In an article from WebMD, Oregon is listed as the 30th happiest state. Sunny days in combination with low commute times, low crime, cost of living, good schools and other-like factors produce the happiest Americans. Louisiana finished first followed by Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee, and Arizona. New York ranked last. Oregon was sandwiched in the rankings by Wisconsin and Iowa.
This is the week to head down to Tom McCall Waterfront Park and take in the cherry blossoms. They are just starting to bloom and should reach their peak this week. Pack a picnic lunch (and pack an umbrella) and spend a few hours enjoying one of nature’s great displays!
According to the Daily Green, Portland is one of the five best cities to land a green job. The Daily Green also listed New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Detroit, citing a report that between now and 2020, 1.9 million jobs could be created in the U.S via the stimulus package and the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
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The Rose Garden Arena became the first major sports arena in the U.S. to achieve a Gold LEED rating. If you aren’t familiar with them, LEEDs ratings are awarded by the US Green Building Council for sustainable building practices, like energy and water conservation and low environmental impact. Some of the highlights… greenlights? … of the Rose Garden’s program are:
So no matter what happens this season. Our Blazers might not be the meanest… but they certainly are the greenest.
Love jazz, then you will be happy to note that the Portland Jazz Festival is back February 21 – 28th.
This year’s lineup features legendary artists such as John Coltrane collaborator Pharoah Sanders; the Mingus Big Band, which pays homage to the jazz great for which they are named; contemporary trumpeter Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy; and Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza, who will give us a taste of southern hemisphere summertime. In contrast, several emerging artists from the cooler climes of Norway will make their North American debuts during the festival.
Be sure to check out their page for times and tickets here.
As if we Oregonians needed another reason to lift a delicious pint of IPA… researchers have found another reason why beer is good for you. It turns out that hops are an important source of silica, which in turn is an important building block for our bones. The best part is the hoppier the beer the more silica there is. So the next time you lift a pint of IPA… a prost, “To healthy bones!”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100208/sc_livescience/beermaybegoodforyourbones
Plant a tree in Portland on your residential property and you could receive up to $50 off your utility bill. The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services is offering a Treebate program if you plant a tree by April 30, 2010. Not every tree will earn you the rebate, so be sure to read all rules and conditions on their website.
Come help ring in the Year of the Tiger! This Saturday, February 13th. It is a free event and should be fun for the whole family. The festivities start at 11:00 a.m. and go until 2:00 p.m. There will be lion dancers, traditional food and crafts, tours and a lantern sale.
It is not too late to join this quirky Portland Tradition. The Worst Day of the Year Ride is essentially an 18 mile bike ride through Portland on what is supposed to be, statistically speaking, the worse day of the year. There will be food, music, costumes, fun and of course, this being Portland, beer. Interested? You can find out more and register at: http://www.worstdayride.com/portland/
Hurry! They ride is limited to the first 3,500 riders. Like they say: Misery enjoys company!
Farmer’s Insurance studied our nation for the most secure places to live based on extreme weather, housing depreciation, life expectancy, crime, and environmental hazards; and Portland arrived at the 13th slot. The top 12 cities are below. Read more »»»
