Community Archives - Page 18 of 26

May 23, 2014

Eating Fresh and Local

With the bounty of summer upon us, it just got easier to eat farm fresh and local!

The Farmer’s Market has begun!
Running Saturday’s through October 11th, the market is located at Millennium
Plaza Park. You’ll find a huge variety from the 80 vendors: fresh produce, artisan cheeses, bakery goods, jams and jellies, fresh seafood, the list goes on and on.

I recommend you come hungry and take advantage of the vendors selling freshly made meals. A Vietnamese Bistro, the most scrumptious omelets around, pizza, coffee, baked goods, it’s a great place to find an amazing meal.

This market has a real sense of community. Besides eating and shopping, there is a kids corner, live entertainment from 10:30 to 12:30, and complimentary doggie daycare.

Fresh Produce Approved!
This last week the Lake Oswego City Council passed an ordinance that will allow fresh produce stands all over town. This was prompted by the closing of the Parson’s Produce stand on Carmen Drive. After 25 years the stand was closed due to construction of a new shopping area. It left a huge loss in the community that is now going to be quickly filled.

Produce stands are now allowed in otherwise commercial zoned areas in a size up to 800 square feet. I predict that not only will Parson’s quickly find a new location, but that other farm fresh groups will quickly set up shop as well.

This is fantastic! Strawberries, cherries, fresh corn, yum!

I am so looking forward to the summer months ahead,
Dianne

April 25, 2014

LO’s Peacock Lane

Portland has a very famous street called Peacock Lane. Portland’s street is famous for its Christmas lights, with nary a bird in sight. Lake Oswego also has a peacock lane and it is famous for….peacocks!

The street is Bonaire Avenue in the Lake Grove neighborhood of Lake Oswego.

The flock has been a presence on this street for at least 15 years, that I know of. The birds used to live at the Northern end near Firwood, but were moved to the Southern end near Sunset about 10 years ago.

No one owns them. Several houses feed them. I can tell you that they do fly, nesting in trees and on roof tops at night.

I’d estimate that the flock consists of about 15-20 birds, although it is hard to know for sure as they are rarely all together. Usually you see 3 or 4 wandering about. And they do wander. I have seen them as far afield as Lake Forest, where I always worry that they’ll get hit by a car.

I had a listing on Bonaire about a year ago. The excitement over the peacocks was wonderful. I can tell you that there are prospective buyers who drive this street looking for For Sale signs. People love the idea of living near this flock.

Why would it be nice? Well, these birds are gorgeous. They just seem to brighten the day when you see one. I can also tell you that they do a great job of eating spiders, slugs, and the creepy crawly things in the garden.

The down side? When they are mating, mostly in May and June, they are loud and noisy. They have a very distinct cry. When one does it, the others seem to pitch in. It’s like they’re saying “I’m over here!” “No, I’m over here!”. They like to do this 24/7. So be prepared for the cries to go on all night long in May and June.

Want to see these lovely birds? Just take a drive on a nice afternoon down Bonaire Avenue. You’ll be most likely to find them at the corner of Bonaire and Sunset.

Dianne

April 3, 2014April 3, 2014

The Haps in Lake Oswego

The cherry trees are budding & the rest are growing tiny, light-green nodules that will become leaves. The air is warming, and spring is springing in Lake Oswego! People are eating out on the decks of restaurants on the Lake. Teens are cleaning up their water skiis and getting the boats ready. The shopping Center downtown is seeing extra activity with folks hunting for spring & summer dresses, table accoutrements, & sunglasses. Fresh flowers are gracing all of our homes, and we welcome the heaven that is the spring & summer months here.

The following is a sampling of activities coming right up in Lake Oswego:

* Teen Poetry Slam – Thurs Apr 3rd – 7-8PM – Lake Oswego Library – Click HERE for more info.

* Trillium Festival & Hardy Plant Sale – Sat & Sun April 5th & 6th – 10AM – 4PM Tryon Creek – Click HERE for more details.

* Arbor Week Festival and Tree Planting – Kickoff Sun, April 6th – Noon – 3PM – Millenium Plaza Park -Click HERE for more details.

* Preschool Storytime – Tues, April 8th (repeats weekly) – 10:30 – 11AM – Lake Oswego Library – Click HERE for Program Details.

* Performing Arts – Wed, April 9th – 1-2PM – Lake Oswego Library – Seattle folk singer, Rose Laughlin performs captivating Celtic and American folk songs – Click HERE for more info.

* Boones Ferry Road Project Advisory Committee Meeting – Tues, April 15th – 9 – 11AM – West End Building – Click HERE for more info.

March 29, 2014

Gigabits, Here We Come

The city of Lake Oswego recently announced that it is on the shortlist of towns being considered by Google to receive ultra-high-speed Google Fiber broadband. Both Google and the City are in a joint planning process to formulate a plan to make this happen.

What would this mean to citizens of the City? Holy-cow fast Internet connnections! Google Fiber is 100 times faster than standard broadband. It allows those who are connected to access a “Gigabit” Internet connection almost instantaneously.

If all goes well, construction of the network would begin in late 2014 or early 2015, with hopes of starting to connect households by mid 2015. We will know if the plan is a go by the end of 2014.

As a Realtor, I spend a good deal of time on the Internet. My time is important to me and being able to do what I do more quickly sounds pretty fine to me.

To learn more and to receive updates, click here.

December 12, 2013

Dianne’s Top 10

I really like Lake Oswego and thought I’d share with you my own top 10 list of things I enjoy about living here.

10. Walking. There are just so many great trails and walking paths. The Iron Mountain Trail, the bike path around the lake, all of the many trails in Mt. Park, the trails on Cook’s Butte, they keep me entertained and enjoying my walking habit.

9. The patio at Riccardo’s. It is a little bit of Italy to be enjoyed right here at home. Riccardo has a true Italian menu with a wonderful wine list, but the high-light for me is the back patio. A soothing water feature and wonderful flowers are to be enjoyed, but I think I almost like it better on a cold and rainy day. The over-hangs of the perimeter are generous enough to keep you dry, and the space heaters keep you warm. Cozy and yummy.

8. Breakfast out. I have 3 favorite breakfast spots: St. Honore, La Provence, and Babica Hen. I can’t say which I like best, but they all keep me coming back for more.

7. Summer concerts. I did quite a bit of blogging about them last summer. The point I want to make is go out and do it. A warm evening, a picnic dinner, and free music, it’s the good life.

6. Community School. Schools are a big part of what motivates people to move to Lake Oswego. It’s why I moved here. But there is an entire extra layer to what is available. Community school offers extra programs for kids seeking more. It may be more art, more sports, more language skills, more of what youngsters want to explore. It’s available at community school. I highly recommend the driver’s ed program.

5. Convenience. Lake Oswego is simply a convenient place to live. You are 15 minutes from downtown Portland, 30 minutes from the airport, 10 minutes for a huge shopping center (Washington Square), 3 minutes from a lifestyle mall (Bridgeport Village), it’s amazing. Within a 3 mile radius of my house I have 4 Starbuck’s and 5 grocery stores. Yet I live on a huge treed lot in a quiet neighborhood. Yep, my little slice of heaven.

4. The Arts Council of Lake Oswego. Responsible for the Gallery Without Walls, the Art Literacy Program in the elementary schools, and the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, the Arts Council of Lake Oswego brings art front and center into our lives. For me, art makes life sweet and I want it in my life.

3. The flowers. Lake Oswego won the America in Bloom competition several years ago. It probably helped that one of the City’s former mayors owned a garden center. The hanging baskets in the summer are like fire works during the day. There is pretty much no public median that doesn’t have a planted bed. Even in the winter: there are pansies and decorative kale in abundance. It’s beautiful.

2. A wholesome place to raise a family. No not everyone in LO has kids, but if you do, it is a wonderful and supportive community. My kids got so much encouragement from this community. How refreshing that it’s cool to get good grades! It’s a pretty darn nice place to grow up. I wanted my kids to be safe riding their bikes and to have positive influences in their lives. I found it for them here in LO.

1. Friendly people. I moved here for the schools, but was completely not expecting how easy it is to make friends. I think that’s because it really is a small town. It’s easy to get involved and to have an impact.

Honerable Mentions:
Lakewood Theater
Luscher Farm
The Dog Park
Christmas Tree Lighting with Santa
4th of July Parade
4th of July pancake breakfast
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
La Vang Vietnamese Restaurant
Pine Shed Barbeque
George Roger’s Park
Zupan’s heated lounge
Seeing the Lake
Seeing the Mountain

There you have it! I hope I’ve given you some good ideas of what to expect and what to enjoy in LO.

Dianne

November 7, 2013

Fall is Really Here…

Hello Property Blotter Readers!!!

We’ve had a few weeks of Indian Summer with crazy blue skies and lots of sunshine, and it now looks like we’re really into the Fall Season. This time of year we engage in “Fall Cleaning” at my house. This particular year that means new floors in the kitchen, utility room and bathroom, and new paint everywhere as we prepare for the holidays and months ahead during which we enjoy entertaining, and just reveling in the inside of our home most of the time. Do you find yourself sprucing more at this time of year than in the Springtime? …or is it just me!? : )

In Lake Oswego there are plenty of things to do outside of your home this season.

Everyone looks forward to the Holiday Tree Lighting the day after Thanksgiving at Bigelow Plaza (5th & A). It is a big deal in Lake Oswego, and we’d love to see you there as the whole town comes out to mark the start of the holiday season CLICK HERE for more info.

We all want to start to transform our homes into holiday retreats whose lights we can see from down the block as we approach after a long day’s work! Holiday Wreath-Making at Luscher Farms is one way to really get into the spirit. CLICK HERE for more info.

Beat the Fall/Winter weather by taking your kids to the Indoor Playground sponsored by Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation Dept. Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays you can let the kids run, jump & play on all kinds of park equipment… but stay warm & cozy indoors! CLICK HERE for more information.

From knitting to gaming to poetry-slamming…. Lake Oswego has it all for teens this season! CLICK HERE for more information on programs & events.

August 1, 2013August 2, 2013

My Favorite Things To Do In Lake Oswego

Hello to all our Property Blotter readers!

Well, summer is in full swing and Dianne and I are running like crazy (no… still not too busy for you).

I thought I’d just muse a bit about a few of my favorite things to do in Lake Oswego:

I love to start out in the early morning hours at the Palisades Starbucks with a friend and cross over in a nice, brisk walk toward Hallinan. There are a few uphill spots, but mostly it’s a nice flat walk that winds through picturesque Freepons Park with its walking trails (if you care to deviate and explore), creek, little bridge & friendly neighbors. Then on to Hallinan Elementary School, where you can continue the walk around the field, or head back for a nice cup of coffee! More About Palisades
Considering my former career as a blues, funk & soul vocalist, I have a lot of friends in the music biz around the Portland area. I like to go support live music and visit them when they’re in Lake Oswego! Portland is a big blues town, and Lake Oswego is folded right in there. The Gemini Pub on State Street is a fantastic local haunt that features the best bands in the area, and region. The feeling is relaxed, the music is great, and the walk home (if you live in Lake Oswego) is extremely pleasant after a full night of music and merriment. Gemini Bar & Grill
Dianne wrote extensively about the summer Concert Series in the park. Again, the very best music in the northwest right there in the cool Lake Oswego breeze. Sit back with your feet in the grass and listen to the sounds of fantastic music and water lapping the shore of the Willamette River. Summer Concerts
I just LOVED the Lake Twin Cinema. They have been remodeling, so its a mystery what the theatre will be like going into the future (hopefully even better!), but to me, it WAS Lake Oswego just as it was. When I first moved to Lake Oswego I marveled at its living room feel around the fireplace in the lobby, and how pleasant it can be to wait in line for a popular movie while you gaze at Lake Oswego through the big windows seemingly placed there for that purpose. But the best thing about the Lake Twin Cinema was the people. Truly, you had to experience it to understand how stellar the staff is/was. Read More Here About August Re-Opening!
The Dog Park on Stafford Rd is without peer. There are two fenced free run areas where owners can let their dogs run free, play fetch, chat with neighbors, and just enjoy the wide open feel right there at Luscher Farm & next to Hazelia Field ballpark. One part is for smaller dogs, and the other is for bigger, more rambunctious ones. Just a joy to have this in the community. Hazelia Field Dog Park

Ok… gotta run. I’ll share more with you about my favorite things in Lake Oswego another time : )

Very Best,

Linda

July 25, 2013

Sweet Sounds of Summer

Summer is a full and rich time of year. I know it schedules out hard and heavy and I really have to prioritize what I want to do. So it’s easy to miss something here or there. This is one thing that you do not want to miss. Make an effort and take advantage of the LO Summer Concert Series. They are free and they are wonderful.

Curtis Salgado performed last night at Foothills Park. Children were the early dancers, but it did not take long for the full crowd to get involved. Curtis Salgado is internationally recognized. He was awarded the 2013 BB King Entertainer of the year award. He was John Belushi’s inspiration for the Blues Brothers. This is seriously great entertainment, and its FREE.

The next concert coming up will be July 28th, this Sunday, at Millennium Plaza Park, 6:00-7:30. Scott Cossu, a well-known, new-age pianist will be performing. His music is a blend of jazz, classical, and ethnic. It is bound to be good.

Then next Wednesday, July 31st from 6:30-8:30, Five Guys Named Moe will be performing at Foothills Park. This is a 12-piece show band with a huge horn section, back-up vocals, and strong lead singers. It sounds like the kind of band that makes you get onto your feet and move.

There is just something about live music on a summer evening. You can not help but smile and feel like this is what it is all about. I’ve got to share something so sweet, something so special, it really captures what I am trying to say here. At last night’s concert I saw a man wheel his wife in to the park in a wheel chair. As the music got going, he would lift her to her feet where she could stand, then, holding her hands between them, they danced. Smiling from ear to ear, they had a great time.

This is summer at its best. Don’t let it pass you by!
Dianne

June 12, 2013

You Know It’s Summer When….

The Farmer’s Market is happening on Saturday mornings.

Every Saturday through October 12th, come and enjoy the Lake Oswego Farmer’s Market. 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, at Millennium Plaza Park, you’ll find a wide array of food and flora. Several vendors offer fantastic fresh-made breakfast options, so that is a good place to start. Live music is a plus. There is even doggie daycare. Then fill your basket with berries, fresh vegetables, artisian meats and cheeses, and many other lush options that let you know it is the season that fully brings us the fruits of the earth.

The Vintage Trolley is again on the tracks.

Take a historic ride on vintage trolley #514. It is a replica of the original trolleys that were used in Portland at the turn of the last century. Wicker seats, brass fixtures, and ornate woodwork will take you back in time. The ride costs $5 for adults, $3 for children 3-12, and it’s free for kids under the age of 3. Even better, there will be free rides offered July 4, 5, and 6, from 10 am to 4pm each day.

The ride is currently 20 minutes in lenght. It stops just North of the Sellwood Bridge, due to the current bridge construction. It follows the shore of the Willamette River. There are 2 high-lights: the 1400 foot Elk Rock tunnel (known as Oregon’s darket tunnel) and 686 foot Long Trestle. I am a big fan of tunnels and trestles and this little trolley ride is great fun. For more info, click here.

It’s Summer Concert time!

Suffice it to say that the City of Lake Oswego puts on two wonderful concert series. The Sounds of Summer series occurs Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The concerts are split between Foothills Park and Westlake Park. Performers this year include Curtis Salgado, Tom Grant, and Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts. For the full performance schedule of the Sounds of Summer series, click here. The Moonlight and Music series occurs Sundays from 6:00-7:30 at Millennium Plaza Park. Performers in this series include SoulMates, Ian McFeron, and Geoffrey Castle. For a full concert schedule for the Moonlight and Music Series, click here. It is pretty much the very essence of summer to spread out a picnic blanket, relax back in the warmth of a summer evening, and listen to some wonderful music. These concerts are free.

For me, besides being busy with real estate, I enjoy the anticipation of all of the great goings on that are unique to Oregon in the summer. I think because we have such distinct seasons, with our fair share of cold weather, we really know how to apprecaite and to make the most of the wonderful months of summer.

Enjoy!

Dianne

May 8, 2013

News & Notes ~ Happenings & Market Data

During the period of May 15th and August 31st, Lake Oswego Police will be conducting undercover operations using decoys to determine whether establishments are serving alcohol to underage individuals. Lake Oswego is being proactive in implementing this program to circumvent alcohol-related incidents involving minors in Lake Oswego. According to the Dept of Health & Human Services and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Underage alcohol use is a major public health problem. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs, and is responsible for 4,700 deaths of underage persons annually.
The 37th Annual “Lake Run” will be held in Lake Oswego on Saturday, May 11th. There will be a kids dash, a 5k for walkers or runners, and a 10k challenge with an “improved new route”. This event draws thousands every year. Come enjoy the fun in Millenium Plaza Park with entertainment, lots of great food, and exposition booths. For more information CLICK HERE.
The 2013 Community Survey results show, among other things, that:

* Overall, residents rate the city 8.6 on a 10-point scale, so satisfaction is high as “a place to live”.

* Residents let their “grade” for satisfaction with local government slip to 3.3 on a 5-point scale. (This is down .1 since 2010, and .5 since 2005)

* 52%, a majority, agree that the city makes efficient use of tax dollars.

* As for the most popular sources of information, 63% of Lake Oswego residents get their information from the Lake Oswego Review and 58% from the Hello LO newsletter among other publications.

* For the detailed report CLICK HERE.

Here is a bit of data illustrating how Lake Oswego compares in context with the larger Portland market (you may want to zoom… sorry for the small-ish image…. interesting though, eh?):

***Note that Appreciation is based on a comparison of the rolling average sale price for the last 12 months (4/1/12-3/31/13) with the 12 months prior (4/1/11-3/31/12). Days on Market is the number of days from when a property is listed to when an offer is accepted on that same property. If a property is re-listed within 31 days, DOM continues to accrue; however, it does not include the time that it was off the market