STORYWALK® AT LUSCHER FARM. Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation has partnered with the Lake Oswego Public Library to bring you and your little ones a festive StoryWalk® at Luscher Farm. StoryWalks® combine literacy, the outdoors, healthy activity, and family time. This month the featured story is The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry, illustrated by the Fan Brothers. It’s a perfect excuse to visit the Luscher Farm scarecrows. Then just follow the numbered signs while you read the story together. Be sure to sign the guest book at the end! 125 Rosemont Road.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME SALE. Our costume closet is still filled with treasures my wife brought home from the Lakewood Theater’s Halloween costume sale back in the day when our kids were trick-or-treating and going to costume parties. Although many of the outfits were adult-size, there were lots of accessories (think headgear, jewelry, capes) that provided the finishing touches to unique, one-of-a-kind costumes. As the theatre prepares for the new season of shows, they need to make room for new costumes; hence, the sale. My advice is to go early to get the best selection. Friday, October 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lakewood Center for the Arts, Community Meeting Room, 365 S. State Street.

BURGERVILLE SWEET POTATO FRIES. Maybe because they’re only seasonal or maybe it’s just because they’re that good. But the sweet potato fries here are short-lived and in high demand. Find out for yourself by stopping in at Lake Oswego’s location, 15650 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road.

WEST COAST GIANT PUMPKIN REGATTA. This event in our neighboring town of Tualatin, definitely puts in the FUN in Funtober featuring costumed characters paddling the Lake of the Commons inside giant pumpkins in a series of races. There’s a lot more going on as well including a giant pumpkin weigh-off, 5K run, variety show and kids’ costume contest (which you might win if you attend Lakewood Theater Company’s costume sale!). Check online for the full schedule. Saturday, October 15 – Sunday, October 16. Races start at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.on Sunday. 8325 SW Nyberg St., Tualatin.   

SALT & STRAW FLAVORS. I dare you to try Salt & Straw’s Don Bugitos Creepy Crawly Critters flavor this month hiding toffee- brittle mealworms and chocolate crickets in matcha ice cream. If that’s too squeamish for you, then maybe one of their other October seasonal flavors will do: Black Cat Licorice and Lavender, The Great Candycopia, Jack O’Lantern Pumpkin Bread or Double Bubble Toil and Trouble. 100 Avenue.

HARVEST DASH. Enjoy a 5K trail run on natural terrain at Luscher Farm and celebrate your feat/feet with a barn bash after party. Pre-register to get the best deal: $20 participation fee for residents/$25 non-residents. Day of registration is $25 for residents; $37.50 for non-residents. You can pre-register online for the heat that best fits your athleticism. October 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 125 Rosemont Road. Road.  

ROAR OF GREASEPAINT, SMELL OF THE CROWD. Don’t miss the first production of the Lakewood Center’s 2022-2023 Lost Treasures Collection, a series of obscure and rarely performed musicals presented in concert/cabaret version for one weekend only on their Side Door stage. Watch as two clowns, on opposite ends of the luck spectrum, compete in a “Game of Life.” The rag-tag players rely on humor, song, and dance to try to build a new life. But can show tunes and music hall merriment revive the human spirit? Friday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20. 368 S. State Street.

SEASONAL COFFEE DRINKS. We have our share of coffee spots (which you can discover in a previous blog), but now’s the time to enjoy some of the seasonal fall flavors like the Flapjack Latte at Morse featuring in-house maple syrup topped with crunchy maple sugar or the Caramel Apple Latte at Peet’s. Make the rounds and you’ll be well caffeinated!

THE ART OF LIVING. Participate in this creative endeavor online and/or in person. Four local artists, in all phases of their careers, all of whom work in varied media—from murals to oil and stencil to recycled art—bring their creative interpretations to a one-of-a-kind chair that is functional and decorative! The artists include Davey Barnwell, Debby Radakovich, Ingrid Dohm, and Marcia Jeglum. Each piece will be auctioned off October 14 through October 28 at noon! 

Meet the artists in person and enjoy food and wine at an exclusive event on October 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at ACLO’s ARTspace Gallery, 380 A Avenue, Suite A. Tickets available online.

MONSTER MASH SPOOKTACULAR. Bring your costumed little ones to Christ Church Parish for an afternoon of frightful fun as they walk through the trick-or-treat streets to collect candy, toys and trinkets at every station. Spooky tunes and ghoulish crafts add to the fun. Sponsored by the Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department. Monday, October 31 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., 1060 Chandler Road.

For every season there is a reason to love Lake Oswego. Let me introduce them to you in this blog by becoming a subscriber or let’s talk in person so I can show you why I chose to move here over 30 years ago and have helped others do the same! 503.939.9801, kevin.costello@cascadehassonsir.com