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Albany Visitors Association
122 Ferry St SW
Albany, OR 97321
PO Box 965
Phone:
541-928-0911
Newsletter
Explore Albany, Discover your story
September Featured AVA Photographer
A huge shoutout to Mike Krutsinger of MKrutsinger Photography. Mike is our featured AVA photographer for September, and is volunteering with AVA to help give back to his community. His feature gallery reflects Albany Visitors Association’s summer Linn-Benton Farm-to-Table dinner that was held at Weddle Covered Bridge. It will give you a hint of what’s in store for next season!
*If you would like to contact Mike Krutsinger in regards to his commercial photography services, please email us.
Gallery
Click on any of the images to see better, You can exit the gallery at any time by pressing the escape key.
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- Weddle Covered Bridge
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- The rushing creek beneath Weddle Covered Bridge in Sweet Home, Oregon.
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- Before the guests arrive.
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- Sass Winery selections.
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- Setting up.
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- A bouquet of loveliness.
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- Crisp white linens.
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- Fresh from homegrown Albany, bouquet of crocosmia.
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- Delectable appetizers prepared by Chef Derek Ridgeway.
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- An assortment of appetizers welcomed diners.
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- Almost time.
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- Come sip with us and Sass Winery.
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- The crew from 1859 hard at work.
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- More yummy creations by Chef Ridgeway of Boulder Falls Inn 1859 Restaurant.
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- Almost ready – the gazpacho.
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- Delicious course, by Chef Derek Ridgeway.
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- Delicious!
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- The variety on the menu was amazing!
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- One of the items in the dinner.
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- Starting out the inner with salads and soup.
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- A musician accompanies the dinner.
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- AVA Executive Director Jimmie Lucht and his wife Nancy attended.
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- Gathering at the welcome reception.
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- A selection of Sass Winery.
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- Happy diners dig in.
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- Patty Louisiana.
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- A toast to summer!
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- Diners from far and wide.
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- 1859 Restaurant staff.
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- The stupendous team of 1859 Restaurant.
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- Jerry Sass of Sass Winery educates diners his varietals.
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- Plating food for 50 diners at once takes a team!
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- Did you leave room for dessert?
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- Dinner guests are happy!
AVA volunteers visit Linn County sites
Earlier this week, Albany Visitors Association took our volunteer staff on a tour of Linn County. What you may not know about AVA volunteers is that they are the unsung ambassadors of many an Albany and Linn County business.
AVA volunteers are many times the first people travelers meet as they drive down the I-5 corridor. When visitors stop at the rest area closest to us (Santiam River), they see a scaled-down replica of one of Albany’s historic Victorian homes. And inside that little blue house? AVA volunteers serve coffee, hot chocolate and cookies, and help travelers find the perfect place to shop, and stay and play.
Don Vance, AVA’s Volunteer Coordinator, organizes the annual tour as a way for volunteers to learn more about our city and surrounding area, as well as thank them for their service.
This year the volunteers toured Linn County and were treated to lunch at the Boulder Falls Resort in Lebanon, at the 1847 Bar & Grill. They also visited the Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary and Roaring River Fish Hatchery in Scio, the Mallard Creek Golf Course in Lebanon, Sankey Park in Sweet Home (the site of the wildly popular Oregon Jamboree), and ended their day at Sweet Home’s Marks Ridge Winery for a bit of wine tasting.
Please join us in thanking our volunteers for their time, energy, and knowledge. We recognize that their contributions help fulfill AVA’s mission to serve Albany’s visitors. If you or someone you know are interested in volunteering for us, contact Don at the Albany Visitors Association in Downtown Albany.
What to do in Oregon in 2017
Get ready for an Oregon year to be remembered! Many travelers will visit Oregon for the very first time—particularly in late August when a Total Solar Eclipse will occur on the 21st. Oregon’s Willamette Valley is prime TSE viewing territory, and many locales along the eclipse route will feature special viewing activities, food, celebration, and drink, including Albany.
The new 2017 Oregon Events Calendar, published by Pamplin Media Group, can help you plan your vacation—whether you hail from New York or Newberg. The Albany Visitors Association will have a supply of the publication at their office soon, but until we do, check out the digital edition.
In addition to the eclipse, Oregon is home to numerous annual music festivals, cycling and paddling relays, brew smackdowns, winery and culinary tours, and other venues to taste and experience our state in an entirely new way throughout the year. So come on, join us this year in Albany, Oregon.
*For print copies, please contact AVA at 541-9288-0911. Copies can be mailed, or you can stop by the office at 3rd and Lyon Streets in Downtown Albany, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Islands of serenity
Right after the holidays pass, Oregonians turn to outdoor activities that lift our spirits and affirm our love for the beauty that surrounds us in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Linn County possesses several gems within a short distance of Albany, Oregon—and this wonderful video by Grant McOmie highlights the astonishing beauty of McDowell Creek Park and its majestic falls. Plan on taking your family out there soon. You won’t be disappointed, and we promise that it will renew your energy level.
Brocard’s Antique Apple Orchard Press
Image is copyright Paul Schlegelmann, from his blog on Sweethome’s Brocard Antique Apple Orchard.
Save the date for this year’s press: Brocard’s Antique Apple Orchard will be pressing on October 15th, 2016. They usually start around 9:00 a.m. and press until they run out of apples. You will want to get there early before they run out of cider!
Brocard’s Antique Apple Orchard is located at 28095 Santiam Hwy. (Highway 20) about 25 miles east of I-5. The Brocard’s can be reached at 541-367-4840 to inquire about tours, tastings, and pressing dates.
2016 Antiques in the Street
Shop for amazing treasures from over 50 streets vendors and at the Albany Antique Mall sidewalk sale. Then tour over 100 vintage and classic cars. When you get hungry have lunch at one of downtown Albany’s fabulous restaurants or get it fresh off the vine and visit the Farmer’s Market. All within walking distance of each other.
Proceeds from this event will go directly to, Habitat for Humanity, “Raising Roofs and Raising Hopes!”
For more information about the event, check the Albany Antique Mall website.
Exploring the Seven Wondrous Trails – 2
Trail Number Two – Audubon and Wildlife Seekers
*The following article is the second installment in a series of seven, that will focus on local restaurants, attractions, events and unique businesses in Albany. The “Seven Trails” posts are written by AVA Executive Director Jimmie Lucht.
Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley is on the North American Flyway and is home to seven wildlife and bird preserves featuring songbirds and all sizes of birds of prey. Oregon is fifth in bird species diversity in the US, which is attributed to our distinctive eco-regions and relatively mild winters.
No matter the season, both advanced and novice birders will discover something to please the eye and ear in our region. In spring, hear the symphony of migrating or resident songbirds; in summer, watch mating pairs of Oregon’s endangered Harlequin Duck and American Dipper populations; in winter, spy Bald Eagle pairs in their huge nests—home quarters that can easily reach a weight of 1,000 pounds or more.
Yellow-breasted Chats, Bluebirds, Willow Flycatchers, Peregrine Falcons, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Osprey, Caspian Terns, Grebe, Belted Kingfishers, Herons, and nesting sites of more than 53,000 birds are just a sampling of what you might see when visiting one of our local preserves listed below.
The E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, located at 2955 Camp Adair Road, Monmouth, this wildlife haven was once a military training facility during WWII. Walking trails not only give you an opportunity to view various flora and fauna, but also tell the story of Camp Adair.
At Cheadle Lake Park, 37954 Weirch Drive, Lebanon, Oregon, you can view the feathered friends that call this park home… some on a temporary basis. Walking trails abound in this park that also plays host to the Lebanon Strawberry Festival—featuring the world’s largest strawberry short cake—and also Lebanon’s Star Spangled Celebration held there on the Fourth of July.
While in Lebanon, visit the beautiful Healing Gardens designed by world renowned artist, Hoichi Kurisu. The gardens are located at the Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and Best Western Boulder Falls Inn.
McDowell Creek Falls Trail, a 1.4 mile loop trail featuring multiple waterfalls, is a perfect place for photo opportunities and wildlife. The trail is located at 43170 McDowell Creek Dr, Lebanon.
Whitcomb Creek County Park, at the Green Peter Reservoir in Cascadia, is a 328-acre park that is perfect for enjoying spectacular mountain views, bird-watching, sailing, fishing, hiking, camping, and water skiing on the reservoir.
Yellowbottom Recreation Site is situated in an old growth forest along the beautiful Quartzville Creek. Pan gold, sit in a natural hot pool of water, or just enjoy the tranquility of the area. Yellowbottom offers 22 first come-first served tent sites and is located at Milepost 24 of the Quartzville Back Country Byway, northeast of Sweet Home and upstream of Green Peter Reservoir.
After your discoveries in the beautiful Mid-Willamette Valley, enjoy Albany’s Talking Water Gardens, at 9710 Waverly Drive NE. Read the story about how this garden came about. You’ll be astonished at the photographs that illustrate the garden’s “before and after.” You will marvel at this award-winning wetlands project, and the public/private partnerships involving municipal government and local business that funded it.
Exploring the Seven Wondrous Trails – 1
Finding magic in Albany, Oregon
*The following article is the first installment in a series of seven, that will focus on local restaurants, events and unique businesses in Albany. The “Seven Trails” posts are written by AVA Executive Director Jimmie Lucht.
Melissa Babcock Saylor
TRAIL #1 – Albany and The Arts
Starting out on our trail, you will be amazed, entertained, surprised and enlightened by beautiful pieces of art at the Gallery Calapooia, 222 1st Ave W., Suite 100, 541.971.5701. The gallery makes shopping for that perfect home accent or gift easy, as the works of 20 regional artists display their works in oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings, jewelry, pen and ink drawings, layered vinyl images, fabrics, collage, felted art, photography, glass and ceramics.
Paint your own pottery or create a special ceramic piece, and the fine folks at Sure Fire Design will help glaze and fire it for you, 210 SW 2nd Ave, 542-1.928.7339.
When the pottery is wrapped and ready to go, the gentlemen (and ladies too!) can try their hand at fly-tying and get the scoop on the latest and greatest places to fish in Oregon. Mitch Smith, owner of Two Rivers Fly Shop is bound to fill your ears with big fish tales, 204 1st Ave W., 541.967.9800.
After tying a few flies, it’s time for a round of golf at the Albany Golf and Event Center, 155 Country Club Lane, 541.926.6059.
Next up? Take a leisurely afternoon stroll through the Talking Water Gardens, 577 Waverly Drive NE. And if you crave even more rest and relaxation, what about a pampering spa treatment at the Level Three Salon and Spa, 317 1st Ave W, 541.905.4158.
On Friday evenings during the summer months at Albany’s Monteith River Park, enjoy the Movies At Monteith. The movies are free and concessions are available. Showtimes are at dusk, which varies, so please refer to the online schedule.
Since you’ve worked up an appetite, try one of Albany’s unique restaurants featuring award winning chefs. Visit Sybaris Bistro or Frankie’s Restaurant to enjoy a glass of local wine and an in- season, farm-to-table dining experience. Then back to your hotel so you will be rested and ready for another adventure in the morning—stay tuned for the next installment of the Seven Wondrous Trails.
Healthy Living Fair and Gorgeous Gardens to Visit this June
Summer is finally here and the sunshine is upon us. It’s a great time of year to get outdoors to enjoy the bounty and beauty of Oregon.
Mother Earth News Fair comes to Albany
There’ll be a whole lot of sustainable goodness packed into one weekend when the Mother Earth News Fair brings national experts on self-sufficiency to the Linn County Fair & Expo Center June 4-5, 2016, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Interested in organic gardening and farming? They’ve got workshops on everything from suburban farmsteads to backyard bees and chickens.
Love cooking? You can learn to make your own cheese, butter and jams.
Are craft beer and spirits your thing? Take a class on home brewing, distilling, and fermenting.
Got kids? Attend hands-on classes with experts who can show them how to grow garden, churn butter, make bath salts, and more.
Even more workshops include talks on the tiny house movement, making your own biodiesel, poultry-processing, herbal remedies, foraging, and more.
Great Gardens to Explore
Linn County Master Gardeners’ June Garden Tour
Saturday, June 18, 2016 is this year’s date for “Through the Garden Gate” – Linn County Master Gardeners’ Annual June Garden Tour, featuring six unique gardens showcasing local gardens at their best. Tour hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the suggested donation for tickets is $15.
This year’s array of gardens feature everything from outdoor wedding-worthy expanses, to small scale gardens packed with surprises, as well as edible and permaculture techniques sure to please every palate.
All the gardens will have Master Gardeners present, as well as garden owners, to answer your gardening questions. Bring a camera and notepad to document ideas you will want to take home for your own garden.Come with questions, get ideas, and enjoy the beauty of this year’s gardens.
Photo: A scene from the 2013 Garden Tour. Content help from Lynn Welp, a master gardener and former garden columnist for the Albany Democrat-Herald and Corvallis Gazette-Times.
2016 Brownsville Garden Tour
Explore the garden path less taken and celebrate Brownsville gardens and those who create them. The tour, on Saturday June 25th, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. includes five local gardens, a community garden, Kirk Walnut trees, a Moyer Wisteria tree and a Brownsville walking tour map.
$15 per person. Tickets on sale at the Brownsville Senior Center, 345 N. Main
Proceeds benefit the Brownsville Garden Club and the Calapooia Food Alliance.
Other events and happenings in June:
Lebanon Strawberry Festival
Located at Cheadle Lake in Lebanon, this event includes parades, fireworks, entertainment, food and the World’s Largest Strawberry Shortcake!
2nd Annual Lamb & Wool Fair Auction
Don’t miss this annual fundraising event that hopes to ensure the continuation of the Linn Co. Lamb & Wool Fair in Scio, Oregon. Dinner tickets can be purchased in advance at the Linn Co. Lamb & Wool Fair at www.lambfair.com. There will be a BBQ Dinner catered by GameTime Sports Bar & Grill beginning 5 p.m. and a silent auction.
Mid-valley 4th of July Celebrations
Have a fun-filled Fourth of July by attending any of these events being held in Albany and its surrounding areas.
Albany
River Rhythms Concert and Fireworks Show, Thursday, July 2
Start your 4th of July celebrations a little early this year by attending the first River Rhythms Concert of the season. The concert features the soulful-rock band, Jelly Bread, and is followed by a spectacular fireworks show over the river. The music starts at 7 p.m., and is free for everyone.
Lumberjack Breakfast, 6-11 a.m., July 2-5
Get ready for your 4th of July festivities with an all-you-can-eat breakfast in Timber-Linn Park, hosted by the East Albany Lions Club. Entry costs $7 per adult, and $4 for children 12 and under. All proceeds benefit Lions Club charities.
Brownsville
Pancake Breakfast, 7-10 a.m., July 4
Hosted by the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, the annual Pancake Breakfast is a 4th of July tradition you don’t want to miss. For just $7 per adult, or $4 per child, you can eat as much food as possible, and spend the day exploring historic Brownsville.
BBQ, Beer Garden, and Music, 5:30 p.m., July 4
In the afternoon, head to Randy’s Main Street Coffee for a delicious BBQ and live music. There will be a beer garden, hosted by Kirk’s Ferry Trading Post, opening at 4 p.m., followed by the BBQ at 5:30. Music starts at 6 p.m., and is free to all customers.
Fireworks in the Park, after dusk, July 4
Just after sunset, pay a visit to Pioneer Park to watch a spectacular fireworks show over the Calapooia River. The show is one of the best around, and is completely free.
Find details about Brownsville at www.historicbrownsville.com.
Corvallis
Red, White, and Blue Riverfront Festival, all day, July 3-4
This downtown Corvallis festival is a great way to spend Independence Day. With live music, crafts, kids’ activities, great food, and local wine and microbrews, there is something for everyone to take part in as they wait for the sun to set.
Corvallis Jaycees Fireworks Show, after dusk, July 4
Watch beautiful fireworks burst over the Willamette River from your seat at the downtown riverfront. The show is free for everyone.
Harrisburg
Harrisburg July 4th Celebration, July 4
Harrisburg puts on its biggest event of the year on the 4th of July, and this year’s celebration is no exception! Events include food, games, a parade and fireworks over the Willamette River. Parade begins at 11 a.m., and fireworks are at dusk (about 9:30 p.m.) in Riverside Park. (Click the link above for schedule and details).
Lebanon
Star-Spangled Celebration, 6-10:30 p.m., July 4
Pack your picnic basket and pay a visit to Lebanon’s Cheadle Lake Park for a family-friendly 4th of July event. There will be plenty to do, including great food, games, live performances, and more.The firework show starts at 10 p.m., and the entry fee is $10 per carload, or $3 for walk-in groups.
Photos by Cathy Flowers(upper) and Nancy Hunt(lower).
Do you know of any events we haven’t mentioned? Let us know by commenting below!
