Autumn is by far my favorite season: the crisp, cool air; rust-colored leaves falling from the trees; the bright orange and green hues of the pumpkin patches. Indeed, ’tis the season to get out and explore fall in Washington County, Oregon. On Saturday, my family and I hopped into the car and did just that.
First stop was the Beaverton Farmers’ Market, a cornucopia of fall vegetables, colorful gourds, scrumptious apples and pears, and hearty potatoes and onions, all awaiting shoppers who ventured out on the brisk Saturday morning. Free coffee and fruit samples provided us the energy – and warmth – needed to navigate the market.
With our newly acquired produce in hand, we ventured off to our next stop, the Smith Berry Barn in Hillsboro. Each year, I make the pilgrimage to the Smith Berry Barn to stock up on apples, and this year is no exception. I loaded up my basket with freshly picked Macintosh apples, perfect for making caramel apple treats.
On a whim, we decided to head over to Baggenstos Farms in Sherwood, to check out the corn maze. Growing up in the desert, corn mazes were something I had only seen on television, or in scary movies. In reality it was not scary at all. Granted, it was a bright and sunny mid-afternoon. (However, my ever-adventurous daughter suggested we return and try the maze at night.) About a half hour after we entered, we mastered the maze, which, visible from the sky, is carved to look like Abraham Lincoln.
Before we left, we decided to try our hand at pumpkin bowling. This was a blast. We each had three tries to knock down the pins while throwing a ripe, orange pumpkin down the makeshift lane. On my second round, I threw a spare!
After our day in rural Washington County, we were exhausted; but, it was worth it to spend a memorable and fun day with my family. (And, yes, we will be going back to the corn maze … at night.)
So, don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your own autumn memories this October. The Beaverton Farmers Market, as well as the pumpkin patches and corn mazes at farms throughout the county are open through October 31. And don’t miss this year’s Apple Fest at Smith Berry Barn, Oct. 18. For a list of other autumn-inspired events, check out our event calendar.
Washington County, Ore., has a storied history, with eerie tales from pioneer days of the area’s earliest settlers. The most bone-chilling stories, however, are about ghostly spirits from more recent times.
The Haunting of Knight Hall
Pacific University’s Knight Hall (which is now the admissions building), reportedly is haunted by a young woman named Vera. As the legend goes, Vera, who was a music student at the university, died in Knight Hall. There are various stories about this eternal student and how her spirit came to inhabit the university, including one tale that she took her own life over an ill-fated love affair.
What is known about Vera is that for several decades there have been many sightings of her. She has been heard singing and playing piano and voicing her displeasure at some students’ performances by audibly sighing or telling the budding pianists to “please stop.”
Each Halloween, Pacific University students hold an event, “A Night in Knight Hall,” where students spend the night in the building and attempt to communicate with Vera’s ghost.
Haunted Hotel
McMenamins Grand Lodge is a stately European-style hotel with a storied past. Built in 1922 as the Masonic & Eastern Star Home, the property originally served as a rest home for Master Masons, their widows and orphans. It has since become synonymous with many strange happenings, aided in part by the colorful décor of the walls of this hotel, which are adorned with Masonic imagery and symbols and historical photographs, giving the hotel a uniquely eerie feel.
Various locations throughout the property have been witness to alleged paranormal and unexplained activities. Perhaps the best-known spirit at the Grand Lodge is the “Lavender Lady,” whose presence is known not just by the guest room named in her honor, or by her likeness painted on a wall mural. When the “Lavender Lady” is around, an unmistakably, strong scent of lavender permeates the hallway.
Stories of the Grand Lodge’s haunting have flourished for years and have become folklore for ghost hunters . The hotel’s guests and staffers have shared their tales and sightings in the “ghost log,” which is kept at the front desk to record the strange happenings at the property.
The Phantom of the Theatre
The Venetian Theatre and Bistro, a movie and live performance theatre, bistro and wine bar, has been a site for recent paranormal activity. The history of the building, located in downtown Hillsboro, is unknown, and the disturbances within it — unexplained water leaks, lights and music magically being turned on, apparitions and more — spooked enough people to warrant bringing in professional ghost hunters.
This summer, a team of paranormal investigators were called in to check out the otherworldly happenings in the building. During the investigation, one especially chilling event happened in the projection room of the theatre. The lead investigator asked the spirit in the only climate-controlled room in the building, to change the temperature. The spirit obliged, and raised the temperature from 70 degrees up to 78 degrees, then down to 68 degrees, the preferred temperature for the room.
So intriguing was the story of the haunted theatre, the Hillsboro Argus ran an article in August detailing these paranormal events.
Long after Halloween is over, these spooky spirits remain, with sightings year-round. So grab your gear and check it out for yourself. The next time you smell lavender, it just may be the Lavender Lady welcoming you to Washington County.
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.
As summer sunshine extends into fall, this coming weekend offers perfect conditions for fair-weather hiking, biking and tracking in Washington County.
Saturday, Sept. 26:
* Stub Stewart State Park hosts its final guided Saturday hike of the year at 10 a.m., and all are welcome.
Explore the area’s natural and cultural history in this free hike. A park ranger leads participants on a trail in the Stub Stewart State Park forest.
* Join author and walking guru Laura Foster for a Fanno Creek Greenway Trail walking tour. Participants in this free event, sponsored by Metro, will stride along the paved multi-use trail bordering Portland Golf Club, ponds and marshes. To join in, meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Garden Home Recreation Center’s main entrance. Foster is the author of several guidebooks, including “Portland City Walks: Twenty Explorations In and Around Town.”
Sunday, Sept. 27:
* Enjoy a two-wheeled outing in the Second Annual Hillsboro Tour de Parks, where all are invited to tour a sampling of Hillsboro’s parks by bike. This family-friendly ride offers 3 route choices: 15 miles, seven miles or three miles. To participate, meet at Civic Center Plaza, where there will be tire pressure checks, brief riding rules discussion and final route maps. Start times are between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. based on which route riders are taking.
The event emphasizes the rules of the road for cyclists, and offers leisurely stops at the city’s parks, such as Shadywood and Shute. At the finish line all will receive ribbons and enjoy festivities.
* Join Metro naturalist and animal tracker Deb Scrivens at Cooper Mountain Nature Park for a workshop to learn the basics of animal signs, track identification and interpreting animal movement. Learn the stealth skills needed to watch wildlife at close range then make plaster casts of tracks to bring home. Practice your skills the following Sunday during a special tour of the park. Meet at the Nature House. Suitable for ages 10 and older.
Registration and payment required in advance; call 503-629-6350. Hosted by Metro and Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District.
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.”
There are plenty of shopping options in Washington County to ensure you get what you need to send your kids to school in style.
First off, I have to admit that I love to shop. So, it is with excitement that it is, once again, time for back-to-school shopping. With only 11 days left until my daughter starts school – her freshman year of high school, at that – I am feeling the rush to finish up the back-to-school shopping.
If you’re anything like me, you’re feeling that rush too. Before you head out for your own last-minute shopping, why not make a quick visit to Washington County, Oregon? It’s a shopaholic’s dream, with its multitude of boutiques, brand-name fashion clothing stores, and top-of-the-line retailers. Need more convincing?
There’s no sales tax in Oregon! None. Zero. Zilch. Oregon has no sales tax, which makes back-to-school shopping a bargain (especially for those who are visiting from out of state).
Special offers and discounts are available to out-of-town shoppers! Bridgeport Village and Washington Square both offer discounts and incentives to out-of-town visitors, and Macy’s has a savings pass, specifically aimed at both domestic and international travelers. (Visit Washington Square’s website and Bridgeport Village’s site for more information and a list of participating partners and packages.)
Parking is FREE (and there’s lots of it)! Parking is a breeze at the major retail centers, such as Washington Square, Streets of Tanasbourne and Bridgeport Village, so you can spend more time shopping, instead of looking for a parking spot. Plus, you will have more dollars in your wallet for fun stuff, not parking tolls.
The art of shopping is always in fashion (and easy on the wallet) in Washington County. And with three major shopping and retail centers (each easily accessible from major highways) there is a large variety of stores to choose from, including many of the nation’s best-known shops, as well as local favorites.
Visit the shopping section of our website for a list of the myriad shopping experiences you can have all year round.
Don your cowboy boots and hats and head over to the Washington County Fair Complex, July 30 – August 2, for the annual Washington County Fair. Of course, the fair has all of the attractions you expect to see at a county fair: farm animals, arts and crafts, baked goods, carnival rides, monster truck and tractor/truck pulls and live entertainment.
However, this year, Bag&Baggage Productionswill be bringing live theater for the entire family into the mix with productions of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Pecos Bill and Sluefoot Sue.” Also returning to the fair this year after an eight-year hiatus are “Cook’s Famous Racing Pigs.”
Some of Mexico’s hottest bands, including headliners Tierra Cali, Larry Hernandez and La Autoridad de la Sierra, will be performing at the ”Reventon de Verano Latino,” which takes place at the Demar Batchelor Amphitheater. Admission is $10 for ages 12 and up, and the event will also feature food and games.
As always, entrance into the Washington County fair and to many of the attractions is free (excluding carnival rides, motor sports demonstrations and Reventon de Verano Latino). Parking is $5.
Forgot where you put your cowboy hat? No fear, you can buy one at the fair!
On July 25, Saturday, thousands of cyclists will ride through scenic Washington County – including stretches of the new Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route – for the annual Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association’s nationwide fundraising event.
This is the first time the annual ride comes to Washington County. In previous years, the event, formerly titled “Summit to Surf,” has taken place in the Mt. Hood Territory. “We are thrilled to have this year’s Tour de Cure in Washington County,” said Ruthie Reinert, president and CEO of the Washington County Visitors Association. “The Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route is an exceptional complement to the event, and will give riders a variety of scenic views and terrains unlike any other.”
While you’re out riding and supporting the American Diabetes Association, take some pictures and enter our Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route photo contest. There are nice prizes to be won.
To participate, riders must raise a minimum of $150, plus submit a registration fee. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association’s mission to “prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.” All monies raised will be used for research, information, advocacy and local programs. Come one – come all! Riders of all levels are welcome, there’s something for everyone.
The Tweet of Dweams is Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve’s annual birdhouse building contest and fundraising auction. The auction will be held on Saturday, May 2 at the Preserve beginning at 6:30pm. If you have an item to donate or would like to reserve a ticket ($35.00 pp), please contact Karen Newton via email at karenn@ci.hillsboro.or.us. All proceeds support activities for children, families, individuals, and wildlife habitat improvements.
2008 Grand Prize Winner; photo by Jason Kinch Photographic
Each spring, SakéOne, located in Forest Grove, Ore., holds a Shinto ritual, or blessing of the kura (brewery). Shinto is a spiritual ceremony, steeped in Japanese tradition, described as a purification rite that celebrates health, prosperity, life and the creative forces of nature.
Saké is an important element in traditional Shinto rituals, and each sakéry has an association with a Shinto shrine. The ceremony at SakéOne was presided by Rev. Koichi Barrish from the traditional Jinja Shinto Shrine, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, located in Granite Falls, Washington.
This year, I was fortunate enough to attend this annual event with writer (and fellow former Las Vegan) Ivy Hover, the Portland-based beverage writer for examiner.com. The ceremony, which included a traditional ritual in Japanese, and a blessing of the four directions – north, south, east, west – of the kura, left me feeling rejuvenated and, well, purified.
After the kura was blessed, the standing-room-only crowd of 200 onlookers toasted in celebration with a saké crafted specifically for the Tsubaki Grand Shrine.
While others were noshing on the delicious spread, Ivy and I went into the tasting room, which was bustling with others who shared in the ritual, to introduce her to SakéOne’s varied selections of premium, organic and herb- and fruit-infused saké. (Read Ivy’s candid review of her tasting experience.)
I eschewed the saké tastings, opting, instead, to try the three sakétinis on the menu for the day (which also happened to be “Saketini Saturday,” which is held at the sakery the third Saturday of each month). Although the names of the drinks escape me, I do remember that were delish, and tasted like liquid candy.
After a couple of hours of saké-inspired spirituality, I had an insatiable craving for sushi. On my way home, I stopped at one of the top sushi spots in the Portland area, Syun Izakaya, located in Hillsboro. Luckily, the lunch crowd was thinning out, and I was able to score a seat at the sushi bar.
I ordered my usual: eel roll (with salmon) and a spicy tuna roll with hot, green tea to wash it down. With saké still on the brain, I perused Syun’s drink menu, which has one of the most impressive saké lists I’ve ever seen. And, in case you are wondering, yes, Syun does carry a selection of saké from SakéOne (under its various labels).
What a fantastic experience it was for a spring day in Washington County: saké, sushi and sunshine!
Autumn is by far my favorite season: the crisp, cool air; rust-colored leaves falling from the trees; the bright orange and green hues of the pumpkin patches. Indeed, ’tis the season to get out and explore fall in Washington County, Oregon. On Saturday, my family and I hopped into the car and did just that.
Washington County, Ore., has a storied history, with eerie tales from pioneer days of the area’s earliest settlers. The most bone-chilling stories, however, are about ghostly spirits from more recent times.
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