Livin' in the Blurbs: Eat, Drink and Be Doggy!

In the better late than never category, this weekend (yikes!) is the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon sale at Portland's Expo Center. Wholesalers from all over the region bring their best, newest plants and set up in a vast space at the lowest prices you'll see all season. Insiders say the fall sale is not to be missed!

Details: Hardy Plant Society of Oregon Fall Plant Sale. Sat.-Sun., Sept. 20-21, 10 am-3 pm; free. Portland Expo Center, Hall C.

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Get a portrait of your Fifi, Whiskers or Birdbrain and benefit the Delta Society. On Sept. 27, participating Walgreens stores will have a professional photographer ready to preserve your pet on film for all time. The $5.99 package includes a 5" by 7" photo of your pet, a photo CD with your pet's image and pet treats and photo coupons. Five bucks of that fee will be split between the Delta Society and Best Friends Animal Society.

Details: Walgreens Pet Photo Shoot. Sat., Sept. 27, 11 am-2 pm; $5.99 for photo package. See list of participating stores.

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Travel to Greece without getting on a plane when Castagna Restaurant morphs into a Greek taverna on Sept. 28. Chef Elias Cairo will conduct the tour of the cuisine of his ancestral homeland with the able and entertaining assistance of Greek wine guy Dino Ariston, starting with grilled sardines, octopus and prawns, followed by roasted mussels, spit-roasted Cattail Creek lamb and a plethora of side dishes including skordalia and salt cod, Greek gigantes beans, Psefto Keftedes (assorted vegetable "meatballs"), yemista (assorted stuffed vegetables) and, last but not least, Epirote-style pita. Opa!

Details: Greek Feast at Castagna Restaurant. Sun., Sept. 28, 5 pm; $75 includes wine pairings. Reservations only. Castagna Restaurant, 1752 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 503-231-7373.