Not Just Another Day in Portland

Great Deal #2- Cool off Buy One Get One

2009-08-01T00:57:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great way to cool off still???? Thought this was great. A cousin sent it to me and I am sharing it with all of you. Just print and take to your nearest Jamba Juicefor a great way to cool off!

As a lifelong Oregonian, I must say this weather is rediculous. OK so I know a few of you actually like it, but me? I live in Portland because we have perfect weather year round. Our summers are high 80's, our fall and spring are absolutely gorgeous and our winter....ok so it rains. Still, we only get a few days of snow and ice. The exact right amount to make a snowman, have a day off from work or school as the roads are bad and then..poof it all clears up and we return to normal. This heat wave is completely out of character for us!

As someone who thinks carefully about the amount of energy she uses, tries to recycle as much as possible and buys many of her clothes from reuse stores, I have never been a big fan of air conditioners. You may have actually heard me tell clients...$5000 for what 2 days a year when you are too hot? I take it back. I am green with envy for those of you with air conditioners. I am jumping at invitations to go to friends houses that have air conditioners. Even errands sound great as it means I get to get into an air conditioned car, go into an air conditioned store and then return to my cool car before heading back into my stunning house that I have lovingly refered to as a slow cooker twice this week.

To those of you with air conditioning....take a moment to think of those of out there that are trying to reduce our carbon foot print by suffering in this weather and for just 4 days, laugh at me for having to suffer. I give you permission. But please, take just a moment to at least think of me. Even if it is at my own expense.

Stay cool! Enjoy the coupon.

Jen

Melting in this weather??? Places to beat the heat!

2009-07-29T01:18:00.001-07:00

Is your favorite place to be these days your car as the AC blowing on your face feels refreshing? Does the 45 second walk from your car seem to last at least a half hour? Do you have absolutely no appetite as it is just too stinkin hard to eat?

There are so many things to do and places to go to avoid the heat

1) Go to a matinee
2) Go for a shady walk in Forest Park or Tryon Creek
3) Visit one of Portland Parks Swimming Pools
4) Window shop at the mall
5) Rent a room in a hotel you have been longing to stay at and enjoy the amenities of AC and someone else cooking your meals
6) Make a quick day trip to the Oregon Coast
7) See the 2 posts below for movies and concerts in the park

Portland Park and Recreations 13 pools to cool off in. (Don't forget the sunscreen)

Buckman Pool - Indoor pool at 320 SE 16th Avenue, 503.823.3668
Columbia Pool - Indoor pool at 7701 N Chautauqua Blvd., 503.823.3669
Creston Pool - Outdoor pool at SE 44th Avenue & Powell Blvd., 503.823.3672
East Portland Pool - Indoor pool at 740 SE 106th Avenue, 503.823.3450
Grant Pool - Outdoor pool at NE 33rd Avenue & US Grant Place, 503.823.3674
Matt Dishman Pool - Indoor pool at 77 NE Knott Street, 503.823.3673
Montavilla Pool - Outdoor pool at 8219 NE Glisan Street, 503.823.4101
Mt. Scott Pool - Indoor pool at 5530 SE 72nd Avenue, 503.823.3183
Peninsula Pool - Outdoor pool at 700 N Rosa Parks Way, 503.823.3620
Pier Pool - Outdoor pool at N Seneca St & St Johns Avenue, 503.823.3678
Sellwood Pool - Outdoor pool at 7951 SE 7th Avenue, 503.823.3679
Southwest Pool - Indoor pool at 6820 SW 45th Avenue, 503.823.2840
Wilson Pool - Outdoor pool at 1151 SW Vermont Street, 503.823.3680

Park and Rec also has some WAY cool spray features in some neighborhood parks that are turned on during open hours. I would recommend a quick call to be certain they are working before heading out. The parks that have this are

Columbia Park, N. Lombard Street and Woolsey Avenue
Essex Park, SE 79th Avenue & Center Street
Earl Boyles Park, SE 112th Avenue & Boise Street
Grant Park, NE 33rd Avenue & US Grant Place
Kenton Park, 8417 N. Brandon Avenue
McCoy Park, N Trenton Street & Newman Avenue
Northgate Park, N Geneva Avenue & Fessenden Street
Peninsula Park, N. 700 Rosa Parks Way
Pier Park, N Lombard Street & Bruce Avenue
Raymond Park, SE 118th Avenue & Raymond Street
Woodlawn Park, NE 13th Avenue & Dekum Street

Remember to drink lots of water, wear your sunscreen, carry a gallon of water in your car in case of a car emergency, dress in layers so that you can reduce your clothing layers as the weather heats up, check up on seniors and people with newborns who might be homebound and need assistance....

Stay cool! Post a comment letting me know what you did to stay cool!

Pet Lovers Take Note

2009-07-29T00:17:00.000-07:00

Trying to get out of town? Ow a dog and don't know what to do? Wonder no more...

Just in time for summer travel, the ASPCA has teamed up with a great new partner - Red Lion Hotels, a pet friendly chain of full service hotels that promote comfort for their guests while supporting programs that provide comfort for pets in need.

If you're planning to travel, there's no reason to leave your pet behind. You can stay at any of Red Lion's 43 west coast hotels where pets stay free and even earn "Red Lion R&R Club" points!

To help the ASPCA continue its lifesaving work, Red Lion will be donating 40% of the purchase price of its "Red, the Lion"*, the company's plush toy feline mascot. Red is available at all Red Lion hotels and via www.redlion.com/aspca.To celebrate the launch of our new relationship, Red Lion has teamed with Horizon Air, the Pacific Northwest's leading airline, to sell "Red, the Lion", on board every flight from Portland to the San Francisco Bay Area through August 16, reaching an audience of hundreds of thousands of travelers.To further support animal welfare, Red Lion hotel and corporate office associates will be donating time to local animal causes and conducting fundraisers to benefit the ASPCA, and hotels will be reaching out to shelters in their communities to promote pet adoption.

As a dog lover/owner this makes the region much easier to visit!

Great Deals in Portland

2009-07-25T11:37:00.001-07:00

This is the first of what will be many posts on great deals in Portland.

After a crazy day of errands, lender phone calls, flyer box filling and client present shopping, I found myself down in the Pearl yesterday afternoon. Realizing that it had been 7 hours since last eating I decided it was time to grab a bite to eat before continuing on my list of things that had to be done.

I passed PF Changs restaurant. It has been ages since I have eaten there as nothing on the menu follow my crazy organicish diet that I am on. Something (mainly the amazing smell of Chinese food) caught my attention and I found myself drawn to peeking at the menu posted on the window.

They have a lunch special that looked good. For just $8 you get rice, soup and an entree. I thought that sounded fantastic. I got a nice table outside where I could sit and watch the world go by.

The waitress came by and asked if I was interested in the Happy Hour Menu. As I wasn't done working for the day and I am a quick drunk, I decided to pass. She said it was half price all appetizers and no drink minimum. I said I would look.

It was at this point that I found the DEAL OF THE CENTURY!!! No drink minimum and half price appetizers....whats the catch? I instantly called my better half and asked him if he wanted to join me for happy hour and to hurry!

For $17 we had iced tea, calamari, lettuce wraps, tuna sushi, spring rolls. Full orders, free refills on tea and the most lovely time people watching and enjoying the outdoor dining.

PF Changs in the Pearl. Happy hour is from 3-6pm.

That's my deal of the day!

Enjoy!

Street Fairs and Festivals

2009-07-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

Looking for something great to do in Portland?

The following is a list of the street fairs and festivals in Portland that are happening this summer. As a native Oregonian, this to me is what makes Portland, Portland! The added bonus of this is that these events are all free. There are usually great vendors, tasty food and awesome music. Take advantage of attending one of these events in your neighborhood. Better yet, be adventuresome and visit one in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

As a resident of the Division/Clinton area, you will be sure to see me at this weekends festivities on Division. Let me know if you are coming out this way!

Saturday, July 25th: Division Clinton Street Fair with a neighborhood parade, community and craft booths, music, children’s events, food and much more for one day only.

Saturday, August 1st: Fremont Fest.

Tuesday, August 4th: National Night Out, focusing on prevention of crime and drug activity–check your neighborhood association or see the web site for more information.

Friday, August 7th – Sunday, August 9th: 12th annual Elephant Garlic Festival in North Plains, featuring music, arts and crafts and of course, garlic!

Saturday, August 15th: Multnomah Days at Multnomah Village with a mini parade, art, food, crafts and merchandise.

Sunday, August 16th: India Festival at Pioneer Courthouse Square, highlighting the tastes, sounds and sights of India.

Sunday, August 16th: Hawthorne Street Fair, 11:00am – 5:00pm along streets 30th – 50th. Features music stages, children’s activities, special store sales and a free 1:00pm showing of the classic flick “Labyrinth” at the Bagdad Theater!

Thursday, August 27th – Saturday, August 29th: Festa Italiana at Pioneer Courthouse Square, celebrating Italian-American culture in America with music, a bocce tournament, opera, movie and food.

Saturday, September 5th – Monday, September 7th: Labor Day weekend’s Art in the Pearl with food, music, children’s activities and art!

Saturday, September 12th: Belmont Street Fair, features music, vendors, entertainment, sidewalk sales and a free trolley.

Saturday, September 12th & Sunday, September 13th: West Linn Arts Festival with music, food, children’s activities, a silent auction, art exhibits and more.

Saturday, September 19th (tentative date): Alberta Street Fair.

Saturday, September 26th: ‘Fun on Foster‘ street fair between 50th and 92nd streets with art vendors, food, entertainment and more.

Movies in the Park

2009-06-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

Looking for something awesome to do with your friends or family for FREE this summer? This is one of my favorite activities to do in Portland. I know they don't start for a few weeks but I guess I like to plan ahead as it is a great activity for an individual, a couple, some friends or even an entire family, depending on the movie title! Pre show entertainment starts at 6:30pm and the movie starts at dark. It is free. Just bring a blanket and a picnic and go enjoy a movie. I suggest a sweatshirt as once the sun sets, it gets chilly. Let me know if you are ever going to a movie. We go to many of them throughout the summer and might just catch up with you at a park!

Friday July 3rd Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa at Multnomah Arts Center

Friday July 10 Kung Fu Panda at Berkeley Park

SATJuly 11 School of Rock at Lents Park

FRIJuly 17 Space Jam at Pier Park

SATJuly 18 Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D at Dickinson Park

WEDJuly 22 Hairspray at McCoy Park

THUJuly 23 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at Holly Farm Park

FRIJuly 24 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa at Brentwood Park

SATJuly 25 Dirty Dancing at Colonel Summers Park

MONJuly 27 Singin’ in the Rain at Laurelhurst Park

THUJuly 30 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at Argay Park

FRIJuly 31 Zathura: A Space Adventure at Cathedral Park

FRIJuly 31 Kung Fu Panda at Kenilworth Park

SATAug 1 Shrek at Earl Boyles Park

SUNAug 2 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at Sellwood Park

TUEAug 4 Charlotte’s Web at Glenfair Park

THUAug 6 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at Brooklyn Park

FRIAug 7 Hairspray at Willamette Park

FRIAug 7 X-Men Origins: Wolverine at Multnomah Arts Center

SATAug 8 Coraline at Dickinson Park

MONAug 10 Casablanca at Laurelhurst Park

THUAug 13 Hotel for Dogs at Grant Park

FRIAug 14 The Wizard of Oz at Laurelhurst Park

FRIAug 14 The Tale of Despereaux at St Johns Park

SATAug 15 School of Rock at Sewallcrest Park

SATAug 15 Iron Man at Lents Park

WEDAug 19 X-Men Origins: Wolverine at McCoy Park

THUAug 20 High School Music 3: Senior Year at Parklane Park

FRIAug 21 Iron Man at Irving Park

SATAug 22 Blue Hawaii (Salute to Elvis) at Washington Park

WEDAug 26 The Longshots at Peninsula Park

THUAug 27 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl at Hazeltine Park

FRIAug 28 Mamma Mia! (Sing Along) at Washington Park

SATAug 29 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at Laurelhurst Park

TUE Sept 1 Casablanca at DeNorval Unthank Park

FRISept 11 The Neverending Story at Multnomah Arts Center

Enjoy the beautiful parks of Portland!

5808 SW Multnomah- Custom Craftsman on 1.19 acres

2009-05-31T22:44:00.000-07:00

An amazing opportunity to own a custom built craftsman in the heart of Southwest Portland. Who would have thought that there would actually be homes with over an acre of land this close to Multnomah Village. The home features over 4000 sq feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 3.1 baths on three levels. With custom finishes throughout this is the ideal place to call home. Have toys or need a place to work? There is a 1200 sq foot shop on the property complete with seperate office space as well. This home is not to be missed!! All this for $1,000,000.