Cost Plus World Market launches Republic of Tea’s “Eat Pray Love” tea with free tastings in Portland stores

“Eat Pray Love” tea sold exclusively at Cost Plus World Market

Inspired by the highly anticipated Sony Pictures feature film “Eat Pray Love” in theaters August 13, 2010

WHO: Cost Plus World Market, the unique specialty store that features an ever-changing selection of home décor, furniture, and gourmet food and wine, is the exclusive retailer of “Eat Pray Love” tea from The Republic of Tea, purveyor of premium teas.

WHAT: Customers will have the opportunity to try the flavorful tea inspired by Eat, Pray, Love author Liz Gilbert’s best-selling novel and her three destinations of self-discovery.  This exotic tea blends succulent blood orange from Italy, smooth black tea from India, and heartwarming cinnamon from Indonesia.  The tea will retail in the Portland Area for $10.99 and is available in recyclable tins containing 50 all natural, unbleached round tea bags free of unnecessary strings, tags, and staples.

WHEN: Saturday, August 7, 2010

WHERE: Participating locations include:

• Cost Plus World Market – Tigard
  10108 SW Washington Square Road
  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

More information at http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4188892

Yes, it’s summer in Portland again and time for one of the coolest events to grace the city: the 2010 Portland Pirate Festival! This year, we’re going to get our world record back!

In 2009, we held the Guinness Book of World Record for “The Most Pirates In One Place At One Time,” beating out Brixham, England that May. Apparently, the pirates of Germany hold the title now, but it won’t be for long!

The 2010 Portland Pirate Festival is an annual event of food, entertainment, music, booths, fun for the kids, and so much more. It’s a time of awesomeness that lasts two full days, Sept. 18 and 19. It’s held in Cathedral Park underneath the St John’s Bridge. The Willamette River is right there to enjoy some of the sea-worthy events and just take a stroll at the water’s edge.

This year’s musical entertainment will be courtesy of BilgeRats & Pyrettes, among others. Of special interest, three of our top NW pirates orchestrating the whole event were chosen by Pirates Magazine, out of hundreds of pirate leaders around the nation, to be up for a vote to become the very first Devil’s Dozen (Order of the Leviathon). Jeff Mackay of Hood River and Captain Jack’s Pirate Hats, Mark Heimann of Estacada and Quicksilver’s Pirate Pots, and Margot la Mechante de Marseilles of PPF and Margot Productions, made the top 12. In fact, they were three of the top vote getters and were in the top 5. Check it all out at www.piratesmagazine.com

Anyway, make sure you show up in full pirate garb to this year’s Portland Pirate Festival and help get our world record back. Arg, Matey!!

For all the information, hit there web site at http://www.portlandpiratefestival.com/

The first ever PDX Bridge Festival kicks off tomorrow, July 23.  This is a huge, two week event, celebrating the gorgeous Portland bridges that span the Willamette.  A very cool Portland event for me since I’m so in love with the bridges already!  It all starts at the early hour of 6am.

The PDX Bridge Festival will host special speakers, music, bridge tours, and a ton of other fun things to do in Portland.

If you’re someone who appreciates the artistic side of these wonderful bridges as well as the romance, set some time aside over the next two weeks for the festival and be a part of history in the making.

For more information and the full schedule of what will be happening, hit the PDX Bridge Festival web site.

Maybe we’ll bump into each other!

I love when Spring time hits and Summer is right around the corner.  That signifies to me that Portland is going to be jumping more than normal.  Right now, ticket have just went on sale for the 32 annual Summer Concert series at the Oregon Zoo.

These outdoor concerts smack dab in the middle of the Zoo’s lawn are so much fun. Running from June through August, the 2010 Summer Concert series is bringing 15 artists to town for this summer long event.

Jewel, Portland’s own Pink Martinis, Chris Isaak, the B-52s and others are all coming to Portland to entertain zoo goers and music lovers.

The Summer Concert series at the Oregon Zoo is an extremely popular event and tickets have just gone on sale.  As is the usual case, they are going to sell quickly.  Get your tickets right here and have a fantastic time!  Maybe I’ll see you there!

The Foodie Adventure Game Introduces a Brand New Portland Dining Experience!

Battledish presents the first ever Portland Dishcrawl on Sunday, April 25, 2010. Participants will be treated to a roaming dining adventure to taste four eclectic dishes in four hand-picked restaurants around the city.

The dishcrawl offers even those well familiar with the city a chance to have their palates seduced by hidden gems along a familiar trail. Even the most experienced Portlander’s palate will be challenged with this tantalizing adventure through some of the city’s most unique restaurants.

But the dishcrawl experience is about more than just the spectacular food. It’s the opportunity to get offline and mix, mingle and connect in meaningful ways around the culture of food.
Only a limited few may join in this exclusive Portland dishcrawl experience. The locations are hush-hush, but tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/pdxcrawl.
What is Battledish?

Battledish is the first adventure game for foodies. The location-based foodie adventures take users on missions to eat amazing food in amazing restaurants. Simply pick an adventure, go on missions, and unlock secret menus at restaurants.

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Want to know more about Battledish? Visit http://battledish.com, or email Tracy Lee, CEO, Battledish.com at tracy@battledish.com.

On March 6th and 7th, Portland artists get the chance again to show off what they do best.

It’s time for the 7th annual Portland Art Walk.  This is really an amazing time of viewing what local Portland artists are doing.  People can meander through the southeast sections of the city, from studio to studio, and enjoy a time of culture and making new friends.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet the artists and view their works in their native environments, purchasing at reduced rates, if the art so moves you!  It’s always a great time to be had.

The event kicks off on Saturday at 10am and runs, both days, until 5pm.  Admission is free.

For more information, head over the the Portland Art Walk web site.

Portland never stops setting new trends and 2010 is no exception!  The state of the economy might be affecting the wedding industry, but local businesses are finding a way to turn that around for up-and-coming brides. Hoping to help ease the cost and stress, a unique bridal workshop, called the NW Wedding Scoop (www.nwweddingscoop.com) has been created to address the current economic challenges, and educate those who are planning weddings on how to have the wedding they deserve on the budget they have.

This workshop will be offered twice during the month of February;  Saturday, February 20^th in Salem, and Saturday, February 27^th in Portland.  Local experts will be speaking about the hardships that brides face when planning a wedding and offering solutions to those challenges.  Unlike other bridal shows, the NW Wedding Scoop has a goal of education.  There will be a unique blend of professional wedding service providers, as well as recent brides, who will be collaborating in panel discussions to provide information on contract negotiation, budgets, current trends, general tips and tricks to use when hiring someone for a wedding.

Catering, Food & Beverage   Formal Wear, Wedding Gowns and Tuxedos

Attire & Beauty    Ceremony, Officiants, Transportation & Venue Services

Décor, Flowers and Rentals  Entertainment, Audio-Visual Services, & Photography

Stationary & Accessories   Destination Events & Honeymoon

The workshop runs from 9:00am-5:00pm.  Panel sessions are scheduled throughout the day and brides will have the opportunity to ask questions during and after each session.  Brides are invited to attend the event for the entire day, or they can pick and choose specific sessions. Morning sessions begin at 9:00am and are repeated in the afternoon starting at 1:00pm, allowing attendees to come at their convenience, and stay however long they choose.

NW Wedding Scoop NW Wedding Scoop

Portland: February 27th, 2010

9:00 am – 5:00pm

Portland Courtyard Marriott City Center

550 SW Oak St. Portland OR  97204

Salem :   Feb 20^th, 2010

9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Salem Conference Center

200 Commercial St. SE Salem OR 97301

Preregistration Tickets can be purchased online at www.nwweddingscoop.com for $10 (or 2 for $15), or

brides can pay at the door for $15 (or two for $20) – But, be warned, there are only 200 spots!!

For more information, or to register please visit www.nwweddingscoop.com or call 971-244-3555

The 7th annual Portland Jazz Festival, held this year from February 21 through 28, means a week of music, culture and fun for everyone who wants to partake.

This year’s them for the Portland Jazz Festival is, “Is Jazz Dead (Or Has It Moved to a New Address)? – New Music from Norway.”  This annual time of local, national and international jazz attracts some of the top artists in the industry.  But, that is just the tip of the iceberg. We’re talking Portland here, folks, and when we have an event, it’s a city-wide one.

Discover all the exciting things to do that Portland has to offer.  Bring the family and wander through the art galleries, boutiques and eat at some of the finest restaurants in town.

Stay at the exceptional and historic hotels in the area.  Put on the Ritz!

In other words, don’t miss a single minute of the Jazz Festival and take advantage of every moment you have while in Portland, Oregon.
Click for more information on the Portland Jazz Festival and get your tickets today.  Have a fantastic time!

Carole King and James Taylor in Portland

Two of the most amazing singer/songwriters of their time, Carole King and James Taylor, are teaming up and coming to the Portland Rose Garden Arena for a concert to beat all concerts.

Date: May 7, 2010
Time: 8:00 PM
Click Here – Tickets are on sale NOW!

I absolutely love the music of both James Taylor and Carole King. For them to come to Portland, Oregon together is most definitely tops my list concerts of the forever! They were very influential to my years growing up in the 70s and 80s. They styles and lyrics made me feel good and that is always the best kind of music….the stuff that makes your heart soar or speaks to a place deep inside you. There are not many musicians able to do that to me.

If you’re in Portland, get Carole King and James Taylor tickets today because they are sure to sell out quickly. If you’re not from Portland, either get here, find tickets in your area or it sucks to me you!

On Nov 14th from 11am to 4pm, fun, entertainment, exhibits, prizes and more await you at the 2nd Annual Baby + Family Expo at Jantzen Beach Center in Portland and it’s all FREE.

With more than 50 vendors, this is the perfect one-stop shopping experience for consumers looking for baby, parenting and family focused businesses, offering product samples, valuable discounts and information. Geoffrey the Giraffe from ToysRUs fame will be making appearances throughout the day, passing out goodie bags to all the kids.

There will be carousel rides, face painting, a magician and tons of crafts to enjoy. Attendees will have a chance to win fabulous prizes, so grab the kids and get out of the house for a day of fun at Jantzen Beach Center.

For more information, vending opportunities or to become a sponsor, you can contact Stef-Anie Wells at Events@jantzenbeachpdx.com or call 503.286.9103