Peacock Lane reminded me why the holidays used to feel magical…read more The last few years have been weary since COVID, and it's easy to forget what community actually feels like. Walking Peacock Lane this season brought that feeling rushing back. Neighbors, families, couples, kids, all moving slowly side by side, bundled up, sharing space, sharing smiles, sharing the moment. House after house was lit beautifully, each one with its own personality. My favorite this year was the Home Alone house, playful, nostalgic, and impossible not to smile at. But what made the night truly special was hearing live music from neighbors, joining in caroling with complete strangers, watching families take photos in front of glowing homes, and realizing how rare and meaningful that kind of togetherness feels now. Peacock Lane is a reminder of what the season is supposed to be about. I left feeling happier and genuinely grateful. If you need a reason to believe in the holiday spirit again, this is it.

Night one for the pedestrian-only walk this year was packed with carolers and visitors (as…read moreexpected) but Peaceful for us- year 3! Although we drove around looking for parking for some time we eventually found one. We wore light up gear but husband still couldn't find us when we happened to split up lol We noticed there's a school lot a couple blocks away charging $10/car. Good to now for next time. Thanks to this Starkwood neighborhood for keeping the holiday spirit going, since 1932!?!

Such a great local farm to visit. We have really enjoyed their corn maze during the month of…read moreOctober. We have fun not only trying to find the exit, but also locating all the numbers (1-20). My kids's favorite part is picking out their pumpkins and then getting to wash them. They love washing them in the big tubs with the brushes. The pumpkin prices are more affordable than some of the bigger farms. The family that runs the farm is super friendly. We also saw a lot of great fresh produce options in their store when we went to pay. I also have attended 2 farm to table dinners at this farm and always have a great time.

We went here in October for their corn maze and it was so awesome! The creator of the maze was…read morethere and chatted us up and was so nice. The maze was so challenging but very fun. We only gave ourselves 1.5 hours to do it and just couldn't find the end. But my sister went back the following weekend (one payment of admission gets you access for the season) and finished it in several hours. The property was gorgeous and the pumpkins looked nice and big. We bought some homemade blackberry jam on our way out and it was delicious. We will be back!

I've hired iAmMoshow to perform at several events I have organized in Portland. (The Weird Homes…read moreTour, the Weird Portland Gala, and several children's book related events) This guy is the consummate performer! He's courteous, extremely professional, and incredibly charming. He's very engaging and definitely knows how to energize a crowd. He showed up on time, came with his own backup track, and was willing to do a meet and greet after his performance. While iAmMoshow is a rapper, he's definitely family-friendly. Children and adults alike enjoy listening to his performances as he has very inspirational and uplifting lyrics. He sings about his love for cats, but his lyrics also cover self-empowerment and creativity. I'm thrilled I had the opportunity to work with The Cat Rapper as he is quickly becoming a symbol of the weird and wonderfully creative scene that makes Portland so unique.

this man helped my cat reach levels of learning that I never thought was possible! I googled every…read morehome method and Matrix did not budge on anything until I met the the Cat Rapper. My Matrix is ready for his new chapter of expression and love for life! Thank you Cat Rapper

On the Eastside Esplanade by the river is this lovely, large ship. This reminds me of one of the…read moreships from a child's story book in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series by C. S. Lewis. Very unique. This is just north of the Morrison bridge on the walking/ running/ bike path on the East Bank of the Willamette. It is one of the highlights of the walk, in my opinion.

I love Lake Oswego! There, I said it, let the haters hate…read more The downtown area is safe, has lots of really good restaurants of various cuisines. So many to choose from! Bamboo Sushi; Bairds on B (get the cioppin); Tucci for a Italian; Holy Taco; Hush Hush for the best Mediterranean; Five Spice for Asian; La Provance for delicious pastries; St. Honore; and Lake Oswego Grill just to name a few. With all the crime and homeless in downtown Portland, lots more restaurants are moving to or opening locations here. The downtown area has some great shops and I just love walking around the beautiful streets with flower baskets hanging from the lamp posts, stopping for a beverage or meal on a sunny spring, summer or fall day. The sidewalks are wide, there are planters overflowing with gorgeous flowers, and benches welcoming you to come sit and relax. Even bowls of water for your dog! The shops are situated in buildings designed to look like houses adding to the quaint ambiance and charm. Only minutes from Portland, you feel miles away. Throughout Lake Oswego are many parks and trails adding to the livability factor. And of course there is the lake! While I know there is a lot of contention over the lack of public access, and rightfully so, if you are fortunate enough to have a friend who lives on the lake, it's an idyllic place to spend the day and evening. Friends of mine live on one of the canals and so boat rides, swimming, tubing, watching the fireworks, kayaking and enjoying pop up concerts on the lake are all part of my summertime fun. Often we take the boat across the lake, dock, then go into town for dinner and ice cream. Again, don't hate. Just 20 minutes from Portland, I come here a lot, even more frequently these days to escape the madness that is Portland.

Poor Lake Oswego. Snubbed by so many. What I really think is that some people are jealous of you…read more Who wouldn't want to live in a nice, safe, orderly community with fancy restaurants, high-end boutiques, statues/art, beautiful flower gardens in public areas, and hanging baskets adorning every lamp post? Sounds a little utopian doesn't it? Well, as lovely as Lake Oswego is, as wonderful and pedestrian friendly as the downtown is, maybe I wouldn't want to live there. Frankly, I prefer bit more diversity in my surroundings, thus I find myself living in downtown Portland. I do enjoy visiting you Lake Oswego. My best friend lives there. Your liquor store always has the little miniature vodkas I can't find elsewhere. My favorite nail salon is in Lake Oswego, as is one of my favorite consignment shops. You see, I have several reasons to visit you. I'm not jealous. I'm happy for you folks. You have a lovely, albeit, somewhat Stepfordesque city. I'll visit again soon. Air kiss kiss. Review # 108 - PDXYelp 100 challenge

Our family watches a few episodes of Grimm every Halloween, so visiting some of the filming spots…read morein Portland was a real treat! Our little one was so excited to see the house in person. Nick and Juliet's home is in a charming Portland neighborhood lined with beautiful chestnut trees. It's been repainted since Grimm filmed--maybe to move past its Grimm history--which is a little bittersweet, but it's still absolutely worth a stop for any fan of the show.

This is a great 1906 two story craftsman. It has a great porch and is in a nice neighborhood,…read more The streets around it are lined with large mature trees, and the houses like this one are well maintained, Like this one many of the surrounding houses are also craftsman. Though this one stands out as especially nice and it is located on a corner lot. The interior as seen on the TV show Grimm, Is also craftsman and very tastefully done. One thing I don't understand about the house in the show is this, It looks big I'm guessing three bedrooms minimum, When Trouble stays with them they make it sound like a two bedroom, but when Nick and Julia have problems one moves out like there is no room for them, When they do stay in the same house nick sleeps on the sofa even though there are no houseguests. Its not likely they are using a bedroom as an office as the computer and desk are in the front room In fact I would probably give the house a fifth star if it were not for one problem. As seen on Grimm way to many people have been dieing in the house recently. The last person to die was Nick's long time Significant Other Juliette Silverton who was killed by family friend Theresa "Trubel" Rubel. Shortly before that Nick's mother Kelly Burkhardt whose head he found in a box afterwards...he had a bad week. Still it is a very nice, well maintained house and so despite the problems, I give it four stars,

Wow! This was one of the most Portland events I've been to in a long time! The folks at Weird…read morePortland United have been producing the Weird Portland Gala for several years now, but Weird Fest has a fun, laid back vibe perfect for the entire family. In fact, Oaks Park is the perfect venue for this event in terms of parking, proximity to additional entertainment, food, etc. Weird Fest is an opportunity to dress up in your wackiest costumes, and mix and mingle with other artists, creatives and free spirits who love to Keep Portland Weird. Attendees will find lots of vendors selling everything from refrigerator magnets and magic wands, to elaborate costumes. The event offered lots of entertainment, including live bands, performances by The Unipiper, as well as appearances by Portland characters like Una the Mermaid, Broccoli Man, Elvis, and many more. We played a few rounds of Bingo, listened to some great music, and had a great time. I can't wait for this event next year!

I love science and so when I was told about the meteorite I was in! :) So I went down to the river…read moreon a rainy day followed the trail read the photos and then find out the "real" meteor is not at this location. Ha Ha! Oh well... the signage was very informative and I got some exercise. I have attached some info regarding the meteor history and will need to go visit the meteor at another time. By the way... It is supposedly the biggest in America and West Linn's claim to fame. Who would of known!! :)

The Willamette Meteorite is the largest meteorite found in North America and is West Linn's most…read moreunique claim to fame. There are actually two replica meteorites in town you can visit. The oldest is a historical marker on a rock, that looks nothing like the real meteorite, and is located in the Willamette Historic District on Willamette Falls Drive in front of the Willamette United Methodist Church. The more recent replica, which is a smaller scale model of the meteorite, is located in Fields Bridge Park on the walking trail along the Tualatin River and is accompanied by historical information throughout the park. This second representation is also close to where the meteorite came to rest after being transported south as part of the Missoula Ice Age floods. When the meteorite was first discovered by the local Clackamas Indians, it was named "Tomanowos" which means "Heavenly Visitor" and it was believed it had mystical powers to heal. In 1902, it was found by a settler, Ellis Hughes, who secretly moved it to his property, called it "Willamette," and charged curiosity seekers who wanted to visit. After the theft was discovered, there was a lawsuit and the Oregon Supreme Court had it returned to the original land owner, Oregon Iron & Steel Co., who then sold it to another party. Finally it was donated to The American Museum of Natural History in New York where it has been for over 100 years. When I visited the museum in New York, I laid hands on the iron-nickel meteorite and it was cold to the touch and much larger than I expected based on the replicas in my home town. The meteorite had not rested easy in New York and there have been a series of lawsuits by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, legislation proposed, and multiple requests to return the meteorite to West Linn. But, alas, the replicas are what we have. Both replicas are in pretty parts of West Linn, so stroll through town and Fields Bridge Park and visit them both.