99-W Drive-In

Channel your inner Olivia Newton-John this summer with an outing to the 99-W Drive-In out Highway 99 in Newberg. Though it's a trek from inner Portland,  it's well worth the trip.

99-W is the last drive-in theatre in the Portland metro area - and it's thriving. In fact, on summer Friday and Saturday nights, the 275-plus car spaces fill as early as an hour before showtime.  The crowd's a great mix: families with kids in PJs and beds in the backs of their pickups or minivans mingle with car buffs, loyal locals and teenagers seizing one of the best-known make-out opportunities in the history of entertainment.

The entire experience is as sweet and charming as it gets: the snack bar is filled with old drive-in memorabilia, and sells treats at prices actually proportional to what you're getting (no 32-ounce, $7 "small" sodas here - which in itself is refreshing). Before the show, kids play on the swings and adults sit in lawn chairs actually - gasp - chatting with each other. And the evening starts with live birthday announcements, vintage reels and a giant sense of small-town community.

It's a great outing for kids - (see this week's Family Fun Review). Yes it makes for a late night, but heck, that's what summer's all about! It's also a romantic date for adults or a great way for a group of friends to see a movie and actually get to chat with each other when they feel like it without disturbing their neighbors.

Most of all, the 99-W Drive-In is a portal into a sweet and ever-more-rare slice of American life - in which entertainment is a special event that supports local businesses, doesn't break the bank, and fosters community over digitally-driven isolation.

Trust me: one trip here and you may just start singing, "Hopelessly Devoted to You" full-voice. Just don't do it in your nightgown, Sandy.

It's U-Pick Time!

Summer ain't summer without fresh-picked berries and cherries. And while New Seasons and farmers markets have luscious offerings, there's no better way to jump into the season than to spend a half-day at one of the area's many u-pick farms. You get fresh air, a little exercise (each hour of reaching and plucking burns away at least a pint of Ben and Jerry's, right?) and the freshest berries possible! And you often pay less for the privelege.

For a roundup of some great berry picking spots around Portland, plus links to produce calendars for greater Portland and Oregon, check out this week's Family Fun review. If you have a favorite spot, send it to me in the comments below.

Happy picking!

Sarah

Helping families find fun

Great news! Not only is the sun making its first center-stage appearance in Portland in what seems like 30 years, I've just signed on as Metro Parent magazine's Family Fun editor, which means I'll be posting weekly reviews for them on fun events and adventures of all types. I'll notify you here when new stories are posted, so you can stay current without having to check back on your own. Let me know in the comments box if you have any great ideas for places to review.

Check out this week's review on the Starlight Parade, which is this Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Metro Parent Family Fun pages

Summer, Despite Itself

Berry picking on the Hood River Fruit Loop

So it’s the second-to-last day of August, and it’s raining. 2010 was the Summer That Wasn’t in Portland, but somehow, despite that, our experience of summer has been much more satisfying than last year’s (see The Best of Both Seasons, below). We’re all ready (and I mean I’m ready) for school to begin again. And I’ve heard the same from other families. Here are four things that I think made the difference:

1. We took breaks between camps. In between weeks that were crammed full of work for me and Mike and camp activity for the girls, we took the risk of having a week here and there that was, uh, unscheduled. Which was a little scary for Mom, I must say. Especially when Mom needs to be bringing home some bacon every week. But with well-timed play dates and help from family (and ok, if you must know, Walt Disney did his share too) we survived. The plus was, we got a little time that felt different from the regular school year, where we had the freedom to sleep in, meander the neighborhood, visit with friends and do as we please.

2. We bought a family pass to Wilson High Pool, which ensured we swam a LOT. Especially in the 3.5 days this year when it was truly hot.  Walking home with wet towels over our shoulders, smelling like chlorine and Banana Boat and munching bags of over-salty, oddly bright-yellow popcorn, we were creating memories we could anchor around.

Behind the scenes at NW Trek Wilderness Park

3. We road-tripped and camped. Summer without at least one road trip is like grocery shopping without hitting the wine aisle – it’s just not acceptable.  Our adventures weren’t epic – mostly to Southern Oregon; one to Eastern Oregon, and a couple of small camping trips sprinkled in– but we kept our family adventure cred. And we still have Labor Day!

4. We gardened. Well, when I say “gardened” I mean we planted approximately $46 worth of seeds and starts with the premature (it turns out) pride of being both self-sufficient and thrifty (a veritable recession-era Victory Garden is what I envisioned). That investment of cash and energy has thus far yielded 4 small, but might I say delicious, strawberries, one under-ripe cherry tomato (from the Charlie Brown Christmas tree of sad, spindly tomato plants – seriously, who grows a cherry tomato plant with but a single tomato??), and enough basil to maybe garnish a tiny cup of soup. But, hey, the girls had a great time watering. So what that I have to explain to them each evening why we’re not out harvesting our bounty for dinner like our overachieving neighbors? Just gives us more time to watch Disney!

That's my quick assessment. And I'm curious, how did it go for you? How did you feel about summer this year? Are you ready to go back to Fall's routine? Let me know - and happy Labor Day!