A Spirited Event - THIRST Fest 2015

It is most definitely that time of year again. Events are springing up like colorful flowers from the quiet winter earth. This one just came across my radar, but it looks like something that could bring you lots of good cheer and brighten a dreary weekend.

THIRST Fest opens Friday, March 13th and runs through Saturday, March 14^th at THE Melody Ballroom in Portland at 615 S.E. Alder Street, Portland, Oregon.

For tickets, go to:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thirst-fest-tickets-15360095459

Attendees at THIRST Fest 2015, now in its second year, will be greeted by some of Portland’s most glamorous and gregarious hosts, and will introduce members of the LGBTQ community to some of the newest alcoholic beverages hitting the glass. The two-day event at Portland’s THE Melody Ballroom will feature beverage and cocktail sampling, cocktail competitions, and a chance for members of the LGBTQ community to influence its own latest trends in mixology.  More than 40 craft distilleries, craft breweries and select wineries will be participating. 

Chat with local and national winemakers, craft distillers and brewers, and watch Portland’s top bartender’s battle for the 2nd Annual THIRST Fest Battle of the Bartenders Cup.  Local celebrity judges will decide which bartender will reign supreme, and attendees will be able to taste each competitor’s unique creations after they have left the stage. Bring it Home!  A full service, OLCC licenses liquor outlet will be available to sell distilled spirits at the show, and wine and beer vendors will be able to sell their wares direct to attendees at the event.  

Ticket Cost per person:                   

1 Day Ticket $ 20.00 on-line OR  $ 25.00 at the door*

2 Day Ticket + Collectible Event Shirt $50 online                       

Advance sales*   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thirst-fest-tickets-15360095459

Hours: 

Friday, March 13th from 5-10pm

Saturday, March 14th from 4-10pm

* Admission PLUS!
With paid admission, 1 day attendees receive 7 tasting tokens. 2 day attendees receive 15 tasting tokens.  (Additional tokens will be available for purchase at the event.)
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For more information go to:   

www.THIRSTFest.com or on Facebook: THIRST Fest

Party like it's THIRST Fest 2014

What: Portland’s first LGBTQ Wine, Beer, Spirits Event

When: February 7 & 8, 2014 

Where: at Tiffany Center, Portland

THIRST Fest 2014, a wine, beer and spirits festival supporting the LGBTQ community through a partnership with the Cascade AIDS Project, offers members of the LGBTQ community, their allies and others the opportunity to taste and compare a wide variety of unique beverages while supporting a good cause. 

Friday, February 7th through Saturday February 8th at the Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison, downtown Portland, Oregon.  For advance sales tickets, please go to:

http://portland.strangertickets.com/events/13003818

THIRST Fest 2014 will introduce members of the LGBTQ community to some of the newest alcoholic beverages hitting the glass. The two-day event at Portland’s Tiffany Center will feature beverage and cocktail sampling, cocktail competitions and a chance for members of the LGBTQ community to influence its own latest trends in mixology. More than 40 craft distilleries, craft breweries and select wineries will be participating.

Taste samples, talk with local and national winemakers, craft distillers and brewers, and watch Portland’s top bartender’s battle for the 1st Annual THIRST Fest Battle of the Bartenders Cup. Local celebrity judges will decide which bartender will reign supreme, and attendees will be able to taste each competitor’s unique creations after they have left the stage. A full service, OLCC licenses liquor outlet will be available to sell distilled spirits, wine and beer at the show.  

Ticket Cost per person: 

$ 20.00 on-line advance sales*   http://portland.strangertickets.com/events/13003818

$ 25.00 at the door*


Hours: 

Friday, February 7th, 5pm-10pm
                                                

Saturday,  February 8th, 4pm - 10pm



* Admission PLUS! 
With paid admission, attendees receive 10 free drink tokens. (Additional tokens will be available for purchase.) 


For more information go to: www.THIRSTFest.com. 
Find them on Facebook: THIRST Fest

Cascade AIDS Project/CAP is the largest and oldest AIDS Service Organization serving Oregon and Washington. With a $5.1 million budget, they strive to prevent HIV infections, support and empower people infected and affected by HIV/AIDs, all while eliminating HIV/AIDS-related stigma. In the past year, CAP served over 1,800 HIV-positive clients and provided HIV counseling and testing to more than 3,000 Washington and Oregon residents as well sent children to Camp KC, a week-long camp for kids impacted by the disease. Their housing program provided stable housing for more than 600 individuals in the last year.

Discover Local Spirits at this Year's TOAST

On Saturday and Sunday, April 28^th and 29^th, Portland will raise its shot glass to welcome the second annual TOAST event. The Oregon Artisan Spirit Tasting, taking place on the Sky Bridge level of the World Trade Center, is the largest craft spirit tasting in the country. Featuring over 55 distillers, the event will focus on the local craft spirit scene, with infusions from the national and international level as well.

Small producers will be pouring over 100 different hand-crafted spirits, giving guests the opportunity to taste every thing from A to Z… well A to W (Absinthe to Whiskey). Diversity and quality will be strongly represented, with nearly every spirit category available to taste, but the key word here is really quality. See for yourself how these locally crafted products speak for themselves and why you’ll never want to buy a bottle of generic liquor again.

Not only are the potent potions pleasingly potable, they’re also plain old smart. You can now enjoy a potpourri of inebriants and feel good about it the next day because buying these products promotes jobs in Oregon and pumps money into the local economy. You’ll know you’ve done your part to keep money in this state by supporting local producers and agriculture all the while minimizing your carbon footprint buying products that haven’t been shipped across the country or across the oceans to get here.

Top bartenders will be showing off their techniques, talking art and science as they blend the distillations to your liking in the Mix Lounge. In addition to imbibing the artisan spirits in ways you never thought possible, you’ll discover the pro’s secrets for creating unique cocktails which you can use to impress your friends at your next party. If that’s not enough, you’ll find complementary memorable recipe cards from each producer to create your own library of local libations. But that's not all you can take home. This year, for the first time in Oregon, the OLCC is making it easy for you to buy what you like by allowing guests to purchase bottles, condiments and bar accessories at the event's Bottle Shop.

TOAST will be open from 3-8pm, April 28-29, with a $49 admission price at the door that includes spirit and cocktail samples, a logo souvenir glass and a light buffet to absorb some of that alcohol. Save a couple bucks and purchase your tickets online in advance for only $40 or indulge in a weekend of intoxicants for a mere $75. 

Be safe and avoid the hassle of calling a cab. Hotel Fifty and the Downtown Marriott Hotel are offering a special rate of just $119/night for those who might anticipate a little overindulgence and want to make a better plan in advance. Contact them for reservations. TOAST is sponsored and presented by The Oregonian, KINK FM, KXL FM News and the Oregon Distillers Guild.

And just in case you were wondering, the event is restricted to those 21 and over with a valid ID.