Portland and Area Newsletter and Planner - January 12, 2024

FAN EXPO PORTLAND
FAN EXPO Portland (formerly Wizard World Portland) is the ultimate place to celebrate fandom. Join tens of thousands of fans just like you and experience the ultimate playground for comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. Three days of citywide events, family-friendly attractions and world-renowned celebrities await. Attendees can shop at hundreds of vendors and exhibitors, check out panels and workshops, meet favorite stars and creators, and celebrate what makes them geeky with thousands of other fans in cosplay. There is something for every fan at FAN EXPO Portland.

PORTLAND FOLK FESTIVAL
Portland's Folk Festival began in 2018 at McMenamin's White Eagle as a way for Portland musicians to come together to celebrate the burgeoning local scene and enjoy each other's craft. It was a 12-hour love fest that started at noon and continued until early in the morning with 24 local and regional artists performing. Since then, the festival has moved to one of Portland's most legendary venues, the Crystal Ballroom. Energy exudes from the stage that has been marinated in decades of iconic artists creating an atmosphere that feels oddly transcendent. The festival continues to bring the Portland music community together to recognize and praise each other; to build community and to shower each other with appreciation. 

THE LION KING
Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. Over 100 million people worldwide have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular — one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage.

Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Lion King brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story of hope and adventure set against a fantastic backdrop of stunning visuals. The Lion King also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.

OREGON CIDER WEEK
Oregon Cider Week Special Edition is happening with CiderCon 2024, hosted in Portland, Oregon. The Northwest cider community will welcome visiting conference attendees, media, buyers and cider fans at a wide variety of not-to-be-missed events. Save the day and stay tuned.

PORTLAND OLD TIME MUSIC GATHERING
Portland Old Time Music Gathering is thrilled to announce our 2024 artist in residence: Hubby Jenkins. He’ll be featured at the Saturday night concert (January 13) along with Foghorn Stringband. The concert takes place at the Alberta Abbey.  Other highlights include Cajun/Honky Tonk Night at Mississippi Pizza on January 11, the Friday Night Square Dance on January 12, workshops and more on January 13, and a very special screening of “The Canote Twins” documentary on January 15.

PORTLAND JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
OJMCHE is proud to present the Portland Jewish Film Festival 2024. Plan to join screenings of five new full-length films and two selected shorts that explore the complexity, history, and joy of Jewish life. Following each screening there will be a talk-back session with authors, filmmakers, scholars, and artists that explores the themes and context of the films.

STUDIO GHIBLI FILM FESTIVAL
This year’s festival includes daily screenings, special guest speakers, and an Opening Night celebration focused on the 40th anniversary of Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Watch all your favorites, from My Neighbor Totoro to Kiki’s Delivery Service, all on the largest movie screen in Portland. Select screenings will feature introductions by experts on Miyazaki’s work from Portland State University and Pacific University.

PORTLAND MUSIC MONTH
January is Portland Music Month  (as officially proclaimed by the City of Portland). To celebrate, MusicPortland has curated 31 days of performances at 21 local venues featuring hundreds of music acts. The best part is, you’re invited.

Oregonians love the great outdoors in our backyards: mountains, rivers and coast. We protect these natural resources, and it’s hard to appreciate them during the dark winter season. But even though Portland doesn’t get much light in winter, a rich and vibrant music scene highlights the essence of this city. With so many local artists to discover and spots to visit around town, MusicPortland has turned all of Portland into a concert.

MASTERPIECES IN MINIATURE: THE ART OF NETSUKE SCULPTURES
Portland Japanese Garden is delighted to present its final new art exhibition of 2023, Masterpieces in Miniature: The Art of Netsuke Sculptures. Once immensely popular across Japan, netsuke (pronounced nets-keh) were miniature sculptures that also served a purpose as personal fashion accessories, helping overcome the lack of pockets in traditional men’s clothing by helping hang small items from a kimono sash. What started as simple accessories evolved into beautiful and complicated sculptures created in a variety of exquisite materials over a span of more than two hundred years during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868).

PORTLAND WINTER ICE RINK
The Portland Winter Ice Rink and Woodsy Winter Village is a family-friendly outdoor ice rink located at the west end of the Morrison Bridgehead on the waterfront in Portland, Oregon.  In addition to skating, enjoy a variety of activities in the Woodsy Winter Village which features a concession marketplace, food, warm beverages, and a cozy lounge.

PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
Come cheer on the Winterhawks, Portland's junior ice hockey team and three-time WHL champs. Winterhawks games are a great night out for fans of all ages, whether you want to sit right by the glass or a little higher up for a full-ice view.

GOODNESS THE COMEDY SHOW
Goodness is a show that brings the best stand-up comedy in Portland to the incredible Laurelhurst Club. Tickets are only $10, with even more affordable drinks. (21+)

HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKETS
Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty. In addition to amazingly fresh, local food,  you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season.

• April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,
• October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM,, and
• December through March: 9 AM to 1PM on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month

FEATURED LISTINGS
(PSSST - Tell a friend!)

Curious about what your home may be worth in our current real estate market? Click here for a no obligation comparative market analysis. Thank you for including us in your real estate journey!

OFFERED AT: $484,000
5625 SINCLAIR ST
WEST LINN, OR 

Welcome to your new home in West Linn nestled on a spacious and secluded private lot in a desirable neighborhood. This charming home offers a perfect blend of modern updates and classic charm making it an ideal retreat for you and your loved ones. Step into your own private sanctuary, surrounded by lush greenery and mature trees providing a sense of serenity and privacy that's hard to come by. As you enter the home, you'll be greeted by an abundance of natural light filtering through the brand new windows. Windows are an extruded wood composite (energy efficient and durable). The home boasts a newish roof, providing you with added peace of mind regarding maintenance and longevity. With three cozy bedrooms, this home is perfect for families or those seeking extra space for guests, a home office, or hobbies. Fiberoptic internet.

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5406 ARCADE AVE NE
KEIZER, OR 97303
3BR/2BA/1663sf
OFFERED AT $449,000

This lovely ranch style home is nestled on a spacious lot on a mature street. This home has so much potential! The traditional floor plan sets 3 good sized bedrooms at one end of the home, one with built-in cabinets. The primary bedroom has a 3-piece ensuite and 2 large closets. Upgrades include a new large walk-in shower with roller system in the main bathroom and vinyl windows. An office in the home could potentially be used as a fourth bedroom. This room has a walkout to the large fenced-in yard.

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• New listings (1,026) decreased 4.4% from the 1,073 listed in December 2022, and decreased 43.9% from the 1,828 listed in November 2023.

• Pending sales (1,309) increased 8.5% from the 1,206 offers accepted in December 2022, and decreased 9.2% from the 1,441 offers accepted in November 2023.

• Closed sales (1,330) decreased 9.2% from the 1,464 closings in December 2022, and decreased 1.0% from the 1,344 closings in November 2023. Inventory and Time on Market Inventory decreased to 2.7 months in December. Total market time increased to 60 days.

• Comparing the twelve months of 2023 to the same period in 2022, new listings (29,689) decreased 18.0%, pending sales (21,363) decreased 20.4%, and closed sales (20,941) decreased 25.2%. 

• Comparing 2023 to 2022 through December, the average sale price has decreased 2.1% from $610,900 to $598,000. In the same comparison, the median sale price has decreased 3.0% from $548,400 to $532,000.