How to Squeeze Some Summer Vibes Out of What’s Left of a COVID Summer Vacation in Lake Oswego

Posted on August 16, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

The end of summer countdown has begun. Two more weeks if you have kids in school. Five more weeks if you’re counting until the first day of fall.

Either way, time is winding down for taking a few vacation days to take advantage of summer weather.

And that proves challenging during the current pandemic.

So more folks are looking at vacationing at home and wondering how they can create that mindset when they’ve been sheltering-in-place for so long.

For the doubters, let me pass along some words of wisdom from career and personal adviser Marty Nemko who says that “staycations provide a much better pleasure to pain ratio than a regular vacation.” Think about it! You don’t have to worry about the cost, missing your plane, losing your luggage, or getting rained out when you’ve planned a beach vacation!

Here are a few suggestions for squeezing some summer vacation vibes out of the time you have left while still at home in Lake Oswego.

  1. Plan a theme day or two. Wishing you were in Italy? Create a playlist of Italian songs, schedule an Italian film viewing (couple recommendations: Life is Beautiful, Roman Holiday), prepare an Italian meal finished off with some gelato or order takeout from one of Lake Oswego’s popular Italian restaurants like Nicoletta’s Table or Riccardo’s, and pick up a bottle of Italian wine at Baldwin’s Market and Parlor.
  2. Walk in a different direction. Since the shelter-in-place order first went into effect, we Lake Oswegans have been very grateful that the place where we have to shelter has so many places to walk. But now, six months in, some of the thrill may be gone. There’s no reason you can’t introduce the sense of adventure you carry with you when you travel away from home. Find a different route. A couple weeks ago, my wife and I were on the Iron Mountain trail that runs behind the Hunt Club, and instead of following it from the Hunt Club entrance to the Oswego Country Club entrance, we took the switchback at the top that empties out on Glen Eagles Road. Along the way we discovered the Prosser Iron Mine Interpretive Center and the Iron Mountain Overlook Platform. And we wound our way back home on an entirely new route we hadn’t traveled before. Discovery—you don’t have to leave home to enjoy it!
  3. Spa Day. A spa day may be a luxury you feel you can’t afford when on vacation, but it is a luxury you can afford on a staycation. Set the tone by lighting the candles and telling Alexa to play spa music. Take turns giving each other manicures and/or pedicures, have fun with a DIY facial peel, give each other the pleasure of a massage and then finish it off with a long soak in a warm bubble bath.
  4. Try a hybrid staycation that Nemko has coined a “projation,” or project vacation. Tackle something new—maybe it’s a recipe you’ve been meaning to try or a free course you can enroll in through the Lake Oswego Library’s online resources. Or making it’s just getting something off your To-Do list that has been nagging at you and will feel so good when it’s done.
  5. If you can’t get to Disneyland, bring Disneyland to you. While a trip to the theme park may not be in the cards for this year, there are still ways for you to enjoy the happiest place in the world at home. Gather everyone together for a virtual ride on some of the park’s most popular attractions on YouTube. Or get creative like this family who created “Yo ho Yo ho a quarantine’s life for me” ride in their own home. Best part? There’s no waiting in line!

I’m here if your end of summer plans include buying or selling your home. Give me a call at 503.939.9801 and/or check out my website. I’d love to put my 30+ years’ experience as a Realtor to work for you!

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How Covid-19 Has Reshaped the Walkability of Lake Oswego

Posted on August 9, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

Pre-Covid, I averaged 7,000 steps a day and many of them were acquired inside a gym. These days I’m racking upwards of 12,000 a day and the bulk of them occur outside on the streets of Lake Oswego.

I live in the Bryant neighborhood of Lake Oswego and on these walks, I’ve managed to go to the grocery store, visit a coffee shop, pick up croissants at a local bakery, check the progress on the new Lakeridge Junior High, walk through several parks and nature trails, and enjoy the safety of miles and miles of pedestrian pathways.

I am not alone. One of the silver linings to Covid-19 is that it has made many of us appreciate “just old fashion walking.” A report by Kinder Rice predicts that this throwback to how we used to get around will change our cities going forward and how we live in them.

Walkability has become one of those tangibles that is affecting home values. Walkscore.com has created a system for measuring a neighborhood’s walkability by awarding points based on the distance to amenities. Strongtowns.org estimates that a single additional point of WalkScore is worth $3,500 in additional home value.

In looking at Lake Oswego, the neighborhoods with the highest walk scores are Evergreen, Foothills and Lakewood, all at 73 out of 100, which deems them very walkable and a location where most errands can be accomplished on foot.

But here’s where WalkScore needs some updating.

  • They fail to include the First Addition, Old Town, and Country Club neighborhoods in their rankings, which I believe would rank up there in the 70s as well.
  • They give my neighborhood, Bryant, a score of 43, even though as I described, I have been able to run a lot of errands on foot.
  • Lake Grove neighborhood also only earns a score of 53, but have you driven along Boones Ferry Road lately? Efforts are underway to transform this strip into a welcoming and safe pedestrian and bicycle environment with access to all the amenities offered in this commercial center. Need to go the bank? Check. Got a hankering for good Italian food? Check. Wine tasting? Check. Latte? Check. Need to see a doctor? Check. Fido need a new leash? Check. Something tells me the Lake Grove neighborhood walkability score should be going up soon!

As the Kinder Rice report suggests, Covid-19 has gotten most of us to set out on foot to do many of the things we may have hopped in the car to do before. So, the walkability of our neighborhoods needs to be re-examined. Hopefully, some of the habits we’ve developed during this time will stay with us and we’ll find ourselves making fewer runs to the grocery store to pick up one item and more jaunts on foot that find us incorporating errands into our daily exercise.

See you on the pathways of Lake Oswego!

Thinking of moving in, out or around Lake Oswego? I’ve been a Realtor in Lake Oswego for over 30 years and would love to put my experience to work for you. Please give me a call at 503.939.9801 and/or check out my website.

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Housing Value Lures Buyers to Lake Oswego During COVID-19

Posted on August 2, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

Wherever I go, people ask, “How’s the real estate market?” That was always the case pre-COVID; it’s especially true now during COVID. With the pandemic taking swings at many sectors of the economy, people wonder, “What’s it doing to the housing market?”

The answer is, “The real estate market is hot right now.” Part of that is fueled by supply. Realtor.com reported that housing inventory across the country had dropped 29% from a year earlier through the week ending June 20. And as I mentioned before, part of the activity is stimulated by people’s re-emphasis on where they live, thanks to so much time sheltering in place and the freedom that working remotely gives today’s professionals.

Lake Oswego looks very attractive to urban dwellers wanting more space to roam, quality of life, and value for their buck.

Known for higher housing costs compared to the rest of Oregon, Lake Oswego may not seem like a “deal” to some house hunters, but when looking at where some of our relocators are coming from, you can see why the demand is growing.

Consider this.

I currently have this home listed for $949,900 in one of Lake Oswego’s most desirable neighborhoods. It’s a 4 bedroom, 3.1 bath home with 3,749 square feet of living space and a backyard big enough to install a swimming pool.

When I dialed that price into property listings in Burlingame, California, (located in the San Francisco Bay Area and similar in median age, income and population), all that showed up were two condos like this one at $940,000 with 2 bedrooms, 2 bath and 1,080 square feet.

 

Another one of my current Lake Oswego listings is at $799,900 in the Rosewood neighborhood. It’s a 5-bedroom, 3.1 bath home with 3,516 square feet of living space with a private backyard patio and rights to three different lake easements. Those two condos I mentioned above are the closest thing you could buy for that amount of money in Burlingame.

If we step up in price and compare homes over $1 million, the trend continues.

Here is a brand-new construction home I have listed with a pending sale for $1,500,000 within walking distance of four lake easements. It features 5 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, 3,746 square feet and a covered patio with gas fireplace.

Would you rather live here or for $1,525,000 you could live in this 2-bedroom 1 bath Burlingame single family residence with 1,420 square feet and a backyard that needs some TLC.

So Lake Oswegans who already live here—count your blessings and count your property values going up.

And if you’re thinking of moving to Lake Oswego, give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, and/or fill out the contact form below. You’re on the right track if you’re thinking of moving to Lake Oswego. Let me help make that happen!

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Enjoy this Low Risk Summer Activity During COVID-19 in Lake Oswego

Posted on July 26, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

NPR recently listed the risk involved in typical summer activities during COVID-19 and ranked going out to a bar or nightclub as extremely high risk. “Nothing makes this a good idea right now,” the authors conclude.

But summer happy hours can still be enjoyed at home. So, I’ve compiled a few summer cocktail recipes to help in that quest.

WATERMELON MARGARITA. I’ll start off with my wife’s Watermelon Margarita recipe. Mind you, this comes from a woman who had her first margarita just three years ago in Mexico. It was a Mango marg which she duplicated once we got home, until she improvised with watermelons. There has been no turning back and she is seriously considering bottling this stuff as the requests for her recipe keep pouring in.

RECIPE:

16 oz. frozen watermelon chunks

1 shot each of lime juice, Triple Sec and tequila

Blend and serve

FROSÉ. This comes with a story too. While the restaurant industry has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, one café owner on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina is managing to thrive. I know this because my daughter has frequented the place, The Co-op, and follows his Instagram Account. Because this guy has the sarcastic wit of George Carlin mixed with Charlie Hooper from Two and a Half Men, now our entire family subscribes to his feed. And we’re not alone. His Instagram account has grown by over 10,000 followers since COVID-19 began. But besides his hilarious rants, he is also killing it with his frosé lineup with flavors like Prickly Pear, Blueberry Mojito, Mango Habanero and Violet Lemonade. With HOT summer weather bearing down on those Carolinians, they are clamoring for the stuff, keeping his 8 machines holding 96 bottles of frosé humming all day long. He has extended his hours, added to his staff…the guy is showing us all how to turn life’s lemons into lemonade. I can’t share his recipes (wish I could!) but I can share one from Montage Hotels.

RECIPE:

6 oz. Rosé wine (frozen in large ice cube trays)

5 oz. St. Germain

Put the large cubes of frozen rosé in a blender, add the St. Germain, lightly blend, pour into a glass and garnish with lavender.

LAVENDER LEMONADE SLUSHY. This one comes courtesy of my gym, The Bay Club. Don’t worry…you haven’t lived here all these years and never realized we lived on a bay. We don’t. But my club, the former ClubSport of Oregon was bought out by The Bay Club based in the city by the bay, San Francisco. During COVID-19, they’ve been keeping members supplied with virtual classes, healthy recipes, kids’ activities, and yes, slushy recipes that can be adult or kid-friendly, depending on how you make them.

RECIPE:

3 TB. Fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1-1.5 lemons)

3 TB. Lavender Honey Syrup (made with ½ cup water, ½ cup honey, 1 tsp. dried lavender flowers)

2 TB gin or vodka (optional)

1 ¼ cups ice

Pinch of lemon zest

First made the Lavender Honey Syrup. Combine lavender flowers, water, and honey in a small saucepan. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and strain out the lavender. Let it cool to room temperature before using.

For the slushy, first zest one lemon. Set the zest aside then juice the lemon(s).

Combine lemon juice, lavender honey syrup, ice, lemon zest in a high-speed blender. If you’re making an adult slushy, add gin or vodka at this time. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Add a couple more ice cubes if you wish to have a thicker slushy (recommended if adding liquor).

Pour into a tall glass and garnish with a lemon wheel and lavender sprig.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, while this year’s summer may look different than in the past, there are still a lot of things about summer in Lake Oswego that we can still enjoy. Warm,  beautiful, bug-free, and light summer evenings are one of them. Add a refreshing cocktail to the mix, and you’ll find that you don’t mind “sheltering in place” when the place is Lake Oswego on a summer’s night.

ENJOY!

And if I can help you with buying or selling your home in and around Lake Oswego, please give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, or complete the contact form below. With over 30 years as a Realtor, real estate is my specialty…summer cocktails are a bonus!

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Lake Oswego Scavenger Hunt

Posted on July 19, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

The longer the pandemic continues, the more creative we have to get. Especially if you have kids, this long stretch of staying-at-home can become challenging.

Here’s a Lake Oswego scavenger hunt to the rescue. We live in a beautiful town with lots to explore, so here is a list for you and your family to tackle. You can approach it in one of two ways:

  1. Make teams. Set out in separate cars in search of these items and then validate your sighting with a picture you take on your phone.
  2. Joint project. Pile everyone into one car and head out on your adventure. You can still confirm your sightings for posterity’s sake with a photo.

As for scoring, each item is scored separately. Unless indicated, you can score additional points each time you sight the item in another setting. For example, if you see someone walking a dog on B Avenue and then on Kelok, you can score 1 point two times, as long as you document it so everyone can be sure you saw two separate dog walkers. If on teams, you can add a time element so that strategical decisions need to be made as to which items to track down first.

It’s up to you to make it as competitive or just plain fun as you wish. Enjoy spending time with your family and exploring Lake Oswego!

Item to Find Location Possible Points Your Total
Bear sculpture 5
License plate from another state 3
A red door 3 only once
Graduation yard sign 2 only once
Chalk art on sidewalk or street 3
Elephant sculpture 5 only once
Someone eating an ice cream cone 3 only once
Sidewalk poetry 3 only once
Someone walking a dog 1
Sunflower 3
Street name sign starting with letter “W” 1
Window box with flowers 3
Black Lives Matter sign 5
Outdoor fountain 1
Hasson Company For Sale Sign 3 points, 10 if it says Kevin Costello
Duck 3 only once
Someone wearing a colorful mask 3
Lakeridge car sticker 3
Lake Oswego High School car sticker 3
Teddy bear in a house’s window 3

Stay up-to-date with all there is to love about Lake Oswego. Subscribe to my blog by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right-hand column. 

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Lake Oswego Housing Market COVID-19 July Update

Posted on July 12, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

It’s hard to predict where the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will hit hardest. Some areas, like the airlines, are obvious targets. But others, like the housing market, are hard to measure.

Right now, the Portland metro and Lake Oswego real estate markets are very active. Part of that could be the fallout from remote workers fleeing urban centers.

Case in point: One young couple who was paying $3,500 a month for a 600 square foot apartment in San Francisco just bought a home in Northeast Portland with separate office spaces to accommodate their working remote. A job change did not prompt the move; rather, it was the opportunity to work from anywhere. Given the choice, why would they continue to pay a premium in rent to be close to a job that no longer required that proximity?

They are not alone. A recent survey conducted by blind, an anonymous social network for professionals, indicated that two out of three tech workers in the Bay Area would consider leaving if given the option to work remotely. And of those, 36% would consider leaving the state to work elsewhere in the United States.

That’s good news for the Portland metro and Lake Oswego housing market. We have lots to offer expensive urban center escapees from just across our southern border.

As a result, we are seeing listed homes moving, and in some cases, instigating a bidding war. The young couple I mentioned earlier, lost out on a couple home choices because of the competition and finally landed one when they offered more than the asking price and beat out the other bidders.

In the 97034/97035 zip codes, of the 20 closed sales during the week of June 28 through July 5, 6 sold for over the asking price and 4 at the asking price, accounting for 50% of the sales. That ranges from a 1,260 square foot condo that sold for $280,000 ($5,000 over the asking price) and a 6,164 square foot single detached home that sold for $2,600,000 ($290,000 under the asking price).

I am also seeing a lot of movement within our current residents. Lake Oswegans are moving around to bigger homes, to get on the lake or get lake access, to get a bigger yard. As I mentioned in a previous blog, sheltering in place has caused homeowners and renters to evaluate their living situations. If they find they need a home office, better access to the outdoors, a yard big enough for their kids to play in, then they are taking advantage of low interest rates and making the move.

Of course, with COVID cases continuing to rise, we Realtors continue to implement safe practices when meeting with clients and showing homes. You can read more about that here.

I know it’s sometimes hard to find a silver lining to all the sacrifices we’ve had to make due to the coronavirus. One such one a new parent recently pointed out to me was the opportunity for both parents to spend more time with their newborn as they both work from home.

Another, I’d have to say, is the allure that suburbs like Lake Oswego hold in the eyes of workers who find themselves with the freedom to choose where they WANT to live, instead of where they HAVE to live because of their jobs.

If you are one of those potential relocators or if you know of one, please give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, and or fill out the contact form below. As a Realtor for over 30 years, I’d love to put my experience to work for you in making your next move your best yet!  

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Why Contemporary Homes Are Popular Choices Among Lake Oswego Homebuyers

Posted on July 5, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

Are you a dark roast or a light roast coffee drinker? Do you wear a swoosh on your shoes or three stripes? We all have our individual preferences when it comes to what we eat, what we wear, what we drive, and what style of house we live in.

Luckily, in Lake Oswego, you’ll find a wide selection of home styles to consider. From a Craftsman or Cottage/Bungalow in the First Addition, to Traditional in Westlake, to Ranch style in Lake Grove, there are lots to choose from.

Contemporary styles can be found all around Lake Oswego (there are currently 66 listed) and are popular among many Lake Oswego homebuyers for good reason.

  1. Spaciousness. This quality has taken on extra value with all of us sheltering in place in our homes. The sharp, clean lines of a contemporary home maximize the use of space and also allow for more flexibility as a result. The open floor plans provide a whole host of options for furniture arrangement and put what might be a transitional space in a more traditional home to good use. Many of the newer contemporary homes like the two I have listed, extend that spaciousness to the outdoors, creating outdoor living spaces that are perfect for entertaining and “sheltering in place.”
  2. Lots of light. Contemporary homes try to maximize natural light with large windows, especially on the southern side of the house. In Oregon, where even our sunny days can get off to a cloudy start, this is a real plus for homeowners. Another thing homeowners enjoy is lower energy bills in the summer when all that natural light flooding in reduces the need to turn on their lights!
  3. Flexibility. Sticking to their clean lines and utilitarian use of space, a contemporary home is almost like a blank canvas, waiting for you to add your personal touch. Whether that be in the colors you introduce through accessories like pillows or rugs or strategically placed statement pieces, you can find your own personal way of being comforting and welcoming without being cluttered.
  4. Energy Efficiency. Contemporary homes make efficient use of materials and energy wherever possible. You’ll often find water-saving indoor plumbing, energy efficient lighting and building materials that are sustainable and recycled. That’s good for you and good for the planet.

I currently have this brand new Blazer Custom contemporary home listed at 17171 Cedar Road for $1,500,000. It offers all the advantages of contemporary styling along with 5 bedrooms, 4.1 baths and 4,720 square feet. Give me a call if you’d like to see it! View the property on my website at kevincostello.hasson.com

Let me help match your style with the home you live in! Give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, and/or email me at costellok@hasson.com I’ve been a local Realtor in the Portland metro area for over 30 years and would love to put that experience to work for you!

 

 

 

 

 

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A Salute to Lake Oswego’s 4th of July Traditions

Posted on June 28, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

There is a long list of things I’ll be missing during the summer of COVID-19 but high on top of my list is Lake Oswego’s traditional 4th of July festivities. From the Lions pancake breakfast in George Rogers Park to fireworks over the lake, the day is magical from beginning to end.

In addition to all the city hoopla, our own family has hosted Camp Costello for the past four to five years, entertaining 15-20 of our kids’ friends under our roof. That is not happening this year but we do hope to connect with each of them on a Zoom call and carry on a Camp Costello tradition of sharing our “highs” and “lows” of the summer. I have a feeling that missing out on the 4th of July will be a low on many campers’ lists.

So as a tribute to the small town flavor that the 4th of July brings to Lake Oswego, I’d like to provide a pictorial salute (and a pancake recipe), highlighting how our family has grown up with our town’s traditions. And to check out what you’re missing this year, read one of my earlier blogs about 4th of July festivities in Lake Oswego.

 

And since we will be missing the Lions Club 4th of July pancake breakfast this year, I wanted to provide you with a pancake recipe to make at home. This one comes courtesy of Amanda Finks at The Wholesome Dish.

4TH OF JULY PANCAKE RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Butter for greasing the pan -about 3 tablespoons
  • Maple syrup for serving

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add the milk, sour cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until combined. It’s ok to have small lumps of sour cream.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir just until no large clumps of dry flour remain, trying not to over mix. The batter should be very lumpy.
  • Melt about 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat until lightly bubbling and light brown.
  • Ladle the batter into the skillet making 3-4 pancakes (about 1/4 cup of batter each). Cook 3-4 minutes, until bubbles form on top of each pancake and the bottoms are golden brown.
  • Flip the pancakes. Cook 1-2 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown.
  • Carefully wipe out any excess browned butter with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining butter and pancake batter.
  • Serve warm with maple syrup (and if you really want to channel the Lions Club experience, find some marionberry syrup to top things off).

If you’re considering moving in, out, or around Lake Oswego, please give me a call at 503.939.9801, check out my website, and/or fill out the contact form below. I’d love to put my 30+ years experience as a Realtor in Lake Oswego who loves living here to work for you! Enjoy the 4th!

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5 Things I’ve Learned About Lake Oswego on My Daily Quarantine Walks

Posted on June 21, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

This chalkboard on Dogwood Drive greets walkers with uplifting messages on a rotating basis.

We interrupt this blog post for an important announcement: The Lake Grove Swim Park is officially open! This popular swimming hole in Lake Oswego is operating under new conditions and regulations including a 50 person capacity at all times, limiting the size of groups to ten or less, requiring social distancing, no swim lessons or equipment rentals and no kiddie pool. Check out an earlier blog to see what the park offers pre-COVID-19, but know you can still enjoy one of the best views of the lake from here and a refreshing dip in water. Open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Now back to the subject at hand:

Before COVID-19 hit, walks in and around Lake Oswego were an occasional thing. My daily exercise consisted of hitting the club for a biking session, Zumba class or treadmill workout.

Like the rest of Lake Oswego, however, walks have now become part of my daily routine. And while I find them a great time to fill my wife in on any new relatives I’ve discovered in my family ancestry research or to compare notes on the latest news we’ve heard on COVID-19, I also find it a great opportunity to discover more reasons to love Lake Oswego.

Here are a few:

1. As much as I think I know Lake Oswego, there are always new things to discover. Like…

The Gratitude Tree in Heritage Park

•The Gratitude Tree in Heritage Park at the end of Dogwood Drive tagged with notes left by visitors identifying things they’re grateful for

•The Wishing Line on Second Avenue in Lake Oswego where passersby have hung their wishes for the year ahead from “To have ease in some major life transitions” to “Discover empathy.”

•Outdoor art at the Lake Oswego Public Works building on Pilkington Road including “Gear Box” by Tim Mather that uses steel beams from the old McVey and an interesting display of gears from the artist’s collection.

•A rotating chalk message board also found on Dogwood Drive that rewards passersby with messages like “Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes. After that, it doesn’t matter. They’re a mile ahead and you’ve got their shoes!” and “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”

•YardPeeps. A talented mom/lawyer/entrepreneur/doodler out of Houston has found a way to support our #frontlineworkers while giving us an opportunity to do the same. She has created these yard signs which you can purchase for $20 and display in front of your home like this Lake Oswegan did.

 

2. The City is well thought out. This isn’t really something I’ve “learned,” per se but been reminded of. Pathways make my walks easy and safe and enable me to map out a variety of different routes leaving from my home. Natural areas provide welcome respite without having to travel far. Planted medians offer visual enjoyment and inspiration to my green thumb.

One of our more challenging walks was making it up to Cooks Butte

3. Lake Oswegans are a friendly bunch. Whether it’s a smile, a greeting, or the courtesy of crossing the street to provide a safe social distancing, the neighbors I pass on my daily walks remind me of one of the reasons I love living here.

4. Walks can be as challenging as you want them to be. Depending on how my wife and I feel, and how much time we have, we can clock an hour walk with little elevation or, as we did one day, trek all the way up to the top of Cooks Butte for the equivalent of 54 floors according to my iPhone activity tracker.

5. If you have to quarantine somewhere, Lake Oswego is a lucky place to be!

If you agree that Lake Oswego is a lucky place to be and would like to move here or move within Lake Oswego, please give me a call at 503.939.9801 and/or check out my website. I’d be happy to put my 30+ years of experience as a Realtor in Lake Oswego to work for you!

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Lake Oswego Is Open For Business During COVID-19 Phase 1 Re-Opening

Posted on June 14, 2020 by lovelakeoswego

Drive around town during Happy Hour and you’ll see that Lake Oswego restaurants are open for dine-in as well as takeout business.

And they aren’t the only ones re-opening their doors to the public.

Gym members are signing up for limited capacity classes.

Salons are social distancing their customers.

Retail stores are open with notices posted of capacity limits and reminders to social distance.

Summer camps for kids, like those at Play Boutique, are opening up with limited capacity.

Being in Clackamas County, we are still in Phase 1 of re-opening, but all services that are opening their doors must follow these state guidelines.

The City of Lake Oswego is also opening up some of its programs and facilities. The following have been reopened:

  • Athletic Fields for individual, family and small groups.  Organized games are not allowed per state guidelines.  Camps and clinic permitted with approved field reservations and OHA COVID-19 guidelines.
  • Dog Parks
  • Drinking fountains
  • Golf Course
  • Off leash dog area at Pilkington Park
  • One restroom at these parks: George Rogers, Hazelia, Foothills, Millennium, Sundeleaf, East Waluga, West Waluga & Westlake
  • These parking lots: Bryant Woods, East Waluga, Foothills, Freepons, George Rogers, Hazelia, Roehr, Rosemont/Brock, Stafford Trailhead, Tryon Cove, Westlake and West Waluga
  • Quarry Bike Park
  • Tennis Center with reduced hours and safety protocols in place
  • Tennis Courts at South Shore and Westlake Park for singles play only

Some summer camps are still being offered following COVID-19 guidelines including no groups larger than 10, limited equipment sharing, promoting physical distancing, use of masks by staff and increased cleaning, hand washing and sanitizing. Register online and note that things can change.  Camps that were still open at posting time include:

  • Beginning to Rock Camp for ages 8-12 from August 10 to August 14 #21487
  • Brixology Engineering for ages 7-12 from August 10 to August 14 #21410
  • Broadway Dance for ages 6-10 from. July 6 to July 10 #21215
  • Chemistry and Biology Blast for ages 7-12 from August 10 to August 14 #21409
  • Fairy Tale Ballet for ages 2-3 from July 10 to August 7 #21222
  • Fencing for ages 7-12 from July 6 to July 10 #20955
  • Frozen 2 Sing and Play Camp for ages 4-8 from August 10 to August 14 #21488
  • Guitar Hero for ages 8-12 from August 17 to August 21 #21018
  • Introduction to 3D Handprinted 3D Creations for ages 5-7 from July 27 to July 31 #21262
  • Jedi Master Engineering Using LEGO Materials for ages 8-12 from July 6 to July 10 #21258
  • Lake Singers Choir Camps for ages 8-12 from June 15 to June 19 #21228
  • Music Production Camp for ages 11-17 from August 3 to August 7 #21231
  • Music Theater Bootcamp for ages 11-17 from July 20 to July 24 #21230
  • Oil Painting for Teens for ages 11-17 from August 10 to August 14 #21250
  • Pickleball Clinic for ages `18+ on July 30 #21316
  • Summer Junior Golf Camp Girls Only for ages 6-13 from July 29 to July 31 #21052
  • Teen Dance Intensive for ages 11-17 from July 27 to July 31 #21217
  • Teen Junior Golf Camp for ages 12-17 from July 15 to July 17 #21053
  • Gaming Academy for ages 10-17 from August 3 to August 6 #21270
  • Tiny Tykes Soccer Camp: Cubs for ages 2-3 from July 20 to July 23 #21019
  • Uke Can Do It for ages 8-12 from July to July 17 #21489
  • Video Game Design and Development for ages 10-17 from July 6 to July 9 #21265
  • Yoga for Kids for ages 5-11 from July 27 to July 31 #20953
  • Yogalates in the Park for ages 18+ from July 1 to August 26 #21522

The Lake Oswego Library is still closed but staff are doing everything they can to stay connected and promote reading from taking their books clubs online to posting virtual musical performances for the kids and Thursday night Trivia sessions through Cisco Webex Meetings. And GOOD NEWS–they are now able to accept returned library items at either their automated return system or parking lot book drop at 706 Fourth Street. Remote book returns are still closed. AND you can borrow materials by placing a hold on the item you want and then making a curbside pickup appointment once it is available.

Other outdoor activities to check out include:

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