With all the sunny and warm weather, who doesn’t want to get outside and enjoy it? Fortunately, there are no shortage of festivals and activities in the coming weeks. So, where will I be this weekend?

On Saturday, I’ll join other Francophiles at the 2008 Bastille Festival in the Pearl in Jamison Park. The festival, with free admission, will feature tons of music, French food and wine, and the 4th Annual Portland Waiters Race. Perhaps I’ll even break out my increasingly rusty French-speaking skills and attempt to hold a conversation. I can just hear my French professors shaking their heads and tut-tutting now…

Continuing the free admission vibe on Sunday, I’m looking forward to meeting up with a few friends at the first “Pickin’ on Sundays” event of the summer at the Doug Fir Lounge. Pete Krebs and Little Sue will be performing on the Doug Fir’s patio.

So, if you didn’t have any plans for the weekend, there are two options for you and your crew. Or, perhaps you’ll just sit outside with a cold glass of lemonade and enjoy the sun. That’s alright, too.

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Once again, PIX, everyone’s favorite dessert destination, is celebrating Bastille Day with activities and…well….dessert.  I know it is strange to be showcasing Bastille Day prior to our own 4th of July elebrations, but I wanted to make sure you have all this on your calendar.  July 12th is only 11 days away. Some highlights of this year’s activities:

TOUR DE PORTLAND BICYCLE SCAVENGER HUNT
This scavenger hunt starts at the SE Division Street Pix and ends at the North Williams Pix. Teams may consist of 1-3 people. First team to bring the 30 items on the list to Pix North via bicycle wins a $200 Pix Gift Certificate! $5 entry fee to benefit SCRAP; 20 teams max; Contestants must wear helmets

1PM
LIVE MUSIC: Blue Cranes
-and-
MASS PILLOW FIGHT
Pillow Fight Do’s & Don’ts
DO: Bring a pillow
DON’T: Start until the whistle! (1PM sharp)
DO: Spread the word!
DON’T: Hit anyone without a pillow

AND DON’T FORGET THE FOOD AND BEVERAGES!
Special guest Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon serving Foie Gras Ice Cream &
Coke Floats
Champagne & Oyster Bar
60# Roasted Pig from Carlton Farms
Cheese from Steve’s Cheese
Vegetarian Quiche
Ice Cream Stand – Beer, Lambic, and Moscato Floats
Giant Eiffel Tower Cookies
6L Bottles of Buzet Wine
French Aperitifs such as Pastis, Lillet, Rosé Wine, Peitra Chestnut Beer
Remy VSOP Cognac Jello Shots
oh, and there will be a whole bunch of fancy pants French desserts, too!

Holy crap, a 60lb pig?  I’m so there.  I actually want to do the scavenger hunt, but my peeps haven’t responded – I’m talking to you Brewcaster and Tinymeat!

As an aside, I got all this info from the PIX newsletter.  It comes in usually about once a month.  This month though, either something is wonky or people are dumb.  There are now 15 “replies” to the original newsletter and everyone on the list is seeing them.  Some are “I’ll be there!” others are “Take me off this list.”  I would think in this day and age of email that people would realize the power of reply to all.  Ugh, I’ll just sit back and chuckle.

Bastille Day celebration, July 12 11am-Midnight
PIX North, 3901 N Williams, Free
full schedule after the jump

Calling all Runners, Baking Enthusiasts, Pillow Fighters, Pet Owners,
Bicyclists, Music Lovers, Citroen Owners, Sculptors, and Grape
Stompers…It’s the Pix Newsletter!

Psst! Before we get to the good stuff, we are open July 4th. And now the good stuff…

BASTILLE DAY BLOCK PARTY
JULY 12    11AM-MIDNIGHT
3901 N. Williams Ave.
FREE!

This year Pix Patisserie will host its 2nd Annual Bastille Day Celebration with a fabulous line up of music, contests, performances, and food! Whether you want to run the 5K while drinking wine or enjoy to the sounds of Talkdemonic, we’ve got fun happening all day and night. Vive la France!

11AM
MINI MEDOC MARATHON FUN RUN
The Médoc Marathon is a 26.2 mile race that winds through over 50 chateaux in the famous wine region of Bordeaux. You may drink water if you like, but there are also 22 “degustation” sites where you are encourage to partake in local wine tastings of Grand Cru vineyards. This year Pix owner Cheryl will run the course and to gear up, Pix is recreating a Mini Médoc Marathon! During this 5K course through N/NE Portland runners will have the opportunity to sample quality Oregon and French wines! Unlike the Médoc Marathon, we are unable to give the winner their weight in wine at the finish. However, prizes will be marked on the bottom of random wine glasses at the tasting sights. And like the Médoc marathon dressing in costume is a must! Best costume wins $100 Pix Gift Certificate. $8 Entry Fee; Runners must be 21+ E-mail pix@pixpatisserie.com to register.
www.marathondumedoc.com

11AM
PET PARADE WITH THE PIXIE PROJECT
Bring your cat, dog, parrot, monkey or other adorable pet to parade around the neighborhood and help support the Pixie Project – a non profit devoted to animal rescue and low-cost spay and neuter programs. If you don’t have a pet, learn how you can rescue one and give them a good loving home. All
participants will receive a Pix Golden Ticket for $2’s in sweet treats. Donations for the Pixie Project are encouraged! www.pixieproject.org

TOUR DE PORTLAND BICYCLE SCAVENGER HUNT
This scavenger hunt starts at the SE Division Street Pix and ends at the North Williams Pix. Teams may consist of 1-3 people. First team to bring the 30 items on the list to Pix North via bicycle wins a $200 Pix Gift Certificate! $5 entry fee to benefit SCRAP; 20 teams max; Contestants must wear helmets
E-mail pix@pixpatisserie.com to register.

NOON
CITROEN CAR SHOW
-and-
DESSERT THROWDOWN RECIPE CONTEST
Calling all aspiring pastry chefs…
Show us your best dessert recipe in one of the following categories – Ice Cream, Cakes/Tortes/Tarts, and Chocolate Bon Bons/Truffles. The winner in each category receives a 1 hour pastry lesson with Pix Owner Cheryl Wakerhauser, a box of 75% Tanzanie Origin Chocolate, AND a $100 Pix gift certificate! Submit the following to Pix at 3901 North Williams Ave. by July 8th:
1.      Original recipe
2.      Dessert sample
3.      Name
4.      Phone number

Recipes will be judged on Taste (50%), Appearance (25%), and Originality (25%). Top 5 recipes from each category will be invited to the final judging at the block party. Contest not open to professional pastry chefs working in the industry, but pastry students and baking enthusiasts are encouraged to enter!

12:15PM
SPROCKETTES
The Sprockettes are the pink-n-black all female synchronized mini-bike dance troupe that encourages people to “live out their crazy and wildest dreams, therefore embracing the badassocity of life” – my kind of people! (and they put on quite an entertaining show!) www.sprockettes.org

1PM
LIVE MUSIC: Blue Cranes
-and-
MASS PILLOW FIGHT
Pillow Fight Do’s & Don’ts
DO: Bring a pillow
DON’T: Start until the whistle! (1PM sharp)
DO: Spread the word!
DON’T: Hit anyone without a pillow

2PM
LIVE MUSIC: Andy Combs and the Moth
-and-
FRENCH B-I-N-G-O HALL
Wondering what to do with all that leftover French you learned in High School?  All you remember is a few letters and some numbers?  Perfect!! Brush up on those French basics at French Bingo! For $1 you get a playing card and 75% chocolate chips to cover up those numbers (and indulge in afterwards). If you can understand the caller you could win a dessert of your choice! It’s almost as fun as an evening in France. (We said almost!)

2:45PM
SCRAP EIFFEL TOWER SCULPTURE CONTEST
Challenge your creativity, artistry, and architectural skills to build the best creative interpretation of the Eiffel Tower out of reusable and recycled materials. Teams of 1-4 will sculpt their rendition of the Eiffel
Tower in 45min. $10 entry fee goes to benefit SCRAP. Sculpture judged on height, creative use of materials, and overall appearance. Winning team receives $40 Pix Gift Certificates per team member. 20 teams max E-mail pix@pixpatisserie.com to register.

3PM
LIVE MUSIC: Boy Eats Drum Machine

3:45PM
WAITER RACE
Run our obstacle course carrying a serving tray of drinks and food. Your customer’s in a hurry – how fast can you deliver? But don’t spill! Or you will lose points! Limited to six contestants. Winner receives a pack of gift certificates to some of Portland fabulous restaurants! Sign up at the party to participate.

4PM
LIVE MUSIC: Team Evil
-and-
FRENCH B-I-N-G-O

5PM
LIVE MUSIC: Alan Singley and the Pants Machine
-and-
COMPLETE SKATE SKATEBOARDING DEMO
This non-profit after school program partners with schools to reach students struggling with attendance, grades and behavioral issues. The program provides academic tutoring and daily life lessons on issues such as self respect, positive thinking and ambition and rewards participants with skateboarding equipment and field trips to local skate parks. Come watch these kids show off their newly acquired skills and offer up some positive support (and a donation if you can!)  www.completeskate.org

5:45PM
GRAPE STOMP
Back in the day, wineries crushed grapes by stomping on them with bare feet. This custom is still practiced today in parts of Portugal in the making of Port. Test your stomping skills! Three teams of three will compete to see who can stomp the most juice out of 10#’s of grapes in one minute. Winning team receives three $40 Pix Gift Certificates and all the grape juice they can make! Sign up at the party to participate.

6PM
LIVE MUSIC: Fist Fite

7PM
LIVE MUSIC: Dat’r

8PM
LIVE MUSIC: Sandpeople

9PM
LIVE MUSIC: Talkdemonic

AND DON’T FORGET THE FOOD AND BEVERAGES!
Special guest Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon serving Foie Gras Ice Cream &
Coke Floats
Champagne & Oyster Bar
60# Roasted Pig from Carlton Farms
Cheese from Steve’s Cheese
Vegetarian Quiche
Ice Cream Stand – Beer, Lambic, and Moscato Floats
Giant Eiffel Tower Cookies
6L Bottles of Buzet Wine
French Aperitifs such as Pastis, Lillet, Rosé Wine, Peitra Chestnut Beer
Remy VSOP Cognac Jello Shots
oh, and there will be a whole bunch of fancy pants French desserts, too!

FUTURE HAPPENINGS
July 3: FLIGHT NIGHT – Single Malt Scotch vs. Irish Whiskey vs. Kentucky
Straight Whiskey: Springbank 10, Redbreast 12, Blanton’s Single Barrel
(North Pix)
July 7: MONDAY MOVIE – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (North Pix)
July 10: FLIGHT NIGHT- Calvados and Pommeau: Apreval Pommeau, Boulard Pays
D’ Auge Grand Solage, Apreval Pays d’ Auge XO (North Pix)

Whew! You made it to the end of the newsletter? This was a long one. Send me an e-mail with your mailing address saying you’re coming to our Bastille Day party and I’ll send you a special gift! Merci, Cheryl pix@pixpatisserie.com

Pix Division
3402 SE Division St
503.232.4407

Pix N. Williams
3901 N. Williams Ave
503.282.6539

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