A Year of Festivals in Portland

Portland may not have quite as many brew pubs as it does Starbucks, but in a city with more than 30 breweries, you can easily find an extensive choice of regional and microbrewed beers on tap. In addition to a plethora of seasonal and craft beers, some brew pubs offer menus that extend well beyond wings and fries.

In addition to close to a dozen beers on tap, McMenamins has a good selection of wine. When it comes to ambience, this local brewer stands out in any crowd, with pubs in venues as diverse as an old theater and dance hall, a power station and a lighthouse.

A recent addition to the McMenamins' empire, the Chapel Pub is located in a Depression-era funeral home that is now on the National Register of Historical Places. The Romanesque structure contains original elements such as stucco walls, wood beams ornamented with stenciled patterns and ornate wrought ironwork. A cozy wood stove and shelves stacked with board games in the brick-walled former garage invite visitors to linger over their brews.

Listen, Hear

In addition to stadium-size shows, Portland offers road-less-traveled musical experiences.

Abou Karim is one example. This Lebanese restaurant offers a standard Middle Eastern menu, enhanced by decidedly nonstandard entertainment: top-flight jazz, blues and rock musicians trading sets with traditional belly dancers. Jazz singer Nancy King, a 2006 Grammy nominee, appears at the tiny venue most Fridays.

Oregon Live and Citysearch are good sources for finding out what's going on around town musicwise, covering tastes from Tupac to Bach.

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