portland, oregon september 6 (and 7) 2025

Making some plans to be in the portland area in september.  

I used to get booked solid with speaking gigs, but that didn't happen the last time i went through portland.  So my guess is that there is still no interest in that.

I know that there will be a potluck near portland while i am in the area.  We can visit about gardening, rocket mass heaters, and all sorts of stuff!

And I am curious if there are fun things I should consider doing when in the area.  I went to the Japanese gardens last time.  I've been to omsi a dozen times.  What else?

If you need a stopover just East of Sandpoint, you would be welcome for dinner, camping & breakfast. :)

The Latoutell area in the Gorge has some cool waterfall hikes. If you're not going through the gorge on your route to Portland, that whole area has some great views and is worth a drive if you're over that way.

I lived in Corbett for a couple months and the Grange there (Columbia Grange 267) was fairly active, in good shape, and a great spot for mid-sized gatherings. I know there's at least a few like-minded people in that neck of the woods. Just outside the urban growth boundary.

The art museum has a first peoples wing that is great, mostly funded by the Spirit Mountain Tribe.

The history museum has interesting stuff and a resource library. They also have a pioneer house somewhere that may be interestjng.

Jean Auel did a bunch of research for her cave-bear series of books at the public library, and there is an interesting Carnegie library in the historically African American 'hood across from a Portland Community College campus.

Kennedy School and other McMenamin locations are also interestkng. There is a Detention Bar for whiskey drinkers. I do not know what is in the Honor Bar these days. They may also have a cider bar. If they don't, somebody does.

The Cider Festival is fun. I am not sure exactly when it happens.Mango Habanero anyone? People bring pages of fine print with different ciders to rate.

I have been out of The US for a long time. I expect these things are still there though.

Hi Paul!
Remember that snow storm that people, eager to see you, traversed through sketchy roads and road conditions to our house to hear what you had to say and greet you?
That was a nice visit at our farmhouse.
I'm curious if you'd want to do that again?
Better weather,, however.
Or conduct a workshop?  Or.... I'm open to ideas.
We now have a new barn to accommodate more folks.
I'm 30 minutes north of the Columbia River/state border.
Reach out if that sounds interesting.
Carm

Ryan Oeschger wrote:If you need a stopover just East of Sandpoint, you would be welcome for dinner, camping & breakfast. :)

Maybe we should start a new thread for that idea.  

I was a speaker at an event there in recent years.  Sandpoint has transformed into a really nice town!  I think it might be fun to just pop over for a potluck!

Carma Nykanen wrote:Hi Paul!
Remember that snow storm that people, eager to see you, traversed through sketchy roads and road conditions to our house to hear what you had to say and greet you?
That was a nice visit at our farmhouse.
I'm curious if you'd want to do that again?
Better weather,, however.
Or conduct a workshop?  Or.... I'm open to ideas.
We now have a new barn to accommodate more folks.
I'm 30 minutes north of the Columbia River/state border.
Reach out if that sounds interesting.
Carm

That does sound good.  I had a great time there.  Good folk.  And lots of really good discussion afterward!

Are you wanting another presentation?

Mary Saunders wrote:
Kennedy School and other McMenamin locations are also interestkng.

I have stayed there many times!  And I learned that if you sign up at the last minute, you get a teeny tiny room that isn't nearly as cool as some of the other rooms!

paul wheaton wrote:

Ryan Oeschger wrote:If you need a stopover just East of Sandpoint, you would be welcome for dinner, camping & breakfast. :)

Maybe we should start a new thread for that idea.  

I was a speaker at an event there in recent years.  Sandpoint has transformed into a really nice town!  I think it might be fun to just pop over for a potluck!

Done  :)  We're happy to host!  Let us know when you're thinking.

https://permies.com/t/282361/Sandpoint-Area-Potluck-Paul

Eliot and I are out of town from the 9th to the 21st of September. I am on call from 29 August to 4 September. So, the very first weekend in September is a good time, the next two weekends we are out, the last weekend in September is also an option.

So i might be in the portland area friday, sep 5 and head back to montana on monday the 8th.  Something like that.

Do something with Carma one day and a potluck and property walkabout with julia and eliot another day.  

Carma, does this day time frame work for you?  I asked this more than a week ago:  Are you wanting another presentation?

I would have thought we would have heard back from carma long before now.  Maybe she changed her mind.

I would second the idea of hikes in the gorge. Near Portland.
John S
PDX OR

Well, it's probably faster to go the northern way, through Washington. But if you'd like to come south, and go through my tiny town, you could meet my SKIP scouts! I could put together a group to hear you speak and see if they buy some better world or skip books?

Rebekah Harmon wrote:Well, it's probably faster to go the northern way, through Washington. But if you'd like to come south, and go through my tiny town, you could meet my SKIP scouts! I could put together a group to hear you speak and see if they buy some better world or skip books?

Start a new thread with this idea and we will see if we can get some traction for the idea.  It would have to be a separate trip (adding it to this trip would double my drive time - although, I suppose if I add it to one leg of my trip, it could cut about 6 hours off of my drive time for two trips).

Plus, I have never stopped in boise - maybe it is time to have a good look.

This trip:  I do want to spend 30 minutes putting my toes in the sand at the beach on the oregon coast.  Anybody have suggestions on which beach?

paul wheaton wrote:This trip:  I do want to spend 30 minutes putting my toes in the sand at the beach on the oregon coast.  Anybody have suggestions on which beach?

Cannon Beach was my go-to when I lived in Portland. It's lovely. Highly recommended and it's not far South off of highway 26 from Portland.

I second Cannon Beach.

A possibility would be to start in Portland, take Hwy 26, go to Cannon Beach, and continue South on 101, maybe stop in Manzanita - very cute little town. In Tillamook take Hwy 6 back to Portland. Nice scenic drive.

"Plus, I have never stopped in boise - maybe it is time to have a good look."

I don't have a lot of contacts in Boise, but maybe Clay does? Idk if an event we put on would be worth your time on its own? Worth a look

paul wheaton wrote:Making some plans to be in the portland area in september.  

And I am curious if there are fun things I should consider doing when in the area.  I went to the Japanese gardens last time.  I've been to omsi a dozen times.  What else?

I live in the Portland area. Tell me what you like to do, and I'll likely have suggestions. I don't know what your car situation is, but there's plenty in and outside the public transportation areas, and there are often tours that drive out to places from the city, and I'm sure online friends would be happy to take you on a tour of their favorite places. Most of the online top 10 guides will tell you about the usual stuff in Portland that you can take the Max to. If you have a car and want to do a day trip, there are lots of adventures to choose from.

For beaches where you can touch the water, Canon Beach has iconic Haystack rock. Seaside has beach people (think roller skates and bubbles). Sunset Beach is nice if you want to drive your car onto the beach, which is good if you want to stay close to your car.and stuff (just make sure you pay attention to the tides). Ecola State Park has beautiful views and hiking and has beach access. Astoria isn't so great for the beach, but it is lovely to visit the docks and watch the ships.

History: Chachalu, Warm Springs, Japanese American Museum, Oregon History Museum, Hi Desert Museum (in Bend), End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Ft Stevens and Ft Clatsop, Portland Art Museum.

The Japanese garden is beautiful, and the Chinese garden is too, and the Leech Botanical Garden is pretty, but if you're looking for something less manicured, try the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area (need to reserve a time to visit Multnomah Falls and pay an extra fee on top of the Day pass for the Gorge) and Mt Hood Forest (Trillium Lake is the first place I suggest to new visitors, need a day use pass).

Want something Portland-ish? The Peculiarium. The tunnel tours under the city. Food carts. Voodoo. River cruise if you want to watch the view go by while you relax.

If you're willing to head to Hood River, they've got the train, rail bikes, and some super yummy farms (Hood River Fruit Loop) that will be selling a bunch of yummies in September.

Permaculture stuff: Get in touch with Angela at Parkrose Permaculture. She does suburban permaculture and is rather popular on YouTube. There also Andrew Millison at OSU in Corvallis who teaches courses and has some amazing international examples of permaculture.

If you are into volcanoes, try Newberry Volcanic Monument or head up to Washington for Mt St Helens or Ape Caves.

Want to see some awesome desert river ecosystem stuff and amazing rock climbers, head to Smith Rock State Park.

And if you want to participate in a protest, there's almost always one happening somewhere around here. Indivisible has weekly events.

Show up hungry. There's lots of good food.

Kailash village is a cooperative living place where they do permaculture.  I would check them out:

https://www.kailashecovillage.org/

John S
PDX OR

Oneonta Falls are the most unique and interesting hike I've ever gone to in the Gorge... If you're willing to do what some people do and climb over the log jam. It's a short adventure (though I haven't been there for a few years since the fires. Can anyone verify if it's re-opened?

Cannon Beach is good.

I would also check out Columbia Ecovillage:

Founded as a permaculture place with cohousing. Laura from Raintree has a video on them, showing hugulkultur.

https://columbiaecovillage.org/

John S
PDX OR

re: portland visit:

we could host a talk here and probably get some folx out if there's something you want to rap about.........or else just come by and eat pizza ?  we are in ne

suze

Oh my goodness if you do speak somewhere I want to come and listen!  Feel encouraged to let us know in this post what your final plans are re. public events!

John Suavecito wrote:Kailash village is a cooperative living place where they do permaculture.  I would check them out:

https://www.kailashecovillage.org/

Glad to .... something ....  are they posting to this thread?

Get in touch with Angela at Parkrose Permaculture.

Is she posting in this thread?

There also Andrew Millison at OSU in Corvallis

Andrew is great!  I have exchanged emails with him in the past.

It sounds like there will be pizza and potluck at Julia's place on september 6.  So pizza and potluck is covered.

There was a mention of me giving a presentation somewhere, but it seems like that might not materialize.  Oh well.  

And i think i will pop over to canon beach, dip my toes in the ocean and zip back to portland.

Any suggestions on a nice place to stay?

Want something Portland-ish? The Peculiarium.

Oooooooo ....   that looks worth a stop ...

paul wheaton wrote:

John Suavecito wrote:Kailash village is a cooperative living place where they do permaculture.  I would check them out:

https://www.kailashecovillage.org/

Glad to .... something ....  are they posting to this thread?

No. Just me.  I've been there before and it's really interesting.  They are usually open to visits, especially if you tell them who you are.

John S
PDX OR

John Suavecito wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:

John Suavecito wrote:Kailash village is a cooperative living place where they do permaculture.  I would check them out:

https://www.kailashecovillage.org/

Glad to .... something ....  are they posting to this thread?

No. Just me.  I've been there before and it's really interesting.  They are usually open to visits, especially if you tell them who you are.

If they post to this thread and invite me, I will explore adding a day to my trip.

Honestly you could stay in our guest room at my house, but you don't know me yet, so I understand if that's a no-thanks for you.  BTW I like your brand of snarc in this thread.

paul wheaton wrote:It sounds like there will be pizza and potluck at Julia's place on september 6.  So pizza and potluck is covered.

Julia Winter, who has a rocket oven in her backyard? I will do my best to be there!

Wish I could come and hang out by that rocket oven.


From this thread here.

Rebekah Harmon wrote:
"Plus, I have never stopped in boise - maybe it is time to have a good look."

I don't have a lot of contacts in Boise, but maybe Clay does? Idk if an event we put on would be worth your time on its own? Worth a look

Rebekah,

If you hosted a potluck, how many people do you think would come?  Create a thread and I'll see if I can direct people there.  

They have a tour every Saturday at 3:00

If you are interested in renting a space at Kailash or want to learn about sustainable urban living in SE Portland, you’re invited to join our monthly in-person tour.  

Tours are held the first Saturday of the month at 3:00 p.m., from March to November. If you are unable to attend in person, you can also check out a video tour of the property recorded in April, 2020.

Angela from Parkrose Permaculture made a video about it.

https://www.kailashecovillage.org/contact

John S
PDX OR

I've been trying to send a purple moosage to Julia, but my inbox shows me no such message sent.  Trying to get info on the Sept. 6th gathering in the hopes I can come.  I guess I'll post the pm malfunction on the "tinkering with this site" section, because maybe others are having similar pm challenges with each other.

Problem solved thanks all, but unfortunately it isn't in transit range out in the country.  Good for y'all but not good for bus-dependent me, unless I can get my husband that day off of work.  I'll try and if possible I hope to see y'all.

Sep 6 is julia and eliot about a half hour south of portland.  

And it sounds like the next day could be mark, about a half hour west of portland

https://permies.com/t/283953/Meet-Paul-Wheaton-Person-Host#3108289

Still need to get Mark's event to be official.  But I like it!

Maybe some people will go to both?

Should I try to bring some walking onions and sunchokes that people can plant in their gardens?