Just Another Weekend in Bridgetown

As usual, Portland has plenty in store for those of us looking to eat, drink and be merry. Here is my equation for the perfect mid-October Portland weekend.

Portland's Freak Bike Fall returns for its 3rd year celebrating all things bizarre in the biking world. Start off Friday night at Irving Park for celebration's main event, the Alley Cat Race. Freak bikes of all shapes and sizes will race around town to unique and strange checkpoints. The race begins at NE 7th & Fargo on Friday at 8pm. Additional bike events throughout the weekend include the Share the Park ride in Forest Park on Saturday @ 9am as well as a ZOObomb race on Sunday night at 9pm.


Looking for a place to grab a tasty morsel after all the crazy bike shenanigans? Sip a fine cocktail? Go no further than inner southeast restaurant Beaker & Flask. Chef Ben Bettinger is fresh off of his win from the 10-10-10 Portland Chef Face-Off; a pork belly with squash and slaw was his winning dish. Beaker & Flask has never disappointed my palate and has always dished up the best service and ambiance. Lots of little plates with the freshest of ingredients and flavor combinations await you. Friday & Saturday they are open till 1am; perfect hours to get your late night snack on!

While everyone and their mother is out on Sauvie Island this weekend fighting over pumpkins, take a nice drive out to Hood River and check out the 28th Annual Hood River Valley Harvest Festival. Enjoy over 100 craft and artisian booths, entertainment and the freshest Hood River produce all while overlooking the Columbia River. Plenty of family-friendly activities as well as an entertainment tent with wine, beer and Zenner's sausages. If the weather turns out like they say it will, it should be a glorious weekend to be outside and take a little break from the metro area. Oh, and you can still get your pumpkin, just head over to Rasmussen Farms and check out their gourds!


Live it up friends - the daylight hours grow shorter, soak in that sunshine!