Come early, go crazy shopping and then take a lunch break at one of downtown Corvallis’ delicious restaurants. Then, go shop some more! For details, visit the DCA website.

This year’s theme is Space Odyssey: Rockets, Planets, Moons and More. Coordinated by the da Vinci Days Community Art Committee, they will feature  local talent along the “Avenue of Imagination”  in an open air art installation.  Anyone is welcome to participate, including businesses and organizations, and there are no limits to size or creativity.  Let your imagination run wild!  Make a martian, a comet, a jet pack, a wookie, whatever you want. It doesn’t have to be expensive either, get creative with your materials! Pop cans, trash bags, soda caps, styrofoam, you get the idea.

If you need a little help starting your project, you can start with a plywood Rocket, Moon or Star (nominal fee), or a 10-inch cardboard circle (free), available at da Vinci Days Headquarters (568 SW Third Street). To register, complete the on-line registration and you will receive set-up and take-down instructions prior to Festival week-end. Visit the da Vinci days website for more details.  Just remember, the registration deadline is July 9.

This delicious farm-to-face food option was created in order to meet demand on campus for sustainable food and a student-run restaurant coop, and aims to to provide healthy and delicious food for a price that anyone can afford. To see a list of items served in the past and upcoming events/news, visit the FAT KOW blog. Don’t know where Bexell Hall is? Click here.

The Renaissance building on the Corvallis riverfront

 your palate with an explosion of Nuevo Latino Pacific Rim fusion. Mequite grilled salmon with banana mojo with purple Peruvian or Okinawan potatoes? Yes please!

Owner/chef Adam Kekahuna, 38, and owner/manager Kinn Edwards, 41, who met while working at Aqua, are also dedicated to sustainability. They are partnering with farmers for produce and regional vineyards to create their wine list.

Loca Luna has taken over the waterfront venue formerly occupied by Iovino’s Ristorante in the Renaissance. With appetizers running anywhere from $4 to $10 and an upscale casual feel, this is a great place to fill your stomach with some fusion delicacies before heading out on the town. They also just implemented a happy hour, which runs from 4-6:30 pm and the menu is $2 off the regular prices for appetizers, the raw bar and salads.

If you’re in the mood for dinner, entrées cost $15 to $30. The restaurant is open seven days a week from mid-afternoon until 11 p.m. For more information, check out the Gazette-Times article or give them a call at 541-753-2222.

Photo credit Mike Bergen

Between the rain showers, now is a perfect time to go on a historic walking tour. Due to the fact that many trees are not quite in full foliage, you will get a better overall view of buildings that won’t be obstructed by leaves.

We have some great brochures in the Vistor’s Center that offer you three options. The Atomic Ranch neighborhood walking tour guides you step-by-step of ranch-style houses in Corvallis, which where popular in the western US from the postwar period through the 1970s. This tour has been designed to take approximately an hour or less.

The Franklin Square walking tour represents several decades of architectural design, and is also designed to be finished within an hour or so.

The other walking tour, the Downtown Corvallis Walking and Shopping tour, will give you a taste of Downtown Corvallis history.

So strap on your tennis shoes, take an umbrella and a friend and head over to the Visitor’s Center on 553 NW Harrison to grab some walking tour brochures and get a taste of Corvallis history.

Some good areas and parks to picnic within Corvallis are Bruce Starker Arts park, Avery park,  the Riverfront and Willamette park. And picnics aren’t just limited to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, spice up your menu with some easy-t0-make delicious meals. Head over to First Alternative to buy groceries and then try these tasty recipes for orzo salad, deviled eggs, cuban steak sandwiches, and watermelon with basalmic and feta from the Food Network, yum! Make sure you remember silverware and napkins and something to drink, picnics are guaranteed to be a bit messy but  hey, that’s half the fun.

Block 15's wild ale, photo credit Josh Gana

 Block 15:  This brewery offers “Hoppy Hour” specials from 3 to 6 p.m. daily, with the average price hovering around $3. They also have a late-night menu offered from 10 p.m. to close, daily, with prices averaging around $5.

Bombs Away Cafe: Dont waste your late-night cravings for mexican food on Taco Bell! Bombs offers free chips and salsa after 10 p.m, along with a late night menu. They also have nightly drink specials, from Magarita mondays, pint night Tuesdays and well drink Thursdays.

Downward Dog: Have a food handlers card or alcohol server’s permit? Then head over to Downward Dog for a discount on drinks and food on Mondays! Besides that, they offer ever-changing Macaroni and cheese of the day, along with happy hour and late-night specials from Mon – Sat 4pm – 6:30pm, and 10pm – 12pm.

McMenamins on Monroe: For $3 pints, well drinks and hot dogs w/ bacon and sauerkraut and $2 hummus and pita plates, head over to McMenamins on Monroe between 3–6 p.m. & 10 p.m.–close.
 

If you want to go out, both Fireworks restaurant and Block 15 will be hosting bands for St. Patricks day, and they don’t charge covers for customers. Fireworks will be bringing the holiday in with The Nettles, who have played Irish and Oldtime music in the Willamette Valley for over a decade with tours from Seattle to South Carolina (visit them online at www.TheNettles.com). Fireworks will also have drink specials all day and traditional Irish fare.

Block 15 will be hosting Pointin & Stout, an acoustic punk rock band inspired by the traditional folk music of Ireland. This month, they are featuring  classic Irish Public House meals, including  a dressed up Sheperds Pie and desserts made with Ireland’s famed Irish Cream Liqeur.

If you want to celebrate St. Patty’s at home, have a green potluck. Not only  must your guests wear green, but every dish that a guest brings must be artificially or naturally green. From salads to green entrees and desserts, this will give everyone a wide range of foods and drinks to choose from. However, kilts are strictly optional.

Along with wine, Enoteca offers a variety of fun and reasonable activities!

Enoteca Wine Bar offers more than just wine, their weekly events offer a chance to get together with friends and take advantage of free chocolate and live music! Here is a list of their weekly events:

Sundays: Book Group, Come have a glass of wine and find a new book!

 Tuesdays: Girl’s Night Out!/Knit Night, Knitting/Crocheting starts at 7pm Beginners Welcome

 Wednesdays: Wine Tastings, Wine Tastings start at 7:00 pm $10

Thursdays: Chocolate Truffle Happy Hour, Free Truffles from 6-8

Fridays/Saturdays: Music Night (See upcoming events for scheduled artists and exact dates)

So what are you waiting for? Grab some friends and head over to Enoteca, 136 SW Washington (in the Renaissance Building) for some wine, music and truffles! They are open every day from 3-11pm. Have questions? Give them a call at 541-758-9095.

ALSO,  InsideOut~Garden Visions will be celebrating their 6th anniversary

InsideOut Garden Visions (Photo by Ryan Gardner)

 from March 10-13 with a 20% sale on store merchandise and a silent auction starting on the 10th (Wednesday) and ending at 4pm Saturday the 13th. They are also throwing a free gift with any $50 purchase!

A wine representative pours a sample

For the wine walk, downtown stores will be hosting various Oregon wineries, and each will have a representative on hand to answer any questions and pour you samples of their wine. If you get the munchies, not to worry. Stores will also be offering mouth-watering appetizers to go along with your wine tasting, and there will be music and/or artwork by local artisans.

Need more than a sample? Wine can be purchased by the bottle or the case.
The following are available at wine glass outlets (listed here) a wine glass and an ID wristband (which are required for tasting).  A wine glass is $5 each and an ID bracelet is included with your glass purchase.  A 10-packet of scrip is available for $10, hand-free wine glass holders are $5, and free wine totes from Safeway will be available to carry your purchases in. Glasses, scrip, & neck-slings will be available for purchase, beginning at 2:00 pm.

** click here for pdf map of Downtown Wine Walk Participants