Biking Is For Everyone!

It seems that all these Portlanders commuting on their bicycles everyday is it's own advertisement. Many people who would have never, ever dreamed of leaving their car at home are now getting exercise and saving money. After all we are one of the most bike friendly cities in the country, why not try it out?

Last year volunteers counted over 12,000 daily bike trips across the Hawthorne, Broadway, Steel and Burnside bridges. That is 8 percent more than 2005 so now bicycles are accounting for 1 out of every 10 vehicles on these bridges.

The popularity is growing by leaps and bounds. While many still ride just for recreation, it's becoming increasingly more common to run errands or commute to work on a bike.

Because of this trend of fun AND functionality the bicycle of choice is more often the hybrid. The hybrid bike is a blend of mountain bike and racing bike. This way they are adaptable to both bike paths and the street.

The stars have aligned to make bicycling so big. The cities efforts to increase the bike lane and path networks have played a major role. Long time riders are encouraging friends, family and neighbors to try it out, perhaps because of the obesity crisis. Major bicycle brands are now coming out with hybrid bikes, recognizing the trend of recreation AND functionality the average rider wants. Lastly, gas prices are still crazy and with our city set up with an alternative, not to mention bike prices decreasing, it's hard to complain when there is something you can do.

The Oregonian, Tuesday, August 21, 2007, Living pg B1 & B5

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Tigard Plaza

Tigard voters approved a Downtown Improvement Plan in May 2005 which includes improvements to Fanno Creek Park and a plaza for Tigard residents to call their own. The city council will soon be getting together to decide on a location for the new plaza. The possible locations include the carwash on Main Street directly across from Burnham Road, the Dolan property between Stevens Marine and the Tigard Liquor Store on Main Street, the liquor-store site on the southwest corner of Main Street and Burnham Road and the most likely choice which is the Stevens Marine property on Burnham Road. The council is leaning toward this last location because the opportunity for development nearby is greater. The adjacent areas could hold condominiums and shops.

The idea is for Tigard to have a visible, central location that all can go to. It will include an amphitheater, fountain, a public gathering spot and a farmers market. It is just in the idea stage right now so breaking-ground won't be for 2-5 years.

The Oregonian, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 pgE3

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Washington County Commuter Rail

TIGARD is getting a Washington County commuter rail which seems great for those who’d like to leave the SUV at home but for those who already live and work on the streets that it could possibly show up, it can mean a permanent commute out of Tigard.

One of the proposed stops on this line is 74^th/Bonita but because there is a train crossing near there already they are thinking banning left turns on Bonita, by way of a median to avoid traffic back-ups on the train tracks. The problem is that there are many long-standing, small businesses on these streets that would be negatively impacted by limiting the access to their buildings. Some of these businesses have large trucks that have to do regular deliveries, often during rush hour. The other street option is Durham and if you haven’t see Durham during rush hour, check it out and you’ll see why that is not an attractive option.

Some of the businesses are saying that they have paid thousands in traffic impact fees that could easily be put toward a light at the 74^th/Bonita intersection. The tempers certainly were not dampened by the fact that no one from ODOT showed up to the meeting to discuss possibilities.

Tigard City Engineer Gus Duenas suggested that the 74th property owners could form a local improvement district to pay for the signal. Some feel this would be unfair simply because the local business owners weren’t even asked if they would like to have a commuter train there. It’s is hard to feel that your voice is being heard when these issues aren’t even brought up till the very last minute, the line is scheduled to start running in a little more than a year.

Worse case scenario local businesses get driven out of Tigard, then where would these commuter trains be going?

http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=118722958772203800

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Wine For The Rest Of Us

For the first time in Oregon’s history, the amount of wine consumption is actually comparable to beer consumption. The wine industry in Oregon is growing in a big way and a lot of that has to do with getting the attention of the younger generation. It is certainly about time with all the great wines we have locally.

To help facilitate this new trend are a couple of national wine store franchises called WineStyles and Vino 100 going up in places like Beaverton and Hillsboro. Now even the casual drinker is wanting a little education and these stores are helping disperse the snobbishness that previously kept people away. They do this by streamlining the process of choosing a bottle of wine. If you group your wines by flavor description instead of region then the less educated buyer will actually have an idea of what they are looking for. Also, most bottles are priced lower for more accessibility.

The interior of the stores are fun and inviting and filled with comfortable stools and chairs. They don’t want you to just stop in, the idea is for you to stay for a tasting or a live band performance.

With all the new construction going up in Hillsboro and Beaverton there will be plenty of locals to lure.

http://www.examiner.com/a-877354~Wine_franchises_demystify_wine_drinking_and_buying.html

http://www.vino100portland.com/

http://www.winestyles.net/linkframe.asp?wt=+&l=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewinestyles%2Enet%2Fbeaverton

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Home Prices Dropping Nationally

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Schiller, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, had a press release and it doesn't look good. The annual growth rate in prices of single-family homes has been declining since December of 2005. There seems to be no indication of slowdown or turnaround and the U.S. hasn't seen levels this low since 1991.

On a positive note, of the 20 markets included 8 of them showed monthly positive growth. That is huge when you compare it to winter and early spring where there was only one or two showing positive growth. The really good news is that Portland is one of the markets still showing growth. So while the whole country is in decline and people are complaining about the housing market remember, we don't have it nearly as bad as we could!

http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/index/CSHomePrice_Release_May1235.pdf

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Why Visit Portland?

PORTLAND, Oregon (CNN) -- is known for it's gray, bleak weather that spans the whole of winter. You might be surprised to find that even in the drizzle, according to CNN, Portland is a great place to visit. Of course the sun does come out on occasion and that just gives you even more options for things to do. In fact, from the 4th of July through Halloween you can almost count on it.

What is nice about being a tourist in Portland is the transit system. A visitor can easily and reliably get around to all the hot spots on their list. http://trimet.org/ Places like downtown Pioneer Square for an outdoor movie.

If your intent is to stray from the typical there are certainly some hotel options for you. The Ace Hotel which originates in Seattle, Washington takes up a city block near the swanky Pearl District and has a deferent decor in each room. (http://www.acehotel.com/portland/ 1022 SW Stark Street)

One way the locals enjoy the rain is to stroll over to their hundreds coffee shop, without an umbrella. A Portland favorite is Stumptown Coffee. (http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/) They have five locations and are known for their commitment to quality and the earth. Also they feature a local artist each month, a different one for each location, on the walls for their shops which are available for purchase.

Many say you haven't been to Portland till you've been to Voodoo Doughnut. (http://voodoodoughnut.com/ 22 SW 3rd Ave) The most unusual menu you have ever seen including a maple bar with bacon, which are available when you get done at one of the downtown nightclubs. Yes, this is a late-night doughnut shop which used to open around 8pm but now is open nearly all the time. And for just $175 you can get married there, that will make your day in Portland complete.

The next morning you will want to check out Mother's Bistro for breakfast. (http://www.mothersbistro.com/ 212 SW Stark Street). This is some wonderful comfort food with a dab of gourmet. Think Pork Apple Sausage and Cheddar scramble, Crunchy French Toast with Cornflakes and the Mother's Macaroni and Cheese Du Jour is always a good choice if you are there after 11:30am. It also has a wonderful bar and dinner menu so don't be afraid to check it out in the evening as well, but reservations are recommended on the weekends.

Another rainy day? Our most famous bookstore is Powell's Books. (http://www.powells.com/ 1005 W. Burnside Street) The main location, out of five, taking up an entire city block, it is very difficult to find something they don't carry.

To get the whole experience you need to check out a local band. Try Doug Fir Restaurant, Bar and Lounge. (http://www.dougfirlounge.com/ 830 E. Burnside Street). Naturally there is a lot of wood and a very funky crowd. You can come for dinner, just a drink or check out a live show downstairs. Northwest bands like The Dimes, Southerly or not so local, like Minnie Driver (really!). Like most places in Portland, the dress code is pretty much anything. You'll see jeans with Converse or heels with a mini skirt.

When the sun does come out there are plenty of parks sprinkled around the city for picnics, Frisbee or reading under a tree. Ducks live in the pond at Laurelhurst Park. (Stark and SE 39th) They even have activities like basketball and horseshoe pits. If you're a golfer there's also plenty of that around including Eastmoreland Golf Course ( http://www.eastmorelandgolfcourse.com/ 2425 SE Bybee Blvd) which is boardered by the beautiful Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. (6001 SE 28th Ave)

Just blocks away from Laurelhurst Park is Pastaworks. (http://www.pastaworks.com/ 3735 SE Hawthorne) This European-style market/deli sells pastas, sauces, olive oil, salami, cheeses, everything you need to throw together a great pasta dish. Or you can just visit the deli and try their delicious calzones. You can also stop by on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. they host a free wine tasting from their selection of mostly Italian bottles.

If it's cold out and you're feeling like a cold beer and a cheap movie you'll want to try the Bagdad Theater. (http://kennedyschool.com/index.php?loc=9&id=177 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd.) In fact, if you like beer even a little bit and would like to sample a local brewery you have to visit any one of the McMenamins locations, quite a few of them featuring a movie theater, restaurant and/or hotel. (http://kennedyschool.com/) Many locations are converts that used to be churches, a ballroom, a poorhouse or even a grade school. (http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=57&category=Location%20Homepage)

No matter the weather, Portland has plenty of fun to offer visitors willing to explore and be adventurous.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/getaways/07/12/portland/index.html

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Top 100 Suburbs in the U.S.

When you're young you think there is nothing that could get you to move out of the city. Being away from the shopping, museums, nightclubs and food is unthinkable. But then one day you find yourself an adult with kids and your priorities suddenly change. Now you're looking at schools, yards and safety.

But there are suburb options that are not the cliche Leave it to Beaver neighborhood. This list takes cities with 7,500 to 50,000 people and rates them by looking at economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community. Also added into the equation is racial diversity, home prices and property taxes. Because real estate prices have gone up some much recently it has been given extra attention causing some cities to do better than in the past and some to do worse.

1. Middleton, Wisconsin; 2. Hanover, New Hampshire; 3. Louisville, Colorado; 4. Lake Mary, Florida; 5. Claremont, California 6. Papillion, Nebraska; 7. Milton, Massachusetts; 8. Chaska, Minnesota; 9. Nether Providence (Wallingford) , Pennsylvania; 10. Suwanee, Georgia.

18. Sherwood, Ore.

Population: 14,800
Median home price (2006): $303,126
Average property taxes (2006): $2,889

Like much of the Northwest, Sherwood is home to an array of beautiful parks and natural beauty. But the quickly growing commercial sites of Sherwood offer true insight into the town's character: a juxtaposition of old and new, with reverence toward both the city's historic past and its bright, expanding future. The community events calendar is always full and the town's location makes for a fairly easy commute to nearby Portland. -A.B.

32. Lake Oswego, Ore.

Population: 38,600
Median home price (2006): $533,103
Average property taxes (2006): $3,173

One of the major attractions of this Portland suburb is the 405-acre artificial lake whose banks it sits on. Waterfront properties are highly sought, and many residents take advantage of the lake, either by boating on the weekends or hanging out at one of the parks on its shores. Another big appeal is shopping and dining. Lake Oswego is full of many one-of-a-kind boutiques and unique restaurants. And for arts lovers, the Lakewood Center offers top-notch instruction at its dance studio along with fantastic shows put on by its theater company. -B.N.

63. Camas, Wash.

Population: 17,400
Median home price (2006): $390,016
Average property taxes (2006): $2,602

Situated on the northern bank of the Columbia River, Camas is a waterfront community that prides itself on its impressive outdoors. The city boasts extensive forested open spaces and you can walk to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Its true gem is the predominately residential Prune Hill - a dormant volcanic hill which affords panoramic views of both the urban (downtown Portland) and the suburban (Mount Hood). As for downtown Camas, the city has worked extensively to revitalize its economy and attract businesses. -I.T.

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/103225/Best-Places-to-Live

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/103227/Where-We'll-Live

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