The Portland Mercury's Highball
BEHOLD! The return of the Portland Mercury’s HIGHBALL! Brace yourself for 50 specially crafted cocktails available March 16-22… for only $5 each! We’ve teamed up with dozens of the finest bars and restaurants in Portland—along with our cocktail-lovin’ pals at Jim Beam and Portland Beverage—to bring you this one-of-a-kind boozetacular! At each of Highball’s locations, you’ll find specially crafted cocktails. Even better? Each of these fantastic cocktails will be available ALL DAY (not just during happy hour!) and cost you a mere $5! Stay tuned to the Highball Facebook event and Blogtown for announcements of all the delicious drink recipes—then plot your strategic course with the Highball map and set sail on a river of Portland booze starting March 16! (March 16-22, Various Locations, $5)

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Portland Dining Month
Portland is a foodie paradise, but it’s not always easy for us to check out all the corners of our culinary wonderland. That’s where Portland Dining Month comes in: The best restaurants in the city come up with special—and affordable—three-course menus, all March-long, and for every reservation made over the course of that month, Travel Portland will donate money to the Oregon Food Bank. So not only are you broadening your horizons and improving your palate, you’re helping make a positive difference in the community. For a list of participating restaurants and their featured menus, click here. (March 1-31, Various Locations, $33)

Nordic Dinner
This four-course dinner features classic Scandinavian dishes from Chef Joris, complete with Aquavit pairings. (Wed March 4, 6:30 pm, Bergerac Bistro, $75)

Lucky Lab's Barleywine Festival
Lucky Lab's annual celebration of one of the biggest, maltiest, knock-you-on-your-ass-style beers in brewing history features over 70 varieties rotating through 20 taps Friday and Saturday. Admission includes a festival glass and four tokens, with additional four ounce pours for $2.25. The Lucky Lab sits right next to three bus lines, and the Portland streetcar, and this is mentioned because you definitely do not want to get in a car after sampling this malted heaven all day. (Fri-Sat March 6-7, 12 pm, Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, $16)

Pairings' 7-Year Anniversary!
Pairings is turning seven years old, and to celebrate they're... putting together perfect pairings. It's in their name, after all. It's what they do. People who decide to get in on their special tasting event will also be entered into a drawing for special prizes, and if they stick around for the dance party that starts at 7pm, they'll get to enjoy some deals on the wine as well. (Sat March 7, 3 pm, Pairings, $35)

The Original Dark Brews Festival
If you love stouts and dark ales, congrats: You are a sophisticate who deserves delicious drinkable rewards, and the Dark Brews festival is dedicated to providing exactly that, with some of the Northwest's most talented brewmasters sharing their best dark beers at the new East Portland location of the legendary John's Marketplace. Participating breweries include Breakside, Fort George, Reubens, Alesong, Ecliptic, deGarde, and more. (Sat March 7, 11 am, John's Marketplace East, $15)

Cheers to Seven Years
Pairings isn't the only provider of imbibables to celebrate turning seven: Portland Cider Company throws itself a big ol' birthday party in their Clackamas taproom, including special tappings of over 40 favorites pulled from the cellar, cidery tours, anniversary releases, unique merch, and more. Free to attend, commemorative glass and drink tickets start at $20. (Sat March 7, 3 pm, Portland Cider Company, free)

SheBrew
The sixth annual celebration focusing on the women in the craft beer and cider industries, SheBrew has impeccable timing, arriving on International Women's Day and taking over Castaway, featuring over 40 total brewers sharing their wares, with many having created special drinks specficially for this festival. Proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign and the Oregon Brew Crew. (Sun March 8, noon, Castaway, $25-30, all ages)

Too $hort & Trap Kitchen Meet & Eat Brunch
The 21st Century may not be going the way anyone expected or wanted so far, but that's not to say there still aren't a multitude of ways in which "the future" has absolutely come through. For example, this is a pop-up brunch. A brunch that starts at 3 pm. A 3 pm brunch that stars hip-hop legend Too $hort. A 3 pm brunch featuring the man who made "Blow the Whistle" and "Get In Where You Fit In" and "Short Dog's in the House," is being hosted by Trap Kitchen. There is a whole lot of amazing and delicious in the preceding sentences. (Sun March 8, 3 pm, Meridian 7, $100)

Interwoven Dinner Series: Rachel Yang
The adventurous culinary mash-up series returns to Kachka, presented by Kuni Lexus and the Jupiter Hotel, starring chef Bonnie Morales as she invites special guests into her kitchen to create new and unique flavors. For March, Revelry's Rachel Yang answers the call. (Wed March 11, 6:30 pm, Kachka, $100)

OMSI After Dark: Burgers & Bourbon
For this month's installment of the OMSI After Dark series (that's where they don't let kids in past a certain time and the adults who are in get to drink while they get their science on) the theme is "Burgers & Bourbon" which means not only will you learn about the science that goes into making those two things, you'll get to consume those two things. Probably a lot, if you want. Learn, and eat, and learn some more, then drink, then repeat. (Fri March 13, 6 pm, OMSI, $8-50)

McMinnville Wine & Food Classic: Sip!
A three-day celebration of taking grapes, crushing them, letting them ferment, and drinking the alcoholic bounty that follows in the multitude of delicious ways they occur, featuring offerings from over 70 wineries, breweries, and cideries, as well as contributions from an array of chefs, bakers, breweries, distilleries, artists, artisans, and musicians. Proceeds benefit the St. James School. (March 13-15, Fri 3 pm, Sat 11 am, Sun 12 pm, Evergreen Aviation Museum, $16-28, all ages)

Taste for Taal
An opportunity to sample a whole bunch of Asian comfort foods while DJ Ben Hugs lays down a soundtrack for all that deliciousness and for your enlightenment on the subject of how to help Filipinos affected by the January 12th eruption of Mt. Taal. Presented by Anakbayan PDX and Kabataan Alliance. (Sat March 14, 11 am, Meridian 7, $18-20)

Roaring '20s Speakeasy Brunch
The Samaritan Odd Fellows Lodge hosts a Roaring 20’s Speakeasy Brunch, inviting you to step back in time and indulge in traditional brunch offerings like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, pastries and more, all while enjoying period-appropriate entertainment, card games, a photo booth, and much more. (Sat March 14, 1 pm, Samaritan Odd Fellows Lodge, $15, all ages)

A Celebration of Females and Fermentation
Despite the Ferengi-flavored name, this evening from KEX earnestly, honestly, and most importantly deliciously celebrates a trio of amazing women known for their abilities to make fermented things taste great, with Remy Drabkin of Remy Wines, Claire Longyear of Westward Whiskey, and Lydia McLuen of KEX. (Thurs March 19, 6 pm, KEX, $95)

Kiss Me, I'm Vegan Night Market
Veggies Do it Better presents this night market at the Shady Pines Food Court dedicated to highlighting some of the city's best vegan vendors, with live music and raffles, too. A portion of proceeds will help benefit the Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary and National Animal Rights Day. (Sat March 21, 6 pm, Shady Pines Vegan Food Court, free)

6th Annual Baker's Dozen Coffee, Beer & Doughnut Festival
You probably just clutched at your heart simply reading the title to this event. Slowly retract those claws. Redirect them to your wallet. Keep it in your hand as you drive to White Owl Social Club. You will want it at the ready, because holy shit it's a beer/coffee/doughnut festival! All at the same time! Admission includes a souvenir glass, and 4oz samples of all 13 coffee beers available, as well as samples of the doughnuts. (Sun March 22, 10 am, White Owl Social Club, $35-55)

Urban Winemaker Festival
You like drinking local wine, why not tell the local people making it how much? Vino Veritas hosts this event, inviting seven different winemakers to come, share their wares, and talk about what went into making them, with representatives from Alto Cirrus, Gonzales Wine, Willow Wine Cellears, James Rahn, Clos Griotte, 00 Wines, and Stedt Winegrowers. (Sat March 28, 3 pm, Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Bottle Shop, $18-20)

The Oregon Toast
The American Craft Spirits Association and the Oregon Distillers Guild’s present The Oregon Toast, an opportunity to taste over a hundred spirits from around the world, getting tipsy and learning about new innovations in hooch, for a not-bad-at-all price. A portion of proceeds will help benefit the Oregon Food Bank. (Tues March 31, 5:30 pm, Oregon Convention Center, $49-99)