The More You Read, the More You Win in Lake Oswego This Summer

Posted on May 29, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

books-1204029_640As if reading wasn’t its own reward, the Lake Oswego Library has added more incentives to turn the pages during the lazy days of summer. No matter what age you are, from pre-readers to seniors, the more you read, the more chances you get to enjoy everything from new books to blazer tickets to an Oregon Coast getaway.

Here are the details: (programs start June 1)

PRE-READERS AND KIDS CLUB

Log in 250 minutes of reading to your little one (for pre-readers) or clock in 500 minutes (for kids) and receive a new book from Friends of the Library plus tickets to: Blazers, Thorns, Oregon State Fair, Family Fun Center; as well as coupons for Oaks Park, Benihana, Booktique and Lakeshore Learning. You’ll also be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a bicycle accessory package from the Bike Gallery.

TEENS ENTERING GRADES 7-12

Teens get a free book just for signing up and then the incentives begin.

  • For every two hours of reading, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $20 gift card to Bridgeport Village. Go one step further and write a book review and you could win four Blazer tickets.
  • Read one book and enjoy a free UU Yogurt and Benihana appetizer
  • Two books will get you Oaks Park admission for $6.50 on specified dates
  • Three books comes with a free Trailblazer ticket and Thorn ticket (specified dates)
  • Four books and you get a free game of mini- golf at the Family Fun Center and a ticket to the Oregon State Fair

ADULTS

The more you read, the better your odds of winning in random weekly drawings with edible or bookish prizes along with a chance to win the grand prize which historically has been a beach getaway

Here are some of my recommendations:

  • Thrillers by Harlan Coben, including his latest, Fool Me Once
  • The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
  • One Good Dog by Susan Wilson
  • Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin

If you have any summer reads recommendations, pass them along here. Thanks! And be sure to read my blog this summer by subscribing. Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.

 

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Why Boredom Is Not an Option for Lake Oswego Kids This Summer

Posted on May 22, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

summer campsThere is no reason for kids to be bored in Lake Oswego this summer. Thanks to resources like the Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Department, Lakewood Center for the Arts, and the Play Boutique, they can become better athletes, more polished actors, inspired artists and chefs, and skilled adventurers.

If you haven’t had a chance to check these offerings out, let me give you a few of the highlights so you can get a taste of what’s in store for your kids’ “best summer ever!”

LAKEWOOD CENTER FOR THE ARTS will keep your resident thespians inspired with programs like the six one week Kids Create-Summer Stars sessions for ages 4 through 7 beginning July 11 and running through August 19 giving kids a chance to create their own show. Teens with theatrical aspirations can hone their craft in a Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Training Showcase for ages 14 through 19 that runs July 18-29. Auditions are required. And adults–there are offerings for you too from Playing With Shakespeare (July 11-August 29) to Acting for Non-Actors (July 14-September 1).  See the full schedule.

LAKE OSWEGO PARKS AND RECREATION. See the full schedule here.

  • KINDERCAMPS for ages 4 to 6 begin June 27 and run from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through August 19 with songs, games, stories, crafts and activities centered around themes like “Jurassic Journey” and “Secret Life of Pets.”
  • ART CAMPS for ages 5 to 15 include a focus on Creative Writing (for ages 10-15 the week of July 5) and Environmental Art (for ages 10-15 the week of August 8).
  • DANCE AND MUSIC CAMPS for 5 to 15 year olds promise to get the good vibrations going with offerings that feature Hip Hop, Dance and Cheer, Drumming Madness and Glee Week.
  • MAD SCIENCE for kids 5 to 12 should appeal to the “how do things work” thinker in the family who’d like to build robots in Radical Robotics, invent the next best thing in Creative Contraptions! The Inventor’s Camp, or figure out 101 things to build with LEGOs® in any of three different LEGO® camps.
  • TECH CAMPS for ages 6 to 17 feature two new themes: Music Video 101 and Movie Making 102 as well as returning favorites like Web Design and Video Game Design.
  • LAKE OSWEGO EXPLORERS for 7 to 12 year olds feature weekly themed camps that include two field trips and activities. Before and after care are available as well. All new themes include Minion Mayhem and May the Force Be With You with field trips to locations such as The Enchanted Forest, Pump It Up, OMSI and Ultrazone.
  • TEEN SERVICE CORPS provides volunteer opportunities for teenagers 13 to 17 years old. The three day commitment includes two days of service and one day of adventure. Teens can interact with seniors at the Cedar Sinai Park’s Robison Health Center followed by a day of zip lining, paintball and ropes course activities at Camp Dakota or help out at Luscher Farms before spending a day at Oaks Park.
  • LUSHER FARM provides the perfect venue for themed camps like Food Around the World for ages 5-12 the weeks of July 11 and August 8; Tractors, Trucks, and Trailers for ages 4-8 July 5-8, and Gardening and Fiber Arts for ages 7-12 from June 27 through July 1.
  • OUTDOOR CAMPS for 4 to 17 year olds are both on land and in the water with Survivor Camps for all ages as well as paddle and rowing camps.
  • SPORTS CAMPS for ages 7 to 14 get your kid ready for action whether it be tennis, lacrosse, fencing or golf.
  • SKYHAWKS SPORTS CAMPS for ages 31/2 to 12 cover all the basics including soccer, basketball, baseball, flag football and boys’ lacrosse. Register online through Skyhawks.

LAKE OSWEGO PLAY BOUTIQUE. One week camps are scheduled throughout the summer beginning May 27 through September 2 for kids, ages 1-8+ around themes such as Pizzeria School, Princess Power and Secret Agent Spy Lab. Half and full day options are available as well as sibling discounts. Register.

Summer is one of the busiest homebuying seasons. If that’s on your summer “To Do” list, give me a call at 503.939.9801. I’d love to put my 25+ years experience to work for you!

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Don’t Forget This Important First Step When Getting Ready to Sell Your Home

Posted on May 15, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

staging 2Listing a house with an agent isn’t’ the first step to selling your home. Getting it ready to market is. With the busiest home buying season upon us, it’s time to consider what you need to do to make your home open house ready.

Here are some tips.

  1. ASK: What Would You Do? It’s hard to be objective when looking at your own home so it might be easy to overlook the stack of bills piled up on the desk or the shoes lined up beside the front door. I tell my clients to consider this: “Pretend your son or daughter is getting married and the in-laws, who you haven’t met yet, are coming for dinner. What would you want your house to look like?” That can often provide a good starting point.
  1. Hire an agent who includes staging as part of his or her service. Sometimes agents have to show a little “tough love,” explaining that as much as you may love the “lived in” look, potential buyers prefer the “ready to move in” look. When needed, I provide a two hour consultation with a professional stager who will write up a list of recommendations to get your home ready to put on the market. In many cases she will work with what you have—moving furniture, relocating paintings—but more often than not, she’ll tell you what needs to go and what can stay.
  1. Consider the research. According to the National Association of Realtors® 2015 Profile of Home Staging, 49 percent of buyer’s agents believe that most buyers are influenced by home staging while over 65% of seller’s agents think that staging increases a home’s sales price by anywhere from 1 to 15 percent. The pecking order of rooms that warrant staging breaks down like this: living room, kitchen, master bedroom, dining room, bathroom, children’s room, guest room.
  1. Consider the numbers. The median cost to stage a home according to the National Association of Realtors® was $675 last year. But sometimes it takes more to make more. Last year I had an as-is listing which received an offer of $800,000 which the seller turned down. One year and $55,000 later in improvements, the home sold for $980,000. Some of that additional $125,000 (after expenses) in profit was due to appreciation, but I would say the bulk of it could be attributed to painting, refinishing floors, installing new carpet, updating appliances as well as kitchen and bathroom counters.
  1. Don’t forget the outside. In this day and age of the Internet, curb appeal still matters. My wife and I bought our first home as a fixer-upper with a yard so out of control that you couldn’t even see the house from the road. After spending the first weekend just pulling weeds and clearing out debris, someone knocked on our door asking us if we were interested in selling. Sweat equity paid off before we even touched the interior of our humble abode. While your yard most likely wouldn’t need this kind of extreme makeover, be sure to consider what these changes might do for a positive first impression—resurfacing a cracked driveway, painting the front door, arranging a colorful planter on the front porch, trimming overgrown trees.

Looking for more ideas? Sign up for Flipboard.com and then check out this magazine I put together on Staging Tips.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this summer, give me a call now so we can start the discussion on how to get your home “For Sale” ready. You can reach me at 503.939.9801 or check out my website.

 

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5 Reasons Why Lake Oswego’s Farmers Market Won People’s Choice Award for Best Metro-Area Market

Posted on May 8, 2016 by lovelakeoswego
Lakewood Bay from Millennium Plaza Park reduced

How many Farmers Markets can offer shoppers a view like this?

Continue reading →

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Discover Why the Lake Run Has Been Around for 40 Years

Posted on May 1, 2016 by lovelakeoswego
1996@ Brady riley casey dad on Lake Run

The Lake Run was a family affair for the Costello’s back in the day.

The Lake Oswego Women’s Club is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its annual Lake Run with this year’s event scheduled for Saturday, May 7. Participants can choose from a 10K, 5K run/walk, Kid’s dash and family fun festival. Here’s what some of last year’s finishers have to say about what makes the Lake Run the time-honored tradition it is around Lake Oswego.

blockquotes-1Running in Lake Oswego is beautiful and running around the lake is gorgeous. The start and ending are lots of fun–there are crowds of people cheering you on. One piece of advice–take your time on your way up the first hill, McVey, and save your energy as you will need it at the end. -Cameron Soderstrom, 10k

blockquotes-1It’s a great community event that kicks off the summer here in Lake Oswego. Now that I have kids, my kids are out there cheering me on and afterwards the oldest participates in the kiddie dash. -Todd DeCook, 10k

blockquotes-1The 5k is perfect for any type of runner, from casual to competitive. The scenic views of the lake and community feel are what makes it special, with people outside their homes cheering runners on in the neighborhoods and the finish line with all the spectators and vendors is a great way to celebrate. It’s a pretty flat course, with a few minor inclines, making it easy for most runners. –Casey Costello, 5k

blockquotes-1The course is a great one given the challenging terrain, and circling the lake is pretty unique in Oregon…if doing the 10k, get some hill work in! – Andy Ford, 10k

blockquotes-1I like the tradition. Our house has always been on the race route so I grew up watching runners go by every year. (I ran in the kid’s dash a few times growing up). That’s what motivated me to participate last year. The 10k course is very challenging. Going up the long McVey hill to South Shore right at the beginning is a tough test. I underestimated it last year and was hurting towards the end of the race. – Reed Oliver, 10k

blockquotes-1I ended up bumping into and running next to old friends which was a pleasant surprise. I appreciated the fact I was able to enjoy the scenery without the pressure of finishing or placing, while other runners had the option to run at a quicker pace and make it a competition. The course was mostly flat and not too challenging in my opinion, making it a great option for a beginner. – Gabbie Lindeman, 5k

If you haven’t already, register online and join the fun.

Lake Run this week…Farmer’s Market next…the summer lineup of things to do in Lake Oswego is gearing up so be sure to sign up for my blog so you don’t miss a thing. Just click the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.

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5 Things You Might Not Know When Looking to Buy a House in Lake Oswego

Posted on April 24, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

woman looking1. There is a lake here. If you lived in Westlake, commuted to Portland for work and shopped at New Seasons in Mountain Park, you wouldn’t have much reason to drive along the city streets that offer lake views. In fact, when I first started selling homes in Lake Oswego, I remember giving my “Chamber of Commerce” tour to potential new clients who were surprised when I stopped and showed them the lake. A previous Realtor had shown them some homes in Westlake but hadn’t bothered to orient them to the town, including our namesake. So yes, there is a body of water here that explains why we are called “Lake Oswego.”

2. You don’t have to live on the lake to enjoy it. There are many ways to take advantage of Oswego Lake besides living on it. While waterfront homes are some of the most expensive in town, other homes in areas with easement rights enable you to gain lake access at a much cheaper price point. There are 20 easements around the lake giving 3,000 non-waterfront homeowners the opportunity to enjoy the lake lifestyle. Of course easement rights do not always guarantee full access as each easement only has a limited number of boat slips. In most cases you can swim from the dock or launch a canoe or kayak but you’ll want to check with your Realtor to find out how long the waiting list is for a boat slip if this is an important consideration.

There are also two swim parks on the lake giving residents the opportunity to swim in the lake during the summer. The Lake Grove Swim Park at 3800 Lakeview Blvd. is limited to residents who live in what was the old Lake Grove School District boundary. Again, this is something an experienced Realtor should be able to help you determine. The Lake Oswego Swim Park at 250 Ridgeway Road is open to all residents of Lake Oswego.

In addition, there is lots of visual access to the lake with viewpoints from Millennium Plaza Park, Sundeleaf Plaza, the Headlee Trail, and spots along South Shore as well as North Shore Road.

3. The lake isn’t the only body of water in town. George Rogers Park at 611 State Street offers access to the Willamette River with a beach that’s a go-to spot for sunbathing, picnicking, bird watching and seeing how muddy your dog can get before piling him back up in your car. You can find a home with a river view, and in some cases, river access as well.

4. Convenience. There is a mantra in real estate: location, location, location. That is one of Lake Oswego’s selling points. As I mentioned in a previous post, it’s close to everything like 8 miles to Portland and 12.2 miles to the airport. But where you situate yourself in town will also make a difference in how easy it is for you to hop on the I-5 if you’re a commuter or get to 24 Hour Fitness or ClubSport, two nearby fitness clubs. So factor that in when shopping around for a place to live.

5. In School District Transfers Must Be Approved. Each school in the Lake Oswego School District, from elementary through high school, has an attendance area defined by the school board. Requests to transfer are approved on a space-available basis. In cases where a student is requesting to move from a school with a smaller attendance to a school with a larger attendance, both principals have to be on board that the case is justified and that the ability to educate the student properly will not be compromised. So be sure to check out what school boundaries at each level—elementary, junior high and high school–the home you are considering falls into. Then research those options because changing your mind down the road may be difficult to do.

When looking to buy a house in Lake Oswego, it helps to have all the advantages in your favor. Working with an experienced Realtor can ensure that there are no surprises waiting for you once you move in. I’ve been in the business for almost 30 years and was recently honored as one of only three Hasson agents who have made the company’s top 40 list for the past 27 years. Give me a call at 503.939.9801 or check my website. I’d love to show you around.

Photo Credit: stockphotos at freedigitalphotos.net

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Lakeridge Company Wants You to Feel Good Vibrations This Week

Posted on April 17, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

company picGet out your sunscreen. Lakeridge Company is inviting you to spend a sunny day at the beach during this year’s Variety Show, borrowing the theme from a Beach Boy hit, “Good Vibrations.” Besides casting a little sunshine in your day, here are a few other reasons you won’t want to miss this event.

●It’s called a variety show for a reason. The group numbers will run the gamut from Sly and the Family Stone’s “Dance to the Music” to James Taylor’s “That Lonesome Road,” not to mention the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations

●Crowd favorites are always a highlight. This year promises the same with the boys’ rendition of the “Soul Man” as they channel Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in the choreography expected to get the audience clapping.

●This is a team effort. While you’ll see the 28 students in Company on stage, there are around 15 in the stage band and close to a dozen in the tech crew who are just as important to how smoothly the show runs. Add in a couple hired professionals to help with sound and set construction and reams of parents who manage everything from costumes and publicity to concessions, tickets, and delivering well-wishes to the performers backstage from their fans in the audience.

●This much commitment deserves your attention. When our daughter was in Company, her days were filled with rehearsals and costume arranging leading up to the show. And this is on top of an already challenging schedule for most Junior and Senior high school students at Lakeridge. Many of the performers are also involved in baseball, lacrosse, track, MUN, Mock Trial, or dance team so are sometimes shuttling from one commitment to the next after school. But you can ask my daughter to this day and she’ll attest that once the curtain goes up, it’s all worth it.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21 through Saturday, April 23 with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday as well. Ticket prices are $12/Adults; $8/Students,Seniors, Children, and available online or at the door. 1235 Overlook Drive. 503.534.2319.

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Why Lake Oswegans Don’t Take Water for Granted

Posted on April 10, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

Why Lake Oswegans Don't Take Water for GrantedComing out of (I hope) one of the wettest winters in Lake Oswego I can recall, it’s easy to see how Lake Oswegans might take water for granted. But WaterAfrica is doing its best to make sure we don’t.

Founded in 2006 by Lake Oswego resident Bill Savage, WaterAfrica’s mission is to raise awareness and funds to provide water, sanitation and hygiene resources to rural Zambians. Towards that effort, the organization is hosting is ninth Walk4Water Saturday, April 23, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Foothills Park. Last year more than 300 walkers simulated the experience of villagers in Zambia, by carrying their buckets to a water source, filling them with water and returning to their starting point. They managed to help raise over $70,000.

Here are some of the statistics that compelled those volunteers to participate in this life-changing event.

●1 in 10 people in the world lack access to safe water. In Zambia, conditions are worse, with almost 2 out of every 3 people lacking this resource.

●1 in 3 people lack access to toilets; nearly half of all Zambians have no toilet to use.

●Women and children spend 125 million hours per day collecting water, preventing them from doing other things like going to school or holding a job.

●Every 90 seconds a child dies from water-related diseases.

Efforts such as those by WaterAfrica are making a difference. The World Health Organization reports that 2.6 billion people have gained access to safe water since 1990. And fewer than 1,000 children under the age of 5 die each day from diarrhea caused by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene, compared to over 2,000 15 years ago.

Progress is a relative term when there is still so much more to be done. If these statistics speak to you, register now for Walk4Water9.

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Lake Oswego. Subscribe to my blog by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.

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Why Traveling Through Time Has Never Sounded So Good as This Week With the Lake Oswego Windjammers

Posted on April 3, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

Windjammer-logo-12jan-page0001 reduced(2)This week the Lake Oswego Windjammers stage their annual variety show with 7:00 p.m. performances on Thursday, April 7 through Saturday, April 9 in the high school auditorium at 2501 Country Club Road. After hearing from Choir Director Morgan Perdue, I have to say you are in for a treat. Here’s why.

1. More rehearsal time means more fine-tuning. This year’s show is being held two months later than usual. That extra time has given the students the opportunity to get creative and step up their performances under much less stressful circumstances. More time is a win/win for both the performers as well as the audience.
2. This year’s theme lends itself to quite a variety. Inspired by the Pentatonix’s “Evolution of Music,” this year’s Windjammers will be taking on songs from Medieval chants to the latest pop hits as they sing us through a musical timeline. Highlights include The Pentatonix’s hit, Handel’s “Halleluja Chorus,” Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” and Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.”
3. Have challenges…will meet. By tackling music from many genres and time periods through both small and large group numbers, the students have proven they are ready, willing, and able to step up to a vocal challenge.
4. Students will be leaving their mark. Windjammers are taking well-known songs like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” and giving them their own unique twist. Classics become new again and two beatboxers are sure to stand out as well as the LOHS Jazz Band.
5. The younger set promise to deliver an epic performance. This year the Junior Windjammers (grades K-5) will perform “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” on Saturday evening’s show. This is always a crowd pleaser and a wonderful way to show how our high school students are passing on their love of music.

Tickets are $10/Adults, $8/Seniors, students, children. Purchase them online.

And mark your calendars so you don’t miss the Lakeridge Company Variety Show April 22-23. Watch for more information.

Don’t miss one reason to Love Lake Oswego. Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column to receive weekly updates.

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Celebrate Trees and Shakespeare This April in Lake Oswego, Oregon

Posted on March 27, 2016 by lovelakeoswego

April treesThe City of Lake Oswego celebrates two things in April: trees in honor of Arbor Week, and Shakespeare in honor of the 400th anniversary of his death. Methinks the Bard would deem it well and good because you know what he said, “A tree by any other name would look as grand.”

ARBOR WEEK
●Heritage Tree Bike Ride. Kick things off with a 14-mile bike tour of some of Lake Oswego’s 35 Heritage Trees. These trees hold a special place in our city’s history and character due to their age, size, species, and horticultural quality. A bike mechanic from Lakeside Bicycles will accompany participants on the route to handle any mechanical difficulties. Bring a waiver/release form with you.  Sunday, April 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Leave from lower Millennium Plaza Park at 11:00 a.m.

●Arbor Week Festival. It’s a tree-extravaganza with live music, tree climbing demonstrations, kid crafts and more. Get expert advice from certified arborists on-hand and learn how you can do your part to enhance and protect our urban forest. Sunday, April 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Millennium Plaza Park, First and Evergreen.

●Heritage Tree Celebration. Get a good dose of history behind some of the people and some of the trees that made Lake Oswego the beautiful spot that it is. See the only madrone currently designated as a Heritage Tree in town. Tuesday, April 5 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Oswego Pioneer Cemetery, 17401 Stafford Road.

●Barnyard Tales and Heritage Tree Walk. Luscher Farm is the perfect setting for an Arbor Day celebration for the little ones, ages 3-8, accompanied by their parents. Event includes storytime and a visit to the Heritage Trees located on the premises. Thursday, April 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Luscher Farm, 125 Rosemont Road. The event is free but due to limited space, you are asked to secure a spot by registering online for activity #12901.

●Make Your Own Paper. Kids in grades 5-12 will learn through doing by making recycled paper. This hands-on activity will help them understand how recycling paper saves trees, water and energy. And, at the end of the day, they have something beautiful to show for it. Thursday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. at the Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street.

●Preschool Walk in Springbrook Park. Educator Sue Thomas will unlock the mysteries of trees and the things that live in them during the first of four preschool walks in April in Springbrook Park. Geared to children ages, 2-6, but all are welcome. A bucket of “discovery supplies” will be available to the children to help them in their investigative walk. Bring a snack. Friday, April 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Springbrook Park entrance at Uplands Elementary, 2055 Wembley Park Road.

●Tree and Native Planting Event. Here’s an opportunity to give back for all the beauty that trees lend our community. Help to revamp Campbell Native Gardens with new plantings, including a tree. Susanna Kuo, Mr. Campbell’s daughter, will give a history of this Oswego heritage family as well as of Iron Mountain Park. Boots and glove recommended. Saturday, April 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Campbell Native Gardens, 2750 Iron Mountain Boulevard (across from the Lake Oswego Hunt).

Ongoing activities.
●The Lake Oswego Library will be featuring tree-themed books for checkout all week.
●The City of Lake Oswego is hosting a tree-themed poetry contest for 1st through 12th grade Lake Oswego students. Maximum length is 14 lines. Deadline is April 29. Check here for more details or call 503-635-0290.

ShakespeareSHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL MONTH. All events will be held at the Lake Oswego Public Library, 706 Fourth Street. For more information, check online or call 503. 636.7628.

●A Midsommer Night’s Dreame. Experience Shakespeare like the Elizabethans did as the Original Practice Shakespeare Festival stages A Midsommer Night’s Dreame with limited rehearsal, minimal sets, audience interaction, energetic acting and an onstage prompter. Thursday, April 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

●Music of the Renaissance. Let sound transport you back to Shakespeare’s time as Gayle and Phil Neuman combine period music with commentary. These musicians, instructors and instrument builders specialize in the performance of historical music so you are in good hands. Tuesday, April 12 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

●Poetry Readers and Writers Celebrate Shakespeare. There’s a reason so many consider him the Master of the English language. Bring your favorite Shakespeare poem to share or just come and listen and see if you agree. Wednesday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.

●400 Years in Shakespeare’s Kitchen. Let Keri Sanburn Behre, Assistant Professor of English at Marylhurst University, introduce you to the foods Elizabethans enjoyed as well as the ones they thought were healthy and dangerous for you. Enjoy 17th century snacks and take recipes home with you. Saturday, April 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

●Monsters and Maniacs of Shakespeare. Rickie Birran is on a mission—to illustrate the power of great literature and he does that through his one man theater company—Man of Words. Hear Shakespeare come alive through a masterful presentation by Birran as he reads from both the Bard as well as a collection of short stories he has written. Tuesday, April 26 from  7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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