Your no-frills source for Portland bargains, freebies and money saving deals

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK:
“8 Phony Bargains and Better Alternatives,” by Caroline E. Mayer and provided by CBSMarketWatch.com. Highlights eight would-be deals to steer clear of and their suggestions for better options.

WEEK ON THE CHEAP

Monday, May 31st:
- The Multnomah County Fair ends its weekend run with one more day of thrill rides, music, food, animals and more. 12:00pm – 7:00pm today with free admission and free parking.

Tuesday, June 1st:
- Hillsboro’s First Tuesday runs 5:00pm – 8:00pm at downtown area galleries and businesses, including a 6:00pm opening reception for all artists at the Walters Cultural Arts Center.

- Compromising Positions: Race and Sex in Advertising, A Mad World Intergenerational Community Forum, hosted by Bitch magazine at Portland State University’s Smith Memorial Ballroom. 6:30pm, free.

Wednesday, June 2nd:
- The production play “The Garden,” is slated for 7:30pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Parish. Free admission. This workshop production in the style of Japanese Noh drama tells a Christian instead of a traditional Buddhist story. The play is written and directed by the Rev. Ken Arnold. Discussion and reception will follow.

- “Voz Alta,” (Loud Voice) an evening of music, poetry and song runs from 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Miracle Theater and is the kick off for Portland Latino Gay Pride Week. $5 donation suggested.

- Book reading “To the Woods: Sinking Roots, Living Lightly, and Finding True Home” with author Evelyn Searle Hess at Broadway Books, 7:00pm. Free.

Thursday, June 3rd:
- Portland First Thursday, plenty to do all around downtown, Old Town, Chinatown, the Pearl District and NW 21st Avenue. For a comprehensive walking map, please click here.

- Rose Festival Fleet Week ship tours: public tours will be on a first-come basis, usually during the hours of 9:00am – 4:30pm. Admission is free.

- McMenamins Edgefield 99th Birthday Bash, all day with music begining at 3:00pm. There will be food and drink specials, kid’s activities, history tours and more. Free, all ages welcome.

Wednesday event just added:

· Who: Sorel
· What: Apres Ski Trunk Show and Fashion Event
· Where: Columbia Flagship Store, 911 SW Broadway, Portland OR
· When: Wed., Dec. 2, 5:30-7:30pm
· Why: Glam up your footwear wardrobe, mingle, shop and sip the signature drink, the Joan of Arctic (hot cocoa and butterscotch schnapps). Enter to win a $500 Columbia shopping spree and other prizes – drawing at 7pm.
· RSVP: portlandrsvp@sorel.com

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Article of the Week: (a double dose this week just for Cyber Monday)

“How to Prepare for Cyber Monday Deals” A quick read for what to look for and how to plan your strategy for finding all the best Monday buys.

“Where to Find the Best Cyber Monday Deals” Previews specials that big-name retailers are offering.

Monday, November 30th:
- Last Monday History Pub lecture, 7:00pm at McMenamins Kennedy School. Tonight’s lecture is “Women and the First World War,” by Kimberly Jensen of Western Oregon University’s Department of History. Free (but bring some canned food donations for the Oregon Food Bank).

- Restaurant.com has a new holiday promotion for its gift certificates: 80% off $25 gift certificate orders. Use code SAVE at checkout and pay $2.00, now until the end of Monday 11/30.

Tuesday, December 1st:
- Hillsboro First Tuesday Art Walk, 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Free.

Wednesday, December 2nd:
- World Forestry Center’s Wondrous Wednesday. $2 admission from 10:00am – 5:00pm in the Discovery Museum, now featuring the special exhibit ‘Coffee: The World In Your Cup.’

- OMSI After Dark. $10 gets you admission from 6:00pm – 10:00pm sans the kids, so 21 and over only. December’s event features pictures with Santa, juggling demonstrations and the Scream exhibit.

Thursday, December 3rd:
- Portland First Thursday, downtown, Old Town/Chinatown and in the Pearl District. Free monthly art gallery hopping and looks like great weather for this month’s edition!

Here’s your quick guide for the best cheapo bets for this first week of September…

Monday, August 31st
- McMenamins Last Monday History Pub Lecture at Kennedy School, 7:00pm. Free for all ages, bring some canned food to donate to the Oregon Food Bank. Tonight’s topic is “Big-League Baseball in Slabtown, 1901-1956.”

- Artists Repertory Theatre “Season Showcase Night” Preview. Description from web site:

“Want to learn more about any of the plays coming up in our 2009/10 season? Come by our Morrison Stage on Monday, August 31 at 6pm. Allen and Jon will be talking about the shows and answering your questions. We’ll also be able to answer your subscription and ticketing questions – so that you feel completely informed and comfortable about your ticket buying decisions. This informal event is free and open to the public.”

Tuesday, September 1st
- Hillsboro’s First Tuesday in downtown Hillsboro, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Wednesday, September 2nd
- Forest Grove’s First Wednesday, 5:00 – 8:00pm

Thursday, September 3rd
- Portland’s First Thursday in downtown Portland, Old Town & the Pearl, generally from 6:00pm – 8:30pm at various galleries and venues

- Reading Frenzy’s Staff Show and Tell 15th birthday, 6:00pm at 921 SW Oak Street in downtown Portland

- Finally, end the evening with a free concert by the Oregon Symphony at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The Portland Taiko Drummers start things off at 4:30, followed by a 5:00 performance by the Portland Youth Philharmonic and then the 7:00pm Oregon Symphony Concert

Other Quick Blurbs

- OSU Food Innovation Center Yogurt Taste Test, $30 compensation if selected:

The Sensory and Consumer Group at the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center is looking for participants for a yogurt taste test to take place on Wednesday, Sept. 9th. The taste test is about 30 minutes and the compensation is $30. Test times run from 10am to 5pm. If you are interested, please click on the link below to submit a questionnaire. If you are selected to participate, we will contact you via email by Thursday, Sept. 3rd, and then give you a confirmation email the day before the test.

We are looking very specifically at your yogurt usage habits. Please be honest.
For those who are new to the email list, please note that we cannot contact everyone who sent in a questionnaire. You will not hear back from us for each test as each consumer will not be selected every time. We only contact those who were selected to participate and will be sending out those confirmation emails by Sept. 3rd.

Photo ID will be required to participate in this test.

https://surveys.bus.oregonstate.edu/BsgSurvey2_0/main.aspx?SurveyID=3233

Consumers will be contacted ONLY if they are selected to participate. We do not accept walk-ins. You must have a scheduled appointment.

The Food Innovation Center is located in the River District/Pearl District area with free parking, close to the Chinatown MAX stop or the 10th Ave at Marshall Streetcar stop. We are about one quarter mile north of the Broadway bridge on Naito parkway (Front Ave.).

We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you have been confirmed for a space, but cannot make it for some reason and do not call to cancel at least 24 hours in advance, we will remove you from our email list. We work hard to get ready for these tests and need to count on our participants to show up. Thank you for your understanding.

- It’s nearing the end of the summer and we are giving away two tickets to the NW Film Center. Like our other giveaways, all you need to do is email us with the subject line “NW Film” and we’ll randomly select from all emails received. Enter by this Sunday, September 6th and we’ll announce the winner next week on our Monday, September 7th Labor post.

- This is the last day for Restaurant.com’s latest promotion. Get 80% off every $25 gift certificate and pay just $2.00. Use promo code ‘TASTE’ now through midnight.

Now updated on our main site portlandonthecheap:

- Extra money opportunity: OSU Food Innovation Center seafood taste test, on Wednesday and Thursday, May 13th & 14th, $25 compensation. See web site for details

- Friends of the Hillsboro Library used book sale, Friday May 1st – Sunday May 10th @ Hillsboro Main Library

- Faire in the Grove, Friday-Sunday May 1st -3rd @ McMenamins Grand Lodge, Forest Grove, free

- First Friday free admission to the Children’s Museum on Friday, May 1st from 5:00pm – 8:00pm

- Bank of America customers! Present your BoA card this Saturday and Sunday, May 2nd & 3rd, to the Pittock Mansion and/or the Portland Art Museum and receive free admission

- Champoeg State Park Founder’s Day celebration this Saturday, May 2nd; $3 per vehicle

- Fresh Start Restorative Health Services workshop, “Healthy, Affordable Meals and Snacks,” on Saturday, May 2nd, free

- Home Ownership Preservation Event, Memorial Coliseum, 10:00am – 7:00pm, on Saturday, May 2nd, free

- Portland Opera preview of Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’, 2:00pm Sunday, May 3rd, @ Multnomah County Central Library, free

- $2 admission to OMSI this Sunday, May 3rd

- Cinco De Mayo Fiesta, Waterfront Park, free admission from 11:00am – 2:00pm on Monday, May 4th

- First Tuesday, downtown Hillsboro on Tuesday, May 5th from 5:30pm – 8:00pm

- First Wednesday, Forest Grove on Wednesday, May 6th

- First Thursday, Portland Pearl & downtown, May 7th from 5:30-9:00pm

- Cake and Punch Revival, Saturday May 9th from 11:00am – 2:00pm @ Center for Architecture, free

- $2 admission for all to the Oregon Zoo on Tuesday, May 12th

- Diet & Optimum Health Public Lecture “What to Eat”, 9:00am Saturday May 16th @ the downtown Portland Hilton, free

-10th Annual UFO Festival on Friday, May 15 & Saturday, May 16, 2009 downtown McMinnville McMenamins Hotel Oregon, free

- Advance screening of ‘Terminator: Salvation’ on Monday, May 18th; click here and enter RSVP code ‘film5333′ to reserve your pass

-Rose Festival Waterfront Village opens at 5:00pm on Friday, May 22nd with free admission on that day and again on Thursday, May 28th from 11:00am – 11:00pm

- 103rd Multnomah County Fair @ Oaks Park, Memorial Day Weekend May 23rd – 25th, free

- Last Thursday, Alberta Arts District on Thursday, May 28th