Ah yes, the edification of early fall in Portland, with TBA's ponderous challenges and—as of a couple short years ago—the network-y expo of regional talent that is Design Week Portland. While you were barbequing hot dogs on Monday, registration for this year's events (running October 4-11) opened, which means it's time to peruse the schedule and make a plan.

One thing to always make note of is the citywide series of open houses, ranging from behind the scenes peeks at advertising agencies to galleries and design-focused shops. It's spread out over by date and neighborhood, but it's a lot, and maybe worth plotting out the ones you want to make it a priority to visit. As for the 100 more event-y events, a couple highlights:

—A "Made in Portland" walking tour collaboration between Know Your City and the Museum of Contemporary Craft.

Metropolis magazine editor Susan S. Szenasy will give a "highly interactive" talk built around pre-sent questions from audience members, related to ethics and sustainability in architecture and design.

—Portland's chief planner, Portlandia's art director, Live Wire's Courtenay Hameister, and more are creating an event in "words, music, pictures" at Mississippi Studios that asks, "What do the buildings we choose to construct, demolish, restore, and inhabit tell the world about us? How does Portland's character find voice in our buildings and the relationships between them?" Plus there will be DJs spinning "songs about buildings and cities."

Our Portland Story will pay tribute to three of Portland's most important "designers in the Mad Men era, when "advertising agencies and commercial artists worked with local brands such as Jantzen, Reed College and Pendleton to lay the groundwork of the design profession for generations of creatives to come."

—Adam Arnold, Carrie Strickland, Sam Adams, and Rick Potestio will be given quite a bit of leeway in presentations on "the historical and contemporary aspects of design, architecture, and community" at an event called "The New Structure."

—A hilarious looking "Design Roast" (examples: Comic Sans font, Crocs shoes, the Pontiac Aztek, Apple earbuds, Carl's Jr advertising, Phillipe Starck juicer, black-on-black watches).

A talk by Stefan Sagmeister, who's designed album covers for the Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, and Talking Heads.

And so much more. Check it out and get started, because it's a lot to wade through, but totally worth it. The organizers always do a great job of representing the spectrum of design happening around us, and as such I can safely say there's something in there for everyone.