Shoppers, media and community representatives were on hand for the grand opening ceremony of the new store.
Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH held a grand opening today at its newest location — Bridgeport Village! This is the first Saks 5th Avenue OFF 5TH located north of San Francisco.
The discount luxury store was unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and shoppers were lined up to be the first to experience what proved to be a glitzy, glamour-filled retail space. Before the masses entered, Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden welcomed all to what he called “The crown on the queen that is Bridgeport.”
The new store manager briefly welcomed the crowd, saying Saks OFF 5TH is “happy to be servicing Portland.”
Tualatin Chamber President Christine Moore addressed the crowd, and followed up with the message: “We are so happy you chose Tualatin–people from Portland will definitely come here, to this shopping destination.”
The President of Saks thanked the crowd as well before cutting the ribbon and simultaneously throwing confetti and throwing open the doors. The space–once a grocery store nestled next to Sur La Table and Bella Casa at Bridgeport Village–is now a twinkling, high-ceilinged fashion mecca. Pink pendant lights and an open floor plan made this potential mob scene a pleasant shopping experience; there’s no way the organic food displays of the former tenant could have sparkled like this.
The ribbon is officially cut!
Clothes are grouped by designer; accessories are grouped by type; men and kids have their own sections; and the shoe area in the back of the store became a frenzy of sorts. Though the boots I picked out had a discount price of $419 and were placed back on the shelf, my $29 (fabulous!) Calvin Klein blouse rang up for $5 after I handed over all the coupons I was given upon entry, and gave my e-mail address to instantly receive another discount and get a “More” rewards card that involves coupons, and, well, more!
Even the mannequins were shiny.
With all this “more,” I’ll have to return soon to visit the perfect Betsey Johnson purse, er, handbag, I found. Or maybe the fuzzy Juicy Couture sweater, or the Saks brand pencil skirt…. it’s no wonder their tagline is ‘Saks Style. Outlet Prices.’
Confetti flew and the doors were then flung open.
Shoppers lined up with purchases and coupons in hand.
Travel Oregon’s “Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast” runs through November 30th
Each fall, Travel Oregon puts out all of the stops for its “Oregon Bounty” statewide promotion, which highlights unique travel experiences, fall events and the state’s myriad culinary artisans. Last year, the promotion centered on “Cuisinternships,” allowing winners to spend a week shadowing an Oregon culinary expert.
This year, our friends at Travel Oregon have served up their latest creation, the “Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast.”
What on earth is an Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast? It’s a term the folks at Travel Oregon created to describe what it’s like to spend the harvest season following your tastebuds on a quest to procure the best of Oregon’s flavors at their peak. This 10-week promotion features Oregon’s finest epicurean products, from wine and cheese to spirits and nuts, and so many delicacies in between.
You, too, can join in the chase for 10 weeks of foodie bliss. Enter to win your very own Wanderfeast at TravelOregon.com/bounty. You and three friends could be sampling the bounty of Oregon in a four-day/three-night, all-inclusive culinary escape that explores Oregon’s many flavors of fall.
Beaverton, Ore.: Hundreds of visitors report sightings of a 12’ tall Sasquatch-like creature sporting a #16 baseball jersey, lurking by the doorway of Big Al’s, a newly-opened entertainment Shangri-La for all ages.
"Greetings and welcome!" said the friendly sasquatch to visitors.
Those same visitors also reported sightings of a 7,000 sq. ft. arcade, bowling alleys, a stadium-style sports bar & grill with 50” and 42” HD Plasma televisions, and a 14’ x 55’ jumbotron linked up to these premiere channels: DirectTV’s NFL Season Ticket, College Football Game Day, Big Ten Network, NBA League Pass, Mega March Madness, MLS Direct Kick, Fox Soccer Channel, and MLB Extra Innings.
Frankly, we’re just not sure we can believe them. Come on, a jumbotron in a sports bar? We wish! Who’s going to believe that?
Big Al’s is now open in Beaverton, at 14950 SW Barrows Road in Progress Ridge Town Square. For more information, visit their new Facebook page
I fell in love with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night when I first watched the 1996 film of the same name starring Helena Bonham Carter. Shakespeare’s wit, plot entanglements, and character mistaken identities got me hooked. When I heard that Bag&Baggage Productions was performing my favorite Shakespeare play, I didn’t hesitate. And a play performed outdoors in the summer was even more tempting.
Bag&Baggage is one of two professional theater companies in Washington County and performances usually are staged at the Venetian Theatre in Hillsboro, Ore. This summer, the talented cast performed the Shakespearean comedy outdoors at the Tom Hughes Civic Center Plaza (also in Hillsboro) July 30 – Aug. 14.
If you weren’t able to make it to “Twelfth Night,” Bag&Baggage has four more productions coming up in their 2010-2011 season, including the Shakespearean tragedy “Macbeth.”
The next show in its season is Tennesee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, which opens September 24th, followed by The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge, a twist on the well-known Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol,” which opens December 10th. Macbeth opens March 11th, and The Mystery of Irma Vep will wrap up the season next May.
We were riding in style in the colorful kayaks provided by the Tualatin Riverkeepers (which were funded, in part, by a WCVA tourism grant).
Over the weekend, the Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) threw a summer social at Tualatin Community Park, located in the heart of downtown Tualatin (and one of the locations of this week’s Crawfish Festival). It was an ideal summer day in Oregon, and a perfect Saturday to take a leisurely trip down the serene Tualatin River.
With some quick instruction and guidance from the fine volunteers of the Tualatin Riverkeepers, and after being suited up with life jackets, my daughter and I –and the rest of the guests at the summer social– set out in the kayaks for an hour-long paddle trip down the Tualatin River.
The quiet calm of the river was amazing. Trees flanked both sides of the river, and the only clues that we were in a suburban area were the occasional overpasses we floated under, which also served as makeshift habitats for nesting birds who make the river their home.
Along our slow journey, we passed a young man and his brother fishing, presumably for the largemouth bass that thrive in the Tualatin. Other folks enjoying the river passed us slow-poke kayakers on their kayaks and canoes, each sharing a smile and saying a pleasant “hello” as they paddled past us.
It wasn’t just river dwellers of the human variety that were enjoying the Tualatin River that day. Plenty of birds were enjoying the sunny, cool afternoon. Wood ducks, green heron and other birds indigenous to the area were swimming and flying alongside the kayaks, with some stopping for a quick bite to eat. Although we didn’t see any river otters or beavers during our excursion, we did see evidence that at least one beaver makes the river its home. Sue, one of the fabulous guides from the Riverkeepers, found a recently gnawed piece of bark floating downstream, an artifact left behind by a busy beaver.
Why I waited three years to try kayaking down the Tualatin River, I don’t know. What I do know, however, is that I can’t wait to get back out on the river and spend another lazy Saturday with the birds and beavers.
Boating is just one of many water activities available at Hagg Lake
Locals have known for years that Forest Grove, Ore., is a hidden gem in Oregon’s wine country, and now this quaint diamond in the rough is getting its time in the spotlight.
The city of Forest Grove, Ore., recently was named as one of America’s Top Summer Lake Towns of 2010 by Budget Travel magazine. Noted for being “laid-back and outdoorsy with a healthy dose of quirk,” the small city with a population of approximately 20,000 was recognized for its historic downtown, classic ice cream shop, unique lodging, and, of course, its proximity to Hagg Lake, which is in the neighboring town of Gaston. Hagg Lake, located nine miles from Forest Grove’s city center, is locally recognized as a spot for “serious fishermen,” and for its water activities, such as kayaking and waterskiing.
“It’s quite an honor for Forest Grove and Hagg Lake to earn recognition from such an influential publication,” said Teri Koerner, executive director of the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce. “Hagg Lake provides a wide array of outdoor recreational opportunities for all ages, for visitors and local residents alike, and it helps make Western Washington County a great place to live and play!”
David Hill Vineyard and Winery, situated on a hill in Forest Grove, provides grand views of the Tualatin Valley
Forest Grove, approximately 45 minutes west of downtown Portland, boasts a growing wine industry. This area, part of the famed Willamette Valley wine region, includes some of Oregon’s most revered wineries: Apolloni Vineyards, Montinore Estate, David Hill Vineyard and Winery, Purple Cow Vineyards, Shafer Vineyard Cellars, Tualatin Estate, and SakéOne, the world’s only American-owned and operated saké brewery.
A short drive down Highway 47 leads visitors to Gaston, where four wineries —Elk Cove Vineyards, Patton Valley Vineyards and Plum Hill Vineyards—and the new Tree to Tree Adventure Park are located.
Budget Travel’s list also included the lake towns of Chelan, Wash.; Grand Marais, Minn.; Dillon, Colo.; Rangeley, Maine; Leland, Mich.; Truckee, Calif.; and Oakland, Md. Read more about Budget Travel’s Top Summer Lake Towns.
In a few weeks I will hear the rolling thunder of the local high school drumline coming from over the hill from my house, the metrical chant of cheerleaders practicing their routines, the echo of helmets and pads crunching followed by the blaring sound of coaches’ blowing whistles to end a play, all in preparation for football season.
Out here in Washington County we have even more reason to celebrate football this season as NCAA Division I (FCS) makes its way out west. That’s right, the Portland State University (PSU) Vikings will be playing their four home games this season at Hillsboro Stadium, due to renovations at their home field, PGE Park. Under the leadership of first-time head coach Nigel Burton, the Vikings are looking to bring a new game to the field this season. Coach Burton played for the Washington Huskies in the late ‘90s, and has an impressive coaching resume, which includes his most recent role as defensive coordinator for the Nevada Wolf Pack.
We are excited to welcome visiting fans to Hillsboro for some fantastic football action. The SpringHill Suites in Hillsboro located less than a mile from Hillsboro Stadium is offering discounted rates for PSU home games. For more information or to book a room at the SpringHill Suites, click the following links. Studio Suite with one King bed.Studio Suite with two Queen beds. For a complete list of hotels in Washington County, visit the Reserve Hotels section of our website.
Idaho State University, the Viking’s first home game opponent, kicks off the season with a 5:05 p.m. game on October 2, 2010. Additional home game opponents include:
University of Montana, October 16th
Eastern Washington University, October 30th.
Northern Colorado, November 13th
A little inspiration to get you pumped.
For a complete schedule of PSU Football Games and ticket information, check out their website at www.GoViks.com. We look forward to seeing you in Viking Green at Hillsboro Stadium this fall.
Classic Cars Take Over the Grounds at Pacific University During the Annual Concours d’Elegance
Hundreds of beautifully restored cars representing the many eras of automobile history will be on display at one of Washington County’s premier car shows, Concours d’Elegance, when it returns to Forest Grove this Sunday, July 18, 2010.
Photo by Paul Loofburrow
The Concours d’Elegance features 40 different classes of restored antique, classic and special interest cars, from the refined elegance of timeless classic cars from the 1930s and fun convertibles from the 1950s, to the cool sophistication of sports cars from the ’60s and beyond. Not to be missed, however, is the collection of carefully restored ’70s- and ’80s-era “muscle” cars, and renowned “duds,” such as the Ford Edsel, AMC Pacer and AMC Gremlin.
This event is a must for anyone who loves cars, and is equally as enjoyable for those (like myself) who don’t know anything about the history or restoration of cars. Last year, I checked out the myriad cars at the Concours and had a blast. I fell deeply in love with a BMW Isetta, in which I could picture myself behind the wheel, driving around the streets of Rome.
Also, during our visit my daughter and I browsed the “Exotic Auto Emporium,” which featured dozens of classic cars for sale.For sale were 60s-era Ford Mustangs, Mercedes sedans from the 1980s (in the requisite muddy brown color that was ever so popular at the time), an AMC Delorean (best known as the time-traveling car in the film “Back to the Future”), and a 1950-something Ford pick-up truck my daughter and I lovingly called the “Sanford and Son” truck, as well as my dream car, the BMW Isetta.
Check out the more than 300 cars on display at this year’s Concours d’Elegance. Perhaps you, too, will find your own dream car.
Tickets may be purchased at the gate for $15 (adults) and $7 (for youth ages 6-16). This event is put on by the Forest Grove Rotary, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit local students in Washington County and projects in the community.
The ripe berries were harder to find, but we found 'em.
This year I decided to take full advantage of the cool, temperate weather and spend Independence Day outside. So, my daughter and I ventured to Smith Berry Barn for its annual July 4th Berry Festival. The “berry barn” is a short drive to rural Hillsboro, and in addition to traditional festival festivities—food, live music and farm animals galore—the event featured berry picking and wine tastings from Washington County’s newest winery.
New winemaker Provincial Vineyards was pouring its 2008 Pinot Noir and 2009 Pinot Gris. Providence has been growing wine grapes at its vineyard site located outside of Forest Grove, next to Apolloni Vineyards and Purple Cow Vineyards. After selling grapes to local vintners, the vineyard owners decided to bottle the grapes under their own label. Provincial doesn’t have a tasting room; however, their wines can be purchased at local wine shops, such as Urban Decanter in Forest Grove.
We ended up with about two pints of raspberries!
After filling up on hot dogs and strawberry lemonade, we set out for our raspberry picking adventure. This was our first time picking raspberries, and it was quite easy, as the berries were easily pulled off their leaves. We filled about a quarter of the tub, which equated to a little more than two pints. And for only $2.25 for our entire bounty, it was a delicious bargain.
Because of the unusually long spring temperatures, the berries are ripening later than normal, so prime berry picking time is just starting here in Washington County. Raspberries, marionberries, blueberries, loganberries, and a host of other berries I’ve never heard of before are ripe, or nearly ripe, at U-pick farms throughout the region. It’s a great family activity, even for teens, and it’s tasty, too!
For a list of u-pick farms, farm stands and farmers’ markets in Washington County, Oregon, click here.
So, how many of you were up early this morning to see a colorful array of hot air balloons gracing the skies over Washington County? If you missed it, you still have a few chances to see the 17 different hot air balloons as part of the Festival of Balloons in Tigard.
The balloons almost looked like Christmas ornaments delicately hung on the feathery white clouds as I drove to the kick-off breakfast hosted by The Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce. As I arrived, I saw a variety of activities that will be awaiting attendees of the festival, including The Funtastic Carnival, food vendors, the Rogue Brewery Beer Garden, the main stage where Friday night’s music lineup includes the likes of local YouTube phenom-turned-pop-star Savannah Outen, Portland area favorite, Nobody’s Bizness, and the ultimate dance and show band, Five Guys Named Moe.
While you are enjoying the musical performances in the evening, look to the skies for the NW Natural Night Glow, as the balloons rise into the air and are lit up for all to enjoy. For Saturday’s musical line-up check the Music Listing Page on the festival website. Additional activities include The Festival of Cars on Sunday, and a Soccer Tournament throughout the weekend where you can watch some terrific young athletes compete.
Buy your tickets online at a special discount, and note that the ticket price is good for entry to the festival all weekend. (Parking, the carnival rides and food & beverage are an additional expense.)
What a great way to celebrate one of Washington County’s terrific communities this weekend, and it is not too late to drive in from out of town, stay the night and enjoy the festivities. Rooms are still available at the headquarter hotel, The Best Western Northwind Inn and Suites.
While visiting don’t forget to check out Tigard’s premier shopping destinations, Washington Square Mall and Bridgeport Village, where you can take advantage of Oregon’s fantastic tax free shopping. We hope to see you at the festival, where you might just get carried away.
ove with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night when I first watched the 1996 film of the same name starring Helena Bonham Carter. Shakespeare’s wit, plot entanglements, and character mistaken identities got me hooked. When I heard that 
