Film Fest and Chill

February 2, 2016 by Marketing

Klaus Härö’s “The Fencer,” the opening night film of the festival.

I get it, it’s cold and you don’t want to leave the cozy hibernation of home. Luckily you can cozy up with a lush assortment of international films starting February 11th, brought to you by the Northwest Film Center.

The Portland International Film Fest is the largest, most culturally diverse film event in Oregon, pulling together a multi-faceted experience with over 150 films (97 features and 62 shorts) and special events presenting a full spectrum of features, documentaries, and shorts – and featuring submissions for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar and works by both returning masters and emerging talents.

The Opening Night Party is sure to be a hit, with a screening of Klaus Härö’s “The Fencer” followed by a reception in the Hoffman Lobby and Schnitzer Sculpture Court. Opening Night tickets are on sale now at http://festivals.nwfilm.org/piff39/openingnight/. Co-hosts for this year’s party areUmpqua Bank, the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, the Finlandia Foundation, Voodoo Doughnuts,Montinore Estate, Elk Cove Vineyards, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

“Short Cuts V: Made in Oregon” a program of Oregon made short films. Feb. 20th.

Following Opening Night, PIFF retains a sizable presence downtown and throughout the city with screenings at the Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, located inside the Portland Art Museum, Cinema 21, Regal Fox Tower, World Trade Center, OMSI, Moreland Theater, and Roseway Theater.

The Festival will host Tobias Lindholm’s A WAR (Denmark) and Ciro Guerra’s EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (Columbia), both nominees for the 2016 Foreign Language Film Academy Award. As in past years, the Festival features an abundance of short films. This year’s lineup boasts eight discrete short film programs, including one devoted entirely to films made in Oregon, an animated shorts program curated by LAIKA’s Mark Shapiro, and others populated with shorts from around the world.

Filmstill from Lucile Hadžihalilović’s “Evolution,” a dark, feminist fairytale peppered with stylistic nods to David Lynch and the body horror of David Cronenberg.

This year’s festival also includes the return of the popular PIFF After Dark program, showcasing adventurous movies for the nocturnally inclined like Lucile Hadžihalilović’s EVOLUTION, Karyn Kusama’s (GIRLFIGHT) THE INVITATION, Andrew Seklir and Tim Kinzy’s MAN VS. SNAKE, Can Evrenol’sBASKIN, and Károly Ujj Mészáros’ LIZA THE FOX-FAIRY. As in past years, PIFFAfter Dark presents films chosen with adventurous festival attendees in mind. All eight PIFF After Dark shows are scheduled to happen at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21^st Ave.) and will, for the first time, include short films presented before the feature. The full PIFF 39 Program is available online at http://festivals.nwfilm.org/piff39/.

Advance tickets available online now at http://festivals.nwfilm.org/piff39/

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Our Favorite Time of Year is Here: Bridge Pedal!

August 6, 2015 by Marketing

Ride with us, Bridgetown!

It’s Portland Pedal Power’s fourth year participating in the awesome event that is Bridge Pedal, a unique opportunity to ride across the city’s majestic bridges, car-free. Six of our fabulous staffers will be riding the bridges on the big bikes and participating in multiple events this action-packed weekend.

During the past 19 years one quarter million people have participated in Providence Bridge Pedal, biking a combined 6 million miles over Portland’s streets and Willamette River bridges. It’s great fun; we think all Portlanders should do it at least once.

Here’s how to get in on the fun this weekend:

Jenn, Courtney, and Ken

This Saturday we will be out at the Providence Bridge Pedal Health and Wellness Expo. This year’s event will be held at the east end of the new Tilikum Crossing bridge adjacent to OMSI. The expo will be the only place to pick up your ride (or walk) packet before Sunday’s ride. Be sure to stop by on Saturday if you want to avoid the check-in crowd on Sunday morning.

In addition to picking up your packet at the expo, you can participate in mini trike races with us, grab some swag, or win some prizes or gift certificates to Pacific Pie Company, Súpa Soup, Addy’s Sandwich Bar, and Brunch Box.

Find us for free samples, prizes, and more

The Health and Wellness Expo will be host to booths featuring dozens of health and wellness providers. This event is open to everyone (not just Bridge Pedalers) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, and from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9.

Also this Sunday (from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.) will be the People’s Preview of Tilikum Crossing, hosted by Providence, TriMet and the City of Portland. It’s a sneak peak for the new bridge and a chance for all community members to walk or bike across Tilikum Crossing before it officially opens in September. This event is separate from Providence Bridge Pedal, with no registration or fees.

On the day of Bridge Pedal, we will start the morning by passing out scrumptous Bowery Bagel samples to the hungry morning riders, then we will be off.

After crossing the Bridge Pedal finish line, the fun continues. All participants receive free admission to the Bite of Oregon food and music festival held in Waterfront Park.

See you on the bridges!

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Highlights from the Disaster Relief Trials

July 18, 2013 by Brook

Ken DRT The results are in, and it was a big win for Portland Pedal Power’s Ken Wetherell! Ken finished first in the Citizen Class in the 2nd Annual Disaster Relief Trials over the weekend, having tamed the course on his Surly Xtracycle.

Ken tackled the DRT course on his custom bike and conquered water obstacles and jersey walls all with the weight of two 3/4 full buckets of water from the Columbia River loaded on his bike. “While I did manage to finish first in the Citizen category, it’s important for me to acknowledge the excellent efforts of my fellow participants, the majority of whom had much heavier cargo bikes with greater capacity than mine,” Ken said. “Props also go out to the seven female competitors, including Diana Rempe, the fastest woman in the open category.”

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Long Live Cargo Bikes!

July 9, 2013 by Brook

Cargo Bikes will be in the spotlight at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry this Saturday, July 13th, as the second annual Disaster Relief Trials and the inaugural Cascadia Cargo Bike Fair star at OMSI’s Sustainable Transportation Expo.

The Disaster Relief Trials (DRT) puts cargo bikes and their riders through a simulation of a major natural disaster during which fuel is in short supply and emergency vehicles are unable to access major roads and bridges. Last year, 30 competitors took part in the DRT, which used Velo Cult Bicycles in NE Portland as its command center, but the scope is much bigger in 2013. The field has been increased to 40 riders, with the addition of a category for electric-assist bikes, who will set out on a 30-mile course that will “demonstrate and challenge the cargo bike’s capabilities in a disaster response situation.”

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