LIVING ROOM E s LOCAL
January
Portland Tacos, Tequila & Tamales Festival
January 24th–25th
Enjoy Latin American cuisine, sip on tequila, shop dozens of pop-ups from local artists & creators, and experience the excitement of Lucha Libre and live music!
Portland Folk Festival
January 30th–31st
The Portland Folk Festival is a celebration of folk music and storytelling, featuring local and national artists, workshops, and community gatherings at the historic Crystal Ballroom.
February
Portland Winter Light Festival
February 6th–14th
The City of Roses transforms into a city of lights! This free festival returns for its 11th year, featuring imaginative light and technology installations that create interactive magic for all to enjoy.
Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony
February 14th–15th
Dolly Parton’s music comes to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in a multimedia symphonic experience with the Oregon Symphony. Enjoy hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” as Dolly appears on screen, sharing her life, songs, and stories.
March
Biamp Portland Jazz Festival
March 5th–14th
The Portland Jazz Festival is a citywide celebration of jazz, uniting legendary masters, boundary-breaking artists, and rising local talents to honor the past and shape the future of this dynamic art form.
Central Oregon Winter PrideFest
March 5th–8th
Since 2018, OUT Central Oregon’s Winter PrideFest has celebrated Pride, inclusivity, and love of the outdoors. Growing from 150 to over 2,400 participants, it now offers a full weekend of fun and inspiring winter events.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
March 20th–April 26th
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival blossoms each spring, drawing thousands to come and see 40 acres of tulips in bloom, rain or shine.
PHOTO:
Li ng Ro FROM OUR
WINTER ASKS SOMETHING HONEST OF US. It slows us down just enough to notice what is working in our lives and what needs tending. This season, I’ve been thinking a great deal about freedom and how we protect it. Not in the abstract, but in the daily ways we live alongside one another, care for our city, and build the kinds of connections that hold communities steady when times feel uncertain.
A few weeks ago, I sat in a civic meeting with leaders from business, nonprofits, government, and faith communities. We were there because we share a concern for the future of downtown Portland and a deep desire to help it thrive again. Our downtown is the beating heart of our region. It’s where festivals unfold, where dancers and musicians rehearse, where students catch buses, where families wander through galleries, and where the entire public-transit network makes a green, walkable city possible.
When downtown falters, the effects ripple outward. Declining tax revenue. Strain on public safety. Lost jobs in construction, hospitality, retail, and the creative sector. Tourism declines. Investment dries up. Even our banking and lending systems become less stable. And here’s something many people don’t realize: the largest investor in downtown Portland is the California Teachers Pension Fund. The well-being of our urban core isn’t about abstract wealth. It touches teachers, retirees, and working families across the West Coast. The web is far more human than it appears.
And on a personal level, I think of what a functioning downtown has meant to me as a single mother building a business and raising my daughters. I relied on our bus system. I relied on safe, well-lit streets. I relied on a city designed for its people. My freedom to work, parent, and contribute came from the presence of strong, working systems.
As historian Timothy Snyder reminds us, “Freedom is not just an absence of evil. Freedom is a presence of good.” True freedom lives in the conditions that allow us to choose well. Safety. Housing. Schools. Reliable transit. Parks. Places to gather. Infrastructure that carries all of us.
I feel the most free in this city when I’m riding my bike along the Springwater Corridor, breathing in the seasons, spotting wildlife, smiling at joggers and parents with strollers, and feeling the simple joy of moving through the world under my own power. That pathway didn’t appear by accident. It was built through decades of investment and shared vision. It is freedom made physical.
So what do we do in a moment when many people feel anxious about the future of our city, and in extension that of our democracy? And how do we resist the pull of authoritarian thinking? I believe we start close to home. We look not only at what we want to be free from, but what we want to be free for. What is good? What is worth protecting and expanding? What do we want more of?
And then we practice connection. We discuss these things in book clubs, in neighborhood groups, over Sunday brunch, in volunteer circles. We build alignment around shared hopes, not shared fears. These small circles become the soil where future coalitions take root. They become the places where trust is built so that collective action is possible.
I’ve learned recently that Ukrainians don’t consider their cities “liberated” the moment occupying forces leave. They feel liberated when the trains run again. When life moves forward. When the shared systems of community return.
In Portland, we can choose that same path. We can rebuild by strengthening the everyday relationships that keep us human, resilient, and aligned around the common good. This winter, my invitation to you is simple: find your circle. Tend to it. Build something together. Freedom grows wherever people gather with purpose.
Please consider joining us at the events we’re hosting this season and the new year as we continue building Living Room for All. And if you feel moved, we would be honored to hear from you. What makes you feel free, supported, and at home in Portland? Your reflections help guide the kind of city we can build together.
With care and gratitude,
JENELLE ETZEL FOUNDER, LIVING ROOM REALTY
Housing Lessons from Vienna
Reflections from our recent event with Councilor Jamie Dunphy on what Vienna’s century-old housing approach can teach Oregon today.
BY KARI MCGEE
MANAGING PRINCIPAL BROKER, LIVING ROOM REALTY
OREGON HAS LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOUSING INSECURITY , yet we still struggle to find effective solutions for affordable housing. The Portland Housing Bureau’s 2024 Report shows that 25% of Portland residents spend more than half their income on housing, and Multnomah County estimates about 7,000 people are living unsheltered The despair is real.
So it was a bit of a surprise to find our Living Room “living room” filled with people eager to hear Portland City Councilor Jamie Dunphy share what he and the Portland Metro delegation learned from their recent trip to Vienna to study its renowned public housing system.
Restore Learn
They saw beautifully designed municipal buildings and innovative financing models that treat housing not as a commodity, but as a human right. They learned about the “land-banking” framework Vienna has built over 100 years, ensuring residents have stable housing and the support systems they need to stay healthy and connected.
And they discovered that Vienna’s combined housing and social services cost just $266 per person—far less than Portland’s $628. Vienna may have a century head start, but it’s not too late for Oregon to reimagine how we could provide housing stability for everyone who calls this state home.
Thanks for being a part of what makes our community great. If you’d like to engage with your Portland City Councilors on important issues like housing and affordability, you can find their contact information at portland.gov/council/districts.
We are in the business of sharing stories— stories of the people we work with and of the neighborhoods we know and love.
Siblings Secure Their Dream Home
Leah and Colin are siblings who dreamed of living “together-but-separate.” After more than a year of diligent searching, they finally found the perfect home—high design, a great location, and potential for two distinct living spaces. We negotiated a major seller credit for renovations upfront, and secured critical structural repairs through inspections, including a new sewer line and hvac system. A long journey that paid off in the end— a huge win all around.
Downtown Camas is a charming hub of local shops, cozy cafes, restaurants, and historic architecture, offering community events, murals, and a welcoming small-town vibe.
HIDDEN RIVER ROASTERS
536 NE 5TH AVE. CAMAS, WA
Offering fresh-roasted coffee and in-house baked goodies (including gf), this is a great place to relax or gather.
AUTUMN LEAF BOOKS
334 NE 4TH AVE. CAMAS, WA
Cozy independent bookstore in downtown Camas offering new books for kids, teens, adults, plus unique gifts and community storytimes.
TOMMY O’S @ THE CAMAS HOTEL
401 NE 4TH AVE. CAMAS, WA
Island-inspired flavors in historic downtown Camas—think sushi, kalua pork, tropical cocktails, and a lively vibe.
EVERGREEN VINYL
321 NE 4TH AVE. CAMAS, WA
Dive into a vibrant record-shop experience. New and used vinyl treasures, local music vibes, and a friendly space for collectors and casual fans alike.
FEAST AT 316
316 NE DALLAS ST. CAMAS, WA
Feast at 316 delivers upscale Pacific Northwest fare—steaks, seafood, craft cocktails & local wine in a stylish yet approachable setting.
LIBERTY THEATRE
315 NE 4TH AVE. CAMAS, WA
This restored 1927 theater shows movies from all dates and genres. Kid-friendly while still serving beer and wine to adults. Perfect for date night or a day with the kids.
DUNPHY PHOTO ©BIKEPORTLAND
OUR Li ing s
A Grand Foursquare in Buckman
1115 SE 28th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97214
Grand 1906 Buckman foursquare, kept in the same family for 45+ years.
Tall ceilings, bright airy rooms, leaded glass, pocket doors, built-ins, wood-burning fireplace, and old growth fir floors throughout. Formal living and dining rooms and an updated kitchen with butler’s pantry. The top floor would be perfect for a fourth bedroom, office, or flex space.
3 bed | 2 bath | 3,308 sq. ft. | $815,000
Charming Cottage with Stunning Neahkahnie Views
360 Jackson Way, Manzanita, OR 97130
On the market for the first time, this charming cottage sits in a private corner of Classic Street Cottages on one of the largest lots. Enjoy Neahkahnie Mountain views from the upstairs patio. Detached garage plus extra parking, very private backyard, new refrigerator and dishwasher, and mini split AC for summer comfort. A rare opportunity in a sought-after Ross Chapin community.
2 bed | 2 bath | 1,154 sq. ft. | $795,000
Treetop
Living in the Heart of the City
13800 NW Riverview Drive, Portland, OR 97231
Set on 3.72 acres of terraced grounds and old-growth trees, this home feels like luxurious treehouse living. Enjoy sweeping forest, river, Mt. St. Helens, and Sauvie Island views from nearly every room. Remodeled chef’s kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters, cherry cabinets, and garden windows. Main-level primary suite with fireplace, sauna, heated floors, walk-in closets, and private deck with hot tub. Lush NW-Asian garden, orchard, and abundant wildlife. A rare NW dream home!
3 bed | 2 bath | 2,967 sq. ft. | $799,000
Tree-Lined Vancouver Rowhouse
16525 NE 20th Street, Vancouver, WA 98684
Charming NE Vancouver rowhouse framed by trees! Open-concept main level with fresh paint, granite kitchen, and living/dining areas flowing to a private back deck. Lower-level flexible bedroom/bonus room. Upper bedrooms with en suites, walk-in closets, and laundry with sink. Attached 2-car garage with storage/workspace. Prime Mill Plain location near shops, schools, and parks.
3 bed | 2.5 bath | 2,215 sq. ft. | $450,000