW Overton Street. It will be held Friday, June 20 from 2 – 8 PM and Saturday, June 21 from 12 – 6 PM. As before, cidery owners and cidermakers will be on hand to inform and guide guests through the samplings which will be available in 4-ounce tasting portions in a souvenir festival glass. 

Cider Summit Portland 2014

In addition to the range of ciders, the event will feature the DoveLewis / Unleashed by Petco dog lounge, expanded food selections from World Foods & St. Honore Boulangerie, special dessert pairings from Smitten Truffles and cider ice cream from Fifty Licks.

Transportation wise Brewvana Brewery Tours shuttle will run a continuous loop from SE Portland to the Park because of its location you can easily also ride the Portland Streetcar to the event.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 (cash only) at the door and are available online via Stranger tickets, Umpqua Bank Pearl District branch, and at many of the area’s leading bottle shops.  Admission includes a tasting glass and 8 tasting tickets.  Additional tasting tickets will be available for sale onsite at $2 per ticket. There is also a special VIP ticket available for $35 that includes 4 additional tasting tickets and early admission on Friday from 2p-3p, only 200 of these tickets are available – exclusively online via the event website.

Dogs are allowed at the event, but no minors. Re-admission will be allowed at any time with event wristband and tasting glass.  The Cider Summit event will benefit Northwest Cider Association, Cascade Blues Association, DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital, and The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research.

Cider and a Movie at Reverend Nat’s

Saturday, June 21, 2014 8:00pm – 11:00pm

Reverend Nat’s Cidery & Public Taproom is also having a more casual event called Spaceballs, Sizzle Pie and Cider. For $10, you can visit the Cidery & Taproom to drink Rev Nat’s cider, eat pizza from Sizzle Pie (“Death to False Pizza”) and watch the 1987 classic spoof movie Spaceballs. Fun! The $10 entry at the door gets you all the pizza you can eat and a folding chair in front of the projector, though you are on your own for the cider. The movie starts promptly at 9 pm.

Science and Cider with OMSI After Dark

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 7:00pm – 10:00pm

OMSI After Dark Bones: Dig It

This month, the OMSI After Dark theme is Archaeology and Cider! Besides demonstrations where you can cast velociraptor claws or dig through owl pellets, you can taste ciders (requires a tasting glass and tokens) from participating cideries such as 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Bull Run Cider, finnriver cidery, Original Sin Craft Ciders, Portland Cider Co, Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, Schilling Cider, Tieton Cider Works and Wandering Aengus Ciderworks. And you are in the OMSI museum browsing the exhibits in a 21 and over audience!

Cider Feast dinner with cider pairings at St Honoré

Thursday, June 26, 2014 6:30pm -8:30pm

Another way to taste those cider cocktails I mentioned earlier is at a special Cider Feast event St. Honoré Boulangerie is having on Thursday, June 26, 2014 6:30-8:30pm, a special five-course dinner where each course is created with different cider and paired with cider or cider cocktail. 

The event will be at their SE Division location and is by reservation only and costs $45.00 per person, the cost includes gratuity. Make Reservations by calling the SE Division store (971) 279-4433 or infodiv@sthonorebakery.com. You can look at the intriguing cider menu here.

Crushin’ It! Finnriver at BeerMongers

Thursday, June 26, 2014 6:00pm -9:00pm

Crushin It event with Finnriver and Beermongers
BeerMongers will be hosting Finnriver Farm & Cidery for a night of specialty cider including special limited release, draft only offerings of Finnriver Autumn’s Blush Cider and Finnriver Belgian Style Cider as well as complementary tastes of hand selected bottles. I’m a big fan of Finnriver, and of Beermongers so was happy to see both of them working together at this tasting event.

For instance, I have to warn you that the Finnriver Spirited Apple Wine is dangerous, tasting light with a bit of apple spice but kicking in at 18.5% and absolutely delicious, and I also like their tart Black Currant and spicy Habanero Cider with balanced sweet with a bit of fiery burn – all of these which I have enjoyed tasting at Pike Chocofest, which is where my below photo is from.
Finn River Cidery booth at Pike Chocofest 2014

English and French Ciders and Cheese with Bushwhacker & Reverend Nat’s

Friday, June 27, 2014 6:00pm – 10:00pm

This event  is a collaboration with Bushwhacker Cider and Reverend Nat’s Cidery & Public Taproom in which they present an English and French Cider Experience. The Brewvana bus picks up participants at Bushwhacker at 6 pm sharp, and during the bus ride guests enjoy a can of Cascadia en route to Rev Nat’s Public Taproom where Nat guides them through five dank, dark, barnyardy English ciders.

Then, hop back on the Brewvana bus and back to Bushwhacker where Jeff guides guests through five fruity, sweet, funky French ciders. Everyone will be able to buy buy bottles to go or pints of favorites at Bushwhacker, and there will also be cheese at each stop curated by Steve Jones of Cheese Bar. $25 advance purchase only, buy online via Brown Paper Tickets or call Bushwhacker or call Reverend Nat’s.

Cider Farm to Table Dinner with Phantom Rabbit Farm and Reverend Nat’s

Sunday, June 29, 2014 5:00pm – 10:00pm

Farmer Melissa Joubert, Chef Mark Wooten and Reverend Nat team up for a cider paired dine on the Phantom Rabbitl Farm in Portland’s West Hills. This farm to table dinner event includes a multi-course pairing with items harvested on the Phantom Rabbit Farm that day, their milled grains, locally sourced beef, and fish, hand churned butter, Oregon hand harvested sea salt and many other details, then paired with Reverend Nat’s Cidery & Public Taproom Cider.

Make reservations $85 advance, buy online here at the Phantom Rabbit website.

 

Do you like ciders? Do you think you will attend any of these events?

Disclosure: The preview of the St Honoré cocktails was complimentary, but I was going to include them in this Oregon Cider Week highlight anyway so it was a happy coincidence and I have already been loving them since their original NW Thurman location a couple years ago. I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

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Filed Under: Cocktails, Festival Event, Food and Drink, Portland Highlights, Sponsored Post Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Art and Beer

June 10, 2014 by 8 Comments

Perhaps at art events, you picture you and your date holding a glass of fine local wine, gazing at a painting, and talking about how the brushstrokes draw your eye from left to right to follow the light source and turned body of the subjects, and how this painter represents that country and art period. Or maybe the conversation is more concise, such as “I like this one” and “I don’t like this one”.

Let me paint a new picture for you. It is this coming Friday night and you are at the Portland Art Museum with your date, sipping on a local beer that was created specifically inspired by the painting you are now gazing at.

Oh wait, actually there are FIVE local beers that were so inspired by that painting, and you get to sample 8 ounces each (half a pint!) of all of them.

  1. Breakside Brewery / The Man Who Made Dessert / 100% Brettanomyces fermented ale with apricots.
  2. Ecliptic Brewing / Caelum Ale / A blend of 3 different beers, some of which was aged in Syrah barrels.
  3. Humble Brewing / Servitude / Light-bodied, no-frills Saison crafted using the simplest of  ‘on-hand’ ingredients.
  4. Laurelwood Brewing / The Drunken Cobbler / A French/Belgian Grisette, historically a blue collar beer, with an added sour blend to upset the balance.
  5. Widmer Brothers Brewing / The Drunken Cobbler / Biere de Garde with mostly French ingredients, aged on French Oak.

Also, you get to hear the story about what and how the painting helped birth that beer, as well as learning about the painting and how the painting is cared for AND about how the beer was made AND how the beer and art parallel each other.

Did I mention this entire thing only cost you $12 ($10 if you are a Portland At Museum member already)? And that you also get snacks and museum admission to see the painting and rest of the art collection of the museum until it closes(keep in mind general admission is usually $15).

This event coming up this Friday June 13th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm with doors opening at 5:30pm to the Portland Art Museum is a perfect blend of fine art (literally) and the casual social bond of sharing beer. It’s both a fancy cultural and laid back casual perfect date and is the brainchild of Eric Steen, who is the brain behind Beers Made By Walking (bringing hiking/exercise/nature and beer together) and previous Art and Beer events, and one of the events for PDX Beer Week this week.

This year, the painting to inspire the five local breweries is The Drunken Cobbler, an 18th-century painting by French artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze in the Museum’s European art collection.

Painting The Drunken Cobbler, subject of Art and Beer event at Portland Art Museum with 5 breweries inspired to create a beer based on this art! Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, 1725-1805), The Drunken Cobbler, 1780/1785, oil on canvas, Gift of Marion Bowles Hollis, no known copyright restrictions, 59.1
The Drunken Cobbler, Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, 1725-1805), oil on canvas, Gift of Marion Bowles Hollis in the European Art Collection of the Portland Art Museum

This is the same painting that is the subject of this great 2 min video that gives a quick insightful analysis of the painting to get you ready for when you see it this Friday and can impress your date.


Oh, Daddy, Please Don’t be Drunk! – Jesse Locker, speaking about: Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, 1725-1805), The Drunken Cobbler, 1780/1785, oil on canvas

Now go buy your ticket (did I mention it’s only $12? Which is cheaper then regular admission), set up your date, and be cultured and impressive and awesome. You’re welcome.

Oh, besides the admission and 5 beers and snacks, you also get to keep the special glass they made for this. Seriously, this is SUCH A DEAL.

If you want, you can also then finish up your date with a dinner with the Official Beer Week Sandwich available at the various Lardo locations and Easy Company. The official beer week sandwich is with Olympic Provisions Kielbasa, smoked Tillamook cheddar, sauerkraut, Worthy/Hopworks Session India Rye Ale mustard on toasted ciabatta.
Lardo's Portland Beer Week Sandwich with Olympic Provisions kielbasa, beer rye mustard, sauerkraut, Tillamook smoked cheddar cheese Lardo's Portland Beer Week Sandwich with Olympic Provisions kielbasa, beer rye mustard, sauerkraut, Tillamook smoked cheddar cheese Lardo's Portland Beer Week Sandwich with Olympic Provisions kielbasa, beer rye mustard, sauerkraut, Tillamook smoked cheddar cheese

One more nag- have you bought your ticket yet to the Portland Beer and Cheese Festival yet?

Check out more beer events here for PDX Beer Week June 5-15th, and don’t forget I have a June Drinking Events Roundup here!

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Portland Center Stage Show: Lizzie Musical

June 3, 2014 by 8 Comments

Disclosure: I was invited to see this production as part of a complimentary bloggers event, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

The Portland Center Stage has just opened recently a new show called LIZZIE. It’s been a while since I visited Portland Center Stage- the last time I blogged about it was when I reviewed I Love To Eat and did a backstage at Portland Center Stage at the Armory, though I also saw The People’s Republic of Portland. Then summer happened, and Feast, and the holidays, and somehow I didn’t get back to a show. Thankfully they came back to my attention when I was invited to Blogger Night at Portland Center Stage, which was also the official opening night of LIZZIE! The show is playing May 24 — June 29 so it only has a 4 week run!

LIZZIE Art by Julia McNamara May 24–June 29, 2014 pcs.org/lizzie
LIZZIE Art by Julia McNamara

A Review of the LIZZIE Musical

LIZZIE is described as

“A rock-show retelling of the bloody legend of America’s favorite ax-wielding double-murderess and Victorian hometown girl. Lizzie Borden, who has become fodder for jump rope rhymes and TV movies of the week, was a Massachusetts woman who was acquitted in 1892 of the ax murders of her father and stepmother, and lived the rest of her life as American’s first infamous tabloid star. But did she really do it? And if so, why?”

Mary Kate Morrissey, who will play Lizzie Borden in Portland Center Stage's upcoming production of LIZZIE - a rock musical about the legendary ax murderess. Please credit: Patrick Weishampel LIZZIE By Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner and Alan Stevens Hewitt Directed by Rose Riordan May 24–June 29, 2014 on the Main Stage
Mary Kate Morrissey, who will play Lizzie Borden in Portland Center Stage’s production of “LIZZIE” – a rock musical about the legendary ax murderess. Photo credit: Patrick Weishampel

My friend M and I went to the opening night last week and had a lot of fun. It turns out that the play is more like a rock concert / musical telling a story with four women fronting a six-piece rock band. Yeah! It was awesome watching these women taking command of the stage with strong performances and crossing genres with their exquisite voices, varying from operatic drama and sweet love ballads to head banging classic rock and roll tinged even with a little punk through the 28 songs that evening.

The first third of the performance starts out slow and a little discordant as the audience (at least IMHO) is presented with the visuals of these four proper ladies in Victorian mannerisms and long dresses and pinned hair singing the story exposition (as you would expect in a musical). At the start it seems to really pile on the background of the situation and characters and possible motivations all seemingly too quickly.

Perhaps part of it was I had to try to adjust so quickly of them switching from singing of longing and desire for freedom and love, which meets normal musical story expectations, to already hiking up their skirts and pulling out a microphone to belt lyrics ranging of the father’s disappointment of not having a son and being a penny-pinching control freak to struggles of inheritance and implied incest and lesbian love.
LIZZIE Clockwise from top: Kacie Sheik (Alice Russell), Leslie McDonel (Emma Borden), Carrie Cimma (Bridget Sullivan) and Mary Kate Morrissey (Lizzie Borden) in LIZZI
Clockwise from top: Kacie Sheik (Alice Russell), Leslie McDonel (Emma Borden), Carrie Cimma (Bridget Sullivan) and Mary Kate Morrissey (Lizzie Borden) in “LIZZIE” at Portland Center Stage. Photo credit: Patrick Weishampel

Thankfully, after that initial 1/3 of the act, the script seems satisfied with having established rational and emotional motives and enough broad brushstrokes of who each of the characters are to begin having fun. Starting at the point where we begin to contemplate the murder alongside with Lizzie with the beautiful song Shattercane and Velvet Grass, LIZZIE begins to hit its stride.

It’s an admirable feat, balancing tragic drama with a few lines here and there of touches of clever dark  humor along with quite a bit of over the top visuals, varying from bloody pigeons to a spurting ax and head banging to a song titled “What the F**K Now, Lizzie?!”. Yet, it seems not so jarring now, but in line with the yearning for and expression for freedom that the audience now has bought into and is right with Lizzie Bordon in supporting rebellion and yes, reveling in it. I think everyone walked out at the end with a smile.

LIZZIE l-r: Mary Kate Morrissey (Lizzie Borden) and Kacie Sheik (Alice Russell) in LIZZIE at Portland Center Stage. Please credit: Patrick Weishampel LIZZIE By Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner and Alan Stevens Hewitt Directed by Rose Riordan May 24–June 29, 2014 on the Main Stage
LIZZIE l-r: Mary Kate Morrissey (Lizzie Borden) and Kacie Sheik (Alice Russell) in “LIZZIE” at Portland Center Stage. Photo credit: Patrick Weishampel

LIZZIE Show and Ticket Details

The show is playing May 24 — June 29 on the Main Stage of Portland Center Stage. LIZZIE is written by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner and Alan Stevens Hewitt and Directed by Rose Riordan.

Note: This production features a live rock band, along with theatrical effects such as strobe lights, fake blood and fog. LIZZIE contains mature content, strong language and sexuality; It is recommended for ages 16+ and children under 6 are not permitted.

Performance times:

  • Tuesday – Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
  • Thursday matinees at noon

Ticket prices range from $34- $72 depending on the seats and date/time of performance. Sunday and Thursday matinees are the most affordable ($38-52 matinee), followed by Sunday evenings ($44-54) and weekday evenings ($44-66), and Friday and Saturday being prime show nights ($54-72).

I have a special deal to offer in that you can use the promo code PDXBLOGS to get $10 off each ticket to LIZZIE when you purchase online through the PCS ticketing website. Also, if you lucky enough to be in time, they are having a special Beer, Bikes, and Blood promotion on this Friday June 6 as part of Pedalpalooza where you can get bike parking, Deschutes’ Chainbreaker White IPA brew and snacks in a private party at 5:30pm on the PCS mezzanine before the show AND a ticket to see the 7:30 evening LIZZIE all for just $20!

Portland Center Stage Lizzie production, Opening night of #lizzieborden #lizzie #pcs_lizzie @PCS_Armory

You can find Portland Center Stage (PCS) online at Facebook PDXcenterstage, Instagram @portlandcenterstage and Twitter @PCS_Armory. You’ll also find more about LIZZIE and other Portland Center Stage shows on the PCS blog.

Find out more about this musical at www.lizziethemusical.com, where you can even listen to a bit of the music to get an idea of what’s in store for you, and that studio album includes Storm Large as one of the Borden sisters and Carrie Manolakas as Lizzie Borden (you might know Carrie from her YouTube cover of Radiohead’s Creep)! Carrie Cimma who plays the housemaid on that album is the same Carrie who plays the housemaid in the Portland Center Stage production! You can also see a few sneak peak videos of other productions at the Portland Center Stage blog, as well as a preview of what the staging and costumes will be for the performance here in Portland.

Tips and Trivia

As a bonus, a few other tip and tidbits.

1. Show up a bit early for the show to enjoy a cocktail! They have a full bar, and also have a few special cocktails created to reflect these last shows of the season, LIZZIE and THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I ordered the one that was LIZZIE themed, a cocktail dubbed Life Ain’t Pear with house-infused pear brandy, triple sec, lemon, and splash of orange. Yes, there is a pear reference in the performance! Also, the bartendress Jamie who created our drinks was fabulous. You can pre-order your drink for intermission, btw. No need to chug your beverage before entering the theater- just make sure to grab a top for your drink and a straw!
Portland Center Stage Lizzie production, Ooooo the special cocktail for #lizzieborden #pcs_Lizzie Life Ain't Pear with house-infused pear brandy, triple sec, lemon, and splash of orange. #pdxcocktail #pdxdrinks Portland Center Stage Lizzie production, Ooooo the special cocktail for #lizzieborden #pcs_Lizzie Life Ain't Pear with house-infused pear brandy, triple sec, lemon, and splash of orange. #pdxcocktail #pdxdrinks

2. If you are in the neighborhood. I highly recommend Oven and Shaker as one option for a meal after the show so you can chat with your other theater companions about the fun you just had and the story. I’ve blogged about the Oven and Shaker great salad and pizzas and cocktails several times. If you just want a few cocktails after the show, within a 2 block radius besides Oven and Shaker I recommend Teardrop Lounge or Vault Martini for some cocktails. The pics below are from Oven and Shaker (Wild Fennel Sausage – potato, tomato, chilies, scallions, smoked mozzarella; the Nostrana Salad; and a Pepper Smash cocktail) and example cocktail from Teardrop.

There are many other options in the area, since Portland Center Stage is so well located in the Pearl and easy walking distance to downtown- so make it a great girls’ night or date night or night out with friends!

Wild Fennel Sausage with potato, tomato, chilies, scallions, smoked mozzarella Oven and Shaker, Cathy Whims, Pearl DistrictOven and Shaker offers as part of their happy hour the iconic Nostrana Radicchio Caeser, a small portion for half price. Clearly the portion is very generous Oven and Shaker Pepper Smash cocktail, Oven & Shaker, Cathy Whims, Wood fired pizza, Portland San Francisco Swell, Appleton Reserve rum, lime, mint, blackberry honey, Angostura bitters, egg white, Chandon brut sparkling, Teardrop Lounge, happy hour, cocktails

3. Some trivia I learned from the back stage tour, guided by Chris, I took that evening as part of the Bloggers Night. If you check the This Week at PCS Blog, they will sometimes list extra information sessions or tours you can join in on- not just for LIZZIE but for any production they have year round.

LIZZIE behind the scenes tour with guide Chris

  • They use two different kinds of blood in the LIZZIE production. There’s the usual stage kind with corn syrup which stays, but there is also another kind that has non-bleach detergent in it in order to be easy to clean. During one of the blood splattering scenes the actress playing LIZZIE has that detergent blood getting everywhere- including her eyes – but she has to finish singing through the scene before she gets a chance to run offstage to the eye rinse! That scene is already intense, now that you know that how much more crazy is it!?
     They use two kinds of blood during the Portland Center Stage production of LIZZIE, the kind with corn syrup for color/lasting and the kind with bleach to easily wash out Decapitated pigeons are pretty gross in the Portland Center Stage production of LIZZIE
  • The decapitated pigeons are really gross. They are soaked with blood- so either have to wear gloves when you handle them or as you’ll see in the production, you get bloody hands really fast!
  • There are microphones hidden in the actresses’ hair (and it is all their real hair, no wigs are used), but those hand microphones they use are also real and help them rock out above the sound level of the band. They have to do sound checks on ALL the microphones before every performance- and use thousands of batteries so order them in bulk!
  • Two of the musicians were in the band Everclear!
  • Once a performance has an opening night, there is no more changes- it is locked down and so what you will see if you see this show is going to be what I saw! It is also the first time everyone gets paid!

Thank you to Portland Center Stage for inviting me to Bloggers Night. And one last little thing… I loved the centerpieces they had for the cocktail tables of snacks for opening night, aren’t they awesome (and don’t you want to reuse that for your Halloween party?!)
Portland Center Stage Lizzie production, Opening night of #lizzieborden #lizzie #pcs_lizzie @PCS_Armory I loved the centerpieces they had for the cocktail tables of snacks for opening night, aren't they awesome?

Disclosure: I was invited to see this production as part of a complimentary bloggers event, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

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Filed Under: Portland Highlights, Sponsored Post, Theater Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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