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
On a recent crisp fall day, I made a date with Stub. That is, a picturesque cabin at a new (circa 2007) Oregon park in Washington County–L.L. Stub Stewart State Park.
Cabins with a view in the "Mountain Dale Cabin Village"
The online booking process allowed me to view available options for my specified overnight stay, so cabin #1 it was–and just 10 days in advance. I paid online as well, which meant I didn’t have to check in and was e-mailed the code for unlocking my cute lil’ cabin.
I was en route to the Coast, and this proved to be the perfect stopover for the night; a welcome respite from Friday rush-hour traffic on Highway 26, which is just 4 miles from this site. Signage to the park off Highway 47 made for an easy drive to what felt like a remote area, but now boasts 78 camping sites, 23 hike-in primitive campsites, 12 walk-in tent sites, 16 horse camp sites and 15 cabins in the Park.
With shining wood floor, heat and insulated windows, I commented, “This is my kind of cabin!”
The tidy fire pit and nearby water spigot made “roughing it” that much easier as well. The restrooms & showers are centralized, as is the parking–a design that means any of the 15 cabins are great options.
Choosing from the myriad trail options
Hiking paths snake in all directions from the Park, and many are specified for bikes and/or horses. The new Banks-Vernonia State Trail–once a railroad and now a paved, multi-use path–is nearby as well, offering 21 miles of smooth and scenic exploration.
No need for our flashlights when the full moon rose over the Douglas Fir stand adjacent to our cabin, and my daughter (age 3) instructed me to “tiptoe down the moon path.”
From scaly reptiles to furry alpacas, there are all kinds of creatures to see this weekend–September 26 and 27–in Washington County!
Unique Animal Expo & Pet Fair
See and buy live birds, reptiles and mammals at the oldest and largest combined Animal Expo in the Pacific Northwest. This expo is open to the public and to trade buyers on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All types of animal-related merchandise will be available for purchase. You’ll also be able to meet and talk to the breeders of all types of livestock.
The event is at the Washington County Fair Complex – 873 NE 34th Avenue in Hillsboro, and admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children ages 5 to 12.
National Alpaca Farm Days
Five alpaca farms in the Washington County area are participating in the third annual National Alpaca Farm Days on Saturday and Sunday—a free event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Alpaca farming is an up-and-coming industry in the United States, and this is a day for the public to come to local farms and learn about alpacas.
See alpacas up close; tour the farms; learn about alpaca farming; and see the beautiful products made from alpaca fleece.
One great thing about being in the heart of Oregon’s agricultural country is that the country is stunning in the fall, and there is an abundance of fun, family activities throughout the area. From corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hayrides, to festivals and a cornucopia of food, Washington County comes alive with a bountiful spirit each October.
‘Tis the season where the “u-pick” fruit of choice is pumpkin, mazes are crafted from corn and hay fields, and farms throughout the county open their fields to families for harvest-time fun – including Roloff Farm, which is featured on the television reality series, “Little People, Big World,” and is only open to the public in October.
This October, check out the fun, fall offering at these
Washington County farms:
Saturday, Sept. 12: A demonstration of “Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest: A Discovery Guide” by Tami Parr. Parr’s Pacific Northwest Cheese Project blog has become the preeminent source for local cheese news, producer profiles, and cheese reviews. Her guide, Artisan Cheese of the Pacific Northwest, was released this spring, and she will be signing copies.
Saturday, Sept. 19: The 52nd Annual Beaverton Celebration parade kicks off at 10 a.m. and can be viewed from the west end of the market.
Saturday, Sept. 26: The market transforms for “Medieval Market Day.” Enjoy medieval activities, games and demonstrations.
Saturday, Oct. 3: A demonstration of “Deep, Dark Chocolate” by Sara Perry, a food columnist for The Oregonian and author of 12 cookbooks, including the latest about chocolate–what she calls “one of the most important food groups.”
Over the weekend, my mother, daughter and I ventured to Tualatin, Ore., for the annual Tualatin Crawfish Festival, which is reportedly the oldest crawfish festival in the country. Not knowing what to expect – none of us has eaten a crawfish, let alone attended a festival in honor of this misunderstood crustacean – we were excited to experience what has become one of Tualatin’s largest events.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Payne.
Unfortunately, we arrived too late to see the “Atsa My Dog Show,” and we missed many of the morning events, but we arrived just in time to see the kids’ crawfish eating contest. When I saw kids posing for pictures with their yard-sized, green garbage bags, I knew I didn’t want to stick around for that contest, as things could get messy.
So, we walked through the exhibit area, which, oddly, did not have a crustacean theme. However, we did learn some interesting historical artifacts about Tualatin and perused the booths of beautiful handcrafted jewelry and wares.
But this festival is about the food. Crawfish skewers, bisque and other inspired dishes were the specials of the day, and we bought two dozen crawfish “to go.” My mother, always the inquiring mind, asked: “Where do these crawfish come from?” (The answer: Lake Chinook, Oregon!) She should have asked how to eat a whole crawfish; watching her try one for the first time would have been great fodder for a bloopers show on the Food Network.
Photo courtesy of Daniel J. Payne
As for my daughter, appeasing a 14-year-old isn’t always easy, especially one who finds food festivals as interesting as, well, crawfish. When she spied a bunch of teenage boys showing off their skateboarding skills in the EXIT Real World Skate Trick Competition, one of the festival’s official events, she declared the Tualatin Crawfish Festival to be “the best festival ever.”
That’s when I knew that this festival, indeed, did have something for everyone.
More than 20 lavender farms throughout the state opened their doors during the annual Oregon Lavender Festival. And what a weekend for this annual fest to explore the many lavender farms of Washington County! During the festival you can tour lavender farms, nurseries, and celebrate with a lavender-based Artisan Fair.
First we headed out to Mountainside Lavender Farm in Scholls, which has amazing views of the Cascade Mountains. There was a good-sized crowd at the farm, who were enjoying some live classic folk music while shopping the booths featuring local artisans and lavender products.
The kids really got a kick out of picking their own lavender(“U-pick” farms make for a great distraction for younger ones). The fresh-picked flowers are now proudly displayed on my kitchen counter. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to participate in the various ‘classes’, such as bouquet arrangement, wand and wreath making. We did have time, however, to catch a live demonstration on how lavender is distilled into oil.
Next up, was Helvetia Lavender Farm, in Helvetia, which overlooks the scenic Tualatin Valley. The farm was abundant with activity - people were in the u-pick fields, visiting artisan booths and enjoying tea time on the deck. We made a stop by the kids’ craft area, where we made paper lavender cards. The visit was accentuated with live music from a local country/folk musician singing fun songs that left us in stitches.
The highlight of the day, as the kids will tell you, was the zip-line, where they swung through the tree lines. How cool is that??!!
Did you ever wonder how things went for Cinderella and Prince Charming in the Enchanted Kingdom after 20 years of marriage? Well then, do I have a theatre suggestion for you! “Happily Ever Once Upon” written by Virgina Kidd, is a delightful play that will be presented by the Beaverton Civic Theatre at the Beaverton City Library. This production is jam-packed with familiar fairy tale characters such as Goldilocks, Rumplestilskin, Red Riding Hood, Fairy Godmother, and Rapunzel.
When: July 9- July 23, 2009
7:30 p.m. Thursdays
8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays
2:00 p.m. Sunday Matinees
Where: Beaverton Library Auditorium – 12375 SW 5th Street (5th & Hall) Beaverton OR 97005
For reservations call (503) 626-1936 or email beavertontheatre@gmail.com
Cost:
$15 General Admission
$12 Students, Seniors, and Groups
$5 Children ten and under
Community Partnership Performances :
Sunday, July 12: $5 ticket with donation of prom dress to Abby’s Closet
Friday, July 17: $5 ticket with used book, CD, or DVD donation to Friends of Beaverton Library.
Are you and your kids fans of cute and cuddly baby animals? Come on, who isn’t? For a chance to “ooh” and “ahh” over some particularly adorable characters, visit Alpacas of Oregon now to see their seven new baby alpacas, or crias, in a variety of colors. There are even four more crias on the way, so if you’re lucky you could see a live birth! Visitors are welcome to stop by for a tour, a cuddle with the babies, and to check out the shop filled with beautiful alpaca wool products. So, now that the kids are out of school, what are you waiting for?!
This Saturday, June 6, is Oregon State Parks Day. Stub Stewart State Park is offering a full slate of events to get kids of all ages outside to celebrate; activities range from guided mountain bike rides and trail hikes to disc golf demonstrations and bike safely checks.
You can get a guided tour of the upcoming single track biking trail, and a preview of the location for the park’s Gold Tee Disc Golf Course, to be built this summer. The park is also hosting a hot dog lunch from 11:30-1:30, so don’t miss out!
•Stub Stewart Activities •State Parks Day Flyer
Oregon State Parks are also offering FREE day-use and overnight camping (in traditional campsites only).
To reserve your campsite for June 6, call 800-452-5687 today!
Are you and your kids fans of cute and cuddly baby animals? Come on, who isn’t? For a chance to “ooh” and “ahh” over some particularly adorable characters, visit 