January 6th, 2012 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
The new year begins with a slate of worthy cultural exhibits, live musical performances, spoken word and theater productions. The following are some of the highlights of happenings in Oregon’s Washington County for January and February.
Snapshots! at the Washington County Museum through April 21
EXHIBITIONS
The Washington County Museum (17677 NW Springville Rd., Portland, on the Portland Community College Rock Creek campus) presents “Snapshots!” (through April 21; $3), a retrospective of Washington County’s history told through photographs ranging from the late 19th century to the Roaring Twenties.
LIVE MUSIC
Traditional Irish music takes center stage at the Winona Grange (8340 SW Seneca St., Tualatin) with upcoming 2nd Saturday Celtic Community Concerts featuring Molly’s Revenge (January 14, 7:30 p.m.; $15) and Laurence Nugent (February 11, 7:30 p.m.; $15).
Up-and-coming jazz band Blue Cranes will be performing at the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center (527 E. Main St., Hillsboro; January 20, 7:30 p.m.; $12 in advance, $14 day of show). The band’s style has been described as “walking a thin line between improvisation and catchiness.”
Enjoy an evening of koto (a traditional Japanese stringed instrument) as East meets West with Mitsuki Dazai & Friends at the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center (527 E. Main St., Hillsboro; February 3, 7:30 p.m.; $15 in advance, $17 day of show).
Pacific University Performing Arts Series presents the Good Lovelies (Pacific University, Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove; February 4, 7:30 p.m.; $22), an all-female trio from Canada performing an upbeat combination of pop, folk and western swing.
LIVE THEATER
The the acclaimed, award-winning Broadway Rose Theatre Company (12850 SW Grant Ave., Tigard) presents a one-night-only performance of an original work, titled “Sing Now or Forever Hold Your Peace,” (January 14, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; $40), a delightful evening of tales and songs from Broadway Rose’s 20-year history.
Broadway Rose also is presenting a staged reading of the colorful musical, “Oil Change the Musical Comedy” (January 20-21, 7:30 p.m.; January 22, 2 p.m.; $10), a family-friendly musical featuring 18 original songs ranging from rock, county and blues to rap, Latin and love ballads, all accompanied by a live band.
The 2012 Season of Great Escapes officially starts with Broadway Rose’s country music revue, “Pump Boys and Dinettes” (February 2 – March; $20-35), in a tale of friendship, romance and heartbreak.
Professional Theater company Bag&Baggage presents “Love Letters” at the Venetian Theatre (253 E. Main St., Hillsboro; February 13-14, 7:30 p.m.; $25). Back by popular demand, the performance is an exploration of two characters’ lives as they read aloud love letters they’ve written to each other over the course of their lives.
Portland-born artist Mark Rothko is the subject of January's Spoken Word series at the Walters Cultural Arts Center
SPOKEN WORD
The Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center (527 E. Main St., Hillsboro) features a spoken word discussion about Portland-born and internationally acclaimed artist Mark Rothko (January 17, 7 p.m.; $12 in advance, $14 day of show). Caroline Kim, of the Portland Art Museum, will provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at Rothko and his work.
On February 21, local historian Richard Engeman will present an illustrated history of Oregon with 49 illustrations in 49 minutes at the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center (January 20, 7 p.m.; free).
For a complete list of art and culture events and performances in Oregon’s Washington County, including community performing arts groups, visit the Event Calendar.
Tags: art, Bag&Baggage, Blue Cranes, Broadway Rose, celtic concerts, exhibits, history, Irish, koto, live music, live performance, live theater, Mark Rothko, Mitsuki Dazai, Museum, musical theater, photography, spoken word, Walters Cultural Arts Center, Washington County Museum
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December 9th, 2011 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
Let’s face it, by the time winter rolls around, we’re ready for a break, and if you have kids-especially teenagers–you know they are chomping at the bit to get out of the house. Why wait until summer for a weekend or week-long getaway? Winter is a fabulous time to venture to Oregon’s Washington County. The following is quick look at what’s going on this season:
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
FOR ARTS & CULTURE BUFFS: ‘Tis the season for arts and culture to take the spotlight, from performing arts to art exhibitions.
- Local professional theatre companies Bag&Baggage and Broadway Rose offer a year-round slate of productions, including special holiday-themed performances.
- The Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center has a strong performing arts calendar featuring a diverse array of musical performances, spoken word and poetry readings.
- Through April 12, 2012, the Washington County Museum is home to its latest exhibit, Snapshot!, an impressive and extensive collection of photography equipment, objects depicting home and farm life and numerous historic images.
- Print Arts Northwest has a calendar of several different art exhibitions with varying themes, featuring established and up-and-coming artists from the Pacific Northwest.
See the complete list of performing arts companies and venues, art galleries and museums and historical sites in Washington County.
FOR TEEN SPORTS FANS: See the brightest high school athletes compete in the annual basketball tournament and slam dunk contest.
Watch the college and NBA stars of tomorrow duke it out on the basketball courts when the annual Les Schwab Invitational hits the court December 26-30. This year’s tournament features the top basketball teams in Oregon and welcomes nationally ranked teams Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), Yates High School (Houston, TX) and Riverside Academy (New Orleans, LA).
Great Blue Heron (Photo: Ed Bustya)
FOR WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS: Catch a glimpse, or take a photo of wildlife and birds as they “winter” in Oregon.
Not all birds fly south for the winter. Various species prefer to stay in the peaceful nature preserves of Washington County. Heron, geese, eagles, hawks, pheasants, quail, chickadees, wrens, and the occasional seagull, along with beavers, otters, coyote and deer, can be spotted in various locations throughout the area. Best places to view wildlife are the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (TRNWR), Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve and Tualatin Hills Nature Park, to name a few. See what common, uncommon and rare species of birds and more can be found with the TRWNR’s handy Watchable Wildlife guide (PDF).
FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: The family that plays together will find a host of winter-fun activities in Oregon’s Washington County.
It may be a challenge to find activities that will entertain teens, while inspiring adults. Try these family-friendly ideas on for size:
Countless hours of activities and a multitude of attractions are waiting to be explored in Oregon’s Washington County. The question isn’t what can you do in Washington County? It’s when can you get here?
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Tags: art, Bag&Baggage, basketball, Big Al's, bird, Broadway Rose, culture, family friendly, galleries, high school sports, history, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Laserport, les Schwab Invitational, Museum, Oregon, Print Arts Northwest, Sky High Sports, Skyart Indoor Racing, Stoneworks Climbing Gym, things to do, Tualatin Hills Nature Park, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Walters Cultural Arts Center, washington county, Washington County Museum, watching, wildlife, winter
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September 14th, 2011 by Sylke Neal-Finnegan
Is it Art? Is it Science? Perhaps it’s both? Whatever it is, Live Laugh Love Glass is pretty cool.
There’s a new kid in town in Oregon’s Washington County, and this one will have you glowing with glee. Live Laugh Love Glass is a new glass-blowing studio, which opened last May in downtown Tigard. But this is no ordinary studio; it’s a large space allowing for individuals or groups to watch or participating in the scientific experiment of creating personalized creations and works of art from glass.
Under the guidance of a teacher, pieces of ice-cube glass and colored metals combine (that’s the science part) and become vivid, colorful creations of art.
This innovative studio offers more than classes. Curious onlookers can view the classes in action (trust me, it’s very fascinating to watch), purchase a finished work of art–most pieces made in the studio–or attend a dinner party and “hot shop” show, a one-of-a-kind, dinner-theater type experience where guests can participate in the creation of a glass art piece.
In the short time Live Laugh Love Glass has been open, travelers from throughout the globe have visited the shop, according to owners Brett and Natalie Vinsant. Visitors can take home a piece of their experience, whether it’s their own creation or an ornament previously hand-crafted in the studio.
Although it is difficult to put into words (you have to see it to believe it), it truly is an amazing experience, and the memories will be cherished for years to come.
Live Laugh Love Glass
12230 SW Main St. #B
Tigard, Oregon 97224
800.913.7015 (toll free) or 503.244.7811 (local)
Tags: art, art classes, art studios, dinner theater, food, glass blowing, hands-on activities, live laugh love glass, new attraction, Oregon, Oregon's Washington County, quirky, Shopping, things to do, tigard, washington county
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April 28th, 2009 by Julia Adam
Original art by Andy Everson produced for International Migratory Bird Day
Get ready to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day! On Saturday, May 16th, the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge will host its Migratory Songbird Festival for its 13th year. The full slate of events commences with early morning bird walks at 6:30am and 8:30am, each of which will last approximately 2 hours and cover 2 miles; meet at the Wildlife Center for these complimentary perambulations. If you would rather sleep in on your Saturday morning, then you can choose to arrive for the Guided Nature Walks at 10:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm or 1pm; these walks will also begin from the Wildlife Center and will last one hour. Live music, presentations, arts, crafts and photography exhibits, and a native plant sale will round out the schedule. Continuous activities will run from 10am to 2:30pm. Parking will be available at Home Depot, with a free shuttle running from 9:45am to 3pm.
Tags: activities, art, birding, birds, Events, festivals, guided walks, music, photography, songbird festival
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