Oregon Garden Brewfest

What: This annual botanical garden beer festival features over 60 breweries pouring 125 brews to the beat of live music from 22 bands, as well as tasting instruction from Women Enjoying Beer and an Oregon Garden Homebrew Competition.
When: April 26-28 (full schedule here)
Where: The Oregon Garden, 879 West Main St, Silverton, Oregon
How Much: For pre-orders, a one-day tasting package (including admission, tasting mug, 7 tasting tickets, and priority entrance) is $15, two-day tasting package (admission, mug, 14 tasting tickets, and priority entry) is $25. Tickets available here.

Woodblock Chocolate Dinner at Lincoln

What: A multi-course collaborative dinner featuring sweet and savory applications of Portland's best bean-to-bar chocolate, including potato-rosemary fritters with cocoa nib powder sea salt and chocolate agrodolce, spring lettuce salad with blood oranges and cocoa nib-bacon vinaigrette, braised beef with chocolate, Italian cayenne, and porcini over soft polenta, and canoli ice cream with pistachios, candied orange and chocolate sauce.
When: Wednesday, May 1 at 6:30
Where: Lincoln, 3808 N Williams
How Much: $60 per person, optional wine pairings available. Reserve your spot by calling 503-288-6200.

A High-Style Kentucky Derby Party at Raven & Rose

What: Dust off those wide-brim hats, pastel pants, and checkered shirts to head to Raven & Rose for mint juleps, fancy snacks, and the best two minutes in sports. The event will feature prizes for best-dressed attendees, raffles, a billiards tournament, and a special cocktail menu for the occasion.
When: Saturday May 4 from 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Rookery Bar at Raven & Rose, 1331 SW Broadway
How Much: $25 donation gets you bourbon punch, snacks, and door prizes. Proceeds will benefit PHAME, Portland's acclaimed fine and performing arts academy for young and older adults with developmental disabilities. 

Kentucky Derby Crawfish Boil at Eat: An Oyster Bar

What: Dress in your derby best (including those big hats) for the Kentucky Derby party at EaT: An Oyster Bar. The team will be dishing up a crawfish boil and classic Mint Juleps.
When: Saturday, May 4 at 12:30 pm
Where: EaT: An Oyster Bar 3808 N. Williams Ave
How Much: Crawfish boil is $21 per person and the Mint Juleps are $7 each. No reservations required.

Urban Farmer’s Second Annual Kentucky Derby Party

What: A Southern-style race viewing party complete with a hat contest, multiple screens of Derby action, Woodford Reserve cocktails (including a classic Mint Julep, of course), and plenty of snacks like shrimp dip with caper crackers, oysters, BBQ pork sliders, pork belly pastrami on rye, and chocolate pecan Derby pie.
When: Saturday, May 4 from noon to 4 pm
Where: Urban Farmer, 525 Southwest Morrison St
How Much: Derby party happy hour prices vary (dishes start at $3, drinks $5 each). Call 503-222-4900 for more information.

2nd Annual Red Ridge Chardonnay Symposium

What: A lively discussion of the state of Oregon Chardonnay, featuring a panel discussion and technical tasting of limited production chardonnays with wine experts Katherine Cole, Paul Gregutt, and W. Blake Gray as well as a walk-around tasting at the Durant Vineyards Tasting Room, featuring wines from Arterberry Maresh, Big Table Farms, Crowley, Division Winemaking Company, Durant Vineyards, EIEIO, Matello, and Walter Scott along with charcuterie plates accompanied by Oregon Olive Mill olive oils.
When: Saturday, May 4 at 1 pm
Where: Red Ridge Farms, 5510 NE Breyman Orchard Rd, Dayton, OR.
How Much: There are 60 tickets available for the event and cost $60 each. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Red Ridge Farms at 503-864-8502.

War of the Rosés at Wildwood

What: Celebrate the start of rosé season with an afternoon of six local rosés, representing the variety in color and flavor profiles possible in Oregon. Sommelier Savanna Ray and Chef Dustin Clark have teamed up to dream up pairings for rosés of Pinot Noir from Division Wine Co. and Teutonic Wine Co., and a special early release of Bow and Arrow‘s Rosé of Gamay Noir, and delicious selections from Brooks, Gilbert Cellars and Patton Valley.
When: Saturday, May 4 from 3 to 5 pm
Where: Wildwood's Wood Room, 1221 NW 21st Ave
How Much: $35 per person (including six pours with pairings and gratuity). One lucky guest will win a 6-pack of featured rosés. For reservations, contact [email protected] or call 503-225-0130.

Farmers Feast Sunday Supper Cinco de Mayo Feast

What: This Mexican-inspired menu will highlight products foraged and farmed at Springwater Farm.  The menu has not been finalized, but diners can count on savory, spicy, fresh farm fare with bright accents & bold and delicate flavors. Read more about Farmers Feast on Eat Beat.
When: Sunday, May 5 at 5:30
Where: Three Square Grill, 6320 SW Capitol Hwy
How Much: $30 per person, excluding gratuity. Wine, beer, sangria, and a hibiscus cooler will be available for purchase.

Cinco de Mayo at Biwa

What: An all-night celebration of culinary mash-ups including the always popular Biwa tacos and special margaritas. 
When: Saturday, May 5th from 5 pm to Midnight.
Where: Biwa 215 SE 9th Ave; 503-239-8830
How Much: Special entree and drink prices vary, regular menus will also be available.

Whiskeyfest Northwest

What: The Pearl District's inaugural WhiskeyFest event will bring together over 100 of the finest northwest, national and international whiskeys and scotches, signature cocktails, eclectic live music, fine cigars, local restaurants (think Bunk Sandwiches, Fire on the Mountain, What's the Scoop and more), educational opportunities, prohibition and bootlegging themed lounges and much more to benefit CASA for Children.
When: Saturday, May 11 from 11 am to 10 pm
Where: Portland Pearl District Lot 15, a 40,000 square foot lot at NW 11th Avenue and NW Northrup Street
How Much: Tickets are currently available online at whiskeyfestnw.strangertickets.com: $20 per person for early bird tickets, $25 for general admission, and $100 for the limited seating May 10th Five-Course Whiskey Tasting Dinner, which includes general admission. All tickets include 3 tasting tokens, access to the all-day festival and live music. Additional tokens will be available for $2 each. 21+

Know about a great event coming up that should be on our radar? Shoot me an email at [email protected] or give me a shout over on Twitter at @allisonejones. Now get out there and start eating!