Downtown Albany Northwest Art & Air Festival span rivers and creeks near the quaint town of Scio. Farther south in Sweet Home, pack provisions for a picnic at Sankey Park, where the 120-foot-long (37-meter) Weddle Covered Bridge was moved and reconstructed to save it from destruction. Turn back the clock more than 150 years at the one-of-a-kind Thompson’s Mills State Heritage Site near Shedd, which preserves the state’s oldest water-powered mill and o ers guided tours. Celebrate Oregon’s berry heritage at Lebanon’s century-old Strawberry Festival, which serves the world’s largest strawberry shortcake each June. A straight shot south of Albany, Brownsville’s historic Main Street might look strikingly familiar to some first-time visitors. The town was the setting of the acclaimed 1986 coming-of-age film “Stand by Me,” which residents and movie bu s alike commemorate each July with Stand by Me Day events. willamettevalley.org | 27 SIP STOPS MEET A FEW OF THE AREA’S CRAFT BEVERAGE PRODUCERS Springhill Cellars Winery This small family-owned winery near Albany specializes in producing small batches of oakaged Pinot noirs, including some interesting variations such as a port-style Pinot. But its big annual party, the Federweisser Festival in November, focuses on pairing the German-style Federweisser—that is, young and still-fermenting Riesling—with bratwurst, live music and dancing. Deluxe Brewing Company and Sinister Distilling Company Behold, Albany’s first-ever “brew-stillery,” a distillery and 15-barrel brewery under one roof. Sinister uses a traditional pot still from Portugal for its gin, grappa, rum and single-malt whiskey, while Deluxe focuses on easy-drinking lagers and ales. Taste craft beverages from both at their 100-year-old converted warehouse originally built as the Borden Milk Factory. Calapooia Brewing Co. and Vivacity Spirits Housed in a sprawling warehouse that was once home to a beer-keg distributor, Calapooia Brewing Co. has all the trademarks of a locals’ favorite hangout: a cozy tasting room, a menu of classic pub grub, live music and, yes, a tap list of much-loved craft brews. The brewery turns out some novel creations such as the popular Chili Beer, which is flavored with Anaheim, serrano and jalapeño peppers. Vivacity Spirits, meanwhile, launched in 2011 and has earned acclaim for its craft vodka, gin and brandy in the years since. Vivacity joined forces with Calapooia Brewing Co. in 2019, and today the two producers share production and tasting space. Margin Coffee Roasters Dubbed "Albany’s Living Room," Margin opened in 2017 and immediately drew a loyal following of customers who agreed with the shop’s philosophy: “Allow some time in our day to simply be. Like margins on a page, a little room around the edges of life makes it a lot more comfortable.” Margin roasts its own sustainably sourced coffee and sells locally made pastries at two locations in Albany and one in Lebanon. Springhill Cellars Winery
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