Portland Blog: This Week in Portland August 21 - August 28 2010

Writing this blog each week makes me more aware of the date and time passing by...rapidly.  Especially in Portland, where summers tend to be quick, I don't want to miss a single moment of enjoying our rich outdoor life that is only available for a few short months each year.  With that said, I wanted to do a list of things to do in Portland in summertime, before September is upon us and we're all in "back to school" mode already.  Obviously, summer isn't gone just yet, but the cooler temps this week following last weekend's scorcher are a reminder to get out there and live it up, because summer has a way of slipping us by.   If you have some ideas on fun things to do in Portland, be sure to comment on the blog post (social network pages) and let us know your ideas.  Also, check the Portland events listings, because there are lots of neighborhood events this weekend, from the Multnomah Days to the Alberta Street Fair.

Top 10 Things to Do in Portland (Before Summer is Over)

1)  Bike the Springwater Corridor from Downtown to Sellwood Riverfront Park

If you don't own a bike, you can rent a bike in Portland, too!  This is such a nice and easy summertime excursion, starting along the East side of the river along the Eastbank Esplanade.  If you want to make it a family day with your kids, stop and visit OMSI along the way, and finish with a picnic at the Sellwood Riverfront Park, or a stop at Oaks Amusement Park (both of which are located along this bike trail)  Or, if you want more riding, just keep going...I rode this trail all the way to Gresham one day. Visit the Springwater Corridor page and download a printable map of the trail.  From Portland Parks:

The Springwater Corridor is the major southeast segment of the 40-Mile Loop which was inspired by the 1903 Olmsted plan of a parkway and boulevard loop to connect park sites. The eventual developed trail will be over 21 miles long.

For the most part, the trail is well separated from the public road. The route is a scenic one, encompassing wetlands, buttes, agricultural fields and pastures, residential and industrial neighborhoods. Close to Johnson Creek, one of the last free-flowing streams in Portland's urban area, the trail criss-crosses the stream on its course to the Willamette River. The Corridor connects several parks and open spaces including Tideman Johnson Nature Park, Beggars-tick Wildlife Refuge, the I-205 Bike Path, Leach Botanical Garden, Powell Butte Nature Park, and Gresham's Main City Park.

Above photo submitted by Michael Barton

2) Take a Boat on the Willamette or Columbia Rivers

Of course we have the Portland Sprit cruises, but you can also do the Portland jet boats for more excitement. You can also rent a boat and spend a little more leisure time on the water.  Portland Kayak Rentals are a fun way to spend an afternoon on the water.

3) Go See an Outdoor Movie in Portland

The NWFILM Center's Top Down Movie Screenings on the rooftop of Hotel DeLuxe is one place to see a movie projected on a screen outdoors.  I attended the outdoor screening of "the best worst movie ever made", Troll II this week, and we had a great time!  They have one more screening coming up, so this is your last chance to get out and enjoy it!  Below, from NWFILM.ORG:

Join us on the panoramic parking rooftop at the Hotel deLuxe, SW 15th at Yamhill, for some warm starry nights filled with lovable films, culinary treats, a little live music, and spectacular city views. The evenings begin at 8 p.m. with music and refreshments. Gracie�s Restaurant will offer easy-to-juggle meals, snacks, and cocktails, and additional beverages will be available from TAZO Tea and MacTarnahan�s Brewing. The screenings start when the sun sets (9-9:30 p.m.). Bring your favorite portable chair or blanket, but please, no pets or outside food or drink.

Top Down admission: $8

Next Film - Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 8 PM

TO DIE FOR

DIRECTOR: GUS VAN SANT
US, 1995

With a crackling, darkly comic Buck Henry script and a standout performance from Ileana Douglas, TO DIE FOR stars Nicole Kidman as a vacuously ambitious reporter (�You�re nobody unless you�re on TV�) who finally lands a gig as a cable weather girl cum documentary filmmaker. But when husband Matt Dillon threatens to thwart her budding career, she decides to persuade some infatuated high school students (Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck) to bump him off.

School of Film Reunion Night!

( 106 min )
BAND: THE LOVE LOUNGERS

Several Portland parks and neighborhoods are doing outdoor movie screenings, too.  Even if the movie is bad, it's more fun watching it outdoors simply because you can!

4) Visit a Portland Brewery, or two...

They don't call it Beervana for nothing.  Here on our Portland Breweries Page  you will find a list of breweries in Portland.  In addition to breweries, we also have beer-focused bars and bottle shops like Saraveza, Horse Brass Pub, and APEX, just to name a few.  Here is a Portland Beer Bar map:

View Larger Map

Drink responsibly:  if you are the designated driver or don't drink beer, don't worry - most places offer delicious lemonade and other frosty non-alcoholic beverages.  

Also, a tip of the hat to Root's Brewery which I just heard closed their doors.  I know many a Portlander will miss you!  Everyone give a nice toast to Roots!

5) Dine on Popular Portland Patios

There are a slew of restaurants in and around Portland with awesome patios (some are hidden jewels).  Some of my personal favorites (I live in NE Portland, so my list is mostly focused there) include Noble Rot, Radio Room, Alu Wine Bar, and Tin Shed.  But great Portland patios are everywhere! Visit Yelp.com and search for "patio" to get a whole list of great suggestions!

6) Visit (and play in) our Portland Fountains

This is especially a fun time if you have kids, but even if you don't, the people watching is sure to bring a big smile to your face, even if you aren't brave enough to splash around in the water yourself.  We all have our favorite Portland fountains:  Keller, Lovejoy, Jamison Square....but did you know you can even print off a Portland Fountains Map and take a Portland Fountains Walking Tour?  Yep, the City of Portland's Fountains page has all the info you need to visit Portland Fountains on our next hot summer day.  Check it out!

7)Attend PCPA's "Music on Main Street" Free Live Music Performances

This is a classic fun event in Portland each summer, so try to attend the show before it is gone until next year.  Below, from http://www.pcpa.com/

Music on Main Street is your FREE outdoor concert series in the heart of downtown Portland- located between Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and Antoinette Hatfield Hall. The outdoor concert venue will be decked out for summer enjoyment, including a full bar and food menu. Restaurant and bar open at 4:30PM. All shows are free and open to the public- tickets are not needed. (From PCPA.com)

August 25th's show features Derby with the Angry Orts, and September 1st features St. James Gate.

Above photo submitted by Michael Barton

8)  Have a Picnic on Sauvie Island

Sauvie Island is a wonderful place to get away from the city without spending all day driving someplace.  This is also a great alternative destination if you don't have time (or gas money) to drive all the way to the coast or out to Mt. Hood or the gorge.  Sauvie Island offers lovely scenery, places to picnic, and even beaches!  Sauvie Island Wildlife area includes picnic facilities and beaches.  Here is additional info on visiting the park, from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Take Hwy. 30 to the Sauvie Island Bridge. After crossing the bridge, stay on NW Sauvie Island Road for about two miles. Stay left at the �Y� intersection. The wildlife area headquarters is on the right about 1/4 mile past the �Y� intersection.

• Detailed Map (pdf)
• Beach Use (pdf)

Address 

Sauvie Island Wildlife Area
18330 NW Sauvie Island Road
Portland, OR 97231
(503) 621-3488

You might also want to visit the Sauvie Island Website  for even more ideas of things to do on Sauvie Island.  Read about local attractions, where to get parking permits, and find places to eat.

9) Visit a Portland Park

Need I say more?  We are so fortunate to have wonderful parks all throughout our city.  If you haven't visited one lately, add it to your list.  Hike the Upper Macleay Trail, visit a Portland Rose Garden, or visit your favorite neighborhood park like Laurelhurst Park, Mt. Tabor Park, Kelley Point Park, or Gabriel Park.  If you are looking for particular amenities, just visit the Portland Parks Finder page and specify your search criteria.

Above photo submitted by Fasai

10)  Participate in a Portland Bike Tour

Of course it's always a good time to ride your bike around Portland and surrounding areas.  I am on the newsletter mailing list for ORBIKE News, and below is their list of upcoming biking events in and around Portland.  This is by no means an all-inclusive list: there are organized bike rides all over Portland, so check the events calendar on ORBIKE.com and find a great ride to join.  Below content from ORBIKE.com:

PORTLAND CENTURY | August 22 - Portland

Portland has set the standard for what it means to be a bicycle friendly city, with miles and miles of bike lanes, specially designed bike routes, off road paths and supportive riding amenities. Cities around the world look to Portland for examples and ideas and it's no wonder people love to ride their bikes in Portland! Celebrate Portland and enjoy a relaxing day on your bike riding the Portland Century, a top-notch bike ride for a top-notch bike city.

This premier ride is an amazing opportunity to tour Portland and its fringes on routes of 25, 50 or 100 miles. Rest stops are frequent and abundant with menu items like (depending on your chosen course) Hot Lips Pizza, deli sandwiches on Dave's Killer Bread, strawberry shortcake, pasta salad and plenty of other yummy treats. The finish line features an extensive gourmet feast served under the shady tree canopy of the Portland State University gardens with a free beer garden and a live band.

The courses are gorgeous, perfectly planned and extremely well marked. You'll cruise along roads so quiet and quaint that there are plants growing through the center line and lush ferns drape over the edges. Along the way, the course takes you past Portland highlights like the Bull Run region (the source of Portland's water), Kelly Butte, the Springwater Corridor, Ross Island, Smith and Bybee Lakes (one of the largest urban wetland wildlife refuges) and through the "Ramona Quimby" district.

Online registration closes tonight at 11:59pm. You may also register at Pre-Ride Check In on Saturday from 1-4pm at Lucky Labrador Northwest or at the start of the ride. (Register)

HOOD RIVER HARVEST RIDE | September 25 - Hood River

Few places in the world are as beautiful as the Hood River Valley. Only 30 miles long and five miles wide, its rich volcanic soil and ample water produce a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables and timber. The productive fruit orchards, peaceful small farms and quaint towns make it seem like a vision out of the past. Hood River is an intact farm valley without over-development, preserved in part through the efforts of the non-profit Hood River Valley Residents Committee.

For bike riders, the Hood River Valley has unique and special topography. Shaped by volcanoes, giant glaciers and the Columbia Floods, the terrain has tremendous variety. Low-traffic farm roads designed for horse-drawn travel, not too steep, meander through the valley and include flat stretches, moderate hill climbs and exciting descents. Often sunny when Portland and Vancouver are cloudy, the bike riding in Hood River is excellent in the fall.

The Hood River Harvest Ride features five loops, each with its own appeal. The loops - easy, moderate and challenging - can be combined or done separately. As you cruise along the route, you'll discover a variety of distinctive fruit stands, stores and a winery. But don't worry about having to carry all that good Hood River booty with you on your bike; purchases made at specified farm stands will be reserved and picked up by a special support van for free delivery to the finish line. What a cool service! Quiet, overnight camping is available at the Hood River Fairgrounds and there are plenty of activities in the area for non-riding friend and family. Profits from the ride will support the Hood River Valley Residents Committee's efforts to improve the quality of life in this special region. (Register)

BIKETOBEERFEST | August 28 - Portland

Hopworks Urban Brewery is hosting the world's only bike-in Oktoberfest to celebrate an incredible summer of riding bikes in Portland. BiKETOBEERFEST is a day of relaxing the way only Oregonians know how: by riding bikes and drinking delicious handcrafted beer.

A benefit for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Portland Sunday Parkways, BiKETOBEEREST is a full day of bicycle amazement accompanied by award-winning beer at Hopworks Urban Brewery, the only brewery to serve their beer directly out of a bike- their custom-constructed bar bike. Hopworks is opening up their gigantic parking lot for a bikes-only extravaganza filled with great food, fun for all ages and plenty of velo merriment.

There are five live bands on a keg-supported stage, Goldsprints roller races hosted by Team Beer, 15 Hopworks beers on tap, a menu of fresh food options, flatlanders (BMX trick riders) and a Huffy Bike Toss. Kid friendly games and activities are scheduled for the earlier part of the day. Get ready for a wild day of bikes, bands and beers! (More info)

TOUR DE LAB | September 11 - Portland

Who let the dogs out? Get all dogged up and head out on a bicycle tour of all four Lucky Lab brew pubs on Tour de Lab, a benefit for Dove Lewis Animal Hospital. Choose from two routes: an 18 mile Puppy course or the 30 mile Big Dog which features Mastiff-size climbing over Council Crest and the southwest hills. At each of the rest stops along the way, you'll earn your dog gear (ears, nose) and enjoy human treats (cookies, bread sticks and more) as you wind your way to the finish line festival: the Dog Park at Lucky Lab Northwest.

The Dog Park features a make-your-own hot dog extravaganza, free etched pint glasses and a free beer for all participants flaunting their dog gear. Dogs are welcome on this quirky, fun ride, and costumes are encouraged!

Tour de Lab is always a howling good time. What a great way to wind down the summer riding season: taking a spin around town, drinking beer (at the finish line) and hanging out with friends as you make fun of each other, take pictures and show off your doggie gear. This ride benefits Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital, the area's only 24-hour non-profit animal hospital. Register in advance through ORbike and save. (Register)

Featured Portland Events this Week

Here are the featured Portland events this week!  Thanks to everyone for adding all the great Portland events to the community events calendar.  You can add your own Portland events directly to the events calendar, here.  Just click "Add an Event" and fill in the details.

Portland RiverFest

August 20, 2010 to August 29, 2010 � Willamette River Join in the fun as Portland caps off the summer with the biggest event ever to celebrate the Willamette River . RiverFest offers a family-friendly chance to come down by the riverside.

Multnomah Village Days

August 21, 2010 all day � "Multnomah Village" Multnomah Village Days - August 21 in Multnomah Village Multnomah Days promises to be a fun way to spend your Saturday! Head toward Capitol Highway (between Garden Home Rd & SW 31st).

2010 IPA Fest & Pac NW BBQ Cook Off and Block Party

August 21, 2010 to August 22, 2010 � Blitz Ladd Saturday Aug 21 and Sun Aug 22 - Gates open at 11 Meet the brewers Taste pit BBQ Judge the best regional craft IPAs Dance and listen to live music all day Race giant tricycles Suggested $5 donation.

3rd Annual Corgi Walk

August 21, 2010 from 10am to 12pm � Pearl District Pearl District, Portland Registration 9:15AM, Walk 10:00AM�12:00PM This year�s Corgi Walk will benefit DoveLewis and the Columbia River Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club�Corgi Rescue.

9th Annual Multnomah Days Dog Wash

August 21, 2010 from 10:30am to 2pm � Lucky Lab Public House Lucky Lab Public House 7675 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland The Multnomah Days Parade starts at 10:00AM Dog Wash 10:30AM�2:00PM $10 suggested donation per dog wash It starts with a fun community parade.

Family Day at Oregon History Museum

August 21, 2010 from 11am to 3pm � Oregon History Museum Visit the exhibit Arte en la Charrer�a: The Artisanship of the Mexican Equestrian Culture, and listen to gallery talks and guest speakers in the exhibit.

Alberta Street Fair

August 21, 2010 from 11am to 9pm � NE Alberta Street between NE 10th & 30th Avenues Festival highlights include: � Three Stages of Live Entertainment � 150 Assorted Local Market Vendors � Parade: For the Young and the Young at Heart � Beer Garden:

Portland Triathlon

August 22, 2010 all day � Downtown Welcome to the City of Roses http://www.portlandtri.com/ The only major triathlon ever held in downtown Portland, Oregon welcomes you to the fourth annual Freshwater Trust Portland Triathlon.

OMSI: Einstein Exhibit

August 2, 2010 to September 26, 2010 � OMSI June 26�Sept. 26, 2010 �Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.� � Albert Einstein Beginning June 26

Helium Comedy Club - Bill Burr

August 19, 2010 to August 21, 2010 � Helium Comedy Club Bill Burr HBO's "One Night Stand", Comedy Central's "Why Do I Do This?" and "Chappelle's Show" 8/19/2010 - 8/21/2010 Tix and More: http://portland.heliumcomedy.com/

Winderlea Winery Summer Food Cart Series

August 22, 2010 at 12pm to September 5, 2010 at 4pm � "Winderlea Vineyard" Summer Sundays at Winderlea Winery - Join forces with creative chefs from some of the best street food. What could be more fun than a visit to our stunning tasting room?

The Portland Photo of the Week

And, onto our weekly Portland photo winner. There were so MANY awesome photos uploaded to the site this week it was hard to pick just one.  Thanks to everyone for sharing their images, we really enjoy seeing all the snapshots of "a day in the life" of Portland.  I wanted to give a special thanks this week to our regularly featured Portland photo contributors: Fasai, Michael Barton, Earl R. Thomas, and Art Richards.  Want to be featured on the website?  Just come add your photos to the upload page.

Did you know you can upload photos directly to the website from your cell phone?  You can - just visit the photos upload page and make note of the email address listed for sending photos via cell:  put that address in your phone, and then the next time you are out and about in Portland and see something photo worthy, you can share it on the spot!

Jo Grishman submitted a series of images from the 100 Year Celebration of the Hawthorne Bridge.  Here is a lovely image of our Hawthorne bridge on a summer day, with flag flying!  Love it!  Jo receives a gift certificate to one of our favorite new coffee spots in town, Coava Coffee Roasters.  Locals and coffee aficionados from all over have been saying that Coava is the best coffee roaster in Portland right now.  They were named one of the top ten micro-roasters in America by Imbibe Magazine in the March 2010 issue. Their new cafe is a "tasting room" for their roastery. Learn more about Coava Coffee Roasters.

Come and upload your Portland photos to the Photo Gallery for your chance to win each week.  Check back to see if your photo is selected for a spotlight in the weekly Portland blog! 

Hawthorne Bridge by Jo Grishman

Portland Blog, Forum Chatter & More

Below are the discussions posted on the Portland forum and Portland blog this month.  

Want to add your own two cents to the Portland blog?  Please do!  But please remember to keep it real and community focused. Read our terms of use and don't spam the planet with self promoting material or weird stuff as it will just get deleted.  We have a zero spammer policy to keep the site valuable and hassle free for our members.  Thanks!

East coast to west coast

We're really thinking of putting down roots for our next move. We are late 30-somethings with a nearly 2 year old and live in Baltimore cit�

Started by Kelly

Jobs?

Hey,  I realize you probably get a lot of this junk from prospective residents, but any input would be greatly appreciated. I am movin�

Started by Austin Krzciok        
 

Portland's Visual & Performing Arts

Hey all!Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Sara, and I recently moved to Tigard all the way from Upstate New York. It was quite a jou�

Started by Sara Kerr   
 

Could be moving to Hillsboro Oregon

How is the city, community,opportunity for jobs as a personal trainer in Hillsboro ?   please help!                    

Started by Kat Jeffrey  

  Overlook Neighborhood Portland Real Estate Market Report

By Ross Seligman

Best Real Estate Deals in Portland this Week

Every week, Ross shares with us a selection of the best real estate deals in Portland.  In honor of our Alberta Street Fair this weekend, I selected this adorable home to feature this week.  Best of all, it is an affordable home in one of our most popular neighborhoods!

Take a peek at all the best Portland real estate deals this week.

Did you know there are nearly 100 unique Portland neighborhoods?  Read and learn all about these interesting urban communities.

Powell's Bookstore Picks

We love Powells! (and what respectable Portlander doesn't?)

Portland Book Review of the Day

Portland eBooks

Powell's Author Interviews

That's it for now

We hope you enjoy reading our weekly Portland blog.  Want to see more or less of something?  Let us know!  Once again, thanks for being here and making this Portland website such an asset to the community!  If you love this site as much as we do, tell your friends!  Have a great weekend!

PS -- Want to read back issues of this blog?  Here ya go!