Shi Choong: Wedding & Event Planner Extraordinaire!
Your guide, cheerleader, and friend throughout the event process
By Dennis McNabb, Active Media
Photos by Nicole Severson Photography
Weddings and large-scale events can be the talk of the town: glamorous, extravagant occasions that delight both guests and hosts alike. Alternatively, they can be disastrous, replete with mistakes, miscalculations, and missed opportunities. No one wants to remember their wedding for the things that went wrong! That’s why hiring the right event planner is so important. A professional event planner understands this job is a high-stakes balancing act requiring precision, creativity, and an almost superhuman ability to manage stress. Coordinating such a vast array of details — from vendors and venues to budgets and timelines — demands impeccable organizational skills, acute problem-solving, and careful finesse in handling sometimes emotional clients. And it’s not simply about executing logistics. The talented planner must transform often chaotic visions into seamless, memorable experiences, providing the hosts with the peace of mind necessary to simply enjoy their moment. If you have an event
in need of a planner, look no further than Shi Choong.
Shi (pronounced “she”) has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, and a background in engineering, as well as experience organizing TEDx events. She is incredibly diligent; a shining example of what can be accomplished with unwavering resolve and dedication. Recent stretches of her life have been marked by 100+ hour work weeks, a reflection of her commitment to accomplishing her goals. Coming from a diverse, multicultural background, she also offers a unique and decidedly inclusive perspective on things. It was through personal reflection on these many and diverse life experiences, particularly while being isolated during COVID, that she recognized her true calling: event planning.
It’s something she has experience doing, something she loves, and it’s a position where her particular skillset (developed over years as an engineer) can be used to maximum benefit. Event planning is nothing if not an exercise in problem-solving and that is a significant part of what she has been doing since entering the workforce. Add to that a desire to work with people, interact, and bring dreams to fruition, and Shi has discovered that all-tooelusive-but-coveted-thing: an occupation that’s not a “job” but a joy! Established in 2022, Event Planner Shi LLC has quickly become the premier event planning organization in the region.
Shi prides herself too on doing things just a little bit differently than the average planner. Her organizational skills and communication are second to none. Hiring her for a job means never having to stress over a single aspect of the event, but what she does like to do differently is focus on fun, modern, sustainable, and nontraditional affairs. She encourages a supportive, collaborative community, celebrates diversity, and champions authenticity. She also encourages thinking outside the box to personalize
each occasion. She takes the time to genuinely get to know her clients and then highlight the details that make those individuals unique. Costume changes, distinctive decor, and unusual rituals are just a few of her “tricks of the trade.” Her events are beautiful and elegant and executed to perfection, but they are also stylized to be one-of-
a-kind with an emphasis on the fun! Check out any of her raving testimonials and see for yourself. Words like reliable, extremely professional, communicative, enthusiastic, and detail-oriented are used repeatedly. Shi clearly excels at narrowing down what makes a client tick and highlighting that in a way that makes the event truly special.
Whether you have a wedding or a non-wedding event to plan, hiring Shi Choong will be the best decision you’ve ever made. Warm, affable, and intelligent, she will not only organize the occasion from beginning to end but she will inevitably become your closest confidant, greatest advocate, and best friend throughout.
Exciting upcoming events Shi has scheduled are: “Women Who Dare” on March 8th, and “The Dog Fashion Show” on May 31st. There is additional information—and tickets can be purchased—on her website. She is also looking for sponsors, collaborators, and potential entrants for the dog show. Keep an eye on her website for more intellectually stimulating and cutting-edge events in the future! Interested in hiring Shi? Learn more at: eventplannershi.com.
Get tickets now to Women Who Dare , an event that celebrates the fearless women who have dared to break barriers to become their authentic self and pave the way for others. This event is for anyone, not just women, who supports and believes in women empowerment. Get ready to be inspired, motivated, and empowered. Don’t wait. Be a part of something special!
www.eventplannershi.com/women-who-dare
A Home Away From Home
The ultimate family-friendly sports pub
By Angie Helvey, Active Media
Photos by Brittany Jungenberg, Active Media
It’s nice to have a comfy neighborhood pub you can count on for great drinks, delicious food, and friendly interactions with folks who know you by name. Linn City Pub has been the family-friendly watering hole in town for over 20 years and fits that description perfectly. Whether you’re stopping by for the first time or making a regular visit, the exceptional food and strong bonds between the crew and their customers will keep you coming back.
Jack Packard co-owns the restaurant with Hank Jarboe, his colleague of nearly 30 years. He started his career working for Hank and managed the original Jarboe’s in Canby before moving on to manage and bartend at Linn City Pub. He and Hank bought the pub from Brad Rakes in 2015, and it’s a place Jack is proud to call home. “It’s been fun getting to know people over the years; we’ve watched a lot of kids grow up,” he recounts.
Linn City’s menu perfectly combines good old-fashioned homemade pub fare, homestyle dinners and upscale entrees like charbroiled steak and seafood. The Alaskan Halibut Fish and
Chips is a house favorite, featuring tender pieces of Alaskan halibut fried to a golden brown and served with housemade tartar sauce and coleslaw. Their giant gourmet burgers are half-pound 100% USDA fresh ground chuck, cooked to order and loaded with goodies on toasted buns sourced locally from Portland French Bakery. The Home Style Pot Roast is just like your mom used to make, with tender and slow-roasted beef served with garlic mashed potatoes and drenched in a rich brown gravy.
Just about everything at Linn City is made fresh from scratch, including the flavor-packed sauce for their Penne Alfredo, served with seafood or grilled/ spicy chicken. Customers go crazy for the chicken wings, which are baked off, fried to order and tossed in a selection of rotating housemade sauces, from buffalo and teriyaki to Szechuan and pineapple habanero. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the pub makes a mean biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, eggs benedict and other mouthwatering breakfast classics.
The bar is known for its impressive selection of local beers on tap, and the talented bartenders can whip up any
cocktail you’re craving. Wines are also sourced locally. With eight updated big-screen TVs that always show the day’s sporting events, a long, fully-stocked bar top and a private video poker room, it’s the ideal place to relax and watch a game. There are plenty of booths and tables for groups, so come with friends or bring the whole family; a kid’s menu is available for little ones. For a quieter dining experience, enjoy the full patio with covered seating where friendly dogs are always welcome.
Most of the crew at Linn City have been there for many years, and they work as a team, always supporting each
other personally and professionally. “We’re a family here,” says Jack. That statement extends to their customers, some who’ve been coming since the beginning. Guests and servers know each other by name and it’s become a second home for many of them, as well as a popular place for visitors passing through town.
Being a sports bar and longtime member of the West Linn community, sponsoring local athletics is a cornerstone of the business, including everything from youth to high school programs. “Everyone here is very supportive of local restaurants and businesses, so it’s our way of giving back,” Jack says.
Linn City Pub is located at 19389 Willamette Dr in West Linn. Visit their website at linncitypub.com or give them a call at (503) 675-8833.
