👋🍩 Bridgeport’s getting 8 new shops (and yes, donuts)

Good Morning, South Metro. Are you ready for the fall? We mean autumn, of course. Not the total collapse of society.

Coming up in today’s South Metro Weekly:

If you ever have any ideas or thoughts for a story here in South Metro Weekly, or you just want to say, “hi,” just hit reply. I read all the notes and comments that come in.

On to the weekend!

-Scott & Family

If your usual Bridgeport Village visit involves “just looking” and somehow ends with three shopping bags, I have news that will not help your self-control.

Eight shops are joining the Tigard shopping center’s lineup this fall, with something for your closet, your kitchen, your living room and, thankfully, your snack break.

On the home front, Herman Miller opens tomorrow, followed by Oregon furniture and décor shop City Home on October 8. Design Within Reach is also on the way. And if browsing furniture makes you hungry, Sur La Table is coming with kitchen gear and an in-store cooking school.

For something to wear out of the house, there’s FP Movement, Free People’s activewear brand, and Rothy’s, which opened last week with shoes made using recycled materials.

But perhaps the sweetest arrival is Mikiko Mochi Donuts, which opened this week. The Portland-area bakery makes chewy, gluten-free mochi donuts, giving you a very good reason to stop by before you even think about shopping. Newberg’s Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn also opened earlier this month.

Opening dates haven’t been announced for Design Within Reach, Sur La Table or FP Movement. In the meantime, you can practice saying, “I’m only here for the donuts.”

Apparently, watching people paddle giant pumpkins across a lake isn’t quite enough excitement for Tualatin. So the city has brought back its Pumpkin Regatta Medallion Hunt.

The first clue comes out today, with another each Thursday through October 15. Follow them and you might find a medallion hidden somewhere on public property in Tualatin. The person who finds it and claims it wins a prize package.

It’s all part of the buildup to the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta on Sunday, October 18—the annual event where enormous pumpkins become boats and perfectly sensible adults climb inside them to race across the water.

You can follow the hunt and find the clues on the city’s Medallion Hunt page. Bring your walking shoes, your best puzzle-solving friend and perhaps someone who can talk you out of insisting that every park bench is a clue.

Then again, maybe it is.

Lots of people have been talking about how tall future buildings in Wilsonville’s Town Center could get. Now the answer is clearer.

The City Council has removed the option for developers to seek exceptions to Town Center’s building height limits. The change received its final council approval Monday, September 21.

The allowed height depends on where a building sits within Town Center. Some areas allow just two or three stories; the tallest limit is five stories. Before this change, a developer could ask to go higher in certain areas. Now those limits are firm.

The council began reviewing the rules after residents raised concerns about the scale of future development. A task force that included residents, business and property owners, and city advisory group members weighed the options before the proposal went through the Planning Commission and council.

“Good planning is not simply focused on moving forward—it is about listening, making thoughtful adjustments, and being accountable for the decisions we make,” Councilor Sam Scull wrote in a Facebook post.

Town Center can still grow and change. The new rule gives everyone a clearer picture of how high its buildings can go.

Romance scams, sextortion, fake tech support, malware, phishing… criminals use dozens of tactics to steal your identity and money. A single breach exposes your personal data to fraudsters worldwide.

Coveron provides comprehensive identity theft protection that works before damage happens. Our advanced monitoring detects suspicious activity instantly, alerts you with clear guidance, and connects you with dedicated 24/7 case managers.

Whether it's credit card fraud, stolen accounts, or legal recovery support, Coveron has you covered with:

Stop reacting to fraud. One scam can cost you everything - protect yourself now. The first 100 users get 20% off with code beehiivenewsletter or by clicking this link.

Secure your identity today

_{30-day money-back guarantee. Terms and conditions apply.}

💪 Lake Oswego’s Terry Shanley took up competitive powerlifting at 70—and now he’s headed to the world championships at 71. He set four Oregon records at his first meet in August and qualified for the IPL World Championship in Las Vegas on November 22. But the moment everyone’s watching is a wink he gave his 91-year-old mom after a lift. His daughter posted the video, and it’s racked up 5.7 million views.

🍕 New Biz Alert! A Portland pizza spot has made its way to West Linn. Fast Times Pizzeria, which opened its first location on Burnside Street, now has a second shop in West Linn. You’ll find it at 18750 Willamette Drive, Suite A, in the former Backyard Burger’s space next to Kartcade. There’s pizza by the slice or whole pie, plus pinball, arcade games, a bar and outdoor seating. Gluten-free and vegan options are available, too.

🚗 The Riverside High School senior class is washing cars for a good cause this Saturday. Stop by the school parking lot at 2900 SW Borland Road in Tualatin on September 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The suggested donation is $10 per car, and the money will help pay for senior events this school year. Your car gets a bath; the Class of 2027 gets a little help celebrating.

🍎 Tualatin High’s Jennifer Mills has been named one of Oregon’s 17 Regional Teachers of the Year. Mills teaches special education and says she has “a huge passion for genuine inclusion and creating opportunities for students with disabilities.” A colleague who nominated her praised the way she supports neurodivergent students. The honor comes with a $1,000 award and makes Mills a semifinalist for Oregon Teacher of the Year, which will be announced this fall.

🎨 West Linn-Wilsonville Music and Arts Partners could use a few more helping hands. The volunteer group is looking for people to support school band, orchestra, art, choir, theater and elementary arts programs. Area representatives attend a monthly online meeting, check in with teachers and help with fundraising—about two hours a month in all. You don’t need to have a child in the district to help. See the openings and sign up here.

🎭 Dinner with the family gets a little complicated at Lakewood Theatre. In You Can’t Take It With You, Alice brings her boyfriend’s buttoned-up parents home to meet a household busy with ballet, snakes and homemade fireworks. You know, the usual. The comedy runs in Lake Oswego through October 18, with evening performances Wednesdays through Saturdays and several matinees.

🏃 The medallion hunt isn’t the only way to get moving for Tualatin’s Pumpkin Regatta. Registration is open for the Regatta Run 5K, starting Sunday, October 18, at 9 a.m. in Tualatin Community Park. There’s also a quarter-mile dash for kids ages 4–12 at 8:45 a.m. The run honors Tualatin High graduate Corporal Matthew Lembke and supports local youth scholarships and programs. Sign up here.

🏗️ Here’s what’s next for the proposed Tannler Drive development in West Linn. The city will appoint an independent hearings officer to consider the developer’s appeal after the Planning Commission denied its application. The proposal calls for 320 apartments with ground-floor commercial space near Tannler Drive and Blankenship Road. The hearings officer will review the appeal and decide whether the Planning Commission’s decision stands. The project has not received final approval.

💰 Four South Metro businesses are getting a boost from Clackamas County. Stark Vineyard in Wilsonville, Motel 6 Canby, Best Western Lake Oswego and Lake Oswego’s Black Wine Market are among 18 tourism businesses sharing $1 million in grants. The money can help pay for improvements, staff development and other projects that make visits better. The county hasn’t said how much each business received, so we’ll have to wait to see what our neighbors have planned.

🚭 West Linn Saloon is clearing the air on its patio—at least until 8 p.m. The Old Town Willamette spot says customers asked for a smoke-free place to enjoy food and drinks, so smoking is now off the patio menu from opening until 8. After that, smokers are welcome to light up. A little something for the dinner crowd and the late-night crowd, provided everyone remembers to check the clock.

My mom was an English teacher, and she taught me to read when I was a kid. Books have given me a place to escape into my imagination when I’ve needed it most. Here’s one I wanted to share with you.

Let me know what’s on your nightstand. Just hit reply and let me know what you’re currently reading. I’d love to share it in our next issue.

Set just across the Columbia River from Oregon, Deep River follows three Finnish siblings who build new lives in a Washington logging community in the early 1900s. Karl Marlantes weaves their family story through towering forests, dangerous work, and the growing labor movement.
Take a look at Deep River.

🎈 - family-friendly event
💲 - ticket or purchase required
🎵 - includes live music
😋 - there will be food

🎈 Lake Oswego Open Studios Tour
Studios across Lake Oswego & West Linn | Friday, 4–7 PM at select studios; Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM at all studios | Free
Ever wondered what an artist’s workspace looks like before everything is tidied up for a gallery? This self-guided tour opens 35 studios featuring 83 artists, with painting, ceramics, jewelry, woodworking and more. Pick a few stops or make an afternoon of it. Some studios will even have hands-on projects, so you might head home with a little paint on your fingers.

🎈 Wagon Day at Portland Cars and Coffee
Langer’s Entertainment Center, Sherwood | Saturday, 8–11 AM
This Saturday’s Cars and Coffee is making room for the vehicles that have hauled everything from groceries to entire Little League teams. Wagons are the featured ride, whether you call yours a station wagon, sport wagon or estate. Bring your own or come admire someone else’s, then see what other cars roll into Langer’s parking lot.

🎈🎵😋 Sherwood Saturday Market
Cannery Square, Sherwood | Saturday, 9 AM–1 PM | Free
Sherwood’s market wraps up its September season with local vendors in Old Town and live music from Scott Garcia. It’s an easy morning for browsing, picking up something good to eat and letting the kids see what the market’s young entrepreneurs have made. If you’ve been meaning to stop by all summer, this is your gentle nudge from the calendar.

🎈🎵😋💲 St. Josef’s Grapestomping Festival
St. Josef’s Winery, Canby | Saturday & Sunday, Noon–5 PM | $15 adults at the door; minors free
Canby is putting the “feet” in harvest festival this weekend. St. Josef’s is back for its 44th year of grape stomping, German music, wine and food. Adults 21 and older can volunteer to stomp, or reserve a time with a VIP package. Prefer to keep your socks respectable? You can watch the action with a glass of wine and let somebody else do the squishing.

🎈😋 Pizza & Game Day
Sherwood Community Friends Church, Sherwood | Saturday, 4–6 PM
Bring a friend, grab some pizza and settle in for an afternoon of games. Sherwood Community Friends Church says anyone and everyone is welcome, so you don’t need to know the group—or have a secret talent for board games—to join in. Just show up ready to play and, ideally, hungry.

🎈💲😋 Support the Girls 5K Run/Walk
Stickmen Brewing Tualatin Beer Hall | Sunday, 9 AM | Registration required
Grab your walking shoes—or your running shoes, if you’re feeling ambitious—for a Sunday morning 5K supporting Breast Friends of Oregon. The course is paved and mostly flat, so you can bring family and friends along at whatever pace feels right. After the finish line, head back to Stickmen for pizza and a drink. That’s a pretty good reward for getting out of bed on a Sunday.

🎈🎵😋 Cultural Xchange Festival
Millennium Plaza Park, Lake Oswego | Sunday, 11 AM–6 PM | Free
Here’s a Sunday plan that might require a second lunch. Lake Oswego’s Cultural Xchange Festival fills the park with international food vendors, artists, dance and live performances on two stages. Wander the market, catch a lion dance or a band, and see what smells too good to pass up. The entertainment is free; bring a little spending money for whatever you decide to eat.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
🌳 - outdoor concert
💲 - ticket or purchase required

Thursday
Aurora Vineyards, Aurora | Courtney Freed | 5 PM
🌳 LORAC, Lake Oswego | Lakeridge High School Jazz Band | 5–7 PM

Friday
Aurora Vineyards, Aurora | Jon | 6 PM
Restaurant 503, West Linn | Mosaique | 6–9 PM
503 Uncorked, Sherwood | Robert Meade | 7–9:30 PM
💲 The Headliners Club, Lake Oswego | Dancehall Days | 8 PM

Saturday
🌳 Swan Island Dahlias, Canby | Hank Shreve Band | Noon–4 PM
Aurora Vineyards, Aurora | Michele Van Kleef | 4–6 PM
💲 The Headliners Club, Lake Oswego | Daniel Castro & Michael Osborn | 4 PM
Restaurant 503, West Linn | Dan Balmer & Nat Hulskamp | 6–9 PM
503 Uncorked, Sherwood | Gabe Ballard of Any Given Session | 7–9:30 PM
💲 The Headliners Club, Lake Oswego | My Chemical Fauxmance + Business of Misery | 8 PM

Sunday
🌳 Swan Island Dahlias, Canby | River Divide | Noon–4 PM
🌳 Millennium Plaza Park, Lake Oswego | Grupo Masato | Noon–12:50 PM
🌳 Millennium Plaza Park, Lake Oswego | WRK! | 1:20–2 PM
🌳 Millennium Plaza Park, Lake Oswego | A Cara O Cruz Band | 3:25–4:15 PM
🌳 Millennium Plaza Park, Lake Oswego | Sangjaru | 4:45–6 PM

THANKS!

A final thought...

That sounds beautiful. It also sounds suspiciously easy until you try practicing gratitude on a day when the coffee spills, your plans fall apart and your inbox has apparently been breeding overnight.

Gratitude doesn’t require us to pretend everything is wonderful. Sometimes it’s just noticing the person who checked in, the laugh that caught us off guard or the fact that we made it through a hard week.

The past can still be complicated. Today can still be messy. Tomorrow can still be uncertain.

But there’s usually something good here, too. And if we keep looking for it, we might get a little better at finding it.

Have a great weekend!