Oregon

Manzanita-

• Pancake Breakfast- From 8:30 to 11 am there is a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall.
• Parade- There will be a parade and live music starting at 1 pm.
• Independence Day Celebration- Directly after the parade, head to Nehalem Bay Winery for a BBQ and live music and dancing.  There is no cover charge, and the whole family is invited to attend.  Nehalem Bay Winery is on Highway 53 near Wheeler, one mile from the Highway 101 junction.  For more information, call (888)368-9463, or check them out on the web at http://oregon.today.com/wp-admin/www.nehalembaywinery.com.
• Fireworks-Fireworks will take over the skies at dusk.  If you want a real treat, pack some food and head up early to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain north of Manzanita, and enjoy the fireworks displays from Seaside, Manzanita, and Rockaway Beach.  Be sure to get there long before the show!
• Can’t find it?  Check Google Maps Manzanita, Oregon

Rockaway Beach

• Parade-A Parade will march through Rockaway Beach starting at 11 am.  It will start at the School Administration Building, and head down to Hwy 101 from Bank to Third. 
• 4^th of July Auction-Directly after the parade, there will be an auction hosted by the Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce at the Red Caboose at Wayside.
• Kids Fun Day on the Beach-The Lion’s Club sponsors this annual event featuring games and excitement for children of all ages.  The fun gets underway at 1pm.
• Fireworks Display-When the sun goes down, the fireworks will fly over the beach.  It’s truly a site to see.
• For more information call (503)355-2291
• Can’t find it?  Check Google Maps Rockaway Beach, Oregon.

Oceanside

• Fireworks-The town of Oceanside, which is West of Tillamook, will be set at dusk.  The display can be seen from Netarts.
• Can’t find it? Check Google Maps Oceanside, Oregon.

Pacific City

• Pacific City’s Independence Day celebration will coincide with the Clover Days celebration, and be on Saturday, the 5^th of July rather than the traditional day, July 4^th.
• All-you-can-eat breakfast-7-10 am, the Lin’s will be hosting a pancake all-you-can-eat breakfast at the VFW Hall.  Prices are $6.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children under 12.
• Kid’s Corner-From 10 am-3 pm, kids can enjoy a free surrey ride, free ice cream, a bouncy house, a Ferrier demonstration, art, food, and vendors.
• Parade-At 11 am, come see the 27^th annual Clover’s Day Parade.
• Free Concert-Immediately following the parade, there will be a free convert featuring the popular “Calamity Jazz” from Eugene, Oregon.  Bridge street will be closed for the show.
• Fireworks-The fireworks will be set off on the beach at dark.
• Kiwanda Music Festival-At 2 pm, six bands from all over Oregon, with diverse styles of music will play at the southwest corner of the Cape Kiwanda parking lot.  There will also be arts and craft vendors.  For more information, call (541)996-7746.
• For all Clover’s Day information, please contact the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce at (503)392-4340, or email them at manager@pcnvchamber.org.  For firework information, call (503)965-7102.
• Can’t find it? Check Google Maps Pacific City, Oregon.

Oregon is not only unique in it’s diversity of terrain, it’s also unique in it’s diversity of Independence Day Celebrations.  Weather you’re travelling the coast, or watching the fireworks display in the Portland Area,  you’re in for a treat like no other.  Here are some North Coast clebrations:

Astoria

• Liberate the Ales Festival- Held at Fort George Brewery + Public House in Astoria, the Liberate the Ales Festival is welcome to all ages, and for no cover charge, enjoy a beer garden, with an expansive selection of beers, music, dancing, and a BBQ.

• Fireworks- Fireworks will be held over the
  Columbia River.  They will be shot from the East End   

Mooring Basin at 37th Street.  Be sure to get there early to get a good spot, and enjoy the explosions after the sun goes down.

• Call (800)875-6807 for more information

• Can’t find it?  Check Google Maps Astoria, Oregon

Warrenton-

• Ft Stevens will be hosting some special events, visit their website for more information, or call (503)561-1470.  http://www.visitftstevens.com./events.htm

• Family Fun Fair-The Family Fun Fair will be held at City
  Park in Warrenton from Noon to 7:00 in the evening.  There will be vendors, live music, a petting zoo, inflatable play structures, games, and races for all ages.  The Warrenton Fire Department will have a BBQ at the fire station starting at noon.

• Parade- A parade will go through downtown Warrenton starting at 3pm on Main Street between 2nd and 9th.  Call (800)875-6807 for more information

• Can’t find it?  Check Google Maps Warrenton, Oregon

Seaside

• Parade- The Museum Society will hold an old fashion Independence Day Parade beginning at 11 in the morning

• American Flag Cake Testing- There will be cake served in front of the Pacific Crest Cottage at Noon.  It’s first come-first serve, so make sure you get a bite!  For more info, go to http://www.pacificcrestcottage.com/.

• Old Fashion social- An Old Fashion Social will be held at the Seaside Museum & Historical Society from Noon-4 pm.

• Oregon Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corp. - The Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp. will be holding a free concert at Quatat
  Park at 3 pm after marching across the Promenade.

• 4th of July Street Fair-   The Street Fair on Broadway will start at Noon and go until 8 pm.  There will be face painting, a petting zoo, activities, vendors, and entertainment all day.

• Fireworks- Seaside sets off the largest fireworks display on the Oregon
  Coast at dark.  The show will be set to music which will be broadcast along the Promenade and on local radio station KSWB AM 840.  The display also includes a “Fireworks Free Zone” on the beach incase your family doesn’t want to be in a crowded area where spectators are lighting their own personal displays. 

• For more information, call (800)444-6740, or visit the Seaside Visitors Bureau.

• Beach Clean Up- SOLV will be holding a post Firework beach clean-up on July 5, 2008.  With July 4th falling on a Friday, it’s expected that there will be a large jump in tourist visiting the Oregon Coast.  If you are spending the weekend in the Seaside area, spend some time helping us keep the beaches clean.

• Can’t find it?  Check Google Maps Seaside, Oregon

Cannon
Beach

• Independence Day Parade- The Cannon Beach Independence Day Parade, on July 4th, starts at 11am.  This parade features the infamous Lawn Chair Drill Team that also doubles as a kazoo band.  Right after the parade begins, weather permitting, the parade will include a flyover by two F-15’s from the Oregon Air National Guard.  The parade will begin at 11am at Spruce and
  Monroe streets where it will begin by traveling north on Spruce to 3rd where it will head south on Hemlock and back to the Legion hall. 

• Veteran’s Open House- There will be an open house for veterans at the Legion Hall.  For more information, contact the Legion Hall at (503)436-2973.

• Fireworks- Due to the bird sanctuaries on Haystack Rock, there will be no fireworks display, and personal fireworks are banned from the beach completely, but Seaside is just a short jaunt up Hwy 101 from Cannon Beach, so don’t despair about missing a big display.

• Can’t find it?  Check  Google Maps Cannon Beach

 Bright and early on the morning of the 21^st, 400

children and their families were invited to the World Premier of “The Tails of Abbygail”. Two stretched limousines were sent to the Children’s Hospital to pick up handicapped children for the event. Everyone arrived to walk the red carpet in amazement as they entered the Sandy
Cinema.  It was a beautiful day to have a Hollywood caliber movie premier in
Sandy, Oregon. All

of the children attending got tiaras or pirate eye patches, sparkling apple cider in fancy decorated champagne flutes, cotton candy, and fresh buttered popcorn.  Everyone waited in anticipation for the stars of the show to make their appearance. Excitement mounted as the guests were served fabulous treats while they waited.  Suddenly, little girls and boys exploded with excitement as the stars of the movie arrived in their very own Hummer decked out in Abbygail decor. One-by-one, they made their way down the red carpet, stopping to greet and get a pet by everyone along the way.

Excitedly, guests filed into the theater to watch “The Tails of Abbygail”.  Before the show, Terri Lynn and Al Link, the creators of “The Tails of Abbygail”, along with “friends of the cast” greeted the crowd again, and spoke about how important this film is to children everywhere. 

 Suddenly, the lights went out, and the show began, and that’s where we met Abbygail, a curious Jack Russell Terrier who wishes her toy friends would come to life and play with her.  We watched as they did, and went on a grand adventure filled with fun, life lessons, and even buried treasure.  The first of its series, “The Tails of Abbygail” was fun and lighthearted with serious undertones encouraging things like water safety and stranger danger.

After the show, guests were invited to a private tea party where the magic kept on going.  Each child was given a gift bag as they left the theater that was filled with treats, a “paw-ta-graphed” poster, and even a copy of the DVD! 

Terri Lynn Link, a successful
Oregon business owner, was sitting around her pool one day when she noticed her dogs playing in the sunshine.  They were making people smile. Suddenly, she had an idea, and “The Tails of Abbygail” was born. It has been endorsed and approved by KIDS FIRST- The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, was the official selection of KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, the largest festival for children’s films, in 2008, and won a Bronze Statue in the 29th Annual Telly Awards.

I had a chance to meet up with Terry Lynn after the show to have her autograph our DVD’s and posters, and I have to say, she has created something special!! If you haven’t gotten a chance to see “The Tails of Abbygail”, please check it out at www.weloveabby.com

On Saturday morning, June 21^st, 2008, a new adventure

will begin with the World Premiere of “The Tails of Abbygail-Dreams Come True”.  The adventure will begin with major press coverage of the red carpet arrivals, a pre-screening reception, and an invitation only screening of the film, followed by a post-premiere tea party.

This invitation only event is to launch the brain child of Terri Lynn Link, mother of two girls, and her husband and Executive Producer, Al Link.  Terri Lynn is an
Oregon resident who has always dreamed of creating something to share her messages and bring joy into the hearts of children everywhere.   All of the animal characters in the film belong to Terri and her husband, AL, and most were rescued and will live out the rest of their lives enjoying the love of a true family, and taking children all over the world on adventures filled with excitement.

In “The Tails of Abbygail-Dreams Come True”, a Jack Russell Terrier named Abbygail wishes her toys would come to life.  Join Abbygail when they do, and they and take her on a magical adventure filled with treasure, jewels, and tiaras.  What will Abby discover on the way?  Find out in “The Tails of Abbygail”

To learn more about “The Tails of Abbygail-Dreams Come True” and Terri Lynn Link’s message, see the movie trailer, purchase the DVD, and even join the club, visit www.weloveabby.com

A 6 mile circular route of city streets in Portland, Oregon will be closed to cars for 6 hours Sunday, June 22 as the grand finale to the Towards Carfree Cities conference running from June 16^th- 20^th. 

Portland has been chosen to host the conference because it is known as the best biking city in the USA.  The conference theme is Rethinking Mobility, Rediscovering Proximity, and its purpose is for people to come together and share knowledge and ideas on how to live without being dependent on automobiles.

The road closure stems from the Ciclovia in Bogotá, Colombia, where cars are banned from over 70 miles of city streets every Sunday.  People who live in Bogotá spend that time biking, walking, running, relaxing, having block parties, skating, and enjoying the safety of the streets without having to contend with cars. 

Portland’s Ciclovia is being called Sunday Parkways.  From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. a 6 mile loop will be closed creating what’s being called a ‘6 mile temporary park’.  Organizers are hoping the event will provide a safe place for hundreds of Oregonians to explore alternate means of transportation in an event filled  way.  Although no cars will be allowed, mass transportation will still be running.

Whether you have no idea what a microphone is, or you’re a seasoned karaoke star, Yun’s Garden will make you a star, if only for a moment.  By day, the landmark constructed building is a restaurant specializing in Cantonese and
Szechwan dishes that will make your taste buds salivate.  By night, the lights go down, the drinks start pouring, and the Karaoke begins.   

Walk through the neatly landscaped pathway, and enter the doors of the three story Oriental style building.  After crossing the bridge over the wishing well, you enter an exotic one-of-a-kind world.  The large dining area accommodates up to 200 people for dining, and can also be reserved for special occasions.  The menu selections are vast and economically priced for dine-in or take-out.   You can view their menu at http://www.yunsgarden.com/restaurant.htm Seating 300 people, the lounge and dance floor creates a night club experience like no other.  Once the Karaoke DJ pumps it up, be ready for anything to happen.  Yun’s Garden has the best karaoke system in the city, complete with a full lighting system, fog machine, and cordless microphones.  No matter if you sing sheepishly in the back of the room, or take over the stage like a mega-super-star, you’ll be sure to get as much, or as little attention as you want.  Along with the sound system and innovative DJs, Yun’s Garden also has the biggest song selection around, which can be viewed on-line at http://www.yunsgarden.com/songlist.htm.   

Be prepared for a meal, or night to remember when choosing Yun’s Garden.  You can be sure that Sunny and June Yun will fulfill your every expectation. 

 For more information, contact June YunYun’s Garden*

Sleep the Deep at the Oregon Coast Aquarium