Articles by Karen Locke

If you’ve ever hosted a party you know making cocktails all night for guests i...

Neighborhood Happy Hour Crawl: Hip NW

Check out these newer bars and restaurants for a bar crawl of the Industrial NW ...

Hot Cocktails For Cold Nights: Recipes for the Home Bartender

It's the rain that soaks us to the bone here in Portland that makes us want both...

10 Places to Hold Your Holiday Party in Portland

Here are 10 places in Portland to hold your holiday party, whether you’re the ...

Less Blurry Memories of PDX Cocktail Week 2014

Portland Cocktail Week 2014 was a success! Check out these photos if you missed ...

Where to Celebrate Halloween 2014 in Portland

Here are our top five picks for Halloween fun in Portland, on Halloween and the ...

Great American Distillers Festival Returns for a 10th Year, Oct. 24-25

The 10th Annual Great American Distillers Festival is set for October 24 and 25 ...

First Anniversary Intergalactic Hoedown at Ecliptic Brewing, Oct. 25

John Harris' Ecliptic Brewing will celebrate its one year anniversary with an In...

Get Caffeinated at Coffee Fest 2014, Oct. 17-19

Plus three coffee drinks just for you

Highlighting the world of coffee in Portland and beyond is Coffee Fest, which ta...

Portland Cocktail Week, Oct. 18-24

Professional bartenders and the public come together for five days of seminars a...

Two Must-Attend Events During Portland Cocktail Week

These two PDX Cocktail Week events are open to the public and cost $20. Get in o...

Fall Preview: Events, Dinners, and Booze On Our Radar

Less pumpkin spice latte more Portland-style drinking

Autumn in Portland may be that bittersweet time before the rains begin but it’...

2nd Annual Peche Beer, Cider and Mead Fest, Oct. 11

The one-day Peche Fest on October 11 at Saraveza’s and the Bad Habit Room is o...

Best Boozy Moments at Feast Portland 2014

There were so many panels, tastings, and after-parties that we couldn’t physic...

Q & A with the Creators of Brew Notice, An Email List for Newly Tapped Beers

by Karen Locke in Beer

Brew Notice is a new email list that alerts you when bars tap new beer. We asked...

4th Annual Occidental Brewing Company Oktoberfest, Sept. 27

Celebrate Oktoberfest with the brewery in town that knows all about German beer ...

OMSI After Dark: Brewfest, Sept. 24

Learn all about beer and get nerdy at OMSI After Dark: Brewfest on September 24....

Handmade Bike and Beer Festival at Hopworks, Sept. 27-28

Head to HUB for the Handmade Bike and Beer Festival at Hopworks Urban Brewery on...

Seahawks Themed Liquor Now Available in Washington

12 Spirits, Seattle Seahawks themed liquor line is ready for spirited consumptio...

Five People You'll Meet at Feast Portland 2014

Because people watching pairs beautifully with all of the cocktails, wine and be...

10th Annual Widmer Brothers Oktoberfest, Sept. 13

For its tenth year, Portland’s largest Oktoberest is returning to the brewing ...

Blend Your Own Wine Dinner with Hawks View Cellars at Urban Farmer, August 28

The popular Sherwood, Oregon winery, Hawks View Cellars, will host a Blend Your ...

Block Party Supper Social at SE Wine Collective, August 24

The SE Wine Collective is throwing a Block Party Supper Social on Sunday, August...

Buy This Book: 'The 12 Bottle Bar'

An affordable and practical guide to bartending at home

Grab 'The 12 Bottle Bar' and you've got a practical and affordable guide to bart...

1st Annual Tequila Fest PDX, August 22-23

Head to Tequila Fest PDX on August 22 and 23 to experience and taste tequilas fr...

5th Annual Imperial IPA Festival at Saraveza, August 16 - 17

5th annual Imperial IPA festival is going down on August 16 and 17 at Saraveza....

3 Rum Drinks in Portland To Get You Hooked

We challenge you to change your notion of rum. Try one of these three (or all th...

Neighborhood Happy Hour Crawl: SE Stark Street in Montavilla

Give the businesses in Montavilla your dollars during this bar crawl and we prom...

Less Blurry Memories of Tales of the Cocktail 2014 in New Orleans

Because not everyone made it this year, we brought back some photographs from Ta...

Drinking Trends at Tales of the Cocktail 2014

Some of the trends we noticed, we've seen before, others may never take flight b...

Hundreds of Brews Will Flow at the 27th Annual Oregon Brewers Festival , July 23-27

The 27th Annual Oregon Brewers Festival takes place at Waterfront Park in downto...

The Two-Stop Method for Barbecue Essentials in Portland

Bottle Shops and Brats

We suggest the two-stop method for preparing for summer barbecues at these bottl...

No Keg Stands Allowed: More Portland Restaurants and Wineries Utilize Kegged Wine

by Karen Locke in Wine

Cooper's Hall and The Bent Brick are two of a handful of Portland restaurants to...

Second Annual Lagerfest on Tap for July 19 and 20

Local breweries (over 50 of 'em) will bring their suds to White Owl Social Club ...

Oregon Distillers Festival, July 12

The annual Oregon Distillers Festival will take place at McMenamins Edgefield on...

Where to Celebrate 4th of July with a Drink in Portland

Whether your holiday is safe and legal or not so much, don't forget the real rea...

8th Annual Rose Wine Dinner at Andina, July 14 & 15

The 8th annual Rose Wine Dinner will take place at Andina on July 14 and 15, sta...

Fancy Slurpees: Portland's Best Boozy, Brain-Freezing Grown-Up Beverages

Drop that cheap 7-Eleven mustache straw, the slushy drinks we're talking about a...

Sake Fest PDX, June 26

Experience more than 130 saké varieties and learn how to pair them with differe...

Baerlic Brewing Co. Grand Opening, June 28

Baerlic Brewing Co., officially opens at 4 PM on Saturday, June 28th at 2235 SE ...

10th Annual North American Organic Brewers Festival

The 10th Annual North American Organic Brewers Festival will take place in North...

Neighborhood Happy Hour Crawl: SE Division Street

Crawl down Division Street for a Happy Hour excursion now while you can still gr...

4 Bars & Events to Take Dad to in Portland on Father's Day

Having a drink with Dad is a perfectly acceptable way to spend Father's Day. Her...

PDX Beer Week on Tap for June 5 - 15

by Karen Locke in Beer

The fourth annual Portland Beer Week will begin on June 5 and continue until Jun...

6 Summer Cocktails To Try Now in Portland

From ice cream cocktails to a margarita with Creme de Violette to a Caprese in a...

3rd Annual Rye Beer Fest Presented by Taplister.com, June 13

The Taplister.com 3rd Annual Rye Beer Fest on Friday, June 13 from 4 PM - 2 AM a...

Negroni Social and Negroni Week Return to Portland

If the sweet and bitter, red nectar of a Negroni has yet to pass your lips, you'...

5 Questions with Darrin Wingard of New Beer A Day

We forgot to interview his doctor

Just this month Darrin Wingard hit the mark of drinking over 675 beers, consecut...

"Eastside Slide" Beer & Liquor Showcase at White Owl Social Club, June 6

Kick off PDX Beer Week with a beer AND booze showcase on June 6 at White Owl Soc...

Sunny Sips: 6 Beers For Summer in Portland

by Karen Locke in Beer

Summer calls for single-malt, even fruity or sour lower alcohol brews. The seaso...

Feast Portland 2014 Tickets on Sale Now

So. Much. Booze.

Tickets to this year's Feast, September 18 - 21, 2014, are on sale now. Events t...

Search For The Healthiest Beer Event, June 4

Upstream Public Health, a nonprofit which advocates for public health policies w...

4 Boozy Destinations and Weekend Getaways in Oregon

Whether you're headed to the desert, the coast, Willamette Valley or the Columbi...

4th Annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival, June 7-8

Tickets on sale now!

Portland Fruit Beer Festival will begin June 7 from 11 AM - 9 PM and June 8 from...

Bartender Q & A: Michael Robertson of Driftwood Room

This month the Driftwood Room turns 60, with a celebration going down on May 26,...

Drink Beer for a Good Cause in Portland

The Oregon Public House, Ex Novo Brewing and Portland Brewing all make it possib...

4 Boozy Brunches For Portland Moms on Mothers Day

And one dinner in case of a hangover

If you're not a transplant and your mother is near enough for brunch, here are o...

Portland Bubbles Week, May 4-11

Portland Bubbles Week, a citywide celebration of Argyle sparkling wine starts Ma...

Little Bird Celebrates Tequila Month in May

Bar Manager Tom Lindstedt of downtown's Little Bird, will mix high quality tequi...

2nd Annual WhiskeyFest NorthWest, May 9-10

The Luna Foundation will host WhiskeyFest NW for its second year on May 9 and 10...

Rolling River Spirits Grand Opening, May 2 - 4

Rolling River Spirits, the newest distillery in town, will celebrate the grand o...

Driftwood Room Celebrates 60th Anniversary in May with Mid-Century Cocktails, Guest Bartenders & Memorial Day Party

The Driftwood Room is turning 60 years old in May and will celebrate with a mid-...

5 Mezcal Cocktails in Portland for Cinco de Mayo

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, here are five mezcal drinks in Portland we love...

Kentucky Derby Celebration at Portland Meadows, May 3

Wear your fanciest hat or bow tie!

Watch and wager on the races at Churchill Downs starting at 7:30 AM Portland tim...

9th Annual FredFest, May 4

In its ninth year, it's not only a birthday celebration for Eckhardt but a beer ...

Jackknife Now Open in Sentinel

Jackknife is now open and creates its own niche with well-crafted, hip cocktails...

Nostrana's "Bitter 101: Amari" Menu Will Get You Hooked

Nostrana's "Bitter 101: Amari" menu features three-glass flights for $15. Try th...

Bartender Q&A: Mindy Kucan of Hale Pele

After an inspiring trip to Portland for PDX Cocktail Week, Mindy Kucan of Hale P...

Simpatica Pairing Dinner Featuring Migration Brewing, May 9

On this Friday May 9 at Simpatica Dining Hall, Chefs Ben Shaw and Will Larin wil...

Bars That Rock: Where to Grab a Drink and Enjoy Live Music in Portland

When you just want to show up to the bar and be entertained, here are our top pi...

Driftwood Room Debuts New Artisan-Inspired Cocktail Menu Featuring Four Portland Purveyors

The new menu will feature four of Portland's too-hot-to-trot companies, Salt & S...

18th Annual Spring Beer and Wine Festival On Tap for April 18-19

by Karen Locke in Featured Event Listing

Sample wine, beer, cider, mead, chocolate, and cheese from some of Portland's be...

Edgefield's 13th Annual Syrah Celebration, April 11-12

Edgefield's 13th annual celebration of Syrah will begin April 11 with the Rhone ...

Mobile Brews: Food Cart Pods That Serve Beer in Portland

Here in Portland, beer just got more mobile. Here are four food cart pods where ...

Help Widmer Brothers Celebrate its 30th Anniversary Celebrations

Widmer Brothers Brewing turned 30 this year, and to celebrate the brewing compan...

The Cocktail Demystified, March 29 at Holocene

For $7 on March 29, Eastside Distilling, Vinn Distillery, New Deal Distillery, S...

Reverend Nat's Hopped Cider Festival, Sat., March 29

Head to Reverend Nat's for more than 16 hopped ciders on March 29th from noon to...

Best Bars in Portland to Catch NCAA Action During March Madness

Catch an NCAA basketball game at one of our favorite spots in town: Spirit of 77...

'CRAFT' Beer Documentary Launches Film Tour in Portland April 3

Craig Noble, the beer documentary filmmaker is bringing his film "CRAFT" to Port...

BREWVANA 3rd Anniversary Party, April 8

BREWVANA Brewery Tours is celebrating three years of business at Ecliptic Brewin...

4th Annual TOAST: The Original Artisan Spirits Tasting Event, April 11-12

On April 11-12, the Oregon Distillers Guild will bring the largest craft spirits...

Spring Preview: Highlights in Future Drinking Adventures

We assure you there is plenty to look forward to this spring besides summer's ar...

BUBBLES release party at ENSO, March 22

ENSO is celebrating the release of its new line of bubbles with a release party ...

Disco to Death Anti-St Patrick's Day at Rum Club

Rum Club will refrain from celebrating St. Patrick's Day with its Disco to Death...

Where to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Portland (2014 Edition)

Whether you are one-tenth Irish or a full blown expat living in Portland, there'...

Drink This: Jacobsen Salty Manhattan at Bunk Alberta

The newly opened Bunk Alberta is now serving a Salty Manhattan with Jacobsen Sea...

Imperial Celebrates Russian Sun Festival With Pop-Up Blini and Vodka Bar at Portland Penny Diner, Fri., Feb. 28

The Russian Sun Festival brings blinis, infused vodka and Russian cocktails to P...

Beer Belly Dinner at EastBurn And Other Brewer Dinners

Recap of the Feb. 13, 2014 Beer Belly Dinner at EastBurn plus other ongoing brew...

Cascade Brewing Barrel House Hosts Tart Fruit Fest Extravaganza, Tues., Feb. 25 - Sat., March 1

Cascade Brewing's Tart Fruit Fest starts with a live barrel tapping Feb. 25th at...

Where and How to Drink Like You're Irish in Portland This St. Patrick's Day

Here's how to drink like you're half Irish with a Portland edge. Where to find w...

Take a Much-Needed Vacation At These 7 Portland Bars

Let these lounges and watering holes, with their exotic drinks and ambient light...

Bartender Q & A: Chauncey Roach of Racion

Chauncey Roach transitioned from kitchen to bartender while at Ración and he's ...

Deviate From the Usual Mimosa: 5 Brunch Cocktails in Portland

no more bloody marys and plain old mimosas for you

These five brunch cocktails in Portland made our list for drinks worth deviating...

McMenamins Hosts 21st Annual Hillsdale Brewfest, Sat., Feb. 22

The 21st annual McMenamins Hillsdale Brewfest puts 20 McMenamins beers against o...

Oregon Craft Brewers Present Zwickelmania Oregon Brewery Tour

The 6th annual Zwickelmania Brewery Tour offers beer buffs the chance to tour Or...

Ecliptic Brewing Lunation Dinner Series

The first Tuesday of every month

Ecliptic Brewing will begin a $45/person dinner series with beer pairings the fi...

Date Spots in Portland for Valentine's Day

and options for lonely hearts

This year in Portland, you'll find many ways to celebrate or rage in defiance: w...

Shoebox Letters CD Release Party and Wine Flights at Pairings Portland Wine Shop

Portland band, Shoebox Letters will release their album “Better Times” with ...

8 Bars in Portland to Watch the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII

These Portland bars are willing to but up with the drunken outcome of watching a...

7 Places in Portland to Satisfy Your Buffalo Wing Cravings Before Super Bowl XLVIII

Stick to these seven spots in Portland for killer Buffalo wings. After all, it i...

Lompoc Hosts Black Out Fest Fri., Feb. 21

Get "blacked out" at Lompoc Black Out Beer Fest at Sidebar on February 21, 2014 ...

First Sip: Belmont Station Hosts Breakside Brewery for the Release of Salted Caramel Stout

Breakside Brewery will release its Salted Caramel Stout for the 2nd year at Belm...

THIRST Fest 2014: Portland's First LGBTQ Wine, Beer and Spirits Event

THIRST 2014 will support the LGBTQ community by way of partnership with the Casc...

Beer Belly Dinner at EastBurn with Full Sail Brewing and Chef Joseph Dougherty

Be sure to bring out or borrow a pair of elastic-top pregnancy pants for this fi...

Growlers Hawthorne: Grand Opening Week & Meet the Brewer Events

Growlers Hawthorne will open on February 4th at noon and is throwing a weeklong ...

Help Bailey's Taproom Clear Out Its Stock of Awesome Beers at the 5th Annual Cellar Fest

Bailey's Taproom is clearing out its cellar for its annual Cellar Fest on Saturd...

Recap: Check Out What You Missed at The Big Woody Barrel Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival 2014

by Karen Locke in Beer

The same crew that brings The Little Woody Festival to Bend brought barrel aged ...

5 Bars Redefining Pub Grub Standards in Portland

Here are a few places we go for both dinner and imbibing where the grub is just ...

Smallwares Introduces New Tuesday Night Wine Flights

If the thought of spending a couple of stacks on wine flights and some bites ter...

The Big Woody Barrel Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival

Inspired by the Little Woody festival in Bend, the same crew brings barrel aged ...

Migration Brewing's New Expansion: More Space, Years and Beers

Our neighborhood brewery isn't going anywhere, anytime soon, and the added space...

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Release Party

Sierra Nevada's kick-off and celebration of "Bigfoot" Barleywine begins at 6:30 ...

Drink to Your Health in 2014 with Genki-Su Drinking Vinegar

and try our Shiso Rager cocktail

by Karen Locke in Cocktail Recipes

Jump on the acetic acid wagon with us and try Genki-Su drinking vinegar and make...

New Year: Five Drinking Resolutions for 2014

This year, we're resolving to drink better and more thoughtfully with these five...

Where to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Portland

There's something going on in Portland for every level of desired partying this ...

Bartender Q & A: Laura Schneider of B-Side Tavern

In our interview, with Laura Schneider of B-Side Tavern, we talk Red Fang video ...

Saturday Night Fever: Champagne and Dancing at Parings Portland

Pairings Portland is hosting a dance night and champagne tasting flight ($30) on...

5 Oregon-Made Sparkling Wines for the Holidays and All Year Long

Plus two wine bars for seeking out more bubbly

by Karen Locke in Wine

Here are our favorite sparkling wines for the holidays(and the other 364 days ou...

Portland's 8 Best Local Wintertime Brews

Nearly every brewery has their own rendition of a malty wintertime seasonal. The...

BREWVANA and NW Production Center Holiday Party

Businesses in the NW Production Center, including BREWVANA, have come together t...

10 Bars in Portland Open on Thanksgiving

Our favorite bars to thankfully drink at on November 28th

Whether or not Thanksgiving is celebrated, here are our favorite bars to thankfu...

Happy Hour Crawl: Central Eastside and Inner Southeast

When the clock strikes five, check out these drinking establishments with inner ...

18th Annual Holiday Ale Festival Comes to Pioneer Court December 4 - 8

Bring your Hot Hands and Smart Wool socks to Pioneer Courthouse Square for the H...

House Spirits Holiday Booze Bazaar

Purveyors will be posted up with gifts and offer tastings. ...

Less Blurry Memories of Portland Cocktail Week

Bartenders, industry enthusiasts, and hardcore booze hounds

Check out photos of what you missed — or more likely forgot — during...

Book Review: Portland Beer: Crafting the Road to Beervana

by Karen Locke in Beer

Rather than exploring contributions such as Oregon's great water and hops, Pete ...

Beer Review: McMenamins Black Widow Porter

by Karen Locke in Beer

Established and drinkable year round this is a porter we wish we could get our h...

Halloween Events in Portland

by Karen Locke in Events

There are very few instances left in our adult lives that allow for dressing foo...

Happy Hour Crawl: NE Concordia and Cully

Obvious neighborhoods for bar hopping in Portland might be Hawthorne, Alberta, B...

6 Must-Visit Hidden Bars in Portland

Check out this list of out a must-visit dives and speakeasies around town - but ...

Best Boozy Moments at Feast 2013

All-stars and celebrity chefs of the modern culinary world took over downtown Po...

8 Portland Fall Cocktails to Try Now

Bars around Portland are creating cocktails just for the fall season, so there's...

7 Best Portland Oktoberfest and Pumpkin Beers for Fall

Celebrate autumn with our seven picks for Oregon-made Oktoberfest and pumpkin br...

Ninth Annual Great American Distillers Festival, October 4-5

For its ninth year, the Great American Distillers Festival highlights the talent...

Feast Portland: 7 Don't-Miss Tasting Panels

In only its second year, Feast has become one of the biggest food and drink even...

5 New Portland Bars and Restaurants for Fall

Keeping up with the thriving bar and restaurant scene in Portland can really emp...

Brews for New Avenues at Green Dragon, September 7

This year, you can again support youth programs at this festival that features l...

Where to Drink on Labor Day Weekend in Portland

For those in Portland who aren't retired, on a perpetual vacation, or in the bar...

Feast Portland: Three Booze-Infused Events to Sign Up for Now

The festival has plenty of events for those with their eye on the bottle; check ...

Cheers to Healthier Drinking: 6 Low-Cal Drinks in Portland

There are plenty of Oregon-made session beers, wines and cocktails with fresh in...

Who Let the Dogs Out: 6 Bars Where You Can Drink With Rover in Portland

The dog days of summer call for patio time with our four-legged friends. Here ar...

6 Places to Pair Your Drink With Salmon in Portland

From Portland East to Portland West, summer means seafood but here in the Pacifi...

Create Aviary's Best-Selling Cocktail, the Brix Layer

by Karen Locke in Cocktail Recipes

The Brix Layer has an origin story that's surprisingly the same as many new cock...

Cool Down: 12 Portland Bars With Great Air Conditioning

Although the season only shows itself for two months out of the year in Portland...

10 Essential Hangover Cures in Portland

However you bring yourself back to life, it shouldn't be done by yourself. No mo...

Where to Find Boozy Milkshakes in Portland

Several burger spots in Portland are creating the perfect union of "steak and sh...

Distillery Row Passport: Your Ticket to Six Distilleries in Portland

Distillery Row's mission to promote Southeast Portland and these independent dis...

Six Beers to Look Forward to at the Portland Fruit Beer Festival, June 8-9

The third annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival will feature over 40 beers from mo...

Cider Review: Woodchuck Hard Cider Private Reserve Pink

by Karen Locke in Beer

Never been easier to fight cancer and support your drinking habit at the same ti...

Portland Brewing Guide: 6 Breweries to Visit in Southeast Portland

Consider this guide a starting point for brewery hopping around Southeast Portla...

Portland Brewing Guide: Six Breweries to Visit in Northwest Portland

Here in the land of hops, our only obstacle is deciding which brewery we want to...

Kickstarter Alert: Hop in the Saddle Needs Funding Help

New guide to craft beer and cycling could use a dontation

Bicycling and craft beer? It doesn't get any more Portland, so kick in a few buc...

River Boozing: Waterfront Drinking Essentials

Whether you're a seasoned waterfront picnicker or a river first-timer, you'll ne...

Beer Review: Deschutes Collage

A heavy-hitting, easy-drinking mashup

by Karen Locke in Beer

The first brew of the anticipated Deschutes and Hair of the Dog collaboration, t...

4 Places to Enjoy Wine Before a Theater Production

Where to get your pre-show fix

While you can probably find wine anywhere with an "Open" sign and an OLCC licens...

Updated: Burnside Brewery Postpones May 15 Release

by Karen Locke in Beer

Burnside Brewery is known for its time commitment to unfiltered beer, so you can...

Wine Pairing at St. Honore Boulangerie, May 16

St. Honore Boulangerie is offering wine enthusiasts the opportunity to explore t...

Deschutes/Hair of the Dog Collage Beer Dinner at Wildwood, May 14

In celebration of Collage, the first beer born out of the Conflux Series from th...

Beer & A Haircut: Barbershops that Serve 'Em Up

Barber shops are taking it back to the days of straight edge razors and scotch. ...

Two Beer Floats To Try at Breakside & Pix

by Karen Locke in Beer

Beer floats are the perfect balance of bitter and sweet, and are a very permissi...

10 Bars in Portland To Watch the Trail Blazers

Sports!