Historic coastal botanical garden sparkles during Holiday Lights near Charleston, Oregon

Featured image: The Garden House decorated in lights for the holidays at Shore Acres State Park south of Charleston, Oregon Photos by Cheryl Landes Updated April 14, 2020 When darkness falls on Shore Acres State Park from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve, the botanical garden bustles. A gray whale surfaces and spouts water from its … Continue reading Historic coastal botanical garden sparkles during Holiday Lights near Charleston, Oregon

Light saber battles help victims and families of the Ghost Ship fire

Grab those light sabers and prepare for war this weekend! The 2016 Glow Battle Tour comes to four cities on the West Coast, where thousands will gather with sabers in hand to battle the forces of good and evil. Proceeds will help victims and families of the tragic Ghost Ship warehouse fire December 2 in … Continue reading Light saber battles help victims and families of the Ghost Ship fire

Christmas ships return to the Columbia and Willamette Rivers for nightly parades

Featured image: The lead ship in the Christmas Ship Parade on the Columbia River, December 6, 2016 (photo by Cheryl Landes) In 1954, a lone ship from the Portland Yacht Club began the city’s Christmas Ship Parade tradition by cruising the Columbia and Willamette Rivers with green bows tied to its rails. The next year, … Continue reading Christmas ships return to the Columbia and Willamette Rivers for nightly parades

Explore the delicious science of gingerbread house construction at OMSI

Featured image: The yetis' Mars Bar, part of the "Portland Outpost Mars" gingerbread masterpiece by MWA Architects and The Dessert Tray at a previous Gingerbread Adventures event at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, Oregon (photo by Cheryl Landes) Updated November 29, 2018. All photos are from a previous Gingerbread Adventures exhibit. … Continue reading Explore the delicious science of gingerbread house construction at OMSI

Star Trek exhibit boldly explores a half century of final frontier adventures

Featured image: The bridge of the original USS Enterprise on display at the Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds exhibit (photo by Cheryl Landes) When Star Trek first aired on NBC in 1966, it received moderate ratings. Over the years, its message of hope for a better world free of war, racism, and politics attracted a … Continue reading Star Trek exhibit boldly explores a half century of final frontier adventures

The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights a retreat from the holiday grind

Colorful Christmas Festival of Lights at the Chapel of Mary at The Grotto in Portland, Oregon Photos by Cheryl Landes Updated August 10, 2020 Anyone driving on Sandy Boulevard near busy Interstate 205 in Portland can easily miss a beautiful oasis hidden in the woods. This is The Grotto, a 62-acre shrine and botanical garden … Continue reading The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights a retreat from the holiday grind

Hundreds of tubas play holiday favorites today in Portland

I don’t have much information about this one, because I just heard about it from one of my photography groups. Today is the annual Tuba Christmas Concert at Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Avenue, in downtown Portland. Hear more than 250 tuba musicians playing holiday favorites in unison from 1:30-3 p.m. The concert is … Continue reading Hundreds of tubas play holiday favorites today in Portland

Wander lighted lantern trail, hear holiday music at Green Lake’s Pathway of Lights

Green Lake is a beautiful retreat any time of year, but the Pathway of Lights add extra touches. On the second Saturday in December, lighted lanterns line both sides of the 2.8-mile paved trail around the lake north of downtown Seattle. Take a leisurely walk among the lights while listening to carolers and bands from … Continue reading Wander lighted lantern trail, hear holiday music at Green Lake’s Pathway of Lights