Mouth of the Columbia: Chen’s is an all-American Chinese diner

Sunday, April 7, brings two opportunities to see Tao Orion present “Whole Systems Ecological Restoration: Rethinking the Role of Invasive Species.” Read more

SEASIDE — Plumb the depths of seafood at the Seaside Public Library’s Seafood 101 cooking class at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Seaside Library and will be held in the Community Room. Read more

GEARHART — McMenamins hosts three days’ worth of St. Patrick’s Day festivities at several of its major properties, from Friday through Sunday, March 15 through 17. Read more

In its 10th year, the annual Pouring at the Coast Brewer’s Festival is taking over an entire weekend, including St. Patrick’s Day, from Friday through Sunday, March 15 to 17. Read more

The name Bucket Bites alone didn’t exactly prepare me for what I was about to dive into at this food truck parked perpendicular to the popular El Asadero on Marine Drive near the Astoria Eco Wash. Read more

SEASIDE — The twelfth annual “A Sweet Affaire” will be held 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center. The event features wine, beer other non-alcoholic beverage tastings, signature small-bite appetizers provided by local restaurants, fine chocolates and d… Read more

Although wine is the star of the 10th annual Savor Cannon Beach festival, taking place Thursday through Sunday, March 7 through 10, food and fellowship are strong supporting characters that round out a lavish showcase of some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest qualities. Read more

I hadn’t stopped by Charlie’s Chophouse on Marine Aveue since they closed down last year to perform a major interior renovation. Gone are any nods to pan-Asian interior design, like the leafy ceiling fans, and in their stead is wood: honest-to-god, honeyed American wood glowing in every nook… Read more

ASTORIA — Each winter, North Coast Food Web sponsors two events in support of local food producers and to improve access to healthy, farm-direct food for shoppers. Read more

Runner-up: Jeany Birdeno, Merry Time Bar and Grill Read more

Runner-up: Don Porter, The Depot, Long Beach, Wash. Read more

Runner-up: El Catrin Mexican Restaurant, Warrenton Read more

Runner-up: Street 14 Cafe, Astoria Read more

Runner-up: Chloe Cox-Brown, The Rusty Cup, Astoria Read more

Runner-up: Fort George Brewery, Astoria Read more

Runner-up: The Wine Shack, Cannon Beach Read more

BEST COFFEE Read more

BEST BURGER Read more

SEAVIEW, Wash. — Cook, learn and dine with Elyssia Maya Schaeffer, an Ayurvedic nutritionist, at the Sou’wester Lodge, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. The cost is $20. All supplies will be provided. Read more

Why did restaurant designers decide to drag the detritus of abandoned warehouses downtown in the belief that food was more enjoyable with noise reverberating off corrugated metal and repurposed timbers? For that matter, when did restaurant designer become a job? What happened to authenticity… Read more

ASTORIA — February has always been Stout Month at Fort George. And while the Festival of Dark Arts has grown in popularity — with tickets selling out in a record five hours! — do not let that single day overshadow your total stout experience. Read more

When the weather turns sour, a hot bowl of soup can be nourishing, reinvigorating — heart-warming even. It’s just what is needed to get through the soggier months on the North Coast. Now imagine finding that elixir, scratch-made yet refined, sitting on the porch every Monday evening with a f… Read more

A friend and I sat on a beach approach eating an “Art” burger from the Corral Drive In, north of Long Beach, Wash., watching a storm churn up the surf like a bowl of whipped cream. We discussed the dilemma of defining art. Read more

NEHALEM — North County Pie Day — an opportunity to eat just about as much pie as you like — will be held 2:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at White Clover Grange, 36585 Oregon Highway 53, about two miles east of U.S. Highway 101. Read more

Community crab dinner boosts Ilwaco High School sports. Read more

Cider and kombucha make for a potent potion. Read more

Peninsula eateries offer 3-for-$33 dinners. Proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Club. Read more

I have a friend who enjoys going out for a good breakfast. I seldom eat breakfast, though I adore breakfast food; except that I like it for dinner, in particular during winter months when it’s dark and cold and all you want to do is put on your pajamas. Read more

ASTORIA — Tickets to Fort George Brewery’s Festival of Dark Arts are now on sale. Read more

Three years ago, before we were even looking for a house, my spouse and I returned over and over to the same Seaside neighborhood. Read more

If there was an award for the tastiest holiday event in the prettiest setting, Seaside would have a slam-dunk contender. Read more

Searching for delicious, nutritious, gluten-free, dairy-free, no-meat food to go? Look no further than Fresh B Cuz, a spanking new micro restaurant just opened in Seaside. Read more

CANNON BEACH — Marc Bates, aka “The Cheese Guy” who worked in the world of cheese for more than 40 years, brings his expertise to Tolovana Hall for an evening of cheese tasting and appreciation 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. Read more

ASTORIA — The Finnish Brotherhood Auxiliary invites everyone to a laksloda luncheon and bake sale of Finnish pastries at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at the historic Suomi Hall in Uniontown, 244 West Marine Drive. Read more

We were in the Osprey Café in Seaside, one of our favorite daylight haunts. There are a lot of tempting items on the menu, but I’m pretty down with the avocado toast and the house-made granola with fresh fruit and yogurt, or, as was true today, a cup of their outrageously thick and delicious… Read more

For its 17th consecutive year, the Pacific Northwest Brew Cup returns to its old stomping grounds on the waterfront beside the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Friday, Sept. 28, through Sunday, Sept. 30. Read more

The drinks are cheap and strong and the bathrooms are humid and slippery. The carpeted floors are lumpy and the walls are papered with mementos of decades past — fading photos and funky keepsakes, a Bud Light-branded guitar and a metal sign from the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. The O… Read more

The decor at T. Paul’s Urban Cafe is busy, scattershot and colorful. It reminds me of the ’90s. The ceiling is a black-and-white checkerboard. A wall is painted green. Vintage windowsills hang beside inspirational slogans, posters of Marilyn Monroe and Bob Marley. Big block letters spell out… Read more

On a recent visit to Ilwaco’s Salt Hotel & Pub, the staff was bracing for the arrival of the Rod Run to the End of the World. Car enthusiasts were expected to congregate on the peninsula en masse over the next few hours and keep the kitchen and the bar plenty busy over the following days. Read more

ASTORIA — Fort George’s Brewery’s TinyToberfest takes place 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Read more

SKAMOKAWA, Wash. — The Friends of Skamokawa Foundation will host its 28th annual Wine Tasting and Auction Benefit, “A Cornucopia of Wines,” 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8. The event takes place at the Skamokawa Grange, 18 Fairgrounds Road. Read more

On a recent visit to Carruthers in downtown Astoria, the name of one drink off their seasonal bar menu stood out, as it seemed to foresee the persistent ashen sky we have suffered as of late: Smoke on the Water. Read more

You don’t need to wear a collared shirt or a pair of spikes to visit the Putter Room at the Seaside Golf Course on Avenue U, just blocks from the beach. In fact, you don’t even need to be a golfer: This sports bar caters to all fans. Read more

On a recent warm Monday evening, I stopped by the Astoria Coffee House & Bistro just moments before the crowd appeared for their famed sushi night. The timing was impeccable, as it gave me a chance to catch up with Cory Teubner, one of the most creative bartenders in town and a perennial… Read more