Keith Moon (not present at this weekends event)
  • Keith Moon (not present at this weekend's event)

Looking at the moon from the comfort of your own home not good enough for you? You're in luck, moony: The Portland Japanese Garden is hosting moon-viewing parties this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, timed perfectly with 2011's harvest moon on September 12. (The harvest moon is the full moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox.) Tell us more, Japanese Garden event page:

Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi, is a traditional Japanese festival which honors the full moon in autumn. On the evenings of September 11, 12, and 13, guests enjoy a quiet evening in the Garden, observe a candle-lit tea ceremony in the Kashintei Tea House and listen to the elegant live music.
This all sounds pretty hifalutin, until you remember that the Japanese Garden is one of the most visually stunning places in the city (no bullshit), and visiting it under the moonlight—the serious moonlight—with a cup of sake in hand should be pretty spectacular. Of course, it ain't cheap, but it's also worth remembering that this is the Japanese Garden's only nighttime event of the year that's open to the general public. You can make reservations here.

Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston, Sun Sept 11, Mon Sept 12, Tues Sept 13, 7-9 pm, $25 members/$35 non-members