Blog, Oregon, Tigard, Tualatin

Bridgeport Village & Portland Bride and Groom will present a Very Engaging Bridal Event on Sunday, September 30th, and you are invited!

Know someone who is planning a wedding?  Brides-to-be can find all of their wedding needs in one place from 11:00am-4:00pm. More than 20 Bridgeport retailers and 60 wedding professionals will be on hand to help you plan every detail of your big day and admission is free!

Very Engaging Bridal Event
11am-4pm Sunday, September 30, 2012
Bridgeport Village 7455 SW Bridgeport Rd. Tigard, OR 97224
Admission is free
Click here for more details.

Portland Monthly’s Bride & Groom is a consumer-focused, bridal fashion magazine. Each issue contains columns, advice, tips, fashion photography, photographs of real weddings, style—all designed to help the future bride-to-be design the wedding of her dreams.

Bridgeport Village is the Pacific Northwest’s preeminent fashion and lifestyle shopping center. Consisting of 500,000 sq.ft., the center offers an outstanding and enviable array of the regions first and exclusive one of a kind and internationally renowned stores and boutiques including Cole Haan, The Container Store, Crate & Barrel, Z-Gallerie, Eileen Fisher, Patrick James, MAC Cosmetics, Tommy Bahama, Under U 4 Men along with the first Coldwater Creek Spa and the largest Regal Cinema in the state — now with an IMAX Theater.

Visit www.bridgeport-village.com to see a complete list of Center Events and a current list of Store Promotions and Sales

photo credit: D.Clow – Maryland via photo pin cc

Photo: Bridgeport Village

Fall is just around the corner and this is the perfect time to indulge in some tax free shopping and a bit of “me” time as you relax in your hotel room.  While you are on your visit, we suggest that you be on the look out for some of these fun local events recommended by our staff:

Ongoing: Events, concerts and tastings at wineries throughout the region.  See northwillamettevintners.org for details.

September Event Staff Picks

• Music Fest NW in Portland September  5-9
• Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival September 8
• Bridgeport Village Girls’ Night Out September 13 
• Tualatin Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration September 15 
• Very Engaging Bridal Event at Bridgeport Village Sunday, September 30th 

October Event Staff Picks:

• North Willamette Harvest Trail and Grand Tasting October 06 
• The 26th Annual Great Onion Festival Saturday, October 13
• Smith Berry Barn Heirloom Apple Festival October 13-14
• Oregon Heritage Farms Apple Festival October 14
• 9th Annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta Sat, Oct 20th

More Portland Events:

• Art in the Pearl – Labor Day weekend
• Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival – September 6-16
• Feast Portland  September 21-22
• Portland Fashion Week October 5-9
• Portland Open Studios October 13-14, 20-21
• Wordstock October 11-14 (Portland’s literary festival)

For more info, go to www.travelportland.com

De La Warr will be one of the featured bands at the Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival

The Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival is happening on Saturday, September 8 at Tualatin Community Park.

This family friendly event supports Grow Tualatin and is organized by the Tualatin Riverkeepers, an amazing group of volunteers that protect and restore Oregon’s Tualatin River system.

The Riverfront Music Festival will feature music from Rust, De La Warr & special guests. There will also be food and drink and more fun for the whole family. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the gate.

Organizers are seeking event volunteers to help with set-up, take-down, registration, security, and more. In return, you get to enjoy the Music Festival for free on September 8. For more information on volunteering, visit or email www.tualatinriverkeepers.org  monica@tualatinriverkeepers.org.

Tualatin Riverkeepers (TRK) is a community-based organization working to protect and restore Oregon’s Tualatin River system. TRK builds watershed stewardship through education, public access to nature, restoration and advocacy.

Labor Day weekend is just weeks away and another summer is coming to a close. Before you put away that suitcase, there is time to book one last getaway before the summer ends.

Here are some fun local events to check out:

• Final concert of the 2012 Summer Concert Series 6:30-8:30pm in Bridgeport Village Center Court Thursday, August 30 featuring the The Beatniks (free)
• Final concert of the 2012 Tualatin Concerts on the Commons Friday, August 31 6:30-8:30 PM featuring Lino (Classical/ New Age Guitar). Concerts are held on the plaza near the lake at Tualatin Commons. (free)
• 16th annual Art In The Pearl Fine Arts & Crafts Festival in Portland
• This event features hundreds of talented artists and is considered to be one of the top crafts festivals in the country.  Northwest Portland Park neighborhoods are filled with art, theater, music, and hands-on activities for people of all ages.
• Shopping: Labor Day Sales at Bridgeport Village

Labor Day weekend is also a terrific time to explore Willamette Valley’s Wineries.  Many of them host open house events and invite guests to come in for tastings, tours and more. You can also create your own wine tour and drive the Vineyard and Valley Tour Route (please drive responsibly):

• Anam Cara Cellars with the Chehalem Mountains Winegrowers Labor Day Weekend Annual Open House Walk through the vines, taste the grapes from individual blocks along with barrel samples of the wines before blending. We’ll also have current releases and an informal “picnic.” Friendly dogs are very welcome. Tastings just $10 which includes food and great company! Location: Nicholas Vineyard, 22222 SW Nicholas View Drive,97140,Sherwood
• Labor Day Open House at Arborbrook Vineyards 17770 NE Calkins Lane Newberg, OR 97132 Bid adieu to summer at the annual Labor Day Open House Sep 1st 2012 to Sep 3rd 2012
• Labor Day Weekend Open House at Archery Summit 18599 NE Archery Summit Road Dayton, OR 97114 Come out for a wonderful afternoon of Pinot Noir tasting tours and more. Sep 1st 2012 to Sep 3rd 2012

Source: www.chehalemmountains.org

Kick it up a notch and reserve one of our packages that combine our luxurious guest rooms and suites with some of the best that the Bridgeport, Tigard and Tualatin areas have to offer. We currently offer the following packages.  Visit grandhotelbridgeport.com for details:
“It’s Tee Time” Golf Package
Romance Package
Wine Tour Package
Bridgeport Shopping Package
Up, Up, and Away!
Lights, Camera, Action

photo credit: labicicletaverde via photo pin cc

Credit: Langdon Farms Golf Club

It is a fact that Oregon is home to some of the best golf courses in the country.  Why is golf so popular in Oregon?  Maybe it is our temperate climate, or natural beauty and wide-open spaces.

Many of our guests enjoy a good game of golf at our local courses, so we have  partnered with Langdon Farms Golf Club to give you some of the best deals possible!

Langdon Farms Golf Club  is ranked among the top courses in the state of Oregon and is a local favorite in our region.   The course was rated four out of five stars by Golf Digest’s Best Places To Play for 2010 and ranks as the “#1 Course In Oregon To Host Tournaments and Corporate Events” course  in Oregon. To learn more visit them at www.langdonfarms.com.

Call the front desk at 866-968-5757 to schedule your tee time today! Click here to book this package online.

Photo Credit: Oregon International Air Show

Need some tips on what to do during your next trip to the Portland area? Late summer fun and festivals are abundant throughout the region. Whether you enjoy a round of golf, shopping, wine tasking, bicycling, family friendly activities, dining or going to fairs and festivals, there is something for all visitors to enjoy.

Our front desk staff will be happy to give you recommendations or follow our Facebook updates; and you can also check the following resources to plan your getaway.

Washington County Visitors Association
Travel Oregon
Travel Portland 
Visit Downtown Portland 
Oregon Festival and Events Association 
Bridgeport Village

Here is a round up of some local events that we recommend checking out this month:

Bridgeport Village Summer Concert Series- Each Thursday evening through August.

2012 Oregon International Air Show August 3-5 at the Hillsboro Airport
Family friendly event features the best of the best: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, U.S. Marine Corp. Harrier Demo Team, Oregon Air National Guard F-15 fly-by, Air Force C-17 fly-by, B17 – Sentimental Journey and more.

The 2012 Tualatin Crawfish Festival August 10-11, Tualatin, OR
This annual festival features a fun parade and offers a wide variety of food, entertainment and activities. The event kicks off Friday evening near the lake at Tualatin Commons and continues on Saturday at Tualatin Community Park.

The 15th Annual North Plains Elephant Garlic Festival August 10 – 12, 2012 Jessie Mays Community Center
“Where Fun Stinks”- The festival features entertainment of all kinds–from the kid’s stage, jammin’ blues, and blues grass, an arts and crafts mall, games a parade, a Smelly King and Queen and a beer and wine garden.

67th Annual Banks BBQ & Tractor Pull August 17-19, 2012 Banks Sunset Park
The annual Banks BBQ features truck and tractor pulls and the combine demolition derby. Banks Sunset Park is a 25 acre park featuring four baseball fields, children’s play equipment, picnic areas and Schlegel Hall which can be rented for various events.

Forest Grove Uncorked August 18, 2012 6-8pm Forest Grove, OR
Celebrate in the streets of Forest Grove for the downtown annual “Uncorked” event. This event features Oregon’s abundance of fine wineries, micro-brew beer, skillfully crafted food, fine arts, and local music talent.

Credit: Forest Grove Uncorked

Bridgeport Village is bringing the music back in their annual free Summer Concert Series every Thursday in July and August.  Bridgeport Village, (walking distance to our hotel) is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier fashion and lifestyle shopping centers featuring entertainment, delectable restaurants and popular retail stores.

Photo Credit: Bridgeport Village

The concert series kicked off this week with over 3000 in attendance to hear Hit Explosion perform. Here are the details for the rest of the 2012 series:

Bridgeport Village Summer Concert Series
Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm in Center Court

July 19 Radical Revolution
July 26 Petty Fever
Aug 2 Quarterflash
Aug 9 Apple Jam
Aug 16 Stone In Love
Aug 23 Cool-Ade
Aug 30 The Beatniks

Want more music? Local concert series include:

• Beaverton Last Tuesday Concert Series
• Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Concerts in the Park
• Toast to the Tunes: Every other Thursday in Hillsboro
• Neighbors Night Every Friday at Cooper Mountain Vineyards in Beaverton

And movie buffs will love watching free outdoor films Saturday nights during July and August at Tualatin’s Movies on the Commons at sunset (around 9:00pm). The Tualatin Commons is located 8325 SW Nyberg St.

Visit  blog.visitwashingtoncountyoregon.com to learn more details about local concerts and events this summer.

Photo credit @ Washington County Fair

Visting Washington County in July? You are in luck! Summer is a wonderful time to visit our region, whether you plan to go shopping, wine tasting, or want enjoy the great outdoors, there is something for everyone.

Bridgeport Village (walking distance from our hotel) will launch a number of activities for the whole family this month including their very popular Summer Concert Series which kicks off July 12 . Vist their Event Center Calendar to learn more.

Here are some other upcoming local events and festivals we found on Washington County Visitors Association:

Oregon Lavender Festival (July 14-15, 2012)
Multiple locations throughout Washington County and neighboring counties. Explore six lavender farms in Washington County as part of this annual Festival: Helvetia Lavender Farm, Jackson School Lavender, Mountainside Lavender, and Seasonal Mary Herb and Flower Farm. Each location will feature specials and events, including u-pick lavender, food infused with lavender, and lavender plants for sale. Admission to the farms is free.

Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance (July 15, 2012)
Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR
Celebrate the Mercedes-Benz at this year’s annual Concours d’Elegance. The show features more than 300 antique and special-interest cars, as well as live music and food booths. Ticket prices range from $5 (youth) – $17 (adults).

Sherwood Robin Hood Festival (July 20-21, 2012)
Old Town, Sherwood, OR
Sherwood continues its signature festival, which celebrates Robin Hood, his Merry Men and Maid Marian. Enjoy Renaissance reenactments, an archery contest, a parade, sword fighting, medieval kids’ area, live music, a beer garden and more. Admission to the festival is free.

Washington County Fair (July 26-29, 2012)
Fair Complex, Hillsboro, OR
This annual county fair includes carnival rides, food, booths, and activities for kids. This year’s fair features shows, such as a truck and tractor pull, draft horse show and monster truck show, as well as a headline performance from Miranda Cosgrove, star of Nickelodeon’s hit series, iCarly, Friday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the fair is free; some events and shows may require separate, paid ticket; tickets to headline act are $20-25.

The Main Course (July 28, 2012)
Main Street, Forest Grove, OR
This unique event showcases local food and wine with an outdoor dinner held on Main Street. Local wineries offer tastings and pairings to top off the fine dining. Participants can choose from a wine and appetizer option or the wine tasting and full dinner. Ticket prices range from $30-80.

@ Portland Rose Festival

Now that the warm weather is finally here, it is time to get out and take in the great outdoors. If hiking or biking isn’t your thing, not to worry. “Festival Going” is a sport too! Visit our post Washington County Oregon Summer Event Highlights to see a list of the top events this summer in Washington Country and Bridgeport Village.

Featured Event: Festival of Balloons in Tigard (June 22-24, 2012)

Cook Park (Tigard, Oregon)
The annual Festival of Balloons in Tigard is a summer tradition. Dozens of balloons take flight in the early morning skies, while several events and activities provide fun for the entire family. Carnival rides, helicopter scenic tours, car show and beer garden are among the festivities planned. Admission, $5-7 for a three-day pass; children ages 6 and under are free; parking is $5.

Featured Festivals in Portland

Portland, Oregon hosts some of the best festivals in the country, and there is no shortage of them in the summer months. As you plan your trip this way, considering heading into town and checking out a few on your own! Here are a just a few of our favorites from the list of annual festivals compiled by www.travelportland.com. Visit their site to see the full listing, including festivals in the Fall, Winter and Spring months.

*Hot Travel Tip*- June is Dining Month in Portland! Enjoy special three-course, prix-fixe dinners at participating restaurants through June 30. Visit www.opentable.com to learn more and to make your reservations.

Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts – June-August
Every summer, fans of folk, rock, world music and more stake out spots on the zoo’s amphitheater lawn, and enjoy performances from some of the hottest, most diverse acts performing today.

Portland Rose Festival – June
The Portland Rose Festival, which celebrated its centennial in 2007, offers three weeks of family events. Highlights include the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade, the Starlight Parade, a waterfront carnival for families, dragon boat races, concerts and fireworks.

Waterfront Blues Festival – July
The largest blues festival west of the Mississippi River takes place each year during Independence Day week. Portland’s Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park sets the stage with top national acts performing over five days. Large fireworks display on July 4.

The Bite of Oregon – August
Benefitting Special Olympics Oregon, The Bite is one of the “Rose City’s” most popular festivals. Sample food created by local chefs and taste regional wines at the Oregon Wine Garden. Live music by national and local bands, chef demonstrations and family entertainment.

Source: www.travelportland.com