Four Things I Learned This Week (March 11)

Kurt Russell’s Birthday Bash is back. On Thursday, March 17, head to Wedgehead to celebrate Kurt Russell’s 71st birthday at a party that is “bigger and better than ever before.” Before the shindig on the 17th, Wedgehead is partnering with the Hollywood Theatre for their screening of John Carpenter’s The Thing on Saturday & Sunday, March 12 & 13. If you attend, you’ll get a voucher good for half-off pinball at the birthday party on the 17th.

On the day of the birthday bash (the 17th) there will be a custom Pork Chop Express piñata made by The Venderia, an all-day movie marathon, free birthday cake, birthday cards to sign, and more. Read their Facebook post for the full range of offerings. 3728 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

Rangoon Bistro is open. I mentioned Rangoon Bistro in a Small Bites column last year and the good news is: they are finally open! You can visit them for delicious Burmese food in the Breathe Building today through Sunday. Regular hours will be Wednesday-Friday 5-9pm and Saturday/Sunday 12am-9pm. Liquor license is coming. 2311 SE 50th Avenue, Portland

Snack Fest is here. The Portland Night Market is host to Snack Fest, “your new favorite food festival.” There will be 135 food and beverage vendors featuring treats from local restaurants, pop-ups, food carts/trucks, and more. Tonight from 5pm to 10pm and Saturday from noon to 10pm. 100 SE Alder Street, Portland

Get your St. Joseph’s Day pastries at Sebastiano’s. When I lived in Astoria, Queens—home to not only a famous Greek immigrant community but also a longtime Sicilian immigrant community—St. Joseph’s Day pastries were an annual occurrence. Whether you preferred zeppole or sfinge, you were guaranteed to eat something delicious. So I’m thrilled to see that Montavilla’s Sebastiano’s is offering zeppole this year. They describe it as, “a deluxe cream puff with a choux pastry, pastry cream and ricotta filling, topped with powdered sugar and an Italian Amarena cherry.” Seriously accurate, seriously good.

They come in packs of four ($16), eight ($30), or twelve ($42). Reserve yours now for pickup next week from Wednesday to Saturday, right there at Sebastiano’s. Monday night, March 14, is the cutoff for pre-orders, so get yours in today. 411 SE 81st Avenue, Portland