Take a stroll of the whimsical solar system in the Mississippi neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It's a collaboration of visual artist Mike Bennett, who's known for painting cute cartoon plywood characters and hiding them in random places in Portland, and Bill Kelly, a Grammy-nominated family entertainer. The exhibit features 13 of Bennett's large cartoon renderings … Continue reading Stroll the Planetary Promenade in Portland and online
Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay One of my traditions during the holidays is to catch a performance of the Commonwealth Ballet's version of The Nutcracker during my trips to New England. With large gatherings restricted this year due to COVID-19, the Commonwealth Ballet could not hold live performances this year, so they created a … Continue reading Stream the Commonwealth Ballet’s “The Nutcracker en Masque” for free through January 31
The World's Largest Egg in Winlock, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) In the small town of Winlock, south of Olympia, Washington, a giant egg rests on a pedestal on a 10-foot-tall blue metal pole in the middle of Vern Zander Memorial Park at the corner of Old Highway 603 and Fir Street. The 12-foot-long, 1,200-pound … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Does the world’s largest egg reside in Winlock, Washington?
Mount Rainier, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) The sledding runs, known as the Snowplay Area, opened at Mount Rainier National Park on January 10 for the season. The Snowplay Area is the only designated sledding area and the safest place to go sledding at Mount Rainier National Park. The area is suitable for children, and … Continue reading Sledding area open at Mount Rainier
The Under the Radar Festival in New York City has grown into a popular platform for new theater during the past 17 years. It supports artists from diverse backgrounds who are redefining the art of theater and is often a launching pad for their careers. This year's festival moved online due to the COVID pandemic. … Continue reading Stream 2021 Under the Radar Festival for free
Piper's Creek at Carkeek Park in Seattle Photos by Cheryl Landes From November through January, the salmon return to Carkeek Park in northwest Seattle after a long journey at sea. The journey marks the end of their life cycle and the start of a new one as they lay eggs in the creek. By the … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Salmon spawning season at Carkeek Park in Seattle
A view from the Sediment Retention Structure at Mount St. Helens Photos by Cheryl Landes On May 18, 1980, when Mount St. Helens erupted, the blast deposited more than three billion cubic yards of sediment into the Toutle River Basin, covering 32 miles with an average depth of 150 feet. Mudflows filled the Cowlitz River … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: The Sediment Retention Structure at Mount St. Helens
Photos by Cheryl Landes May 20, 2020 marked the fortieth anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. I lived in Northeastern Oregon when the volcano erupted and still remember the experience like it was yesterday. The town of La Grande, where I lived, was on the southern fringe of the ash path. Our usual … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A trip to Mount St. Helens, 40 years post-eruption
Mount Hood in the Oregon Cascades (photo by Cheryl Landes) Mount Hood Meadows and Timberline Ski Area, east of Portland, Oregon, are closed Tuesday, January 12, due to heavy rain and wind. Both ski areas plan to reopen on January 13, weather conditions permitting. Check for updates at these websites:skihood.comtimberlinelodge.com
Photos by Cheryl Landes The 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum is a beautiful place to walk any time of year. Wander trails through forests, marshes, a Japanese garden, rhododendron glen, azalea collection, and winter garden. Look for birds and other wildlife in the trees, shrubs, and along the shoreline, and in the water. Every season brings … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A fall stroll in the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle
