All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray… and for us, that’s totally okay! On a drizzly weekend in Portland, opportunities to have a great time are as endless as they were in July. We’ve gathered a few examples of weekend events that will let a bit of sunshine in. Enjoy!

November 15th – 17th – Behind the Scenes at Pittock Mansion

The famous Pittock Mansion offers some of the most majestic views in the city. You can see for miles and miles from the perfectly manicured gardens, and the architecture of the house itself will leave your breathless. The usual tour of the mansion shows you what a typical houseguest would see upon visiting the Pittock Family. The Behind the Scenes tour, on the other hand, shows us the mansion from the perspective of someone who lived and worked there during the first half of the 20^th century. Check out private areas like Henry Pittock’s den, third flood servant’s quarters, and the basement’s boiler room. If you’re going to a mansion on a hilltop, you may as well see the whole thing!

November 16th – Cheese Making Workshop

To make the most of the rainy season, many of us like to explore new hobbies during the winter. If you like to entertain (or if you like delicious snacks), you might want to consider cheese making as your winter pastime. How do you make cheese, you ask? Well, we aren’t sure, but the folks at OMSI are ready to teach us! The Cheese-Making Workshop will continue through late January, sharing a new recipe with each class. This weekend, fresh mozzarella is the star of the show. Your friends will be very impressed by your skills, though we don’t blame you if you keep it for yourself!

November 15th – 17th – Glowing Greens

We’re letting you in on one of Portland’s best kept secrets: a 13 hole, 3-D black light indoor mini golf adventure! Glowing Greens is a fun outing for an unconventional date, a team-building activity, or a family outing. Mini golf meets light show is just the half of it – Glowing Greens offers strange-yet-fun activities such as axe throwing and escape room games as well! Enjoy wacky art, neon pirates, and other smile-inducing strangeness along the way.

November 16th – 17th – Just Between Friends

It makes us so proud to watch our kids grow – but sometimes it can be hard to keep up! Just Between Friends is a bi-annual trade show designed for community-minded working-class families. This event is like having dozens of immaculate, well curated thrift stores under one roof. It’s like bargain hunting with your BFF meets a community clothing/toy swap. If you love a good deal on clothing, toys, and home goods, or if you simply love to see your community making a conscious effort to connect and support each other, you’ll want to check this out!