13th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest
You won't win the Zach's Shack Hot Dog Eating Contest. You won't even place. But you don't enter the thing for victory. No, you're plunking down $8 to gorge yourself on entrails for 10 minutes because life can't always be pleasant and beautiful. It needs pain. It yearns for nausea. (To be fair, you can get those same sensations from the safety of the audience.) DIRK VANDERHART
Aug 20, Zach's Shack, 4pm
Rack & Cloth Pop-Up Taproom
The Mosier-based cidery brings a slew of taps down the Columbia for a special one-night pop-up event at Rev. Nat's. Enjoy eight taps of Rack & Cloth cider, including three one-offs which have never made it off the farm. A farmstand will also be on hand selling the farm's award-winning peaches (used in pFriem's Peche Lambic), as well as veggies, flowers, eggs, and growlers to go.
Aug 19, Rev. Nat's Cidery & Taproom, 4pm
Summer Cider & Jewelry Soiree
A fun combination of cider and couture, with Finnriver hooking up unique cider cocktails while Hana Design provides examples from their handmade jewelry line.
Aug 19, Barrique Barrel, 5pm
Distillery Row Birthday Beach Party
The eight distilleries on the row decided August 20 would be as good a day as any to transform their liquor-filled fiefdom into a beach, so as to properly enjoy a beach party, with live music, food carts, spirits, and cocktails.
Aug 20, House Spirits Distillery parking lot, 6pm, free
Multnomah Village Vine & Dine 2016
Pairing some of the Northwest's finest wines with sweet and savory treats from the region's best chefs.
Aug 21, Multnomah Arts Center, 1pm, $30-50
Racist Sandwich
A live recording of Soleil Ho and Zahir Janmohamed's hit podcast about the intersection of race, identity, and food in the Pacific Northwest, with special guest Bertony Faustin, the only Black winery owner in Oregon. Also read our story on the Racist Sandwich podcast.
Aug 21, Abbey Creek Vineyard & Winery, 1pm
Electric Summer PDX
What was once a simple BBQ and potluck for members of the food service industry in Northeast Portland is now, seven years later, an all-day blow out food festival and dance party, featuring dishes and cocktails created by some of Portland's finest chefs and drink mixers, with 10 hours of music from some of the city's best DJs.
Aug 21, White Owl Social Club, 3pm, $10
Derek Dellinger
Beacon, New York-based writer and homebrew advisor Derek Dellinger reads from his new book, The Fermented Man, which chronicles Dellinger's attempt to live on nothing but fermented foods for one year. With bonus recipes for readers looking to try fermentation in their own homes, his adventure story doubles as a culinary guide.
Aug 22, Powell's City of Books, 7:30pm
Organic Beer Fest 2016
The North American Organic Beer Festival celebrates its 12th year with a brand new name and a whole bunch of brand new organic beers and ciders to sample from over 30 different breweries, as well as live music, organic food, kids activities, and more.
Aug 25-28, Overlook Park, 12pm, free
Dogs' Day of Summer
The Portland Mercury and River Pig Saloon have teamed up to unleash the third annual Dogs' Day of Summer, the most anticipated dog racing event of the season. It's free for spectators, but canine competitors will need to pay a registration fee (between $15-25). Along with the wiener-dog race and the Pug O' War, there will be a pet spa, a pet/owner lookalike contest, a pet friendly block party, food, drink, and more.
Aug 27, River Pig Saloon, 12pm, free
Grilled Cheese International
As part of their month long grilled cheese fundraiser for Call to Safety (formerly Portland Women's Crisis Line), East Burn is hosting a grilled cheese competition featuring 9 contestants. Event attendees will sample each contestant's grilled cheese sandwiches and rank them on a score card based on taste, originality, presentation and best overall. Live music will follow the event, and half of the proceeds will go to benefit Call to Safety
Aug 26, East Burn, 5pm, $20
Beaverton Craft Beer Festival
Featuring offerings from Ambacht, Base Camp, Bull Run, Buoy, Burnside, Coalition, Fort George, Pelican, and many more, with live music and food from Pizzattola's and the Fireside Grill.
Aug 27, The Round, 11am, $1-8
Brews for New Avenues
This yearly fundraiser includes a live rare-beer auction, special craft-brew keg tappings, beer floats, food carts, raffles, and live music. Proceeds benefit New Avenues for Youth's services for at-risk, foster, and homeless youth.
Aug 27, Leftbank Annex, 5pm, $10
Beer Wars: IPA Fest
The streets outside 10 Barrel are shut down and turned into a brewery battlefield, with 30 different IPAs from five states available for tasting. Entry is free, tasting glasses are $5, and drink tokens are $1.
Aug 27, 10 Barrel Brewing, 5pm
Mukja! The Portland Korean Food Festival
A daylong celebration of Korean cuisine, featuring offerings from a lineup of award-winning chefs from all over the Pacific Northwest.
Aug 28, Ecotrust Building, 1pm, $70-100
Summer Brunchies
Vegan Iron Chef continues their summer brunch series with a stop at Nectar, including mimosas and/or kombucha to go along with their menu of delicious vegan breakfast dishes. But there's only room for 20 attendees, so reserve quickly.
Aug 28, Nectar Cafe, 10am, $25