You’d have the OCTOber Art Show.  Get it? OCTO…  OK, good.  Just making sure.

The OCTOber Art Show kicks off this Thursday (10/7) with an opening reception from 5-8pm.  The exhibition will be on view from 10/7 through 10/30.  Tuesday – Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 10am – 2pm.  It’s all happening in the Pearl District, at 1720 NW Lovejoy St. #102.

For more details visit BenjaminBenjamin.com

On Saturday, October 2nd, Hood River is hosting their 7th annual Hops Festival.  They tout it as the premier fresh hops tasting event in all of the Pacific Northwest.  I guess you’ll have to check it out and see for yourself!

All in all there will be over 25 breweries on hand to fill up your frosty mug with over 50 different types of beer.  In addition to the local brews, attendees will also have the opportunity to sample local wine, food, shop local arts & crafts, and listen to free live music!

Hood River is a quick drive from Portland and always a nice spot to stop for a drink or take in the scenery.

Here’s the full details:

Location:
Hood River Hops Fest
Columbia Lot – Downtown Hood River
Entrance @ 5th and Cascade Ave.

Date & Time:
Saturday, October 2nd
Noon – 9pm  (Kids until 6pm)

Admission:
Free!

Mugs = $6 ($1 goes to the United Way of the Columbia Gorge)
Taste Tokens = $1 or fill your mug for $4

Check them out online by clicking here!

Driving through Southeast Portland today, on Belmont St., I ran across these murals:

Then, driving back on Morrison St., I saw these!

So maybe its not such a far stretch to say that one beer fits in  more on one side of the river. I’ll continue not to judge, but at least now I know where people got the stereotype started.

To see a map of Portland, to understand the boundaries of the East and West sides, click here.

To view active real estate in Northwest Portland click here.

To view active real estate in Southeast Portland click here.

The theme “cycle of life” follows the main character Simba from infancy to adulthood, highlighting his struggles on his path to becoming the leader of his pride. The story has some darker elements, and may not be a good choice for children under 6.

If you get a chance during intermission, check out the orchestra pit. It is huge! There are also additional percussionists perched in balconies on both sides of the stage with their own wide array of instruments.

Word of warning….don’t take the aisle seat unless you don’t mind mixing with the hyenas.

Tickets can be purchased here. Performance is at the Keller Auditorium.

Description: Two traditions meet to create a threshold: Valentines day and the start of the year of the Tiger. Live music and drinks.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2010-02-13
End Time: 24:00

Location: Blue Sky Gallery, 122 NW 8th Ave, Portland OR

Description: Photographer Olaf Otto Becker’s works capture the chill and isolation of Greenland’s icy and enigmatic topography. Máze: Artist Céline Clanet uses the camera to reveal the nuances of very remote communities with her shots of life in a small Sami village above the Arctic Circle in Norwegian Lapland.

Start Date: 2010-01-20

Start Time: 12:00

End Date: 2010-01-22

End Time: 17:00

Something about our city is conducive to creativity.  Blame it on the weather, or the all micro-brews…  Coffee?  Hippies?  Food carts?   Whatever it is, Portland is fertile ground for artists of all forms.  Thus the name of this festival amping up and poised to kick us out of our wintry doldrums.  This festival broke ground in 2009 and has all their events lined up for their 10-day festival this year.  Only, unlike a typical fringe festival, Fertile Ground will feature the finest new work from local artists, performers and resident theater companies, ensuring that the artistic and financial benefits of the festival stay right here in Portland.

There will be plenty of events to keep you occupied and a range of prices and options that should keep your wallet happy as well.  A few of the offerings featured range from:

• Fully staged world premieres

• Workshop productions

• Visual arts

• Dance

• Musical performance

• Staged readings & discussions

• Comedy

• As well as both lunchtime and late-night shows.

You have the option of buying a 10-day pass at $50, purchasing single event tickets, or buying a discount button that will knock a few bucks off your ticket prices.

The 2010 Fertile Ground festival runs from January 22nd to February 2nd.  Check out their website for a full list of events, prices, locations, and details.

If you’re unsure which events to attend, check out their “sneak peak” weekend at Hipbone Studios on Jan. 15th & 16th, put on by ScratchPDX.

Have fun!

The Oregon Jewish Museum has officially moved from Old Town to it’s new home in the Nob Hill neighborhood.  To celebrate this, as well as become acquainted with it’s new community, they are hosting an open house this Sunday!  This means a free preview of their opening exhibitions!

This local museum hosts rotating art exhibits and educates on all things Jewish and Oregon related.  Did you know that before the Federal Urban Renewal Program in the late 50s, Portland’s Old South Waterfront was home to a booming Jewish and Italian neighborhood?  Aside from the available walking tour of this old ‘hood, you can find out all you need to know about Portland’s Jewish history at this museum.  Which, I think, is always fun and important to do.

So, stop by the new digs of the Oregon Jewish Museum this Sunday and find out what you’ve been missing!

The Neighborhood Preview & Open House runs Sunday, December 20th from 11:00am – 1:00pm.

Opening exhibits on Sunday will include:

• The Shape of Time: accumulations of place and memory

• Arnold Newman–Street Scenes

• The Berger Collection of Ceremonial Judaica

• Deanne Belinoff – The Book of Keys

• Alex Appella – The Janos Book

• Shelley Jordon – Family History

Go learn something!

Oregon Jewish Museum
1953 NW Kearney Street

To view M Realty’s interactive map of Nob Hill, click here!