My wife and I had a terrific time at the Hoyt Arboretum in Portland this last weekend.

It turned out to be another lovely day with some nice, warm weather. We started out at around 9:00am in an effort to avoid both the afternoon heat and the crowds that we were sure to meet up with. The fact that the Hoyt Arboretum opens promptly at 6am makes it really nice for all the early risers.

Anyway, the day went off without a hitch, we got a good walk in and some equally satisfying bonding (wives love that stuff!). I brought along my new Flip Ultra HD and took a bunch of footage that I still need to compile….but, I got it! hehe. I also took a lot of still shots that I used for my web site.

I just finished the Hoyt Arboretum page on my site yesterday and I think it turned out really well. Read all about this great place in the hills of Portland.

Talk later

Tony

Portland has and always will be a potpourri of cultural activity. You can always find happenings around the city to stretch your mind and expand your horizons.

The Oregon Day of Culture falls upon out fair city on Thursday, October 8.  With the weather supposed to be in the mild 60s, it will be a perfect day to head downtown to enjoy what is offered up. Treat your kids to the arts and culture at an early age….they’ll thank you for it when they’re older.

Personally, I’ll be heading to the Portland Classical Chinese Garden to soak in the Asian culture and lavish in the beauty and peacefulness there. Admission is free on this day, so if you’ve never been, now is the time.

There are many other things open to the public on Thursday (either free of discounted), so hop over to the Oregon Day of Culture’s Events page and map out your day.

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Discover more events, attractions and things to do in Portland at Uniquely Portland Oregon.com

There is no better place in Portland to share the romance and mystery of the full moon in autumn than from the eastern courtyard of the Portland Japanese Garden Pavilion, cup of sake in hand, gazing at the harvest moon as it rises above the city.

Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi, is a traditional Japanese festival which honors the full moon in autumn. Guests enjoy a quiet evening in the Garden, observe a candle-lit tea ceremony in the Kashin Tei Tea House and listen to the elegant music of Mitsuki Dazai as she performs traditional autumn favorites as well as her own impressions of this magical time of year on a stringed instrument called the koto.

Poetry has also been part of traditional moonviewing events in Japan for centuries. Garden guests are invited to write their own poetry in honor of the autumn moon, and sake and tea will be served along with a light sampling of seasonal Japanese foods. Participants can experience a rare walk through the lantern-lit Garden during moonlit hours and watch the moon rise from the Garden’s spectacular east-facing overlook with a view of the city skyline below.

“Moonviewing is one of our most romantic events,” commented Diane Durston, the Garden’s Curator of Culture, Art, and Education. “Watching the moon rise, strolling the Garden in the moonlight, writing a few words of poetry and enjoying the company of friends—this custom goes back more than a thousand years in Japan and it is such an elegant way to spend an autumn evening.”

Moonviewing will be held on three different nights, October 2, 3, and 4 from 5:30-8pm. Tickets are $25 for Garden Members and $35 for Non-members and reservations are required by September 21. Sign up online at www.japanesegarden.com/events/moonviewing or call (503) 542-0280. Moonviewing is sponsored by the The James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation and The Collins Foundation.

Would you like to see the wonderful world of OMSI for only $2? On September 6, you can.

OMSI is a terrific place to bring the entire family and enter the world of every type of science there is. Learn about the earth, animals, robotics, your body and more just by traveling down to 1945 SE Water Avenue in Portland.

The grooviest of days, when it comes to OMSI, is the 1st Sunday of every month. That is when they open their doors to the public for only $2 per person. Yup, 2 bucks will get you in and all you have to do is show up.

So, if you’re interested in a cheap day at Portland’s Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, pack up the kids and head down there on Sunday, Sept 6th.

For more information, visit my OMSI page.