Hello, LO! 👋 

Welcome to the first edition of this newsletter - we're thrilled you’re here. If you like what you read, please share this with a friend (or three) so we can build this community! We like you, and we know we’ll like your friends too 😉 . And if you’re interested in advertising your business in LO Flow, or know someone who might be, click here.

My favorite thing I’ve learned about Lake Oswego since launching LO Flow is the history of the lake’s name. What we now know as Oswego Lake was originally called “Waluga” by the Clackamas Native Americans for the wild swans that inhabited its waters. Solid.

It was later named Sucker Lake (talk about a downgrade!) due to the prevalent fish species that called it home.

In 1961, the marketing big wigs decided Sucker Lake wasn’t an appealing name for attracting new residents, so they renamed it Oswego Lake in 1961. Definite upgrade.

But the current name is a bit of a misnomer - Oswego Lake is technically a reservoir. 🤯 

The Current 🌊

Events this week

Wednesday, August 13

All Shook Up (Lakewood Center of the Arts, through August 17th). Inspired by the comedies of William Shakespeare but set to the tunes of Elvis.

Anything Goes (Broadway Rose Theatre Company, through August 17th). Get the musical and tap-dancing fix you didn’t know you needed.

Satin Love Orchestra (Summer of Music Concert Series, Westlake Park, 6:30-8:30 pm). Glammed‑up disco-funk show steeped in ’70s and ’80s nostalgia.

Friday, August 15

Bat Chats (Tryon Creek State Natural Area, 7:30-9 pm). Free and family-friendly. Park Rangers will give a bat talk at 8 pm and then help you spot bats in the wild. If you look hard enough, you might even find a vampire.

Saturday, August 16

Lake Oswego Farmer’s Market (Millennium Park Park Plaza, 8:30 am-1:30 pm). Everything from peak-season produce and local meats to artisan breads, cheeses, and crafts. You know you need more zucchini in your life. No pets policy.

Portland Festival Symphony (Foothills Park, 7:00-8:30 pm). Pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and let the classical music and sunset work their magic.

Portland Adult Soapbox Derby (Mt. Tabor Park, 10 am-4 pm). Dozens of adult teams will be competing to see who can get down Mt. Tabor the fastest using gravity as the only driving force. Expect both serious attempts at winning and at major fun with whimsical entries. There’s also a designated beer garden to cool off.

Jade International Night Market (Portland Community College SE, 3-10 pm). What began as a small event now draws 20,000 attendees each year. Lanterns light up Southeast Portland as the smell of satay and lumpia fills the air and kids gather for dragon dances.

Sunday, August 17

Puzzle Swap (Lake Oswego Library, 2:30-4:30 pm). Swap your gently-used puzzles and take home a new-to-you puzzle.

Tuesday, August 19

Solarize Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego Library, 6-7 pm). Curious about how solar panels work? Want to know about the financial incentives of solar? Free in-person educational workshop presented in partnership with the City of Lake Oswego, Energy Trust of Oregon, Solar Oregon, and the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network.

Wednesday, August 20

Hit Machine (Summer of Music Concert Series, Westlake Park, 6:30-8:30 pm). This is a high-octane, crowd-loving cover band known for mixing classics like “Stayin’ Alive” and “You Shook Me All Night Long” with modern hits like “Dynamite”—all in a single set.

Lil’ Squirts 🧒 

Kid-focused activities

Wednesday, August 13

Red Yarn (Oregon City Public Library, 10:30-11:30 am). High-energy kids music shows featuring rowdy folk rock and puppets. Highly recommended.

Wild Robot family movie matinee (Lake Oswego Library, 2-4 pm).

Thursday, August 14

Fun for Ones Storytime (Lake Oswego Library, 10:30 am). Let for your 12-24M old jam out with songs, books, and friends.

Baby Storytime (Lake Oswego Library, 3 pm). Designed for the 0-12M old crowd. Stories, bubbles, songs, and more.

Friday, August 15

Spanish Language Story and Play (Lake Oswego Library, 10:30 am). Recommended for ages 0-5. 30 minutes of stories and songs in Spanish.

Mr. Hoo (Mississippi Pizza / Atlantis Lounge in PDX, 5 pm). Pizza, beer, and quirk, fun live music for kids.

Saturday, August 16

Tallulah’s Daddy (Mississippi Pizza / Atlantis Lounge in PDX, 5 pm). Yes you’re parenting, but you’re also listening to great tunes and eating pizza and drinking beer. Win.

Monday, August 18

Early Childhood Music and Movement in Mandarin Chinese (Lake Oswego Library, 10:30 am). Ages 2-5. Sing, move, play instruments, and tell stories. All levels of Mandarin fluency welcome. Space is limited so come early!

Tuesday, August 19

Preschool Storytime (Lake Oswego Library, 10:30 am). Youngsters 3-5 will get a kick out of stories, songs, and play at the library.

Wednesday, August 20

Toddler Storytime - Lake Oswego Library - 10:30 am. Perfect for 2-3 year olds with stories, songs, and socializing.

Moana family move matinee (Lake Oswego Library, 2-4 pm)

Mark Your Calendars

Car seat clinic (Lake Oswego Main Fire Station, August 30th, 10 am - 2 pm)

The Babbling Brook 🎶 

Live music this week

Wednesday, August 13

Edgefield | Weird Al Yankovic: Bigger and Weirder 2025 Tour | 5 pm doors, 6:30 pm show

Friday, August 15

Edgefield | The Head and the Heart | 5 pm doors, 6:30 pm show

Oregon Zoo - ZooNights | Jeff Miller and the Congregation | 5 pm

Headliner’s Club | DADSTOCK: Aftermarket, The Archive, Retrofit | 8 pm

Gemini Club | Coloso | 8 pm

Saturday, August 16

Portland Festival Symphony (Foothills Park, 7-8:30 pm). Pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and let the classical music and sunset work their magic.

Edgefield | Ethel Cain | 5:30 pm doors, 7:30 pm show

Headliner’s Club | No Quarter (Led Zeppelin Tribute) | 8 pm

Gemini Club | Beadheads | 8 pm

Making Waves 🏢 

Local business news

Ready to sweat?

Check out Studio 45, a pilates-based, high-intensity, low-impact exercise studio that just opened on August 2nd. Focused on efficiency (aka you’re burning 450-800 calories per class 🥵 ), these small group classes are all about constant movement and individualized attention. Check out their introductory offers.

And now you need a glass of water (or six)?!?!

It’s a new business pairing from the heavens. Prime IV just opened on South State Street. 45 minutes and a mix of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and you’re going to be feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, whether you overdid the workout or the alcohol.

Interested in advertising in LO Flow? Reach out here.

Make a Splash 💦 

Weekly outdoor events

Dahlia Festival, Swan Island Dahlias in Canby, Oregon

Every Wednesday - Sunday, 9-5:30 pm. August - September. So jazzed about this one - this is where we get our dahlia tubers. Dahlia season is in full bloom with a showcase garden featuring over 375 varieties. Snap photos, grab fresh-cut flowers, shop for spring bulbs, and savor local bites, live music, and weekend classes—all surrounded by a rainbow of petals.

Frog Pond Farm in Wilsonville, OR

Through September 1st. 9-5 pm on the weekends. 80+ animals for kiddos to interact with, a bounce park, 15+ yard games, and a relaxing picnic area.

Summer Flower Fest in Woodburn, OR

Through August 24. 9 am-4 pm. 30 acres of summer blooms including sunflowers, zinnias, and more. Purchase u-pick flowers, explore the sunflower maze, and enjoy kiddo activies. 

Mark your Calendars

Portland Marathon (October 5) - 10K/Half/Full marathon.

Great Pumpkin Run (October 25) - 5k/10k/Half-marathon near Sellwood. Costumes encouraged + Halloween vibes. And plenty of time to train!

The Surge 🏄️ 

Sports of all sorts

Soccer

• Timbers v. FC Cincinnati | August 16 | 7:30 pm

• Thorns @ North Carolina Courage | August 16 | 4:30 pm

Basketball

No games right now, but two big recent pieces of news in the basketball world.

First up - the WNBA is coming to Portland in 2026, and our newest local professional team just got it’s name: Portland Fire, which is in homage to Portland’s previous WNBA team in the early 2000s. Future season ticket holder right here.

Second, Damian Lillard is back on the Blazers. It’s Dame Time. But hopefully it stays Dame Time because rumors are swirling about the future home of the Blazers as an unnamed city three hours north continues to circle dangerously close.

The Lakeside 🏡 

House of the week

1750 Northshore Road | 3 beds, 2.5 baths | 3,302 sq ft

Price: $4.75M 💸 

Details: Oh she fancy. Quintessential lake lifestyle with 130 feet of waterfront and a dock. Over half an acre of mature landscaping. This is the stuff mid-century dreams are made of with exposed wood beams, a dramatic stone fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Listed by: Steve Kaer @ Kaer Property Group

The Confluence 💡 

A few of our favorite things

Movie: Flow

Flow is an animated movie with no dialogue where a black cat navigates a giant flood by teaming up with a bunch of animals on a sailboat. It is gorgeous and fascinating to watch the animal species learning to interact with one another - sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. It’s kind of like if Life of Pi and Fantastic Mr. Fox had a moody, artsy baby. Warning on two likely outcomes - you will shed tears and want a pet cat.

Book: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

While highly repetitive, repetition is often key to making change. Although Mel is wildly successful, she feels like your humble yet fiery friend who wants the best for the people she cares about.