Five Things to Do in and Around Portland This Weekend

1. TheWorld Naked Bike Ride is one those thing that helps (?) make Portland Portland. The six-mile ride stats at Mt. Scott Park - people gather at 8 p.m. and the rides stat one hour later. While there is certainly a good amount of gawking - the ride does have a purpose: to highlight the vulnerability of bicyclists. Saturday June 25th.

2. It's the annual Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts. All weekend long, the theme this year - Chasing Paper: Stretching the Boundaries of Paper as an Art Form. There is live music, exhibits. music, food. Head here for moreinformation.

3. The amazing Acro-Cats are not going to do anything to dissuade you if you already think cats are capable of anything, that they are planning to take over the world. What they will do is perform at the Aladdin Theater on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets, which are $21-$36, can be found at www.aladdin-theater.com.

4. Up, up and away... in their beautiful ballots. You may not be able to ride in the more than one dozen hot air balloons that take place in the Tigard Festival Balloons but guaranteed they put on quite a show. There are launches and events all weekend long. Head here for more information.

5. It is, without a doubt, good in the hood. For 24 years, the Good in the Hood Multicultural Music, Arts, and Food Festival this weekend at Lillis Albina Park in North Portland aims to bring together residents, businesses, and organizations to engage in music, food, and the arts. Headhere for more information.