Portland Area Newsletter and Planner - September 29, 2023
Excerpts From TravelPortland.com
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O-TSUKIMI, THE MOONVIEWING FESTIVAL
Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon from September to early October. During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant harvest. At this festival, one of the most beloved at the Garden, guests anticipate the moonrise with tea and an opportunity to compose haiku as shakuhachi and koto music wafts through the air.
Start the evening with an intimate and peaceful stroll through the lantern-lit Garden. Take in authentic Japanese music. Catch up with friends, old and new. Enjoy a cup of tea watching the harvest moon rise above the city. There is no better place in Portland to share the romance and mystery of the full moon than from the eastern overlook of the Portland Japanese Garden Pavilion.
In celebration of Moonviewing, the raked gravel in the Flat Garden is designed in a special, once-a-year checkerboard raking pattern; the alternating squares of white river gravel cast shadows in the moonlight.
PORTLAND FRESH HOPS FEST
Join the Oregon Brewers Guild’s Portland Fresh Hops Festival at the Oaks Amusement Park for a two-day celebration of fresh hops. Fresh hop beers brewed by Oregon craft breweries from around the state, live music, and more.
Fresh hop beers are only available briefly during hop harvest and are brewed with hops picked from the vine, usually within 24 hours. There are unique flavor and aroma attributes that only fresh hops can bring to a beer.
THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN
It’s no Legend of Sleepy Hollow or Night of the Living Dead, but once in the 1990s, the lovely Oregon town of St. Helens was overrun by something worse than zombies or vampires — a Hollywood movie crew! The peaceful waterfront city just 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Portland has never been the same.
Each year, St. Helens, the filming site of the otherwise forgettable Halloweentown, remembers its brush with the dollar DVD bin with The Spirit of Halloweentown, a fun, family-friendly celebration of the spookiest holiday around. Complete with costume contests, trick-or-treating through St. Helens’ Old Town District, haunted town tours, and scarecrows galore. The celebration of the creepiest day of the year extends into every weekend in October, starting with the lighting of the Great Pumpkin in the city plaza.
During The Spirit of Halloweentown, local merchants are dying to get you in the spirit, with costume shops stocking everything from frisky vampire getups to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shells. And with an array of events from ghost talks, tarot card readings, and face painting increasing up to the big day, you’ll want to be dressed and ready for action. So be sure not to miss it, or you’ll be haunted with regret — at least until next year.
BEERQUEST HAUNTED PUB TOUR
Uncover Portland’s dark side on this spine-tingling walking pub tour. In the early 1900s, unsuspecting sailors were often ruthlessly abducted and whisked away through the notorious Shanghai Tunnels. Tour guides will tell you how notorious criminals kidnapped thousands of people and why their ghosts still haunt Portland today. This is Portland’s longest-running ghost tour with over 350 5-star reviews.
100 years ago, Portland was home to many less savory establishments — opium dens, brothels, and underground speakeasies. We shed light on these criminal enterprises and how they became the largest opium and alcohol smuggling operations in the U.S. Where these gangsters went, death and destruction followed. This tour will keep you on the edge of your seat with ghastly tales of unsolved murders, cover-ups and unexplained paranormal activity. See why Portland is known as one of the most haunted cities in America. Beerquest tour guides are local historians and ghost enthusiasts who enjoy sharing their passion with you. They love hearing an audible gasp and seeing your eyes light up at the end of a spooky tale. Beerquest is a small, locally owned and operated business built by a passion for entertaining.
All tours include Beer. 21+ Guests will taste five beer samples (5 ounces each) from Kells Irish Restaurant + Pub and Old Town Pizza + Brewing (Thurs – Sat). Sunday Tours include one full beer and two samples. The tour is rated “mildly” spooky and is a 50:50 mix of history and hauntings.
UNDERHILL HAUNTED HOUSE
Visit the Trio of Terror:
The Salvage Yard – From the outside, it seems like an abandoned salvage yard, but once inside, you will find it is very much in operation, and they are salvaging more than cars. Why oh why did you decide to visit on a full moon?
Terror Ship – The ship has crashed on a hostile alien world. The hull is breached, and there is nothing to stop the creatures outside from coming to visit…and hunt… you and the crew.
Underhill Manor – A mysterious stranger seeking shelter has infected the staff and guests with the worst sort of bug…vampirism. Will Madam Underhill and her Caretaker be taken over, or will they survive a house full of vampires?
Finally, for little ones under the age of 12 (and those of all ages that are a little Haunted House-phobic), presenting Kids Monster Fest, an immersive matinee experience because haunted houses are so less scary in the daylight. Kids Monster Fest will give you chills and a few scares in a wholesome, kid and family-friendly environment. Also, as the only Halloween event targeted to families with children (and you adult scaredy cats), Kids Monster Fest is the only Halloween event in the Portland downtown metro area. With lots of parking and a short commute to keep you from driving up to an hour to Hillsboro, Salem or Sauvie’s Island for a corn maze or kid-oriented attraction, Kids Monster Fest is a perfect option. You can leave Kids Monster Fest refreshed, a bit scared and a whole lot of excited about Halloween. Kids Monster Fest is scheduled for three matinees October 21-22, 28, from 12 – 3 p.m. This event is now timed in hour blocks and has limited walk-up sales. Due to its popularity, buying your tickets in advance is strongly advised so you don’t miss out on this fun event.
THE CORN MAIZE ON SAUVIE ISLAND
When summer winds down, Portland’s fall arrives with warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights. The ideal way to get lost in autumn’s splendor is at The Maize at the Pumpkin Patch. Located on Sauvie Island., a rural escape just 13 miles (21 km) north of downtown Portland, the Corn Maize offers visitors eight acres (3 hectares) of exciting twists and turns. But it’s not all about getting lost in nature; Two 16-foot (5 m) observation bridges provide picturesque panoramas, with great views of the island and Mount Hood, as well as the maze itself.
As well as the corn maze, guests can take a trip on a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin, or pet farm animals and make a new feathery friend at the Big Red Barn. Not in the mood to traipse out into the pumpkin field? Explore the gift shop or have a relaxing lunch in the café, the family farm has activities to delight any visitor.
PORTLAND FARMERS MARKET AT SHEMANSKI PARK
With its carts and vendors selling delicious meals under a lush green canopy of trees, this downtown farmer’s market at Shemanski Park is a popular lunch spot for good reason. Portland residents and visitors also use this shaded destination to buy locally grown groceries for dinner — or supplies for an alfresco picnic. (Wednesdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
DAHLIA FESTIVAL
Celebrate the season of DAHLIAS. A Rainbow of Color. Stroll through almost 40 acres and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 370 varieties. The beautiful fields are open from August to September each year, closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Pick out and order your favorite dahlias for Spring delivery and planting. Purchase a beautiful bunch of cut dahlias to take home with you or to make someone’s day. Visit the Gift Shop with hundreds of local treasures, open year-round. Fill your belly with yummy treats from Food Carts, relax and enjoy the Live Music, attend the Sunday farmers’ market, or take one of the Classes throughout the festival dates.
NORTH COAST FOOD TRAIL
Already an expansive way to chow down as you’re touring the Oregon coast, the North Coast Food Trail is getting ready to get bigger. Some 100 or more miles of foodstuffs, drinks and culinary-themed adventures await with Visit Tillamook Coast’s North Coast Food Trail, which starts at the southern edges of the Tillamook County line at Neskowin and runs up through Cannon Beach, Seaside and now Astoria.
MONTAVILLA FARMERS MARKET
Neighborhood farmers market featuring local farms, distilleries, coffee, bakeries, flowers, hot food vendors and more. The market was founded by a grassroots collection of neighbors who were inspired by visions of a fresh, local, food market in a shared community space within the growing SE Stark Street business district. This dedicated group opened the market in just 10 short months with a small amount of grant funds and a generous outpouring of donations from local businesses, friends and neighbors. The tireless energy of these un-paid visionaries and countless other volunteers allowed MFM to open its first market on Sunday, July 22, 2007, with 17 vendors and over 2000 visitors. Montavilla Farmers Market is a thriving, diverse marketplace where all are welcome.
PORTLAND NIGHT MARKET
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Meet some of Portland's best makers and creators. With almost 200 hundred makers, the Night Market offers food carts, drinks, clothing, lifestyle goods, home goods, body care and art. The Portland Night Market is a FREE quarterly event open to all ages.
FARMERS MARKET AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University will be open every Saturday, year-round. April through October hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through March hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Market at PSU is located in Downtown Portland in the South Park Blocks between SW College & Montgomery Streets.
HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKETS
Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty. In addition to amazingly fresh, local food, you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season.
- April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,
- October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM,, and
- December through March: 9 AM to 1PM on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month
FEATURED LISTINGS
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Curious about what your home may be worth in our current real estate market? Click here for a no obligation comparative market analysis. Thank you for including us in your real estate journey!
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WEST LINN, OR
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August 2023 Real Estate Market Update
In August 2023, the real estate market showcased some interesting dynamics compared to the previous month.
- New Listings: We saw an influx of fresh listings with 2,923 new homes entering the market, marking a modest increase of 0.8% from July.
- Average Sold Price: The average sale price saw a slight decrease, settling at $608,300, which is a 2.0% drop from the previous month. This may suggest a slight cooling in buyer demand or increased room for negotiation.
- Closed Sales: On a brighter note, closed sales surged, with 2,155 homes finding new owners, reflecting a significant 12.7% rise from July. This suggests that while prices may be adjusting, the appetite to close deals remains strong.
- Inventory: Housing inventory contracted a bit, showing a decrease of 0.2%. This suggests a still-tight market where demand might be outpacing supply.
- Days on Market: Homes spent an average of 37 days on the market before selling, which is a 14.3% increase from July. This indicates that properties are taking slightly longer to sell, possibly due to more discerning buyers or a greater equilibrium between supply and demand.
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16037 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd Suite 150, Tigard, OR, 97224