Bits & Pieces: War nostalgia

For history buffs, patriots or just fans of old technology and things, the new Oregon Historical Society World War II exhibit looks like can’t-miss stuff.

The “World War II: A World at War, a State Transformed” opens Friday, June 26, at OHS, 1200 S.W. Park Ave., and it’ll feature rare documents and artifacts from leaders such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and shares

the stories that impacted Oregonians.

How cool will it be to see the Nazi Enigma machine — the great decoder that helped win the war — and the uniform of Gen. George Patton and handwritten letters by Eisenhower?

There’ll also be an interactive experience, propaganda posters, Yosegaki Hinomaru flags, and a tribute to the National Guard units from Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho — the 41st Division that battled the Japanese in New Guinea and the Philippines.

The OHS is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $11. For more: www.ohs.org.

‘Louie Louie’ sing-along

From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, Know Your City will hold the World’s Largest Louie Louie Sing-Along at Portland City Hall, led by Tres Shannon, Voodoo Doughnuts co-owner and master of ceremonies. Special guests include the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls, surviving members of The Kingsmen, and others.

For more: www.knowyourcity.org.

‘Beach Bash’

The Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association puts on four days of celebration of the gorge’s wind and water lifestyle, June 25 through 28 at Hood River.

The event has been enhanced with a live concert on Hood River’s Waterfront Park on Friday night, a community barbecue, an all-sports gear swap on Sunday, the “Never Ever Windsurfed Before Race” and fun relays. Windsurf gear demonstrations will take place at Rowena Park on Friday, and at The Beach Party on Saturday.

It all kicks off with the Pray For Wind Party, Thursday, hosted by the Stonehedge Gardens restaurant ($10-$20, www.stonehedgeweddings.com).

For detailed information, go to www.GorgeWindsurfing.org.

There are some other notable events happening outside the Portland area in the next week if you’ll be heading out of the city for fun:

The Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival, June 27-28

(www.oregoncoast.org/lincoln-city-summer-kite-festival); the World Beat Festival, June 27-28, Salem (worldbeatfestival.org); St. Paul Rodeo, June 30-July 4 (www.stpaulrodeo.com).

And, an early item about Fourth of July:

The ninth annual Firecracker Wiener Nationals return to Rockaway Beach on the holiday, with world-class wiener dog “athletes” from around the Pacific Northwest and beyond having trained to compete for biscuits and glory. There’ll also be a trick contest, a costume competition and other races. The races are emceed by comedians Eli Newell and Chad Carter. It’s a fundraiser for the Tillamook Animal Shelter. The parade gets things going at Rockaway Beach at 11 a.m., followed by the wiener dog action at City Park. For more info: www.tillamookanimalshelter.org.

The Dead in Portland!

Well, kind of — McMenamins plans to show the final Grateful Dead “Fare Thee Well” 50-year anniversary concerts from Chicago on pay-per-view at the Crystal Ballroom (July 3, 5) and the Mission Theater (July 4). Tickets ($8 advance, $10 day of show) are on sale, available at crystal www.ballroompdx.com. Shows start at 5 p.m.; it’s for the 21-and-older crowd.

They are being called the Dead’s final performances for the living original members, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir — joined by Trey Anastasio on guitar, Jeff Chimenti on keyboards and Bruce Hornsby on piano. The Dead actually played at the Crystal Ballroom in 1968, supplying the setting for music on one of their live albums.

The Dead also will play at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on June 27 and 28.

The Hillary comic

Bluewater Productions has released an all new Hillary Clinton biography — “Female Force: Hillary Clinton, The Road to the White House.” It’s the latest graphic novel focusing on America’s leaders. “Reluctant readers gravitate to comic books; the dynamic art and narratives draw readers in,” says Darren G. Davis, Bluewater president. “It’s my hope we reach kids, empowering them to become lifelong leaders.”

Bluewater also will produce bios of other presidential candidates, such as Jeb Bush; biographies already have been publsihed on Chris Christie, Joe Biden and others.

For info: www.bluewaterprod.com.