The Beaverton Farmers' Market season comes to a close with The Harvest Market on Saturday, November 22, a celebratory day featuring the end of the season's harvest in a grand way.  This is the last chance to shop for market specialties before the holidays. Customers stock up on hand made  foods for holiday cooking, as well as beautiful hand-crafted wreaths and swags, natural table décor, hostess gifts, hand made gourmet gifts and more.  The Harvest Market is a tradition, always popular, featuring many artisans who create products just for holiday dining and decorating.

The Market is especially excited to welcome back radio personality Mike Darcy, KXL's garden expert, sponsored by New Season's Market, who will be broadcasting live from the Market. Market-goers and listeners are encouraged to ask Mike their gardening questions and get advice from one of the Pacific Northwest's most popular garden guru.

At 10am,  a James Beard Chef of the Year,  Vitaly Paley, chef/owner of Portland's Paley's Place Bistro, will sign his new  cookbook "Paley's Place Cookbook," published in October 2008, created in collaboration with local cooking teacher and Chef Robert Reynolds.  Chef Paley's comes to the Market following a media tour in New York City to promote his cookbook, which we understand is 'flying off the shelves.' Buy a cookbook at the market, or bring yours for award-winning Chef Paley to sign. 

The Harvest Market will be the final market until May 2009, the last chance to gather ingredients for one of the most important meals of the year - Thanksgiving. As Market Master Ginger Rapport says, "This is the time for comfort food, to get out the soup pot, the casserole dishes and Dutch ovens!"  The market farmers will be selling ingredients for fall menus, everything from chilies to cheese, dark breads and meats, to root vegetables and beans, apples, pears and more. Local artisans have created stunning holiday tabletop and door décor especially for the Harvest Market.  To the Season!

Thanksgiving has a special meaning in Oregon. It is a celebration of the harvest, a time to give thanks to another successful year of crops, which will yield an exquisite wine, and to share the bounty with the pre-release of the new varietals.

As is tradition, this Thanksgiving weekend, November 28-30, 2008, the vintners and wineries of the northern Willamette Valley in Washington County will open their doors for tastings, hors d'oeuvres and conversation. Don't miss this chance to check out the new releases that are often premiered at this annual event, as well as to visit some of the wineries that are not regularly open to the public.

Participating Wineries include:

Alloro Vineyard

Alloro Vineyard is one of Oregon's premier wineries specializing in handcrafted estate wines. Alloro will be pouring its 2007 Estate Pinot noir, Winery Block Pinot noir, Church Block Pinot noir, Fattoria Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Vino Nettare, a late-harvest dessert wine.

Tasting Fee: Information not available

Hours: Friday, November 28, 11am-5pm; Saturday, November 29, 11am-5pm Sunday, November 30, 11am-4pm

Apolloni Vineyards

Apolloni Vineyards specializes in the production of traditional Pinot noir and Italian-style wines. Apolloni will be sampling its new releases: 2006 Reserve Sangiovese and 2006 Reserve Merlot. Both wines are available in very limited quantities and will be available only at the tasting room.

Tasting Fee: $5 per person (refundable with wine purchase)

Hours: Friday, November 28, 12 pm-5pm; Saturday, November 29, 12 pm-5pm Sunday, November 30, 12 pm-5pm

Ardiri Winery and Vineyards (formerly Gypsy Dancer Estates)

Ardiri Winery, from Napa, California, welcomes Thanksgiving with a tasting of its latest wines. Join the new owners of the former Gypsy Dancer Estates as they celebrate a new home for their Chehalem Mountain and estate-grown Napa Valley Carneros Pinot noir. Ardiri also will be pouring its Oregon Pinot noir and Pinot gris, and will offer barrel tastings of the label's 2008 wines.

Tasting Fee: $10 per person, and includes food pairings and a logo glass

Hours: Friday, November 28, 11am-5pm; Saturday, November 29, 11 am-5pm

Beran Vineyards 

Beran Vineyards, makers of limited-production, handcrafted Pinot noir, invite visitors to taste the magic of luscious old-vine Pinot noir as the label releases its 2006 vintage. Enjoy savory hors d'oeuvres and exquisite wine, plus receive a 20-percent discount on a case of wine. A voluntary $5 tasting fee will benefit Community Action Programs.

Tasting Fee: $5 per person (voluntary donation)

Hours: TBD

Cooper Mountain Vineyards

Cooper Mountain Vineyards was the first winery in the Pacific Northwest to earn both organic and biodynamic certifications. This Thanksgiving, Cooper Mountain Vineyards will be pouring its 2007 Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot noir. Enjoy music and light appetizers throughout the weekend, and a 25-percent discount on a case (including mixed cases) Thanksgiving weekend only.

Tasting Fee: Nominal tasting fee, includes logo glass

Hours: Friday, November 28, 12 pm-5pm; Saturday, November 29, 12 pm-5pm Sunday, November 30, 12 pm-5pm

Elk Cove Vineyards

Elk Cove Vineyards specializes in the production of single vineyard Pinot noir, Pinot blanc and Pinot gris. Join Elk Cove for the last opportunity to taste and purchase the 2006 Pinot noir Reserve, the 30th Vintage Anniversary, which was awarded 93 points by Wine Spectator magazine, along with the remaining Pinot noir from the outstanding 2006 vintage and the label's 2007 Pinot gris. Elk Cove also will be pouring some highly-rated selections from its library.

Tasting Fee: Information not available

Hours: Friday, November 28, 10 am-5pm; Saturday, November 29, 10 am-5pm Sunday, November 30, 10 am-5pm

Freja Cellars

Freja Cellars, a boutique producer of artisan Pinot noir, welcomes visitors to taste its new releases of the 2007 Estate Pinot noir, 2005 Reserve Pinot noir and 2007 Rosé. Breads, cheeses and chocolates also will be available.

Tasting Fee: $10 per person (refundable with half case or larger wine purchase)

Hours: Friday, November 28, 11 am-4 pm; Saturday, November 29, 11 am-4 pm Sunday, November 30, 11 am-4 pm

J. Albin Winery 

John Albin Winery invites visitors to join them for a rare open-house weekend, where the winery will be popping open the label's new release of sparkling wine. J. Albin also will feature its new Blanc de Noir and premiere release of its dessert wine along with the label's signature Pinot noir and Pinot gris.

Tasting Fee: $5 per person, includes hors d' oeuvres and logo stemware

Hours: Open Friday-Sunday, hours not available

Montinore Estate 

Montinore Estate is nestled on a 230-acre Demeter Certified Biodynamic® vineyard, and produces 100-percent estate-grown wines. During the Thanksgiving weekend, Montinore Estate invites the public to enjoy a day of live music, food and wine.

Tasting Fee: $25 per person, includes food and wine pairing and logo glass $10 per person, includes logo glass

Hours: Friday, November 28, 11 am-5 pm; Saturday, November 29, 11 am-5 pm Sunday, November 30, 11 am-5 pm

Patton Valley Vineyard 

Join Patton Valley Vineyard for the release of the limited-production 2006 Patton Valley Lorna-Marie Reserve Pinot Noir (only 115 cases were made). Patton Valley also will be pouring a number of other wines, and will offer food, fun and conversation.

Tasting Fee: $15 per person, includes glass

Hours: Open Friday-Sunday, hours not available

Plum Hill Vineyards

Discover the newest winery to hit Washington County at Plum Hill Vineyards, a new, small, family-owned winery in a pastoral setting with picnic area and mountain views. Be one of the first to try the label's Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay and Rosé.

Tasting Fee: $5 per person, includes glass

Hours: Open Friday-Sunday, hours not available

Ponzi Vineyards 

Kick off the season with a visit to Ponzi Vineyards' historic vineyard and winery. Guests are invited you to sample Ponzi's current releases, including the 2007 Tavola Pinot noir. Taste the special holiday flight and take home an exclusive Riedel Oregon Pinot noir glass.

Tasting Fee: $15 per person

Hours: Friday, November 28, 10 am-5 pm; Saturday, November 29, 10 am-5 pm Sunday, November 30, 10 am-5 pm

Purple Cow Vineyards

Purple Cow Vineyards invites the public to enjoy country hospitality reminiscent of years past when wine was a new and personal experience in Oregon. Purple Cow will be pouring its Pinot noir, dry Muscat and Tempranillo, and will be sampling its new releases: 2005 Tempranillo Reserve and 2007 Kelsey's Edition Pinot noir.

Tasting Fee: $5 per person

Hours: Friday, November 28, 12 pm-5 pm; Saturday, November 29, 12 pm-5 pm Sunday, November 30, 12 pm-5 pm

Quailhurst Vineyard Estate

Quailhurst Vineyard Estate will be opening its doors this Thanksgiving weekend, offering visitors a chance to taste the label's new releases: 2007 Abercrombie Reserve Pinot noir, 2007 Affinity Pinot Port, and a unique opportunity to sample and purchase its 2008 Pinot. Event will include food and a festive atmosphere surrounded by lush gardens and spectacular mountain views.

Tasting Fee: $20 per person, includes glass

Hours: Open Friday-Sunday, Hours not available

Shafer Vineyard Cellars 

Shafer Vineyard Cellars has been producing estate-bottled wines since 1978. Shafer Vineyard Cellars will be pouring a selection of Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sparkling wine, dessert and holiday wine. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, hot apple cider and coffee also will be served. While there, visit Miki's Gift and Old World Christmas Shop, located at the winery.

Tasting Fee: $5 per person

Hours: Friday, November 28, 11am-5 pm; Saturday, November 29, 11am-5 pm Sunday, November 30, 11am-5 pm

Autumn is finally here! The crisp, cool air. Golden and rust-colored leaves falling from the trees. The smell of wood-burning fireplaces. This truly is my favorite season, which also happens to coincide with one of my favorite - and most versatile - fruits: apples.

Until I moved to Oregon, I only thought there were about a dozen or so types of apples: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Rome, Granny Smith, Jonathon and my all-time favorite, McIntosh (yum).  I was surprised to learn that there were more than 25 varieties of apples, many of which I've never heard of before. Akane, Gravenstein, King, Liberty, Spitzenberg...and list goes on.

In Washington County, we're blessed to have several apple orchards that sell these wondrous apples. One of my favorite places for apples is the Smith Berry Barn. Don't let the name fool you, although it's known for U-pick berries, in the fall they sell ready-picked apples, lots of 'em, and they host the annual Apple Fest each October.

A couple of weekends ago, my mother and I drove down to Smith Berry Barn to pick up some apples at their annual Apple Fest (they only sell their apples at the store, not at the local farmers' markets). Of course, as with any trip to the Smith Berry Barn, I snagged some other things as well, such as seedless raspberry jam made from the Smith Berry Barn's own berries, and bought some useful kitchen tools that will most likely sit in a drawer unused, since I don't cook.

After snacking on apple sausage and imbibing hot apple cider, we set off for the Oregon Heritage Farms, located not far from the Smith Berry Barn. There, we found various different varieties of apples, of which my mother purchased to go into her delicious apple pie.

After sampling dozens of varieties of apples, I suddenly was inspired by the many apple dishes I could try.  This just may be the year that I dust off that apron and start baking again. Apple crisp, baked apples, applesauce, apple betty...the possibilities are endless.

By Sylke Neal-Finnegan

It's sad, but true. Summer has left us and fall is here. But, no worries, it's not too late to sample fresh fruits & vegetables from some of Oregon's Finest Farmer's Markets. You'll have to hurry, though; there are only a couple of weeks left!

Here are a few to check out!

Beaverton Farmer's Market
Saturdays Only - Last Day October 25th

Hillsboro Farmers  Market
Saturdays Only - Last Day October 25th

Tigard Area Farmers' Market
Sundays Only - Last Day October 26th

More Washington County Farms and Markets

I have a secret to tell you.

Are you ready?

Okay, deep breath.

I still carve a pumpkin every year. Which is exactly why I am absolutely confident when I say that The Best Pumpkins are in Washington County. Really.

But, you should really go see for yourself. And, then thank me when you find the best pumpkin ever.

Baggentos Farm Store -  Two words: Pumpkin Bowling. If that's not enough for you, Baggentos pumpkin patch is open 7-days a week and they also have a 5-acre corn maze.

Roloff Family Farms - I'm for SURE getting my pumpkin at Roloff Farms this year. The Roloffs have added a new scenic tour, a food corner, a pumpkin fun house, and an exotic animal hut. On your way out there, it's probably if you stop at Helvetia Tavern for the Best Burger EVER (seriously, I'm not one to exaggerate).

Jim Dandy Farm Market - Jim Dandy's is the perfect place to stop if you're headed to or from Seaside or Cannon Beach. Open "strawberries through pumpkins!" it's a must stop before they close up for the season.

And, there you have it - a few pumpkin patches to get you started. Don't forget to tell us how your trip was! And, for more Farms and Markets, head on over to our website...  

Summer passes far too quickly, especially here in Washington County where there's so much to do when the skies are blue and the sun is shining. That's why my Saturday evening was a touch bittersweet - it was SakeOne's last summer concert for 2008.

 
This was my third concert at the sakery this summer, and my friends and I were not disappointed. The lovely and soulful Stephanie Schneiderman of Dirty Martini and the multi-talented didgeridoo-playing Keith Schreiner of Dahlia were the perfect complement to the balmy evening. We finally came prepared this time with a full picnic spread. The special drink was a Blueberry Lemonade Saketini which was a smashing success judging by the number of recipe cards disappearing and bottles of Diamond sake and Monin Blueberry syrup flying off the shelves. In case you're up for a bit of libation experimentation, SakeOne often lists new drink recipes on their website and in their e-newsletter.

 
As another beautiful summer evening in Forest Grove came to a close, I consoled myself with one thought: At least they have Saketini Saturdays the third weekend of every month!

I was thrilled to find that my favorite Portland band, The Dimes would be playing in Bridgeport Village's Summer Concert Series on July 31st. The weather turned out to be perfect for an outdoor concert that day, so I rallied some friends and off we went. Concerts are held in Bridgeport's Center Court, right next to the play structure. We settled in the wine garden, where our very own Oak Knoll Winery was pouring their delicious wines. We were happy to sip cool Pinot Gris while listening to The Dimes.

The Dimes have been described as, "Reminiscent of groups like Death Cab for Cute..." I just describe them as amazing, and I think you'll agree. The guys are fun to watch and it's clear that they love what they're doing. I was excited to see them play my favorite songs Catch Me Jumping and Stacked Brown Boxes.  

For more information on The Dimes, visit their website. And, more more fun summer events, visit the WCVA's Event Calendar.

By Sylke

Washington County is filled with hidden treasures, and finding them makes me feel like I won a lottery. A weekend filled with errands and trips to the farmers' markets was punctuated with side-trips that made my Saturday seem like a mini-vacation.

My first stop was at the Hillsboro Farmers' Market, where I scored some of the sweetest berries - strawberries, blueberries and some hybrid blackberry - so far this season. Of course, I couldn't leave without getting a rhubarb pie, made with locally grown rhubarb, no less.

There is something nostalgic about Main Street, and the just the sight of the new Venetian theatre and adjoined wine bar had me planning future sojourns to downtown Hillsboro. So with my head in the clouds, and my car smelling like a field of fresh berries, I headed home, but decided to take the back roads rather than the main drag.

It is on one of Washington County's "back roads" where I discovered Rood Bridge Park. I stopped and explored the park. The weather was perfect, cool and a little cloudy, and the park wasn't crowded.  I envisioned a friends-and-family get-together with B-B-Q and a friendly game of croquet, and started planning the guest list and menu in my head.

Time to get back on the road, and I decided to make one more stop before I get home to nosh on my treasures from the farmers' market, so I traveled to the Beveland Street Coffee House. This was my first time there, and after pulling into the parking lot, I knew that this was going to be my new hangout. It is a quaint coffee shop that serves a tasty latte, not to mention that they also serve beer and wine...I went for the coffee, but stayed for the shopping. About a fourth of the shop has fun and unique gifts, candles and other goodies that I couldn't resist.

After spending $50 on candles, coasters and a cute bag, I finally ventured home, where I made a yogurt parfait with my fresh berries, lit my new eucalyptus and lavender candle from Beveland Street Coffee House and started planning my next perfect Washington County Weekend.

By Julia

As a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, I've gained the perfect outlet for reliving all of my favorite childhood experiences. When I was a kid growing up in Pennsylvania, my grandmother would take my brother and I out every summer to pick strawberries which she then transformed into the best strawberry jam I've ever tasted. I developed such a strawberry obsession that my dad added several rows of plants to the garden which were then mine to tend. Oh, those were the days! Luckily my Little Sister is as crazy about the little red berries as I am, and when she asked if we could go strawberry picking on one of our outings I jumped right on board!

The great think about Washington County is that, especially in the eastern part of the county, you have great accessibility to both urban and rural activities. We made if from Beaverton to Baggenstos Farms in less than 15 minutes, and with the windows down and the sun shining, it felt even faster. Tuesday evening was perfect timing - not at all crowded, with just enough people around to be friendly. Just to prove that you learn something new every day, we discovered that there are all different types of strawberries! Of course we had to sample them all before we started any serious picking, and we decided that among the Hoods, Bentons and Totems, the Hoods were our favorite. We brought our own baskets, which we started filling, but you can also get boxes there. They also have a play area for the kids, some miniature goats to admire (but not feed!), and a farm stand with other seasonal fruits and vegetables, pickles, preserves and breads. At a reasonable $1.25 per pound, we left with bellies full of "samples" and enough strawberries to keep us happy, at least for a few days.

My in-laws visit the Portland area often from Bend, always seeking the right mix of city and outdoors when here. Though we get along wonderfully and our guest room remodel is complete, they always stay in a hotel and always stay in Washington County. A recent visit ended up being the ideal outdoor weekend for us. 

After picking them up Saturday morning, we started the weekend by paddling the Tualatin River in kayaks. Right in Tualatin rentals are available at Alder Creek, in Browns Ferry Park. It was my mother-in-law's first time in a kayak, and the Tualatin River's smooth water was perfect for letting her quickly become proficient. We paddled up and down the river, looking for fish and enjoying the lush green landscape along the banks. Around was a buzz of activity by birds of all types, including a momma mallard and six small ducks who disinterestedly watched us paddle by at one point.

Wanting to see more wildlife, we decided to visit the nearby Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge after our kayaking. Great walking trails, wetland views and lots of birds - including the heron that landed not far from us After lingering over coffee near the fountain in Tualatin Commons later that afternoon, we pondered dinner. And we also made plans for a couple of music shows - one jazz, one salsa - in the Commons later this summer.

We decided on a favorite for dinner - Hayden's Lakefront Grill in Tualatin. They use local ingredients and we love their Northwest chowder, which is made with smoked Chinook salmon. Later, we enjoyed some Dungeness Crab Louis salads and a zesty Pizza Arrabbiata. Fully satisfied, we called it a day.

On Sunday morning, we once again set out - this time with our bike rack fully loaded. We first fueled up at Maggie's Buns in Forest Grove with some of the best cinnamon buns and lattes to be had anywhere. We then headed off to western Washington County - Banks - to ride the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. It was one of Oregon's first rails-to-trails projects. Along with incredible views of the Coast Range, we were taken with dozens of colorful wildflowers and a towering train trestle along the trail. The trestle apparently once supported rail cars loaded with freshly cut timber, and we almost felt we could still hear the trains rolling by. We pedaled through the woods for miles, really working up an appetite.

On the way back to the hotel, we eagerly stopped for dinner at the Rogue Pub in North Plains. Smoke-free and family-friendly, the place has live blues on Friday nights. And the building has loads of history, we learned - it has housed a saloon-pool hall nearly uninterrupted since 1915. Legend has it that it was a favorite stop of lumberjacks. After my wife volunteered to be designated driver, the rest of us cooled down with chilled bottles of our favorite Rogue beers - mocha porter and chocolate stout. We each quickly devoured our veggie burgers, nicely grilled and served with great fries.

We laughed upon saying good-bye later on that that we were as full as the weekend had been! Fabulous kayaking and biking, wonderful food, loads of family fun and no hassles. We'll be back to Washington County for more very soon.