E s LOCAL
July
Portland Night Market
July 11–12
Portland Night Market is an open-air event celebrating local art, food, and music. It features a variety of food trucks, unique handmade goods, and live performances, creating a lively atmosphere for visitors to enjoy Portland’s makers
Cathedral Park Jazz Festival
July 18–20
Set against the stunning backdrop of St. Johns Bridge, The Cathedral Park Jazz Festival is an annual, free event in Portland. It features live jazz performances from local and national artists, celebrating in a vibrant, community-oriented atmosphere.
August
Providence Bridge Pedal
August 10
If you’ve ever wanted to savor the view from the top of the Fremont Bridge, now’s your chance! Held in August, the Bridge Pedal ofers various ride options for all skill levels, promoting car-free exploration of Portland’s landmarks.
Portland Soapbox Derby
August 16
The Portland Adult Soapbox Derby is an annual race held at Mt. Tabor Park, where teams build and race creative, gravity-powered soapbox cars down winding hills. Known for its quirky designs and festive atmosphere, it’s a summer tradition in Portland!
World Forestry Center Free Day
August 24th
The World Forestry Center in Washington Park is an interactive museum focused on global forests, sustainability, and conservation. It features engaging exhibits, educational programs, and free admission days. A great spot for nature lovers!
September
Swifts Watch
September, All month long
The Portland Vaux’s Swifts Watch is a beloved fall event at Chapman Elementary, where thousands of swifts swirl into the chimney at sunset. Spectators gather on the lawn to witness this natural spectacle, making it a magical Portland custom!
Oaks Park Oktoberfest
September 19–21
Oaks Park Oktoberfest is a lively annual festival in Portland, Oregon, featuring German music, traditional Bavarian food, beer gardens, dancing, and family-friendly activities. Enjoy carnival rides, wiener dog races, and authentic Oktoberfest fun!
Li ng Ro FROM OUR The Gift of Summer Friendship
THIS SPRING, while traveling through Ireland with my husband, I began to notice a curious thing: everywhere we went, whether it was a windswept roadside pub or a snug café tucked into a village main street, there were colorful public posters hung with the same warm, simple message. Each poster had nine bright squares, each ofering a small invitation:
“Have tea with a friend or neighbor.”
“If someone feels distant, reach out.”
“Pop by and say hello.”
The kind of reminders you’d expect in a preschool classroom, not a pub. They struck me.
In Ireland, caring for your mental health by staying connected isn’t seen as soft or sentimental, it’s seen as smart, essential, and woven into the culture. These signs were as common as the “Wash your hands before returning to work” signs are here. But instead of focusing on hygiene, they were about the heart. Public service announcements for friendship.
It got me thinking; when did we stop treating friendship as essential? And what better time to re-prioritize it than now?
Summer is the season of open doors and open hearts. The long light makes space for lingering. It invites us to slow down, look up, and reach out. We throw together backyard dinners, we take the long way home, we text the friend we’ve been “meaning to get together with for ages.” Something in the air says: this is your chance. And when we do reconnect, we’re reminded just how many kinds of friendship there really are, and how each one feeds a diferent part of who we are.
1. The Keeping-It-Real Friends
These friends are honest, funny, and refreshingly real. They remind us that being human is a shared experience. They text you about the weird rash their kid has, the fight they had with their partner, or their existential crisis at the DMV—and somehow, you feel more normal just being in their orbit.
They don’t polish up their lives for your approval, and in return, you don’t have to either. Through their willingness to be fully themselves, they give you quiet permission to be more yourself, too.
2.
The Mind-Openers
These are the friends who expand us. They ask the questions that help us untangle our thinking. They listen with patience, not just to reply, but to reflect. They help us see something old in a new way or something hidden altogether.
One of my neighbors is like this. We trade books, and the ones she lends me have stretched my perspective. I’ve walked in the shoes of a trans teenager in “Woodworking”, a prairie witch surviving the Dust Bowl in “The Anitdote”, and wandered my local park with the poetry of David Whyte. Our conversations do the
same. They help me see from new angles, rethink old assumptions, and hold ideas more gently. Each exchange reshapes something in me, like internal origami unfolding and reforming into something new. These friends don’t just broaden our minds, they deepen our capacity to understand.
3. The Believe-in-You Friends
Michelangelo wasn’t the first sculptor to attempt David. Two others gave up before him, seeing only a flawed block of marble. But Michelangelo saw what was possible inside the stone; and slowly, with care and vision, he carved it free.
Some friends do this for us. They hold a vision of who we’re becoming, even when we can’t see it ourselves. Positive psychology calls this the “Michelangelo Efect.” When someone sees our ideal self and reflects it back to us, it accelerates our growth. These friends see past the chips and cracks left by life and ofer us a mirror that says: You’re more than your past. You are becoming. Keep going.
As you read this, you may see yourself in these roles or recognize the people in your life who show up this way for you. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to find all three in one person. Sometimes we build a beautiful mosaic of many friends, each one ofering something diferent. The key is to notice. And then nurture.
Which brings me back to those Irish posters.
Connection is not just nice to have, it’s necessary. And yet, in our busy lives, it’s easy to forget. Easy to push it of, wait for “a better time,” or let logistics get in the way of meaning.
But summer doesn’t wait.
It’s short.
It’s sweet.
And it’s here.
So this summer, I’m taking a page from Ireland. I’m putting connection at the center of the season—on purpose. I’m making the calls. Sending the texts. Throwing the imperfect, last-minute backyard hangs. I’m letting “good enough” be good enough if it means being together. Because in the end, our lives are made up of the time we’ve spent with the people who matter.
JENELLE ETZEL FOUNDER, LIVING ROOM REALTY
We are in the business of sharing stories— stories of the people we work with and of the neighborhoods we know and love.
A Quick Pivot to the Perfect Kitchen: Hannah & Duncan’s Home Buy ABOVE
Referred by dear past clients, Hannah told me at our first meeting they were ready to buy yesterday. Basement rental life had to end—stat! We bonded over SE PDX and honed in on priority neighborhoods. These Reed College sweethearts dove right in. First ofer? One of fifteen. After a second loss (a blessing), the dream kitchen near Wilshire Park hit. We pivoted hard. After an hour in the home, they braced for heartbreak—but we jumped fast. Five ofers total. After three anxious hours: they got it! A fast, intense close, with some 11th-hour drama—but we made it. Congratulations, Hannah & Duncan!
New Roots in an Old Neighborhood ABOVE
Some stories are just meant to be. We were thrilled to help this sweet family find their perfect Portland home. Jennifer, born here, is now back with Josh and their daughters— right in the same neighborhood she grew up in! We found them an of-market gem that felt like fate. The moment they saw it, they just knew. They loved the garden, landscaping, and their girls called dibs on the basement. Since it never hit the market, they snagged it with no competition. Now the fun begins: moving in and starting a new chapter where it all began. Congratulations Jennifer, Josh and family - you’re home!
Patience Wins the Process, but Confident and Aggressive Terms Win the Deal LEFT
After many months and several ofers deep into the search for their perfect first-ever home, Travis and Victoria were battle-tested and knew what it would take to make this home their own. With a combination of strong, comprehensive terms and consistent agent-to-agent communications over several days, we beat out 9 other ofers and closed in 17 days. Everyone walked away happy from this transaction and Travis, Victoria, and Hazel are the proud new owners of this beautiful, light-filled, freshly-updated home in Cedar Mill. Here’s to many years of joy, laughter, growth, and warm memories!
Portland’s Industrial SE blends gritty charm with creative energy—home to makers, breweries, artists, and innovators thriving in a bold, evolving urban landscape.
BUT FIRST COFFEE, AT NOSSA FAMILIA COFFEE ROASTERS
1633 SE 3RD AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97214
Start the day with some of Portland’s best cofee and avocado toast. If the main shop is full, settle in on the comfy couches in the light filled atrium just next door.
SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS AT OMSI 1945 SE WATER AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97214
Hands on learning and interactive exhibits will spark the curiosity of the little ones. This summer don’t miss the Jurassic World Lego Exhibit!
SHOPPING! 2 OF PORTLAND’S HIDDEN ( OR NOT ) GEMS:
FIRST STOP KABINETT…
214 SE ALDER ST. PORTLAND, OR 97214
Vintage furniture, art, rugs, and barware from around the world. And check out the most beautiful “wall of vermouth” you’ll ever see.
…THEN ACROSS THE STREET TO COWBELL 231 SE ALDER ST, PORTLAND, OR 97214
Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! Best selection and friendliest help in town. You’ll be lucky if you make it home without digging into your haul…
AFTERNOON WHISKEY TASTING: WESTWARD DISTILLERY
65 SE WASHINGTON ST, PORTLAND, OR 97214
Experience the whiskey making process as you tour the distillery floor, followed by a tasting of Portland’s award winning craft whiskeys.
DINNER AT AN OLD FAVORITE: OLYMPIA PROVISIONS
107 SE WASHINGTON ST, PORTLAND, OR 97214
Whether you want to linger over small plates and charcuterie or dive into a full dish of braised bone-in short ribs, Olympia Provisions is a Portland staple for a reason.
Want to know more about home prices in your neighborhood? Reach out to me any time! AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL PRICES BY METRO
Includes single family, attached homes, & condos
$369,690
OUR Li ing s
Mid-Century Daylight Ranch
7344 NE Sacramento St, Portland, OR 97213
A rare chance to own a unique Portland home on Alameda Ridge with stunning views of Rose City Golf Course. This 1952 Richard Sundeleafdesigned mid-century modern features 4 beds, 3 baths, a remodeled chef’s kitchen, original wood paneling, and a lower-level suite with private entry—perfect for guests or an ADU. Enjoy serene, tree-lined views from the spacious deck.
4 bed | 3 bath | 3,911 sq. ft. | $1,255,000
Secluded Forest Retreat in Nehalem Valley
44450 Katherine Lane, Nehalem, OR 97131
Nestled on a bluf in serene Nehalem Valley, this 3-bed, 2.1-bath home on 5.59 acres blends forest tranquility with coastal charm. Built in 2022, it features vaulted ceilings, hemlock-trimmed windows, and stunning forest views. Enjoy a spacious primary suite, modern comforts, and privacy in a gated community—just minutes from the ocean.
3 bed | 2.5 bath | 1,753 sq. ft. | $829,000
Sixth Quadrant Sophisticate
7533 S. Corbett Ave, Portland, Oregon, 97219
Timeless early modernist home with Marina Style flair—balconies, tall ceilings, wood floors, marble fireplace, and stunning windows. Enjoy open living, formal/informal dining, ofce/bedroom flex, and a spacious kitchen. Bonus studio, tandem garage, lush garden, and views of the Willamette, Mt. Hood & St. Helens—steps from parks, trails, and minutes to downtown.
3 bed | 3bath | 3,065 sq. ft. | $799,900
1911 Farmhouse with Mid-Century Vibes
10359 SE Martins St, Portland, OR 97266
This lovingly restored 1911 farmhouse blends vintage charm with modern ease. Fully remodeled in 2022–2023, it ofers a sunny kitchen, cozy wood floors, updated baths, and a serene primary suite on the main level. Upstairs, two dreamy bedrooms await. Step outside to Mt. Hood views, a spacious deck, garden beds, and a peaceful courtyard perfect for quiet mornings or lively evenings.
3 bed | 1.5 bath | 1,304 sq. ft. | $460,000