Portland Smartphone apps are all the range for the tech savvy who want to have access to the City of Roses at their fingertips. Also a great advantage for the visitor to Portland, OR.

Whether you have an iPhone, Android, or iPad, you can find free and paid Smartphone apps for just about anything under the sun and there are more being released all the time.

Find a parking space, great places for craft beers, TriMet trip routes and times, and on and on.

My Android has been an extension of me and when I leave the house, I always make sure I have it with me. Funny how something that you wouldn’t think twice about years ago can become so important to everyday life. That’s what technology can do to you.

Take a look at the handful of available Portland Smartphone apps here and check back as I add more to the page.

See you downtown!

Times are rough, with many Portland people experiencing extreme poverty and living on the streets.

Non-profit ministry, Sanctity of Hope is helping the cause by distributing tokens to street people who can exchange them for food, clothing, their hygienic needs, bike repairs, and more.

More local Portland business are lending a hand and helping Sanctity of Hope by accepting these tokens.

This is really an exciting cause!

For all the information, http://www.uniquely-portland-oregon.com/portland-oregon-blog.html

How would you like to get some groovy arts and crafts for your home or business and be a part of raising money for the Oregon Food Bank at the same time?  How cool is that??

On November 28th, 2010 from 11am to 5pm, you can shop the GIVE Handmade Sale, located at the Left Bank Annex, 101 N Wiedler, in Portland, Oregon.

Vendors from all over will put their handmade goodies on display and offer them up to holiday shoppers for purchase.  This special Portland event began some five years ago and has been very successful for both the vendors themselves and the Oregon Food Bank.

Don’t miss this amazing time this year.  Making a difference in the lives of hungry families and individuals will make you feel good inside.

Click here for the entire scoop on the GIVE Handmade Sale in Portland….

Oregon unemployment is still at a staggering national high of over 10.5 and shows no sign of any significant improvement.  That’s harsh.

For such a moving and progressive state, you’d expect better.  That’s all I have to say about that.

Nonetheless, if you are someone jobless and suffering from Oregon’s unemployment, hop over to my Portland Jobs page at http://www.uniquely-portland-oregon.com

Even if you live outside of the Portland area, you will find some useful resources to help you get back in the game.

Good luck!

Apply for Warehouse Jobs on SnagAJob.com

….And it was me.

My wife and I were headed into downtown Portland for the day and I wanted to grab a cup of coffee before it all started.  I suggested we stop at400 Cafe at SW 6th and Stark  I went it and poured a cup, fixed it up with cream and sugar, and took it to the cash register.  My wife took a seat to wait.

I got my wallet out to grab my debit card and noticed a small sign on the register telling me that I could not use my card unless I bought $5.00 worth of something.  Who I am assuming is the owner (a middle-aged Asian man) was standing behind the register, glaring at me and anxious about something.  I told him that I didn’t realize until just then that I had to spend more just to get my coffee.  I then told him thanks, but I was going to skip it.

He proceeded to berate me in front of other customers, exclaiming that there was no sign on the door that said he took cards of any kind and that, and I quote, “THIS IS NOT A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION!”  I had no idea what that meant, but felt pretty humiliated in front of the few people in there at the time.

I took my wife and we left.  Needless to say that I will never be back at 400 Cafe and I will make sure my story gets out to enough people to save them from having to deal with this man.

Ready to see big, burly lumberjacks grunt and sweat, all for your entertainment?  I am!  The ESPN Stihl Timbersports Series Lumberjack Competition will be held next week, August 24th, from 3:00PM-6:00PM at the Carhartt Store at Cascade Station- 10280 NE Cascades Parkway, right here in Portland.  That’s up near the Portland Airport (PDX).

This is sure to be an exciting event and a great lead in to the big lumberjack competition to be held at the Oregon State Fair’s opening weekend, August 27-29 in Salem.

Stamina, strength and speed is the name of the game as some of the best lumberjacks and lumberjills will be in fierce competition.  This event will feature a chop-showdown by top competing lumberjacks David Moses, the Series U.S. Professional competitor and David Green, Collegiate Series competitor.

This should be a lot of fun for the entire family.  I’ll be there to shoot video of the entire event.  See you there!

When:  Saturday, September 18^th, 10AM to 10PM and Sunday, September 19^th, 10 AM to 6 PM (Talk Like a Pirate Day!)

Where: Cathedral Park, under the St John’s Bridge, Portland, OR

Information: www.portlandpiratefestival.com and (503) 853-1497

Portland PIRATE Festival is a proud sponsor of The Oregon Maritime Museum, helping them celebrate their 30^th anniversary as a non-profit organization dedicated to the maritime heritage of Oregon and the Columbia River Basin. www.oregonmaritimemuseum.org

AHOY Land-lubbers! Climb aboard as the 5th Annual Portland PIRATE Festival sets sail for two exciting days of piratical fun and family adventure under the historic St. John’s Bridge in Cathedral Park.  Featuring a whole fleet of new performers and attractions brought on-board to celebrate the 5^th anniversary.   Be sure to join in the new TAG Scavenger Hunts and try to win yourself some real pirate booty.

- On Saturday, September 18^th enter the 1st Stumptown Beard & Mustache Competition. Watch on as competitors display the fanciest facial hair in the Northwest and vie for prizes and titles in six categories. Sanctioned by Beard Team USA (www.beardteamusa.org) this event is hosted by Stumptown Stash and Beard Collective (www.stumptownsbc.com) and PDXYar (www.pdxyar.org).  Participation is open to the pubic and registration is on the festival website.

- On Sunday, September 19^th come help Portland reclaim our GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ (www.guinnessbook.com) for “THE LARGEST GATHERING of PIRATES”.  We set the record with 1,670 pirates at the 2009 festival on Sunday, September 20th.  Now the Brits in Hastings, UK have claimed the record with 6,166 at an event held on Aug 6^th, 2010 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-10897861).  In the words of the PPF organizers, “This means pirate war!” The new record attempt will occur on Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day and will be hosted by Cap’n Slappy; world famous co-creator of this international pirate holiday. The good Cap’n will autograph books and debut a new pirate song for the wee buccaneers.

In other news, Kate Larsen (aka “Margot la Mechante de Marseilles”) co-producer and co-founder of the Portland Pirate Festival and “Bilge Rats & Pyrettes” band leader, was elected this spring by Pirates magazine (www.piratesmagazine.com) as one of the first ever members of the nationally recognized “Devil’s Dozen.” Margot was sworn in as one of America’s “Pirate Lords” and a charter member of the “ORDER of the LEVIATHAN”.

For the kids, this year’s lineup includes a host of family friendly entertainment, including the giant strolling puppets of Seattle’s Zambini Brothers, Let’s Pretend’s interactive high energy children’s theater,Dragon Theater Puppet Shows, Pirate Sea Battle strategy game by PDXYar, swordplay, scavenger hunts and interactive games with The Pirates of Puget Sound,  an abundance of colorful parrots and giant inflatable rides on Scupper Monkey Island where every kid gets a free balloon and airbrush tattoo!   

History comes alive as Oberon’s Three Penny Tavern serves old world mead, cider and Nincasi brews, complete with tavern wenches & pub sings, B.O.O.M. Pirates and the King’s Navy recreate cannon and sword battles on the beach, Academia Duellatoria demonstrates and teaches traditional sword play and Jim Rich, Pirates of the Caribbean Blacksmith and other historians provide a wealth of insight into our pirate past.

Three stages will feature two full days of Music at this year’s Portland Pirate Festival.

Music Sailing in from Afar

Aloysius Macknucklepeck (aka Mister Mac) – As a seasoned and well-tarred salt who has weathered many a storm and braved the waters of many a birthday party, Mr. Mac is just the man to handle a new young crew.  In no time he will have lubbers of all ages singing & clapping along as he teaches everyone what it means to be a pirate.

Eric Herman, the internationally acclaimed kindie-rock star whose witty sea shanty style song “Blackbeard, Bluebeard and Redbeard – A Pirate Story” has been made into an animated video.  Herman is also known for his “Elephant Song,” which has had more than 15 million views on You tube. Herman will perf0rm on Saturday only.

The Dreadnoughts – Saturday Night Concert. CBC Radio describes them as “One part roaring sea shanty, one part haunting Irish melody, and a solid chaser of gut-crunching street punk. This live show is not to be missed.” This ragtag group of misfits stays true to the ancient ballads and bawlers that once drove sailors around the world, all the while smashing out modern punk with a fury and intensity that is unmatched in their home city of Vancouver, B.C.

Pirates Charles –Saturday and Sunday – Pirate rock specialists hailing from Southern California. The band combines old-world instruments with modern sounds to create music that is bold, adventurous and strong. Bilgemunkey Radio describes their show as “jovial and shameless… so wonderfully perfect that it’s hard to believe it isn’t secretly (and masterfully) contrived…That such a primitive facade can conceal music so entirely engrossing is a major feat.”

Tom Lewis, dubbed “The Springsteen of Sea Chanteys”, will share his vitally authentic stance, from traditional shanties to songs fashioned out of his own seafaring background after 24 years in the British Royal Navy. Tom accompanies himself on button accordion and ukulele, but it’s his powerful vocal style and infectious humor that keeps audiences coming back again and again!

Music from Local Shores

BilgeRats and Pyrettes –As the OFFICIAL band of the PPF, these rogues perform an acoustic collection of pirate-themed music featuring traditional sea shanties, original compositions and familiar contemporary sounds, all woven together by dramatic interludes which tell the tale of a renegade life on the sea. Their Pirate Vaudeville show delights audiences of all ages!

Chata Addy & Susuma – Professional drummer, composer, dancer, and chorographer from Ghana, West Africa, Chata is a member of the renowned Addy family of musicians in Portland.

Chervona – Mixing together taste and passion of the best Gypsy, Russian, Ukrainian, Klezmer and Balkan musical traditions, Chervona brings the fire of Eastern European carnivals to the land of America. Chervona transforms a celebration into the ultimate Russian Pirate Party! www.starbugs.com/chervona.

Other performers at the festival include: The Lost Highwaymen, Shakesprov, River City Pipe & Drum, Sam Bam Boo, Zimba Marimba, Beltaine, Charley Brown Juggling, Renegade Rose, Jake Duncan Dijeridoo, Fire & Steel, belly dancers from Belissimonde, Gypsy Caravan, Black Spot Cabaret, and wandering performers, from stilt walking pirates to sea dragons!

For more information, schedule updates, and to purchase tickets visit the web site:

WWW.PORTLANDPIRATEFESTIVAL.COM

I really had a fun weekend at the 2010 Bite of Oregon.  The weather was totally agreeable. The Bite had a couple new additions this year: a Dessert Pavilion and the Portland Food Cart scene was represented by five local carts.

Opening day, which was on Friday, August 6, I went by myself and just did some walking around, getting acquainted with all the vendors, and shot some video.  Since it was only the first day and pretty much right when it opened, there wasn’t a huge crowd there yet.  That’s always nice for me when I’m just trying to get things started.

I talked with a few  of the food vendors on video and then went over to one of the entertainment stages and got some footage of a steel drum band called the Trinidad Vipers.  You can check them out on their Facebook page.  When I make an event video of this sort, I tend to shoot a song from a band that acts as an audio overlay when I’m in the editing stage of putting everything together.  That’s what I had in mind when I shot the Trinidad Vipers.  I spoke with them, they consented to my using them in the video, and we exchanged business cards.  That was Friday.

Saturday, I took a day of rest.  I was simply exhausted from the previous week and needed some real down time. I know I probably missed some good stuff, but, hey, I can’t do everything!

Sunday, I took my wife to the Bite.  It was her first time ever and she seemed to really enjoy herself.  By then, the crowds were in full-force, but it was fine.  I did a bunch more video, especially with the chef demos and the Wine Pavilion.  We then just made our way around and I shot things here and there that I found interesting.  Chef Brian Boitano from the Food Network did a demo of a couple really yummy looking dishes, so we both sat and enjoyed that.  I also video’d the entire demo so that my daughter-in-law could see it. We also enjoyed some great blues tunes from Atomic Gumbo.

After a full day there, we grabbed something to eat and hopped back home.  I will be working on putting together the 2010 Bite of Oregon video this week and hope to have it up on the Uniquely Portland Oregon website and my YouTube channel soon.  I’ll let you know.

Tony

The annual Bite of Oregon is here again…and not a moment too soon!  This is a Portland Foodies dream and I’m thrilled to be covering the 2010 offering as I did last year. Come hungry for the entire 3-day event, August 6-8.

This year, The Bite promises it’s usual outstanding offerings of 120 menu items from Portland restaurants with our famous food carts getting into the act. The smells here absolutely make your mouth water, pulling you in every direction for a taste of local flair.

Food Network chef, Brian Boitano and Top Chef, Dave Martin, are center stage this year.  Our own Curtis Salgado will be joined by other talented musicians to entertain us all, plus the Beer Gardens, Wine Pavilion, Dessert Pavilion, games area and so much more will be open for everyone to enjoy. It’s really looking like the event of the summer and should be so much fun!

Hit the Bite of Oregon web site for the entire schedule of events and tickets.

Hit them up on Twitter and their Bite of Oregon Fan Page.

Hope to see you there!

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