Medford, OR

You'll find many locals winding down after work with friends or enjoying a great steak at Porter's, a voted a 2006 Reader's Choice favorite in the Mail Tribune for several categories. This historic train station is a great place to dine, enjoy cocktails, even hold small company celebrations as we have done. And, as I discovered last year, it is one of the few restaurants located in Downtown Medford that are open on Mondays!

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - www.Quality4Loans.com

These big city transplants were thrilled to find out about Bambu, a Pan Fusian, Asian restaurant and wine bar located in South East Medford. On date night, my husband and I love to go out for dinner to try different types of ethnic foods. Bambu is a real find! We've worked our way through their entire menu of pan asian cuisine, and enjoyed every dish with many of the wonderful Southern Oregon wines they serve. Even with a change of ownership since we first started dining there in 2004, they have the same superb chef. Head to this restaurant located in the Larson Creek Shopping Center at 970 N. Phoenix Road in Medford Oregon for a wonderfully unique dining experience.

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - www.Quality4Loans.com

This past weekend, the weather was wonderful for the BBQ and Cake celebration at Table Rock Fellowship in Medford Oregon. After the 8:15, 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. services on Sunday, the church had delicious fixin's waiting for everyone to enjoy. Pastor Ron was in "rare" form, reminding us to head out to the food after service.

This church's origins are in a "small first gathering" in a park in Central Point, a gathering that Pastor Tom hoped would have a good showing, but brought over 200 people to its first gathering. It wasn't long before services were held in the auditorium at Crater High School in Central Point Oregon. Then, the current church campus was built.

Today, over 3,000 people attend services here each week. There are great programs available for kids, from toddlers on up to the high school kids. Youth Camp activities abound up at Camp Apserkaha on Howard Prairie Lake. This church ROCKS!

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - www.Quality4Loans.com

Ricardo Linnell, director and team member of the up and coming Portland dance company Hurricane Tumbau, gave salsa music appreciation/dance lessons at The Dance Factory in Medford Oregon. With the input of John Gronberg, founder of Mambo Rico, the popular Ashland Oregon Salsa Dance Band, this dazzling duo had our heads spinning with lots of great information about the various instruments commonly heard in salsa music. This Salsa Workshop was wonderful!

Ricardo helped us pick out two key elements in Salsa dance music, two Claves. Those of us who find ourselves not feeling quite right with the music while dancing can now pick out these distinctive beats and find our feet again.

Keep your fingers crossed there will be less toe bruising for some of Southern Oregon's newest Salsa Dancers.

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - www.Quality4Loans.com

There is a familiar landmark in Medford Oregon that many are familiar with. Like Lower and Upper Table Rocks or The Rogue Valley Manor, Roxy Ann is a distinguishing feature in our Rogue Valley landscape. Living on the Southwest slope of RoxyAnn, we know this park well. Prescott Park is a popular hiking/ walking/ riding destination for our neighborhood residents, the residents in the other neighborhoods of East Medford Hills, as well as people throughout the Rogue Valley. You'll need to keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes in the summertime here, though, and do a "tick check" after your hike/ride. The views out over Southern Oregon from Roxy Ann Peak are stunning, and make the chance of encountering these dilemmas so worth the risk.

See you out there!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - www.Quality4Loans.com