EVENTS
January
Portland Folk Festival
January 17–18
Portland’s Folk Festival celebrates local musicians with a 12-hour event featuring 24 artists. Now held at the iconic Crystal Ballroom, it fosters community, appreciation, and a transcendent energy among Portland’s music scene.
FAN EXPO Portland
January 24–26
FAN EXPO Portland (formerly Wizard World) is the ultimate celebration of fandom! Enjoy comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, panels, workshops, celebrity guests, and cosplay.
February
Portland Winter Light Festival 10 Year Anniversary
February 7–15
The Portland Winter Light Festival returns for its 10th year, Feb 7-15, 2025, with the theme “A Light For Tomorrow: A Technicolor Future.” The citywide event features creative light installations exploring innovation and the future. Visit the website for location maps.
ValenTango
February 12–17
ValenTango, North America’s largest and longest-running tango festival, offers a welcoming community, expert teachers, live DJs, exciting milongas, and plenty of opportunities to dance and learn—open to all levels and at an affordable price.
March
Thriftapalooza
March 1–2
Thriftapalooza is more than just shopping—it’s a celebration of sustainability! Find gently used treasures, support a circular economy, and reduce waste while scoring great deals. Shop consciously and make a positive environmental impact!
Portland Seafood & Wine Festival
March 1–2
Enjoy fresh Oregon seafood, plus wine, craft beer, cider, and spirits as you browse 175+ booths of wine, food, and crafts. Familyfriendly fun includes live entertainment, face painters, balloon artists, and more!
SheBrew 10 Year Anniversary
March 8
SheBrew celebrates 10 years of showcasing female-identified brewers and cider makers! Enjoy 40 professional and 10 homebrewers’ creations, plus vote for your favorite in the People’s Choice award. All proceeds support The Human Rights Campaign for Equality.
ROOTED IN RENEWAL
Building Thriving Communities in the New Year
AS THE NEW YEAR UNFOLDS , I’ve been thinking a lot about how we can help regenerate our communities and our city. This intention took shape for me during a trip to Sicily, where I spent time with a farmer named Fabio who practices drought-resistant, regenerative agriculture. Fabio welcomed us with warmth and pride, surrounded by olive trees and carob trees on land that has been nurtured for generations. “This is the place we love and where we live,” he said. His farm was more than a workplace—it was a reflection of his commitment to the land, the people it feeds, and the traditions he honors.
Regenerative farming, as Fabio explained, works with the earth, not against it. It’s about restoring health to the soil, honoring natural cycles, and building resilience. In his kitchen, every dish we tasted told the story of the land. Each ingredient, carefully grown and harvested, spoke of dedication and intention. “To feed someone is to show them you love them,” Fabio said. His words reminded me that love is not just sentiment—it’s action. Food is one way I express care, but what we serve— whether food, words, or support—should always be nourishing.
This idea of regeneration—of bringing life back to what has been depleted—stuck with me. What can we learn from farmers like Fabio to help regenerate our city and communities? The earth often holds the lessons we need if we’re willing to pay attention. Regenerative practices aren’t just about crops; they’re about relationships, trust, and investment in something larger than ourselves. They ask us to put back what we take out, to nurture growth, and to build resilience.
“The earth often holds the lessons we need if we’re willing to pay attention. Regenerative practices aren’t just about crops; they’re about relationships, trust, and investment in something larger than ourselves. They ask us to put back what we take out, to nurture growth, and to build resilience.”
It’s a powerful metaphor for community. If we want our neighborhoods, workplaces, and cities to thrive, we need to invest in them intentionally. We need to work with each other, not against. That starts with how we show up every day—in our relationships, in our service, in how we support and listen. It’s about being willing to roll up our sleeves and do the work of rebuilding, even when it’s hard.
Edith Hamilton once wrote, “The truths of the spirit are proved not by reasoning about them, or finding explanation of them, but only by acting upon them. Mercy, gentleness, forgiveness, patience—if we do not show them, they will cease to be.” These words hit home for me. Values like kindness and forgiveness don’t just exist; they live through our actions. Regenerating a community means embodying the change we want to see, even when it feels like the world is pulling us apart.
We may not control the larger forces at play in the world, but we can each work to improve our own small corner. That’s where the real change happens—in how we treat each other, how we collaborate, and how we nurture trust. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges around us, but if we each commit to building and tending to our “soil”—to the spaces and people we care about—we create a ripple effect. Small actions add up.
In my work with our agents, I’ve seen how true community is built moment by moment. It’s not abstract or lofty—it’s about showing up, offering a helping hand, listening, and building connections. Just like Fabio’s farm, which brings people together around a shared meal and story, we can create spaces of connection and care in our own neighborhoods and workplaces.
So, as we step into this New Year, I invite you to think about how you can nurture and regenerate the spaces you inhabit. What actions can you take to strengthen your community? How can you give back what you take? Whether it’s a kind word, an act of service, or simply listening with intention—every action matters. Together, we can create resilient, thriving communities rooted in care, respect, and hope.
Here’s to a year of regeneration, of rolling up our sleeves, and of building communities where everyone finds room to live, thrive, and connect.
JENELLE ETZEL OWNER, LIVING ROOM REALTY
YOUR STORIES
We are in the business of sharing stories— stories of the people we work with and of the neighborhoods we know and love.
Blank Canvas Ready for Their Vision! ABOVE
Huge congratulations to Rachel and Ryan on buying their first home! Their journey wasn’t straightforward. After reaching out to me in 2020, life threw them some curveballs, including moving to Seattle, having a second child, and traveling through Europe. We found them a fantastic “Snout House” in South Tabor, tucked away on a cul-de-sac. It might not have been the “cute” house, but it’s a blank canvas, perfect for their design vision. Plus, it came $25K under budget, with fresh paint and flooring already done. Can’t wait to see how Rachel and Ryan make this house their own.
One-Level Living: Bill and Alice’s Perfect Fit ABOVE
Bill and Alice found their dream home in Tigard—a charming one-level with a bay window that filled the space with light and warm, vaulted ceilings. Despite some inspection issues, they made the tough decision to walk away. But then, an unexpected second chance came! The sellers reached out, agreeing to their terms. Bill and Alice jumped at the opportunity, and we quickly moved forward. The joy at their signing was infectious, but handing over the keys was the best moment of all. Congratulations to Bill and Alice on their forever home!
Close Friends, New Neighbors: Zoe and Corey’s Family Move LEFT
Key days are always special, but this one was extra special! I was thrilled when Zoe and Corey asked me to help them find their next home. With two growing athletes and a love for their community, they needed a bigger house in the same school district. The perfect home came up, and it’s now theirs! It’s beautiful and closer to my family (not that I’m biased). Plus, Zoe and Corey’s youngest can now walk to school! Celebrating with Corey’s parents as I handed over the keys made it all the more memorable. Cheers to new chapters and neighborhood adventures!
OUR PERFECT DAY IN GOOSE HOLLOW
Goose Hollow in SW Portland, once home to roaming geese in the 19th century, now blends historic buildings with modern condos and lively spots for sports fans and students.
BREAKFAST SANDWICHES AT FEHRENBACHER HOF
1225 SW 19TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97205
Kick off your day with breakfast sandwiches and unique décor at Fehrenbacher Hof, a cozy coffee house set in a 1932 craftsman home, complete with books, board games, and comfy seating.
CATCH A SHOW AT ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE
1515 SW MORRISON ST, PORTLAND, OR 97205
Founded in 1982, Artists Repertory Theatre is Portland’s longest-running professional company, offering diverse, thought-provoking plays in an intimate setting.
SHOPPING AT PORTLAND GEAR
403 SW 10TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97205
Your Goose Hollow visit wouldn’t be complete without souvenir shopping at Portland Gear for stylish Rose City apparel, including shirts, socks, and baseball caps.
ICE CREAM AT 22 BELOW
615 SW 19TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97205
For a unique treat, visit 22 Below, a Thai rolled ice cream shop named for its crafting temperature. Choose from a wide range of mix-ins, from Oreos to Hot Cheetos.
THORNS/TIMBERS GAME AT PROVIDENCE PARK
1844 SW MORRISON ST, PORTLAND, OR 97205
Portland is a major soccer city, thanks to these two teams. Grab a stadium ticket to join the excitement, or head to a local sports bar to watch the game on screen.
NIGHTCAP AT THE DRIFTWOOD ROOM
729 SW 15TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97205
End your night with a cozy cocktail at the Driftwood Room, a charming mid-century lounge in the Hotel deLuxe, unchanged since the 1950s and full of vintage charm.
PORTLAND METRO MARKET STATS
OUR LISTINGS
Vintage Charm at The View
227 NE 61st Ave, Portland, OR 97213
This spacious, well-maintained condo at The View features original hardwood floors, cozy radiant heat, and no shared walls, offering abundant natural light and the feel of a detached home. The open layout includes a large living room, a dining area with a Murano glass fixture, and a stylish kitchen with vintage linoleum, stainless appliances, and ample storage.
2 bed | 1 bath | 864 sq. ft. | $340,000
7705 SW Gentle Woods Dr, Tigard, OR 97224
Updated contemporary retreat on Fanno Creek! Enjoy vacation-style living year-round with serene water views from the deck and back windows. This home features vaulted ceilings, unique architecture, an updated kitchen with new appliances and designer tile, plus a bright open-concept great room with skylights and a striking fireplace. Located on a quiet street near schools, transit, and Bridgeport Village shopping.
4 bed | 3 bath | 2,311 sq. ft. | $750,000
Twice as nice!
35295 Tohl Ave, Nehalem, OR 97131
This versatile duplex offers endless possibilities! Live on one side and rent the other, rent both for income, or use both for multigenerational living. Clean and like-new, it features a large parking area for boats and toys, private divided backyards, and a prime location just minutes from the beach and Nehalem River.
6 bed | 4 bath | 2,970 sq. ft. | $839,000
Charming Mid-Century Gem with Beautiful Backyard
5040 SW 184th Ave, Beaverton OR 97078
Enjoy a spacious yard with fruit trees, a new roof, exterior paint, and fresh landscaping. Inside features include new flooring, trim, updated kitchen with stainless appliances, and recent HVAC. The back patio is pre-wired for a hot tub. Located in a quiet neighborhood near parks, schools, and shopping, this home offers a tranquil, comfortable lifestyle.
3 bed | 2 bath | 1,621 sq. ft. | $535,000
Creekside Oasis