The Aliens have landed!!!

Now........





For.
Something.
Completely.
Different!!

Like, out-of-this-world different!!

The 12th annual UFO Festival, also known as "Alien Daze", happened this weekend! I believe it's the largest event of its kind in the country.

In 1950, a Sheridan, Oregon, couple saw this thing flying near their home. They were able to take a few pictures of it. It's the only UFO photo that the experts haven't been able to debunk. Now, jump ahead.....years later. McMenamin's - the McMenamin brothers who buy old - usually - buildings and renovate them into hotels, pubs, theaters, etc....(usually all of these amenities are on the same premises) buy a building that was known as Hotel Oregon in the '30's.

http://www.mcmenamins.com/441-hotel-oregon-home

It had a restaurant downstairs and hotel up. They renovated it so they'd have a pub downstairs, a "cellar bar" below....two stories worth of hotel rooms above, which also includes a room for concerts, benefits, etc.....and then, the top level is the crowning jewel! The "Rooftop" bar! A few tables of indoor seating, but outside is the place you want to be on a beautiful, warm, sunny evening! Especially if it's a full moon! You have a wonderful view up there! If you are traveling through, you definitely should stay at one of their hotels!! One of their first places is called The Edgefield.... it was the old "poor house"..... it's beautiful out there, especially in June/July when the gardens are in bloom! It's in Troutdale... just a bit east of Portland. They do a summer concert series there and it's a great place to see a music act!!

Anyway, I digress. McMenamin's (fondly called "The McMillionaires" in these parts) got wind of this story of the Trent's and their photo and they brilliantly came up with the Alien Festival! (Which, by the way, includes lots of live music, a McMenamin's "beer garden" - they're known for their micro-brews, guest UFOologists/speakers, and this year they had the first-ever UFO film festival! Amateur film-makers.....although the winning film in the adult division, called Maklar, Anyone? didn't look so amateurish. (It was made by Angela and Phillip Guzzo, friends of mine!) If Angela gives me the "go ahead", I'll post the link to the movie later. :)

That first picture, of the button? That's one of my daughter's and her friend's hand-made buttons. They draw them, watercolor or color-pencil them in, then make prints of them and turn them into buttons. They dress up and put them all over their fronts and sell them as they walk around.

To see the photo that started it all, go here:

http://www.ufocasebook.com/trentphotos.html

The McMenamins' own marching band played, as they do at most of their big events....they are so good! There was also a band called The Garcia Birthday Band..... they said they're on Facebook...check them out! See them when you can!

Well, look who showed up?!

Alrighty...... signing off now, but just wanted to share these pictures with you... and let you know about this fun festival! You should check it out if you're ever in the neighborhood....it's always the second weekend in May!!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

~ Teri