Starting at the Gordon Faber Recreational Complex, basically where the Hillsboro Hops play ball at…read moreRon Tonkin Stadium, and heading towards Helvetia Market, the countryside, and Helvetia Tavern is this little event called the Helvetia Half Marathon. This event has been running for 25 years now, and is typically held at the end of May. If you're not ready to run a half marathon (like myself) then they also offer a 5K and 10K course. Cost is between $54 to $135, depending on when you register. Packet Pick-up: ~ At the Portland Running Company in Beaverton. Race Day: ~ 8am Start ~ On Century Blvd just outside of the stadium. I only ran the 10K and only saw data centers and farmland lol. But my friend that ran the half said that it became a bit hilly after the 10K mark. Finishline: ~ It ends back onto the playing field of the stadium, and along the outfield. A medal awarded at the end. Food/Beer/Live Music: ~ Burgers were provided by Helvetia Tavern and three types of beers from Rogue Brewery. Live music provided by Party of 4! Those guys were awesome! Overall, it was a good run in my opinion. Not overkill with hills but also not as scenic as I thought. Would I run it again? Yeah why not!

Another summer ending run!…read more (per the website) THIS RACE IS PUT ON BY COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY Packet Pick-up Day was held on a Saturday with a few vendors presenting a few running items and, of course, the major sponsor by Nike. The running schwag was actually really nice. The draw string goodie bag was actually made of good quality. It was filled with a Nike water bottle, running pouch for your phone/keys, the MLK Dream Run t-shirt, a bag of bagels from Dave's Killer Bread, and a few other items by other sponsors. Race Day Sunday: Starting at the Portland Community College Campus, the run basically is a few blocks that heads towards Peninsula Park (north). Then runs in a square, or rectangle if you're running the 10K/15K, towards Martin Luther King Blvd (south), and back to the PCC campus. The participants here seemed a bit smaller, I'd say less than a thousand, than the Beaverton Run the weekend before. Likely because this does not include a Half. 8am started with the 15K runners, followed by the 10K runners, and around 8:25am the 5K runners/walkers were on their way. The run was flat. So, there were no challenging elevation issues. A few negatives, but I'm not reducing a star: ~ No parking information, so street park. ~ I didn't see enough water stations, but that's probably because they didn't have enough volunteers. Luckily, I had hydration gels. ~ No medal at the end. At least no medal for everyone that joined for health reasons. Medals only awarded to the top timed runners of certain categories; Gender, age group, etc. Regards, I still had a good run and would do it again. Plus my Adidas' rival, did provid a lot of items which made it well worth it.

I absolutely LOVE participating in the annual Race for the Cure, being one of a sea of Pink, each…read moreperson there because of their personal connection to Breast Cancer and the desire to find a cure. Not only is it a fund raiser, it's a way to bring families and communities together, to celebrate the women and men in their lives who are warriors, battling this disease; and the women who fought and lost their battle, whose lives we continue to honor and remember. People come Dressed to Impress! To stand out, be noticed - so that their loved one can shine. Pink in every shade on every possible type of clothing - tutus, wigs, panties, bras, furs, lingerie, feathers, boas, numerous t-shirts and signs, and even dogs with pink hula skirts and adornments. It's all just so much fun even though breast cancer is not. It's about honoring the women and men who have been afflicted, to show others that breast cancer is no longer a death sentence, there is hope, support and life to be lived. This event is so well orchestrated. And while it's called a race, there are over 40,00 people so there really isn't a lot of running! In fact, for some people, it takes a few hours just to reach the starting line! I get there super early because I don't want to wait hours just to start. This year due to COVID-19, the race was virtual. While I certainly missed the energy of all these people From different cultures and backgrounds coming together to join forces to end breast cancer, I still did the walk because Breast Cancer doesn't stop because COVID-19 interrupted our lives. We need to continue to drive awareness and raise funds so we can eradicate this disease Breast Cancer is no longer a death sentence. Women and men with breast cancer continue to flourish, to love, to live! Here's hoping we can all do the walk together next year in 2021. Until then, please continue to support this cause.

Trix are for kids, but boobies are for everyone…read more I'm well convinced that this is not only the largest Race for the Cure event in the west, but one of the largest events on the streets of Portland. Over 40,000 folks all bedecked in pink. It was a little much. This event is a fundraiser, but also a time for friends, family and co-workers to walk together in memory of or in celebration of special women in their lives who have had to fight the battle. It was a pleasure to walk with Team Yelp in our, "I (Yelp Burst) boobies" t-shirts. I will say "Race" is a stretch, since it was so crowded, we did more of a shuffle for most of the 5k Walk. For all the sadness associated with the disease, this is a remarkably fun and funny event. First off, you'll never see so many breast puns and humorous t-shirts in your life. Team names like "Little Kitties for Titties", "Surrender the Booby" (it was also 'Talk like a Pirate' day) and "Yes, these are fake. My real ones tried to kill me." Men and women of all ages in hot pink t-shirts, panties, wigs and sparkles. But probably the highlight were the ladies in lingerie in the windows of the Benson Hotel putting on a show for thousands of walkers heading down Broadway. Yes, ladies, we like your boobies too. The event is well organized and the entire waterfront area is filled with booths, many of which have donated items from the sponsors. If I've learned anything from my friends and family who have battled cancer, it is that a cancer diagnosis is not the end. And rather than suffer in silence, it is a time to live, to laugh and to fight. And fortunately with ongoing fundraisers like these, many of my friends have lived to fight another day. If you are feeling inspired, or just like boobies, there is still time to donate to Team Yelp: http://race.komenoregon.org/site/TR?team_id=52802&fr_id=1130&pg=team

I initially felt optimistic about enrolling my 8 year old child in lessons at French Hill. After…read moresharing that I had a beginner rider and a little bit about my child, I was told they had the availability to enroll in group lessons and the next step was to schedule an evaluation at which time we would discuss goals and schedule preferences. I should note that my daughter has done very well in previous horseback lessons and trail rides. When we arrived for the evaluation, instructor Chloe's intentions seemed to shift when she realized my child had a physical disability that causes her to walk differently although she still does so independently and is very capable. During the 20 mins that my daughter was given on the horse, Chloe asked only basic instruction which my child followed. We were then charged $110 for this brief session. After I made the payment, Chloe returned to her desk work without saying a word. When I inquired about next steps, I was rather callously told that our child wasn't ready for group lessons. When I asked for the reasoning, I was told that we could do private lessons. When I asked for more information on privates, Chloe said she would get back to me and had a "don't call us, we'll call you" tone. Chloe then emailed me to say they would not be able to offer private lessons to a beginner. I responded asking for further explanation which French Hill has not responded to. One in four people will encounter some form of disability in their lifetime, whether as a condition they are born with, due to injury, age, or some other issue. This is the reality we all face. I hope that the instructors and owners of French Hill will come to understand the impact of their words and actions if this becomes their reality. Recognizing a person's abilities and potential (especially when it is a child) rather than focusing on perceived differences is so important as is fostering inclusion, dignity and respect for everyone regardless of how they navigate the world.

My 8 year old daughter started her first regular horse lessons here over a years ago and she loves…read moreit. We did a camp and a few lessons at a place in Lake Oswego, but it never felt right there. Luckily we found French Hill! Leighanne, Chena, and other trainers are very personable, our daughter has learned so much, and she absolutely luvs it. She's been doing the shows (which my family knows nothing about) and they have made it so easy and a blast for our daughter too). They are flexible, and it's a relaxed atmosphere, while still being professional. FYI, the stables are well maintained, clean, and there's even a viewing room if you want to watch/wait during lessons (with A/C and heat!). It's a beautiful place with all kinds of wonderful horses and people!

My review may be biased because I live on the Williamette waterfront and have front row seats to…read morethe race, but I love the Dragon Boats! They are so vibrant and whimsical, each a different color combo and dragon face. They look spectacular on the river, especially on a sunny, blue sky day. For me, it's a sign that spring is coming when in early March the dragonboat teams start practicing. Diligently, they are out there every single morning and evening, in the dark! And freezing cold! The teams take turns in the boats to get in their practice time. For me, the twice daily practices provide a few hours of viewing, like live art. Sitting on the balcony with my coffee, reading the news while watching the dragon boats, is the way I start and end my days for three solid months. In the evenings, they start as early as 4:000pm and because there are so many teams, the boats are out on the river until about 8pm. What a backdrop! I'm super lucky, I'm not confused! This weekend is the actual Dragon Boat races and the Williamette is bustling with several private boats and individual kayaks all here to watch, along with the infamous Portland Beer Paddle boats, and a small crowd of people sitting on the grass at Riverside Marina cheering for the teams. Last year I hosted an open house so my friends could watch the races, take in the view, and enjoy delicious food, drinks and friendship. It has become my annual "thing." During Rose Festival, if you are going to City Fair, the Saturday Market, a walk along Tom McCall Park or the Eastern Esplanade, go during the weekend the boats are racing and see these magnificent boats and cheer on the dedicated crews that race!

This is what happens when dreams come true…read more.. Dragon boat racing has fascinated me for over 10 years and this year I finally got to live out my dream and paddle on a team. I've participated in team sports my whole life (except for that little 10-year gap), and this experience has been one of the best. A quick primer on dragon boat racing: The race has four boats with 16 paddlers, a caller, a tiller and a flag catcher in Taiwanese style dragon boats. These things are 1700 lb. beasts shared by the teams with a big 'ole drum to beat on top. Teams are divided into high school, women and mixed groups with the time trials on Saturday and the finals on Sunday. The race itself is an all out sprint for 3 minutes with stroke counts between 70 - 80 strokes per minute for most teams. It has a similar vibe to Hood-to-Coast (some teams are goofy and others dead serious), but this is a lot more fun for the spectators. Admission is free and there are great views of the race course, which starts by OMSI and crosses the river with the finish between the Hawthorne Bridge and the Riverplace Marina in front of the grassy bowl. And don't think of hopping on your boat to watch the races from the water, since the Coast Guard closes the river during the races. The most fearless member of the team is the flag catcher who is strapped to the front of the boat and has abs of steel to reach way in front of the boat to catch and control the flag which ends the race. I saw one of these poor souls go head first into the river yesterday. My team is amazing, but I just love the spirit and sense of camaraderie I see in all of the teams. Many paddlers are parents, so it is fun to see the crowds of family and friends, support their loved ones. There are year round teams who continue on to other races around the world, but many teams get together every year for an intense 10-week training session before the Rose Festival race. And the race weekend is a big picnic and celebration of all the work (no blood or tears, just a whole lot of sweat) it took to get here. So if you are in Portland to enjoy the Rose Festival, make sure you stop by and give a wave and a cheer to all the dragon boaters out there.

Great community park with community garden. There is a skate park and lots of picnic benches. Very…read moreclean park area. Enjoying a birthday party with our dog.

Enjoy the beauty of Oregon within the city of Portland!…read more Sunrise hike ~ magical. Mossy trees, creek crossings, see beavers & dams, hear woodpeckers peck at wood. Pups & horses allowed, short recreational bike path too. Large parking lot though it will get full if you don't arrive early.

Just behind your backyard kind of hike, who doesn't love that. Nice well kept trail, and I believe…read morethey allow dogs on leash too! Exhilarating tall pines, get ready to soak all that nature in!! I love that it's just tucked close to neighborhood and campus nearby. Plenty of free parking and don't be stuck as they close this park at night. Love love all the trees!!!

We fished Sturgeon with Quality Fishing Adventures a couple weeks ago and caught a lot of fish…read more Including 3 in the 8 to 10 foot range and too many to count that were from 24-55. Those big fish are so cool. It takes like an hour to land each one. My arms are still sore. We Salmon fished with Dan last fall , we limited out on salmon and had a great time so we thought we would go again and we are sure glad we did. If you haven't been on a guided fishing trip you have to so give Dan a call its great.

My brother and I went fishing with Dan Christopher for the first time on September 14, 2017 and…read morewere lucky enough to come home with two plump fall Chinook Salmon! We had our opportunity to limit out but I have perfected the art of loosing salmon over the years. On a day when the bite seemed to have no real rhythm to it the boat was still able to land 6 of the 9 serious bites we had. I've grown up fishing around experienced fisherman my whole life but still felt like I gained some useful knowledge from the trip. We're already planning another trip this year and plan to make this an annual fishing trip. Give Dan a call if your looking for the fishing trip of a lifetime.