Live Oregon

teutonic-wine-square

Wines That Surprise

“The only thing that should surprise me here is that some things still surprise me.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Okay, so who doesn’t like a good surprise? There are few things in life more delicious than a pleasantly unexpected experience or one that exceeds your expectations. When I drink a glass of wine and discover it exists in this happy place that lies somewhere between my predictions, assumptions and reality—I realize how much I love surprises.
To be honest, not many wines surprise me these days. But when they do, it’s not something I keep to myself. The following wines are non-Pinot noir jaw-droppers that I must confess recently left me marveling at the wonder and brilliance of Oregon wine.

1859-roast-autumn-holiday-carrie-minns-home-grown-chef

Practice Makes Perfect: Roast Chicken

In my house, the first of October marks the start of pre-“holiday” season. This is also the time my brother calls to tell me he is already drawing up plans for where he plans to hang the 10,000 holiday lights he owns. My sister calls to discuss who’s going to be where for which holiday and I’m already thinking about the turkey that needs roasting in less than two months’ time.
How does one prepare for roasting the Thanksgiving table pièce de résistance? Most of us, myself included, roast a turkey once a year. You either get it right on the big day, or you serve it dry and burnt and hope things go better the following year when you can’t remember what you did or didn’t do the year before. What can be done to help flex those poultry roasting muscles before it’s game time?
Two words: Roast chicken.

haunted-wineries-jennifer-cossey-grave

Wines That Go Bump in the Night

In October, scary stories are hard to resist. Oregon is known for haunted tales, including the famed Shanghai Tunnels and the Oregon Vortex (article here), but the spooky stories don’t stop there. Wineries are also a popular venue for the eerie. Ghost Hill Cellars, Argyle Winery, Owen Roe Winery and Nehalem Bay Winery all have legends that will bring goose bumps to your skin. Fortunately, their wines will soothe any nervous energy.

meredith-bio

2013 Autumn Music Events

Live music is a great way to jump into autumn.  Upcoming shows around the state will satisfy any Oregonian, no matter your music persuasion.
Portland
BandSwap: Quick and Easy Boys with Muskateer Gripweed | September 20 | albertarosetheatre.com
Don’t miss BandSwap, a meeting of the musical minds making waves in the two metropolitan areas. The Alberta Rose Theatre plays host to hometown favorites The Quick and Easy Boys, who will share the stage with Fort Collins’ Musketeer Gripweed. Shake your tail feathers at this radical collaboration of feel-good rock and roll before the Boys travel to Colorado to reciprocate on the Mustakeer’s home turf.
7th Annual Oregon Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Concert | October 5 | omhof.org
Commemorate the stalwarts of our fair state’s musical legacy at this year’s Oregon Music Hall of Fame induction celebration. Recipients include pop-rock icons Quarterflash and Americana quartet Richmond Fontaine, who will perform live alongside The Kingsmen of “Louie, Louie” fame. Expect a packed house of musical royalty and share the love by bidding on rare autographed guitars in support of music education in Oregon schools.

hot-pickles-layout

Game Day: Pickled

GAME-DAY SALSA
Autumn brings the convergence of two camps: gardeners and football fans. Your tomatoes are ripening while your alma mater is taking the field, creating the perfect conditions for game-day salsa. Here’s the call: chop the tomatoes, throw them in a food processor with some spicy pickles (such as Duker’s Dills Hot Pickles), salt, cilantro and lime to taste and blend away. This spicy option will be a huge score with your friends.

Eastern_Oregon_Mutiny_Brewing

Joseph Oregon

Mutiny Brewing Company | mutinybrew.nfshost.com The new brewery in town not only has a solid beer list, but a menu that surpasses most brewpubs.   Embers Brewhouse | embersbrewhouse.com Summer in Joseph is practically defined by sitting on the patio with a beer and a pizza at this local brewhouse. Live music on the outdoor stage is a nice compliment to the unobstructed view of the mountains. Old Town Cafe | 541.432.9898 The wait can be long, but breakfast in this tiny cafe is worth the wait.   R& R Drive-In | 541.432.9000 Fast food never tasted so good. The independently owned burger and ice cream joint serves cones this size of the Wallowas for less than a buck.   Vali’s Alpine Restaurant | valisrestaurant.com Fine dining, alpine style. Check the website and make a reservation, because this cozy restaurant is tiny and only serves one Central European dish per night.  …

1859_Oregon_Wine_Grapes

Oregon Harvest

FALL BRINGS THE FULL MONTY OF OREGON’S HARVEST.
Wild salmon and tuna dart just below the surface of rivers and the ocean. Edible mushrooms push up through the forest floor. Ripe fruit and veggies hang in orchards and fields. Grapes blush before the crush.
The choices for enjoying the harvest season are limited only by one’s time and budget. To help our readers navigate this bounty, 1859 hand-picked eight ways to celebrate the season’s riches—including harvest festivals in September and October.

1859-blog-beer-growler-tap-imperial-bottle-shop

Growler Revolution

Hang on to your hops, beer is on the move—and not just in bottles and cans.