Hot August Night Is Great Excuse to Party on the Lake

Posted on July 30, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

Lake Oswego’s “Hot August Night” is set for Saturday, August 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and has a few surprises in store for party-goers this year.

After several years of repeat performances by The Beatniks, this year’s featured band is The Hit Machine, which Portland Radio Project bills as “one of Portland’s premier bands for getting the party started.” A sample playlist on their website includes “Brick House,” by the Commodores, “Celebrate Good Times” by Kool and the Gang, “Centerfold” by the J. Geils Band and “Rock Around the Clock Tonight” by Bill Haley and the Comets. So while the band may be changing, the vibe is not—the dance floor should be hopping.

There will be two rows of 100′ dock on each side of the main dock as well as one buoy line this year to accommodate the ever-growing lineup of boaters who want to join in the fun. Should be room for about 125 boats.

Here’s what else you need to know to get the most out of Lake Oswego’s Hot August Night.

  1. Buoy lines open at 5:00 p.m. at the entrance to Half Moon Bay at the east end of the main lake.
  2. Finger docks hook up to a central dock, allowing people to exit their boats, visit other boaters and hit the dance floor.
  3. Boaters are advised to bring an anchor and at least 20 feet of line to secure your boat if you’re not able to tie off on the buoy lines.
  4. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. on the stage at Pat and Pam Kearney’s home. A DJ will entertain you from 5:00 p.m. until then.
  5. BYOS (Bring Your Own Stuff). It can be a long night, so be sure you don’t leave home without being well stocked with food and drink to enjoy and share.
  6. BYOT (Bring your own transportation) There will be restrooms with extra dock sections enabling people to walk to them, but a paddle board, canoe or kayak will be necessary if you’re not tied to one of the buoy lines.
  7. Have a designated driver to ensure the safety of your guests as well as others.

Want to get in on the fun? Give me a call and I can help you find a home in Lake Oswego so you can start living and enjoying the lake lifestyle. Reach me at 503.939.9801 or check my website.

Posted in Summer in Lake Oswego, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Have a Howling Good Time at This Year’s 5K Adventure Run

Posted on July 23, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

This year’s edition of Lake Oswego’s 5K Adventure Run on Friday, July 28, features over 17 obstacles that promise to be both family-friendly as well as challenging for those looking to crank it up a notch. New to the lineup this year are a tall climbing wall, 45-degree ramp and monkey bars. They’ll be joined by popular repeat obstacles such as the tire crawl, plank walk and 250 foot slip n’ slide.

The 3.1 mile course over the hills at Luscher Farm is set up so participants can go the distance or pick and choose the obstacles they want to tackle. The point is to have fun and burn calories by laughing as much as by exercising.

While the 5K course is open to those 10 and older, the Fire Department is helping to organize a Fire Fit course for ages 3-10 located near the Children’s Garden.

Participants as well as onlookers can join in the Barn Bash celebration with food, drink and tunes supplied by DJ Danny Dwyer from 98.7 The Bull.

Registration is open with fees $55/Adult; $35/Youth 10 and older. Team rates are also available.

Check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. and the course is open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. No parking is available on site that day. Instead plan to shuttle from either Lakeridge High School, Hazelia Field of C3 Church.

If buying or selling a home feels like running through an obstacle course to you, give me a call and let me put my 25+ years experience as a Realtor in Lake Oswego to work for you!

Posted in Summer in Lake Oswego, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How Do I Love Lake Oswego? Let Our Visitors Count the Ways

Posted on July 16, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

On a sunny summer day, what’s not to love about Lake Oswego? That’s what our recent out-of-town guests were asking themselves.

I’ve called Lake Oswego home for over 30 years now. And I’ve been helping others call it home as a Realtor in Lake Oswego for almost as long.

So although I find myself “selling” Lake Oswego as a place to live more days than not, I still sometimes take this beautiful spot for granted.

A couple weeks ago my wife and I hosted over 20 out-of-town guests in our home for 4th of July weekend. These were young adults, friends of my kids who had heard about how our town does Independence Day up big and came to find out for themselves. And while they were here, I was reminded, by their comments and their responses, of some of the things that make Lake Oswego so unique.

It’s so green!” Granted, these are millennials who are crowded into one of the tightest housing markets in the country, are more familiar with concretescape than landscape, and have to head over to the Marina Green in San Francisco to find some grass to sprawl out on. But yes, as they all looked down on our fair city and the surrounding metro area on their airplane’s descent their universal takeaway was how lush our environs are.

I’m gonna drown myself in this lake so I can be buried here.” Say what you want about our green tinted lake. For those of us who are brave enough to venture in, we find it refreshing and just the place you want to be on a hot summer day (or perhaps for eternity, as our visitor suggested).

It reminds me of my hometown.” As we sat at the pancake breakfast watching neighbors greeting neighbors and listening to banjo strumming music, a couple of our visitors harkened back to the 4th of July’s of their childhood. There was a wistful nostalgia to their comments telling me that the memories they were recalling were fond ones and that on the 4th of July we become a place anchored in all that is good about small town living.

It’s the perfect weather!” Temperatures were in the 80’s over the 4th of July weekend which was perfect weather for early morning hikes, pancake breakfast in the park, swimming in the lake, dinners outside, backyard corn hole tournaments, and working on the summer tan. Native East Coasters didn’t miss the humidity or the bugs that plague their summers and often drive them inside on an otherwise beautiful summer night.

It stays light so much longer here.” Come summertime, our evenings eek out up to one more hour of daylight than those of our Bay Area friends. It’s enough to notice. After a day filled with hiking, swimming and boating, there was still time for happy hour and lawn games before dinner. Of course, come winter, our days may prove to be shorter but at least we have the daylight hours when we need them to squeeze more summer out of the season.

It’s the greatest place to celebrate the 4th of July.” When my son solicited comments from his friends about their weekend here, one of them sent this back. I’m not one to argue. From the pancake breakfast in George Rogers Park to the fireworks over the lake, Lake Oswego knows how to do Independence Day. Several of his friends remarked how the holiday wasn’t really a big deal where they came from. Now they know better, and for some, it could rank right up there with Christmas and New Year’s.

Lake Oswego, you did me proud. Our visitors arrived and you served up some perfect summer days, so much so that yet another out-of-towner commented, “There’s nothing better than a sunny day in Lake Oswego.” The only thing better would be to live here. I’m thankful I do.

If you’re thinking of moving to Lake Oswego or would like to explore buying a home with lake access —either waterfront or with easement rights—give me a call at 503.939.9801 or check out my website. I’d love to put my 25 plus years experience as a Lake Oswego Realtor to work for you.

Posted in Lake Oswego lifestyle | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Lake Oswego’s Movies in the Park Offer Free Family Entertainment

Posted on July 9, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

Darkness, camera, action! That’s the City of Lake Oswego’s cue that its summer Movies in the Park are ready to roll starting Thursday, July 20, beginning at dusk (8:30 to 9:00 p.m.) at Millennium Plaza Park at First and Evergreen.

Round up the family for what has turned out to be a popular Lake Oswego summer tradition. Armed with blankets, pillows and low sand chairs you can enjoy a night of free entertainment. Popcorn and other treats are available for purchase.

Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, July 20 Jungle Book (PG)

Thursday, July 27 Moana (PG)

Thursday, August 3 Brave (PG)

Thursday, August 10 Sing (PG)

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Lake Oswego and why you’d love to live here just like I do. Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column and receive weekly updates in your inbox. And if you’d like to check Lake Oswego out or are considering a move within Lake Oswego, give me a call AT 503.939.9801 or check out my website. Let me put my 25 plus years experience helping people move in, move out and move on to work for you.

Posted in Lake Oswego Parks, Summer in Lake Oswego, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , | Leave a comment

2017 Summer Concert Series Kicks Off This Week

Posted on July 2, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

Whatever your musical taste–from oldies to pop to the blues, there is a concert in Lake Oswego’s Summer Concert Series to get your toes tapping. Performances rotate among three different parks: Millennium Plaza (MPP), Foothills (FP) and Westlake (WP). Each has its own personality so try them all!

Remember: admission is free and low sand chairs are recommended. Pack a picnic or take advantage of the food and beverage offerings available on site.

Here’s the schedule:

LAKE OSWEGO SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
DATE TIME PLACE BAND GENRE
Wed., 7/5 7-9:00 p.m. FP Ty Curtis Blues
Sun., 7/9 6-7:30 p.m. MPP Aaron Meyer Rock Concert Violinist
Wed., 7/12 7-9:00 p.m. FP Barracuda Rock
Sun., 7/16 6-7:30 p.m. MPP The Bylines Jazz-inspired story-driven pop
Wed., 7/19 7-9:00 p.m. FP Jilt Classic Rock
Sun., 7/23 6-7:30 p.m. MPP Rock Bottom Boys Rock n’ Roll with Hillbilly Soul
Wed., 7/26 7:00-9:00 p.m. FP Paul Creighton Project Tribute to Stevie Wonder
Sun., 7/30 6-7:30 p.m. MPP We Three Pop, Folk
Wed., 8/2 6:30-8:30 p.m. WP My Happy Pill Funk, Pop, Rock and More
Sun., 8/6 6-7:30 p.m. MPP Debra Arlyn and The Goodness Pop
Wed., 8/9 6:30-8:30 p.m. WP Chris Baum Project A Night of Steely Dan
Sun., 8/13 6-7:30 p.m. MPP Tom Grant Jazz
Wed., 8/16 6:30-8:30 p.m. WP Cloverdayle Country
Sun., 8/20 6-7:30 p.m. MPP Ben Rice Blues
Wed., 8/23 6:30-8:30 p.m. WP Kalimba, The Spirit of Earth Wind and Fire Rhythm and Blues/Soul
Sun., 8/27 6-7:30 p.m. MPP Tony Starlight Song parodies and tributes

*MPP – Millennium Plaza Park, 200 First Street
FP – Foothills Park, 199 Foothills Drive
WP – Westlake Park, 14164 Bunick Drive

Be sure to sign up to receive my blog each week into your inbox so you don’t miss a thing. Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.

 

Posted in Summer in Lake Oswego, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Why Lake Oswego is the Place to be on the 4th of July

Posted on June 25, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

The gang’s all here–Lake Oswego is a popular destination for our son’s San Francisco Bay Area friends on the 4th of July

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So I’m going to let these pictures tell Lake Oswego’s 4th of July story.

In short, Lake Oswego is the place to be on this national holiday. Just ask one of my son’s 16 friends who are traveling from San Francisco to join us for the celebration. If the pictures don’t say enough, you can read one of my previous blogs.

Here’s a schedule of this year’s events:

  • Skiboard and Wakeboard Show. Grab a viewing spot of the action in Lakewood Bay at Sundeleaf Plaza, Stickmen’s Brewery & Skewery, the Lake Theatre and Café, or Millennium Plaza Park on Sunday, July 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Portland Waterski Spectacular. Check out the stunts and the showmanship as these skiers dazzle you on the water in Lakewood Bay, Sunday, July 2 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Millennium Concert Band. Get in the flag-waving mood with your patriotic favorites on Monday, July 3, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Millennium Plaza Park. (In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held at Lakeridge High School auditorium).

    A table for 20 at the Lions Pancake Breakfast

  • Lions Club Pancake Breakfast. This is the one time of the year my wife eats pancakes so they must be good (and hers are gluten-free)! Early birds make sure they get the marionberry syrup. Line starts forming at 7:00 a.m. and grows until closing time at 12:00 noon. George Rogers Park, 611 S. State Street. $9/Adults; $6/Kids 12 and under.
  • Star Spangled Parade and Celebration. What kid doesn’t love a parade? Apparently none in Lake Oswego as it seems every child under the age of 10 is either walking down A Avenue or cheering those on who are. Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. and finishes at Millennium Plaza Park with a Star Spangled Celebration…and pie eating contest at 12:00 noon. Things wrap up at 1:30.
  • Lake Oswego Corporation Boat Parade. Where else can you see one parade on land and one on water all in the same day?! Boats will leave from Lake Grove Swim Park at 3800 Lakeview Boulevard at 12:00 noon. While you’re there, reserve your spot for fireworks viewing later that night.
  • Fireworks Show. The show begins around 9:45 p.m. on the west end of Oswego Lake so best to be at the Lake Grove Swim Park, on the Oswego Canal bridge, in a boat on the lake, or at a lakefront party if you can get an invite.

    This says it all about how our family feels about celebrating the 4th of July in Lake Oswego.

Posted in Summer in Lake Oswego, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Why Lake Oswego’s 54th Annual Festival of the Arts Gets Right to the Point

Posted on June 18, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

“Tango Tree” by Pat Averill

If the idea of colored pencil art takes you back to the fresh Crayola boxed set you had as a kid, think again. In fact, that’s the point of Lake Oswego’s 54th Annual Festival of the Arts Special Exhibit: Beyond the Point: The fine art of colored pencil and graphite. Organizers have taken a medium we are all familiar with and made us rethink what is possible when pencil touches paper in the hands of a skilled artist.

“Beach Buddies” by Pat Averill

One of the featured artists this year is Pat Averill who got hooked on colored pencil thanks to a couple lessons offered by artist and master teacher Bet Borgeson at Marylhurst. She loved its translucency which makes it easy to create complex colors. “I also loved the fact that it didn’t require a huge set-up time, drying time, or special place to work.”

“Free Ride” by Pat Averill

What viewers might like most about colored pencils are their ability to mimic other mediums. “Colored pencil art is amazing!” explains Averill, and “can look like a transparent watercolor painting, an oil painting, and if used on sanded paper, it looks almost like pastel.” And from my very naïve eye, there are many pieces that are as realistic looking as a photograph.

These sample works featured here by Averill begin to show you the possibilities that these wax, oil and water soluble colored pencils offer. Be sure to attend the show to see even more.

Besides the special exhibit on display at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, The Festival of the Arts features live music, dance and performance acts as well as a juried and open art exhibit, craft booths, children’s activities and food at the Lakewood Center (368 S. State Street) and George Rogers Park (611 S. State Street) . Dates are June 23-25, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Check here for a full schedule.

Summer is a busy time in Lake Oswego with lots going on so subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss a thing! Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.

Posted in Lake Oswego Arts, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

3 Reasons Why Olivia Newton-John Wants You to Get Fitsical!

Posted on June 11, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

Back in the day when her hit, “Physical,” rocked the billboard charts, Olivia Newton-John rocked the look: leotards, leg warmers and headbands. The City of Lake Oswego thinks you can do the same and invites you to attend their 80s themed party, “Let’s Get Fitsicle!”on Thursday, June 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m at West Waluga Park, to celebrate all the choices we have in Lake Oswego to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

If Olivia were here, she’d want you to attend because she knows that some things, like eating healthy and staying active, never go out of style. So while the event is set to 80s hits, the goals are very timely:

  1. Raise money for the Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation scholarship program
  2. Raise awareness of the Healthy Eating-Active Living cities initiative that is behind many of the city’s popular programs such as Community Supported Agriculture at Luscher Farms, Yogalates at Palisades, Cyclocross Skills Clinics, or the Tuesday salad bar at the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center.
  3. Kickoff an active outdoor summer for Lake Oswego families and friends.

Here’s the schedule featuring our own LO Fire Department, Parks and Recreation staff and local businesses:

6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Check out all the activities, including healthy snacks, hands-only CPR, radical tunes, raffle. Be sure you take a spin on the Blender Bike which brings a whole new meaning to “doing two things at once.”

6:30 to 6:40 p.m. Warm-up with the Lake Oswego Fire Department

6:45 to 6:50 p.m. Dance Aerobics with Nancy

6:50 to 7:00 p.m. Nia with Zarina

7:00 to 7:10 p.m. Hula with Eve

7:10 to 7:20 p.m. Strength Training with Gail

7:20 to 7:30 p.m. Boot Camp at the Fit Spot with Barb

7:30 to 7:40 p.m. Tai Chi with Fred

7:40 to 7:50 p.m. Cool-down with the Lake Oswego Fire Department

7:50 p.m. Raffle drawing (must be present to win)

West Waluga Park is located at 15775 Waluga Drive. For more information, call 503.675.2549.

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Lake Oswego and what’s to love about living in Lake Oswego by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column. And if you are thinking of buying or selling your home, give me a call at 503.939.9801 or check out my website. I’ve been helping families move in, move out and move on for over 25 years–I’d love to put my experience to work for you!

Posted in Lake Oswego Parks, Lake Oswego Recreation, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

5 Things You Can Expect From a Good Realtor in Lake Oswego, Oregon

Posted on June 4, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

With the busy home buying season upon us, chances are you could be looking for a good Realtor to help you with your next move. When checking out who to work with, make sure your agent is prepared to do more than just help you buy or sell your home. Make sure he or she is prepared and qualified to offer you these services as well.

  1. The truth even if it’s not what you want to hear. A good real estate agent should come to you with hard data that suggests a market price at which your home will sell. In that calculation, he or she will take into consideration comparable sales, the condition of your home, market conditions, and your timeline. A good agent should not just tell you what you want to hear in order to get the listing as that doesn’t do you any kind of service at all. I have to admit I’ve lost some listings because I’ve always believed that my first obligation is to provide sellers with a realistic picture of what their home is worth. It’s not always what they want to hear but it can save them months of frustration down the road.
  2. Referrals. Being in the business, I have a list of remodelers, plumbers, handymen and mortgage brokers that I know can deliver on their promises. This can save valuable time when getting your home ready to put on the market.
  3. Advice. While I always explain to my clients I am not an attorney, I have picked up a lot of “best practices” expertise in my 25 plus years experience selling homes in and around Lake Oswego. When it’s appropriate, I share that with my clients, saving them valuable time, and in many cases, money. For example, I recently listed a home for a couple who are separated and pending divorce. I advised them to hold off finalizing their divorce until selling to maximize their profit. As a couple, they are entitled to a $500,000 capital gains tax exclusion upon the sale of their house. Once they are divorced, the exclusion drops to $250,000 for each person individually. Definitely something to consider.
  4. Follow-through. Very few real estate transactions are cut and dried. Things come up. In the hands of an inexperienced or ineffective Realtor, those “things” can sometimes become deal breakers. A good agent goes the distance to ensure he or she follows through on any concerns that might hold up a deal. I recently sold a condo that had crawl space issues which were the Homeowner Association’s responsibility. The buyer wanted some assurance that the HOA would follow through on that. I made sure that the seller started the conversation with the HOA to make the buyer feel comfortable that work would be done in due time to her satisfaction. While I understood that this was standard practice and something the HOA would undertake, the buyer did not and so I took action to address his concerns.
  5. Home warranty recommendation. Another application of Murphy’s Law is that in many cases, the minute you sell your home, the water heater will die or the refrigerator goes out. New buyers don’t take the news very well but if they have a home warranty in place that came with the sale, they’ll get a new one to replace it leaving everybody happy. That’s why I’ve been instructing my sellers to buy a home warranty for over 16 years that goes with the sale of their home. It’s not unusual for me to hear from the home warranty companies that they have been to one of my listings or sales to do repairs or replace items—reinforcing my belief that this is good standard operating procedure and something that every good agent should be recommending.

If you are interested in moving, give me a call at 503.939.9801 or check my website. I’ve been helping people move in, move out and move on for over 25 years and would love to help you do the same.

 

 

 

Posted in buying a home in Lake Oswego Oregon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrate National Trails Day on Lake Oswego’s Pathways

Posted on May 28, 2017 by lovelakeoswego

Lake Oswego’s Old River Road pathway begins by crossing the scenic footbridge in George Rogers Park

With summer-like weather beckoning you, why not plan to “Go take a hike!” to celebrate National Trails Day this Saturday, June 3. Lake Oswego has a wide variety of walker, runner, biker, pet-friendly pathways to choose from ranging from the scenic seven mile Lake Loop to the Heritage Trail that guides hikers to seven sites in town associated with Oregon’s pioneer iron history.

Once you set foot on one of these trails, you’ll be doing yourself much more of a favor than just stretching your legs. Here are some of the other benefits of getting outdoors:

  1. Reduced stress. Spending time among the trees like you’ll find on the Iron Mountain Trail can provide stress relief as it did for Japanese university students who spent two nights in the forest in a 2012 study. Test results showed lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammation after their time in Mother Nature and lower cortisol levels than a similar group who had spent two dates in the city.
  2. Improved short term memory. In 2008, the University of Michigan had a group of students perform a memory test and then divided them into two groups. One walked around an arboretum while the other strolled down city streets. Upon their return they were asked to take the test again. The group that walked around in nature improved their scores by almost 20 percent while the urban goers saw little change.
  3. Increased Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D has been credited with everything from bone and cell growth to decreased inflammation so getting your daily dose is important to your overall health. Sunshine is the direct source, setting things in motion once it hits your skin so there is no substitute for getting the real thing.
  4. Better mood. English scientists analyzed the results of ten studies on the effect of “green exercise” (physical activity done in nature) and mental health and concluded that “Every green environment improved self esteem and mood” among the participants. Throw in water, and the results were even greater. You’ll get that if you walk along the Old River Road Pathway.

For a complete guide to Lake Oswego’s pathways and trails, click here.

Learn all there is to know and love about Lake Oswego by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column. You’ll receive weekly updates of my blog.

Posted in Lake Oswego Recreation, Things to Do in Lake Oswego | Tagged , , | Leave a comment