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City Cast Portland

The Weekly Wander

Are you looking for the next great gluten-free bakery? A dance night at an underground Art Deco speakeasy? A secluded nature trail where you can dodge the weekend crowds? The Weekly Wander hits your inbox every Sunday with neighborhood guides filled with hidden gems and unexpected ways to explore our city. Sign up now for the new weekly newsletter from City Cast Portland (and suddenly become the friend who makes all the cool plans for the group).

Sign up for The Weekly Wander Newsletter

Ben McBee

 carried out during the late 1950s settled across the southeast end of downtown Portland, the city experienced overwhelming international acclaim for a central component of the development — Lawrence Halprin’s 

The series of fountains, parks, and plazas was inspired by the wild abstraction of nature, bringing jagged mountain crags and undulating rivers into the urban environment. 

 blended apartment buildings with the surrounding foliage and tree canopy seamlessly.

, which The New York Times architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable called “one of the most important urban spaces since the Renaissance.”

This masterpiece of landscape architecture is also credited with spurring Portland’s enthusiasm for establishing more parks and protecting green spaces.

To see more sketches from the project, visit 

Every award-winning park starts with a sketch. See the history behind one of Portland’s most famous green spaces.

Take a Stroll Along the Portland Open Space Sequence

Side Quest: Drawing Nature into the City

The Weekly Wander newsletter is your neighborhood guide filled with hidden gems and unexpected ways to explore Portland, OR. Get it in your inbox every Sunday.

The Weekly Wander by City Cast Portland

Portland State University sprawls across more than 40 blocks of downtown Portland, creating a neighborhood that ebbs and flows with the students. Although the 

 brings people to the area regardless of the season, campus truly comes alive when fall rolls around: Business picks up at local restaurants, 

 fill up the calendar. There’s plenty to look forward to throughout the year, but this week, we’re looking to the past.

Why You Should Visit This Week: Catrinas in the Street

, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and parts of Central and South America that honors family and friends who are no longer with us. In Mexico, an elegant skeleton woman depicted in fancy attire called 

 is an important symbol associated with the festivities, as she represents the equality we all face in death.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., embrace the spirit at 

, a vibrant celebration of heritage and cultural expression held in 

. Participants dressed in calavera makeup and traditional garb will walk in a parade and fashion contest alongside musical performances, food carts, and craft vendors. The event’s organizer, 

, fosters a space of belonging and healing and invites all attendees to bring something that reminds you of your deceased loved ones (such as a flower, photograph, toy, etc.) to place on the 

Forget dorm food; there are plenty of quality restaurants off campus that appeal to students squeezing in a meal between classes — or really anyone looking for a bite in that neck of the woods.

 serves up loaded fried chicken sandwiches 14 different ways.

🍱 Get pan-Asian fare like the Korean beef bento or the Bangkok burger without breaking the bank at 

🥙 Grab a lamb wrap or falafel gyro Chappell Roan style (that’s hot-to-go) at 

🥡 If you crave the tongue-tingling spice of Szechuan cuisine, 

 may just be the best in the city. Load up on xiao long bao, pork wontons, and beef noodle soup.

🇧🇿 You get warm hospitality and flavors of the Caribbean at 

🍸 Take in skyline views and enjoy a cocktail by the fire on the rooftop patio at 

Arts & Entertainment: 1920s Vogue and Art from Down Under

, the south end of downtown Portland is a cultural corridor. Let’s take a look at what’s on right now.

 Fresh on display is “The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art” and on the way out are “Abstraction Since Mark Rothko” and “Inkling Studio: Community and Printmaking in Portland” — 

 This month, the Portland Art Museum’s Center for an Untold Tomorrow is showing vintage horror films, including “Lost Highway,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Eyes Without a Face,” and “Night of the Living Dead.”

 Richly hued, vaguely organic forms jump off the prints at “Anish Kapoor: Dissolving Margins,” open until Dec. 5, 2026.

 Explore a photographic time capsule of women’s fashion in the post-World War I era originally captured at Bushnell Studio and compiled for 

 “La Traviata,” the beloved and historic opera, a performance from Beck on the artist’s Ride Lonesome Tour, Penn & Teller, and comedy from Brett Goldstein (who plays Roy Kent in “Ted Lasso”) are all coming to the stage.

Did we miss something around the PSU end of town? 

PSU/South Downtown recs

📲 Your PSU/South Downtown Recommendations

There’s always something to do around the South Park Blocks, from the PSU Farmers Market to cultural celebrations like Catrinas en la Calle.

Your Guide to Portland State University

Eerie mist hovers over unending rows. Hordes gather and slowly make their way out of the suburbs. Figures bring cups of red liquid to their lips. It’s harvest time in Willamette Valley wine country — and that chill in the air just ran down your spine, didn’t it?

 are a great way to get into the spooky season, but so is wine tasting — and many of the local vineyards host hair-raising (and glass-raising) 

🍷 What’s more unnerving than a pour you weren’t prepared for? That’s the energy at Saffron Fields Vineyard’s 

 (Saturday, Oct. 17), a showcase of producers who take Oregon’s signature grape and turn it into something unrecognizable.

🎃 Highlights of Brooks Wine’s Halloweek festivities include a 

 demonstration where you can chat with local artist Joey Edwards (Tuesday, Oct. 27), as well as “

 an interactive mystery dinner where guests work together to crack the case (Wednesday, Oct. 28).

🎥 Take in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on the big screen at Knudsen Vineyards’ 

 (Saturday, Oct. 31), where costumes are encouraged, and each ticket comes with a bag of 

Frightful festivities from beyond the grapes await as Willamette Valley wineries host Halloween events. Throw on your costume and get ready for scary good wine tasting.

Spend Spooky Season in Portland’s wine country

Side Quest: From Beyond the Grape

For thousands of travelers heading up Interstate 5, Tualatin is just one of several exits before you reach Portland, but for about 28,000 or so, 

. Sure, the suburb may not quite have the culinary pull of Beaverton, or the walkable downtown of Tigard, but it does have beautiful forested neighborhoods and a charming sense of community.

Why You Should Visit This Week: Ya 'Gatta Be There

 welcomes an armada of monsters and fast-movers for a day of splish-splash-squash. It’s the 

, the annual race to see which costumed captain can paddle their vessel — in this case a gargantuan, hollowed-out gourd — around the fountain and back to the finish line fastest.

Join the cheering crowds on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and take in all of the other fall fun. There’s plenty of entertainment, from the 

, professional pumpkin carvers, and an array of pumpkin-based games (bowling, golf, tic-tac-toe, and checkers), concessions, face painting, and more. High attendance makes parking in the area challenging, but a 

Admission is free. Plus, there are two other lead-up events:

Enjoy wood-fired pizza and craft beer at 

 compete for cash prizes with their oversized vegetables in the Terminator Weigh-Off.

 to help support Tualatin Rotary’s scholarships and community programs. Strollers and four-legged friends are welcome.

Looking to grab a bite before or after the festivities? Here are a few nearby options.

☕ Embrace the art of afternoon tea at Doja Tea Lounge by dining on delicacies like finger sandwiches and scones. This 

 includes a pumpkin spice panna cotta and sweet potato crostini.

 is anchored in the Tualatin community and should be your first port of call for tasty burgers, sandwiches, and pub bites.

🥖 Recently opened and serving up Vietnamese cuisine, 

 makes a mean bánh mì in addition to a breakfast sandwich, BBQ pork buns, curry chicken, and beef stew soup. Grab an iced coffee while you’re there, too.

In 1992, a beautiful stretch of wetlands and oak savanna along Highway 99 was protected from urban growth thanks to a dedicated group of local residents. Their efforts helped establish the 

, a diverse ecosystem that’s home to more than 200 species of birds among many other animals, including bats, salamanders, and otters.

Today, the Visitor Center offers educational programs for children, and hikers can walk a network of picturesque paths (the Wetland Trail is closed May 1 through Sept. 30 to safeguard wintering waterfowl, but the River Trail is open year-round). Whether you have 15 minutes to peer from the observation deck or half a day to explore, it’s well worth a stop.

 through David’s Chair, available Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to Noon.

Tualatin recs

📲 Your Tualatin Recommendations

Don’t rock the gourd or you’ll miss Tualatin’s West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta when it returns Oct. 18. Join the fun and see what else the suburb has to offer.

Your Guide to Tualatin, Oregon

Your Guide to Tualatin

There are many things the resident goats of Portland are good at. 

. Knocking down buzzer-beaters (wait, that’s a different kind of 

Their best ability may just be brightening your day, so bookmark these spots on your 

, at the corner of Northeast 109th Avenue and Prescott Street in Parkrose, is home to Chidi and Eleanor, named for the leading characters of NBC’s hit television show 

 Feeding these animals shouldn’t be a moral quandary; in fact, you’re encouraged to pull some treats out of the dispenser to give them.

 is the end of a long and winding road for 

 that’s bounced around the city since 2012. Stop by Pier Park anytime to say hello, or wait for the weekend to 

Several chickens and a rabbit share straw with the horned-and-hooved critters at the 

 and a shelter with a whimsical fairy garden roof.

Of course, if you want to bring the cuteness to you, Portland Goat Parties can oblige (their 

Need a mood boost? Portland's goats deliver. Here's where to visit, feed, and hang out with the city's most charming herds, from St. Johns to Sellwood.

Where to See Goats in Portland, Oregon

Side Quest: A Smile That Can’t Be Bleat

) this way comes. It’s almost pumpkin patch season on Sauvie Island, that time of year when caravans arrive in search of colorful squash to carve, apples covered in caramel, and artistically planted cornfields to get lost in.

Beyond jack-o’-lanterns in waiting, each stop offers something different to visitors.

This farm aims to control the crowds by requiring timed-entry tickets, which range from free to $15, depending on the day you visit and whether you buy them online or at the gate. Inside, you’ll find 

: U-pick fields, kids’ play areas with pumpkin bowling and tractor trikes, a pumpkin gazebo photo-op, animal encounters, sweet treats like apple cider doughnuts, smash burgers, and more. Rides on the mini digger and cow train are available for purchase, too.

Celebrate a successful pumpkin haul with a glass of this farm’s cider or wine (varieties include pinot noir, blueberry, strawberry, and blackberry) or a snack in Bella’s Courtyard. Of course, the main attraction is the corn maze, which turns very scary once the sun sets. Running Sept. 26 to Oct. 30, the 

 features ghouls, goblins, and other ghastly monsters. Don’t miss the costume party on the final night.

What has droopy ears, heart-melting eyes, and a moo to make you swoon? Brahman cows, of course, and the ones at this farm (along with the other critters in the barn) will certainly help you get in the harvest spirit. Grab a PSL from The Pumpkin Perk coffee cart and take a hay ride around the property or watch the little ones climb the hay pyramid. This year’s 8-acre corn maze celebrates America’s 250th birthday with a depiction of George Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware.

It’s almost pumpkin patch season on Sauvie Island, that time of year when caravans arrive in search of colorful squash to carve, and apples covered in caramel.

Have a Pick of the Pumpkin Patches on Sauvie Island

Side Quest: Go Big or Gourd Home

Located about 10 miles northwest of downtown Portland, 

 is a slice of nature that draws city folks year-round thanks to its hiking trails, wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing, 

). It’s also home to sprawling farms that grow everything from berries and flowers in the spring to pumpkins and corn in the fall. There’s only one entry point to the island — the 

 — so weekend traffic can be a headache during the harvest season. Still, with a bit of planning and an early-bird mentality, it’s well worth the trip.

Why You Should Visit This Week: U-Pick Apples

September is peak apple-picking in the Pacific Northwest; if you don’t feel like driving all the way to Hood River and the 

, then set your sights closer to home and visit 

. Open for U-pick Saturday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), the fifth-generation family farm grows 

 that ripen at different phases of fall, including McIntosh, Rome, Criterion, and Golden Delicious. Gravenstein apples are already available in the farm store.

From the entrance, you’ll have to take a short bus ride ( $2 per person) to reach the orchards. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and leave your pets at home. Bags and boxes are available to carry your haul.

Outdoors: Oregon’s Tallest Bird & Smallest Lighthouse

Driving along Sauvie Island’s eastern edge, you’ll catch glimpses of cargo ships drifting up the Columbia River like floating skyscrapers, with the imposing form of Mount St. Helens rising above the treeline on the opposite shore. Eventually, Reeder Road ends at a parking lot and a trailhead. After 

 through white oak and cottonwood trees, 

which turn a brilliant yellow in the autumn

, the smallest lighthouse in Oregon. It’s a serene spot to catch your breath, enjoy a sandwich, and watch for sea lions and regal 

Willamette River Greenway - Wapato Access

If it grows on Sauvie Island, chances are you can find it at 

. While you’re there, wander sunflower fields and 

, take home flats of blackberries, tomatoes, and other in-season veggies, or shop cuts of 

 and usually sell out in a flash, as do the 

 on Wednesday nights. During the weekend, the grill’s going from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving up brats, grilled corn, hand pies, popsicles, and more — the ideal lunch when you’re out exploring.

Sauvie Island recs

📲 Your Sauvie Island Recommendations

Located about 10 miles northwest of downtown Portland, Sauvie Island is a slice of nature that draws city folks year-round.

Your Guide to Sauvie Island in Portland, Oregon

Your Guide to Sauvie Island

 down below does actually fall within its borders, too.

As its name suggests, the peninsula that juts out into the Willamette River once had water flowing on all sides, although continual dredging was necessary to maintain channels deep enough for ships to navigate. It wasn’t until 1927 that the 

Port of Portland received approval from Congress

 to fill in the northern end while widening the southern passage.

Material from the riverbed tripled the size of Swan Island, and for the next 13 years (until 1940), it served as 

 paid a visit for its dedication in the Spirit of St. Louis, not long after his historic solo nonstop transatlantic flight.

, providing housing and jobs for workers who built 146 tanker ships, vital for refueling the U.S. Navy’s fleet.

, you can experience a preserved patrol boat from this era (although it was originally built in New Orleans). Tours are offered Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and advance notice is required.

While most of the Overlook neighborhood sits above the bluffs, the industrial area of Swan Island down below does actually fall within its borders, too.

A Quick History of Swan Island in Portland, Oregon

Side Quest: Charting History’s Course

As the setting sun casts a parting summer’s kiss upon the Fremont Bridge and the downtown skyline behind it, it’s easy to see the appeal of Overlook. Beyond the 

, the North Portland neighborhood has plenty of perks: access to the 

. Even Adidas is living its best “Three Stripe Life” here — you can’t miss the company’s sprawling 

Why You Should Visit This Week: Pierogies and Polka

 on North Interstate Avenue has served as a gathering place for Portland’s Polish community. Along with the historic Polish Hall across the street, they host the annual 

, which will take place this year on Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20.

Established in 1993, the celebration is the oldest and largest Polish festival in the Western U.S.; last year, more than 12,000 attendees ate 10,000 pierogies (

). On top of traditional foods such as kielbasa, bigos stew, and filled doughnuts called 

, there’s also a beer garden, a variety of dance performances, live polka music, merch vendors, and exhibits highlighting Polish history and culture.

Whether you can trace your ancestry back to Poland or simply appreciate a party, all are invited to this family-friendly event.

Overlook hits all the notes when it comes to dining. 

. A welcoming bar with daily drink combos and karaoke? We suggest 

. Farm-to-table, to-go fare can be found at 

, and there are even a few chains — of both the local variety (the original 

Expect old-school island vibes and mai tais at 

 is a sleek, modern taphouse where fans gather to cheer on the 

 is good for old fashioneds, flavor-dusted popcorn, hearty handheld eats, and pickle juice in your Rainier.

 is a light and airy cafe serving milk and fruit teas as well as iced matcha drinks.

Whiskey comes first, but the pizza is worth the wait at 

🍗 Spanish-style rotisserie chicken and tapas are calling at 

, which offers a solid sauce selection to pair with each expertly-cooked bird.

 is the Portland vegan fast food spot that wants to flip the industry like an Impossible burger. The flagship location, 

, sits at the entrance to Swan Island and serves up classic fries, faux-chicken nuggets, and pea-protein shakes.

, built in the late 1920s, was owned by Herman and Elvira Raven, proprietors of Raven Creamery in downtown Portland. The couple was generous with their home, often providing it as a meeting place for neighborhood groups. Over the years it has also hosted a daycare, community classrooms, a polling station for voters, and even outdoor concerts. Lovebirds are able to rent the picturesque manor and its immaculate grounds for 

Overlook recs

📲 Your Overlook Recommendations

Beyond the views, the North Portland neighborhood has plenty of perks: access to the MAX Yellow Line, cocktail lounges, and residents who can seriously play.

Your Guide to the Overlook Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon

Your Guide to Overlook

Just like professional athletes, serious fans 

. Maybe you have to wear your beat-up Blazers hat (the one with 

) or you won’t take a sip of your beer until the Fire drill a three (our money’s on Bridget Carleton).

We don’t want to throw you off your game, but we do have some fun suggestions to spice up your traditions on the way to the Rose Quarter to watch basketball.