Crab for a cause

Wine and seafood are two lights that bring brightness to the dull winter months in Oregon. Sean and Ann Guard, owners of local event company Metro Productions, have been responsible for helping winter become worthwhile with the Portland Seafood and Wine Festival. The idea was born six years ago.

“Every year, we would travel to Astoria and Newport and we would look at one another and say, ‘Portland needs something like this,'” Ann said.

The Guards were not alone in their love of fresh seafood. Last year drew in over 8,500 guests coming to taste what Oregon had to offer. The festival goes beyond the love of crustaceans, as an important aspect is what happens with the festival’s proceeds. Each year, a portion of the $12 entrance fee goes to the Oregon Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society—this is especially important to Ann, who has the disease.

The food available at the festival will come from a multitude of vendors, from Bamboo Sushi to Hayden’s Lakefront Grill in Tualatin. A large part of the seafood offered will be provided by local fisherman, as well as The Oregon Albacore Commission, the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, the Oregon Salmon Commission and the Oregon Trawl Commission. According to Ann, the seafood will be especially fresh this year.

“It’s been a great year for crab, they have much more to offer than they did last year,” Ann said.
The seafood will come in all shapes and sizes, including crab cakes, shrimp, crab melts, shrimp cocktails and rustic breads to soak up all the wine. For those who aren’t seafood lovers, there will be many culinary options that don’t come from the sea, including It’s All Good BBQ and Al Forno Ferruzza, a Sicilian-style pizza restaurant.
The wineries that will have booths at the festival (there are over 50) are predominantly Oregon-based, and will offer samples. Beer lovers will be happy to know that wine isn’t the only beverage to sip—Redhook, Widmer and Astoria brewing companies will all be in attendance.

In addition to seafood and wine, the festival will also include an array of fabulous art to be looked at and sold. Several elements of the Oregon artistic community will be represented, from sculpture to rod iron art, as well as some graphite art. Two of the local artists who have been making a name for themselves at the festivals each year are Bart Miller, who designs watercolors titled Art by Bart, and Peter X O’Brien, who offers original watercolor posters each year to celebrate the event.

The Portland Seafood and Wine Festival honors early risers, awarding the first 500 guests on each day a commemorative wine glass for sampling to take home. There will also be a $2 discount off the $12 admission price if you arrive during the first two hours. Wine samples start at 50 cents and food menu prices range from $2 to $15. Parking will be available for a maximum of $8. The Blue, Green and Red MAX lines and the 6 Bus Line run to Oregon Convention Center frequently.

Whether it’s fresh seafood, wine, beautiful art or the cause, any reason is a good reason to include this festival in your weekend.

Portland Seafood and Wine Festival
Oregon Convention Center
777 NE MLK Blvd.
Fri, 2 to 10 p.m.
Sat, 12 to 9 p.m.
$12