Life in Portland Blog

Urban Nest Holiday Traditions

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Thanksgiving has kicked off the holidays this winter and the Urban Nest Realty Team are no strangers to embracing the season in their own ways. We thought we would dedicate a few blog posts to share what we look forward to each year. To start the series off we’ve got two very different and equally lovely ways of spending the holidays, whether it be sharing our nest with friends & family, or feathering it by going out on the town…

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Rachel – “I’m not a huge holiday person so I do my best to keep things low-key.   After years of trying to make a holiday meal (eight hours of cooking for 30 minutes of eating!) I really found my perfect holiday tradition when my husband Laurence and I wandered into Higgins restaurant one Thanksgiving after seeing a movie downtown.  We grabbed a seat at the bar and proceeded to eat a delicious meal – no cooking and no clean-up!  From there we decided to go out on Christmas as well and now have a long-standing tradition of seeing an evening movie and walking over to The Heathman Hotel for the last seating at 9 pm.  We ask for a banquette in the beautiful atrium room and sit right next to the giant Christmas tree and roaring fire.  The food is wonderful as is the company.  It’s become a very special time for us to celebrate together as a couple.  Just two years ago we added on a third holiday tradition – a triumvirate of sorts – and began making reservations with friends at Genoa for New Year’s Eve.  It’s the place where we got married nearly nine years ago and is always a perfect way to ring in the New Year.  

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Tina – “My small family, we are known as The Librarians: quiet, non-athletic, non-shouters. My mom is a tremendous cook and both Thanksgiving & Christmas are very important to her that the family congregate together. The fine China and the crystal appear (handwash only), and the table is decorated to the nines with candles and flowers. My dad is an engineer and a geek. There is never a football game on in the house, ever. The family nibbles on gourmet snacks all day. We usually put a puzzle together while music like Manheim Steamroller or Narada Christmas plays in the background. We are so stuffed by the end of the evening, but somehow we manage to enjoy a slice of mom’s homemade pie before bedtime.”

Halloween Costumes of Yesteryear

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Happy Halloween from Urban Nest Realty!

If you’re like many of us and find yourself faced with the “its Halloween and I have no costume” panic…then you’ve come to the right place! We were inspired by this amazing collection of costumes that are wild, bizarre and a little bit creepy.  Its photos like these that remind me of how weird we all are, past and present.

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Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Check Out Some Free Fun Stuff to do!

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It’s Memorial Day Weekend and if you are pinching pennies trying to save up for that down payment on a house (!) you might be interested in some free to cheap fun around town.  The admission is free for everything but there may be charges for food or drink.  Have a fun and safe three days!

 

All weekend
Village Building Convergence: An opportunity to beautify Portland through volunteer projects. See Dave Knows Portland for more information.

Friday, May 25
Portland Opera Presents “Million Dollar Quartet”: Enjoy a special mini performance of the Broadway musical “Million Dollar Quartet” at Director Park (SW Park & Yamhill, Portland), 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Rose Festival CityFair and Fireworks Display: Admission to the big carnival at Waterfront Park is free on May 25, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The fireworks display begins at 10:00 pm. Through Thursday, check out Portland Perks for a deal on ride wristbands.

Portland Art Museum Free Night: It’s the fourth Friday of the month, which means admission is free from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Saturday, May 26
Guided Nature Walk at Tryon Creek State Natural Area: This week’s theme is Beaver Investigation. 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd, Portland, 10:00 am.

Alien Invasion: Children and their families are invited to join storyteller Rick Huddle on a quest to save our galaxy. Sellwood-Moreland Library (7860 SE 13th Ave, Portland), 10:30 am to 11:15 am.

Library StoryWalk: Take the whole family to Spring Garden Park for a story and stroll, 3332 SW Spring Garden St, Portland, 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

Rose Festival CityFair: Free admission for veterans, reservists, and active military personnel and their legal dependents with valid military ID. Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. Through Thursday, check out Portland Perks for a deal on ride wristbands.

Multnomah County Fair: Music, dancing, pig races, petting zoo, exotic animals, exhibits, and more. Oaks Amusement Park (7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland), 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Pachyderm Portmanteau Party: Artist Hilary Pfeifer celebrates the release of herbook, “Elephabet,” with an art party that combines elephants and the alphabet. Tigard Library, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.

Y La Bamba and Death Songs will perform at Crystal Hotel & Ballroom, Al’s Den (1332 W. Burnside, Portland), 7:00 pm. Ages 21+.

Sunday, May 27

A Rose in Any Color: Learn how to create a variety of roses in bud form and full bloom using watercolor and ink on rice paper. This class is for adults; no art experience necessary. Hollywood Library (4040 NE Tillamook St, Portland), 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.

Multnomah County Fair: Music, dancing, pig races, petting zoo, exotic animals, exhibits, and more. Oaks Amusement Park (7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland), 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Portland Youth Philharmonic will perform at Jackson Middle School (10625 Southwest 35th Avenue, Portland) at 4:00 pm.

Monday, May 28

Multnomah County Fair: Music, dancing, pig races, petting zoo, exotic animals, exhibits, and more. Oaks Amusement Park (7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland), 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Fort Vancouver “Post to Park” Celebration: On Memorial Day, the East and South Vancouver Barracks will close as a U.S. Army Reserve post and become a national park. The “Post to Park” ceremony will begin at 1:00 pm at the Artillery Barracks building located at 600 East Hatheway Road in West Vancouver Barracks, followed by tours, historical military demonstrations, free food, and more.