All Next Weekend's Parties: Txaks, Picnics, MORE

Every once in a while, the culinary stars align to pack one weekend full of food-focused block parties and events. Next weekend (August 10-12) is one of those weekends, so prepare those gullets with this early round-up:

NE ALBERTA—As part of the annual Alberta Street Festival next Saturday, August 11, Cork Bottle Shop will throw its own fete celebrating Basque food and wine. The annual Txak Parti will feature tapas and pintxos from six local favorites — Aviary, Ned Ludd, Toro Bravo, Bar Lolo, Xocolatl de David, and chef Anthony Cafiero — paired with tastes of a dozen txakoli wines chosen by cork's Darryl Joannides. (For the uninitiated, txakoli's a dry white wine often sipped as an aperitif — at least, according to Wikipedia.) More information and tickets to the Txak Party ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) available here.

PEARL DISTRICT—Portland Monthly throws a benefit on behalf of the Forest Park Conservancy during its second-annual Picnic for Forest Park. The event, scheduled for Sunday, August 12 on NW Couch, will feature five chefs at the grill as part of a barbecue sauce "face-off" — guests can sample BBQ and sauces by Sarah Pliner (Aviary), Rob Walls (Double Dragon), Scott Ketterman (Crown Paella), Gavin Ledson (jamison), and Gregg Abbott (Whiffies Fried Pies) — all paired with wine samples by Ponzi, Torii Mor, and Wine by Joe. Tickets are $25, inclusive of all food, drink, and entertainment, and available here.

DOWNTOWN—As per tradition, the annual Bite of Oregon festival will take over Tom McCall Waterfront Park for one weekend in August (10-12), featuring live demonstrations, samples, and the opportunity to buy plates from vendors and food carts, all in one outdoor location. Noteworthy spectacles: Genoa chef David Anderson will defend his title in the annual "Iron Chef" competition. More information here.

Image of Cork Wine Shop courtesy Tapestry Dude via Flickr