Village Portland 2.0

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Welcome to Village Portland, neighborhood news & actions in East Portland. 

We’re here to bridge the gap between news & civic participation… and to encourage folks get involved with their community and support their neighbors. There are a million voices fighting for your attention, but we want to help you connect with your village, your neighborhood… where your power to connect and make change is the strongest.

There are Village Portland sites for both Montavilla, Lents, and now Brentwood-Darlington:

Village Portland @ Montavilla

Village Portland @ Lents

Village Portland @ Brentwood-Darlington

For more frequent updates on news and actions that impact East Portland, follow our Facebook page: facebook.com/villageportland.

If you’re an organizer or writer interested in bringing a Village Portland to your neighborhood, contact Andrew Wilkins, Publisher / Editor:

andrewtaylorwilkins@gmail.com

villageportland-spring2018

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The 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade, it feels like the great American small town parade and the best of 82nd Avenue:

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This weekend

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There was a Montavilla Neighborhood Association on June 11. There was discussion of street murals, emergency preparedness, and also a plan to have sanctioned houseless camps in Montavilla. For the meeting summary and video, go here.

Other Montavilla neighbors have expressed concern about the sanctioned homeless camp plan, and started a petition (here) to oppose the plan. It’ll be modeled after a Seattle program. Assistance in helping with the sanction camp program has been requested, for more information contact John Rotter, MNA public safety chair. (john.rotter [at] montavillapdx.org)

We’d also like to welcome Maria Jayne, a reporter who’s stepped up to help with stories and organizing! She wrote this month’s meeting summary.

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A proposed recycling center in Lents is drawing concerns from neighbors.

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This week, the Portland City Council authorized an agreement to accept $2 million from the Oregon Department of Transportation for the design and construction of the Seventies Neighborhood Greenway. It will run north to south, just east of 82nd Ave.

And if you’re fired up about cycling, there are dozens of themed rides this weekend and throughout the month with Pedalpalooza!

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FRIDAY

As of Thursday, Academy Theater is back open after a fire earlier this month!

An excellent slate of second-run films are playing now, including “Lu Over the Wall”, both “Back to the Future” films, “A Wrinkle in Time”, “Black Panther”, and several other great films.

7818 SE Stark St * show times *  $4 for adults, $3 for youth & seniors
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“This June the Whitenoise project for our second event in the De-Canon Residency and Pop Up Library is excited to host powerhouse out of town poets Sokunthary Svay, Do Ngyuen Mai and Hari Alluri as they visit our fair city, as well as local favorite Armin Tolentino!
The Whitenoise Project is a reading and discussion series aiming to center voices from underrepresented communities (PoC, Queer, Femme, WoC and people with disabilities), and is supported by a Jade-Midway Placemaking Grant from APANO.”  
Milepost 5, 8155 NE 81st Ave * 7 pm – 9 pm
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SATURDAY

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Paint the Town Green! is sponsored by SOLVE (originally Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) and it’s bringing together several Southeast / East Portland neighborhoods to pick up trash and paint over graffiti along 82nd Ave on June 16th.

Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood

Foster-Powell Neighborhood

Lents Neighborhood

Mt. Scott- Arleta Neighborhood

Richmond (Division and Hawthorne) Neighborhood

For more information on the program, go here or choose your neighborhood above.

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The beautiful game; the world’s game… Portland Mercado is showing World Cup games. For more details and a specific schedule, visit their Facebook page.

Portland Mercado, 7238 SE Foster Rd * all weekend

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“The Midway Business Association is sponsoring a new family-friendly event to celebrate community, business and nature in East Portland at Powell Butte (161st and SE Powell) on Saturday, June 16th from 8 am – Noon. Activities include a scavenger hunt, service project, bird watching tour, wildlife rescue exhibit featuring raptors (falcons and owls), disc golf demonstration, presentations from local businesses and a raffle to benefit area non-profits.”
Powell Butte Nature Park, 16160 SE Powell Blvd * 8 am – noon 
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Live music at Cartlandia:
“It’s the Capacitors’ maiden voyage! Wear your dancin’ shoes and please tip your bartender.”
Blue Room Bar @ Cartlandia * 8145 SE 82nd Ave * 8 pm -11 pm
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SUNDAY

Early cherries, strawberries, and plenty of other goodness at Montavilla Farmers Market. For more information on the vendors, go here.

Montavilla Farmers Market, 7700 block of SE Stark St * 10 am – 2 pm 

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Eid is Islamic holiday celebrating the end of the month of Ramadan. The celebration is sponsored by the Somali Women Coalition of Portland.

East Portland Neighborhood Office, 1017 NE 117 Ave * 6 pm – 10 pm
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Enjoy your weekend!

MNA – June meeting

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by MARIA JAYNE 

The June Montavilla Neighborhood Association meeting addressed 82nd avenue
improvement, emergency preparedness, public murals, and temporary homeless
shelters.

@ 3:16 – Liz N, 82nd Avenue Improvement Coalition steering committee member, requests
the neighborhood association’s support in getting a jurisdictional transfer from
Oregon Department of Transportation to Portland Bureau of Transportation. She said their goals is to, “make it more of a street that people can live with rather than one that people just drive through the neighborhood on.”

The group wants Portland to have jurisdiction to start projects on paving streets, improving sidewalks and creating better and more frequent crosswalks.

@ 14:41 – Ernest Jones, coordinator of Basic Earthquake Emergency Communications Node (BEECN), is seeking to double the number of volunteers at BEECN sites. Training is 90 minutes and teaches volunteers how to help their neighbors in event of an earthquake.

@ 35:51 – Mark Leben, co-leader of Monatvilla’s Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) is looking to expand and establish continuity among NET groups.

“Sometimes it’s a matter of knowing one street or two, you don’t have to know your entire neighborhood to be an asset,” he said. “…The community is what helps everyone thrive and survive.”

@ 1:03 – Alex Chu, local artist and painter and illustrator of the 82nd Max Station Mural, said his primary focus is to work with local communities and execute public art projects. His goal is to foster the understanding of the community by getting to know not only the other people in it but also the resources that are available.

@ 1:26 – Tiffany Conklin, director of the Portland Street Art Alliance, said the alliance was started in 2012 due to confusion on mural laws and it has become a large network of artists and resources for mural painting. They are looking to find more business spaces to paint on and donations for future murals.

@ 1:54 – Land Use is focusing on murals and updating bylaws and membership language. The proposal for the new bylaws is slated to go up for vote around August or September.

@ 1:58:00 – John Rotter, MNA Public Safety Chair, is working on a sanctioned homeless shelter to aid against camp frequency and expansion. His project is to focus city resources to that site inspired by a similar sanctioned program from Seattle. He said this shelter would be “very temporary but very doable.”

There was no action taken by the board, and Rotter said he plans to bring a resolution about the camp next month.

There will be a Homelessness Forum on June, 30 from 11 am – 2 pm Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (10301 NE Glisan St) to address the model.

@ 2:05 – Although May has passed, The Clean Up Day project is still a possibility for Fall date not just next Spring.

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This weekend

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Hello all!

There’s a Montavilla Neighborhood Association meeting this week. The focus will emergency preparedness and murals in the neighborhood!

Montavilla United Methodist Church, 232 SE 80th Ave * Monday, June 11 * 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

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It’s also great to see a conversation on housing and houselessness organized by the MNA. It’s set for June 30th. For more information, and to see a video of a housing forum in Lents last month, go here.
The neighborhood level is the perfect place to have these conversations, to share ideas and experiences. We should all be grateful for all the work done to create this space for dialogue.
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FRIDAY

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Rojo ™ “World’s Most Beloved Llama” visits Cartlandia.

“Incredibly touchable, and unusually people-friendly, Rojo is recognized as a local celebrity as he participates in many local parades and charity events, and makes regular visits to schools, hospitals, and adult-care facilities throughout the Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA area.”

Cartlandia beer garden, 8145 SE 82nd Ave * 6 pm – 7 pm * free

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Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the Portland Pickles are back in town this weekend!

Buy tickets here.

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Tibetan Buddhist Meditation practices:

“An evening of Buddhist meditation practices. mindfulness, visualization, chanting, recitation of mantra, contemplation. clear guidance and explanations by Lama Jacqueline Mandell, Buddhist meditation teacher. Following in the footsteps of revered ancient teachers.

All levels welcome including beginners. Suggested Donation, $10. No one turned away for financial reasons.”

 

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SATURDAY

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“Come give feedback on the draft final design for the new
playground. Find us at Gilbert Park School’s free community
barbecue from 3 pm – 5 pm. Kids welcome!”

Gilbert Park Elementary, 13132 SE Ramona Street * 3 pm – 5 pm

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Live music with Ripe Red Apple:

“Description: R. L. Burnside, Karen Dalton, PJ Harvey, The Velvet Underground, Johnny Thunders, Billie Holiday, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Caetano Veloso, The Band, Lou Reed…” 
If you watch the video, it’s a little shaky, but you can spot at least one Montavilla landmark.
The O’Neill Public House, 6000 NE Glisan St * 9:30 pm – 1 am 
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SUNDAY

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The Montavilla Farmers Market is on every Sunday! For a list of the vendors and more information, go here.

Montavilla Farmers Market, 7700 block of SE Stark St * 10 am – 2 pm 

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Botanical Printing on Paper with artist Anna Zell:

“Botanical printing uses historical methods to capture colors, textures, and shapes found in nature– resulting in stunning plant portraits. In this class, leaves are layered onto paper, optionally adding some natural plant dyes, then steamed or boiled. This environmentally gentle process permanently transfers botanical pigments without synthetic dyes, inks or paints. Cost includes paper and dying materials.

Artist Anna Zell will lead you step-by-step through the eco-printing process. At the end of the day, you’ll take home your own printed papers and cards. You’ll also be given a kit to dye more papers – for yourself or as spectacular gifts for others.” 

Register online  or contact JoAnn Vrilakas, education coordinator, at jvrilakas@leachgarden.org. Limit twelve.

Leach Botanical Garden, * 1 pm – 4 pm * $75, Leach Garden Member $65

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A celebration of Yotsofa and marketfest, organized by the Lao community in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

“This historic event will feature Lao community Buddhist ceremonies, Marketfest and a variety of activities. Booths from businesses, organizations and individuals will be set up to offer information, arts and crafts, items for sale, food and beverages, music and videos.”

Wat Buddhathammaram, 4350 N.E. 133rd Ave * 8 am – 6 pm 

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Enjoy your weekend!

This weekend

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There was a fire this week at Academy Theater. The theater is closed until further notice, at least through Sunday, June 3rd, according to their website.

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East Portland and not close in Portland share many of the same issues. One of the major goals of Village Portland is to share ideas and advocacy across neighborhood boundaries.

At May’s Lents Neighborhood Association meeting, a housing forum was held (beginning @ 21:00 in the video linked in the meeting summary). Attending were representatives from: Green Lents; ROSE Community Development, The City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability; a representative from Mayor Ted Wheeler‘s office (who referenced the 2017 State of Housing Report); Living Cully (part of the Anti-Displacement PDX coalition); Palindrome (developer of Oliver Station @ 37:15 an update is given); Lents Strong housing team; and Tenants Priced Out working group.

Many initiatives were proposed to help, but most of them rely on property taxes. And, in my opinion, the forum’s question of the night was: since East Portland and low income home owners bear the heaviest burden of tax increases… is property tax reform coming?

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FRIDAY

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In Lents, the Portland Pickles take on the Port Angeles Lefties (tickets). It’s the season opener and there are games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets were still available for opening day on Thursday afternoon.

Walker Stadium, 4727 SE 92nd Ave * 7:05 pm * $5 – $13 

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Weekends mean live music at both Vino Veritas (7835 SE Stark St * Sunday Jazz, 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm) and Montavilla Station (417 SE 80th Ave * Friday and Saturday night, 9ish pm).

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SATURDAY

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day:

“This festival is an opportunity for families to kick off the summer riding season — and celebrate Northwest Trail Alliance’s 30th anniversary — at our urban mountain biking festival, which includes Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day! Enjoy the newly-revamped riding at Gateway Green, food and drinks, coaching for adults and youth, new bike demos, plus loaner bikes and fun races for kids. There’s plenty of single-track, skills courses (one just for kids!), a pump track, and an advanced jump line to keep everyone entertained all day long. Plus, for kids, we’ll have free Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day t-shirts and a helmet give-away while supplies last!”

This event is hosted by Northwest Trail Alliance.

Gateway Green (directions) * 10 am – 3 pm * free

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Once Upon a Time Family Theatre presents “Rapunzel”:

“Friends! Princes, Princesses, and even Evil Witches find their happy endings in this story of growing hair and growing up.” (Tickets)

“Once Upon a Time Family Theatre is a magical mix of theatrical simplicity and grand storytelling for kids and their families. There’s always a slight twist to the traditional story that keeps these productions fresh.”   

Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark St * 11:30 am – 1 pm * $1 for children, $2 for adults

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SUNDAY

East County Community Orchestra Spring Concert:

“The East County Community Orchestra (known as “ECCO” to orchestra members) has been in existence since 1978. It was established by founder and first conductor Harold Webber as a venue for high school graduates and other interested parties to have a place to play. It operates as a non-profit organization, with a full board of directors in addition to the Music Director / Conductor. Concerts are offered free of charge to the community.”

David Douglas High School, 1400 SE 130th Ave * 3 pm 

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The Montavilla Farmers Market is on every Sunday! For a list of the vendors and more information, go here.

Montavilla Farmers Market, 7700 block of SE Stark St * 10 am – 2 pm 

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Enjoy your weekend!

This weekend

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Hello all!

I don’t know if there’s still time for folks in Montavilla to bring this to our neighborhood, but either way it seems like a great event.

Paint the Town Green! is sponsored by SOLVE (originally Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) and it’s bringing together several Southeast / East Portland neighborhoods to pick up trash and paint over graffiti along 82nd Ave on June 16th. For more information, go here.

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If you missed it, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) announced the lineup for Mic Check!, their summer cultural events series. The first event is the Queer APIs + Mental Health Roundtable on June 6th at Taborspace.

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The Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the City bureau that oversees neighborhood associations and an assortment of other community-based programs, just completed a $25,000 re-branding, Willamette Week reports. It will now be called the Office of Community and Civic Life. It’s new website will go up on July 1st.

FRIDAY

“Please join the Mill Park community as we dedicate our new preschool playground, and help us put the finishing touches on it. We will be holding this event from 1-3 p.m. Friday, May 25 at the new playground, which is located on the north side of the school.
 
We will have snacks, and you can help us paint and decorate the playground fence, as well as planting some sensory garden plants.”

Mill Park Elementary School, 1900 SE 117th Ave * 1 pm – 3 pm 

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Vino Veritas is keeping the jazz coming with singer song writer Hayley Lynn.

7835 SE Stark St * 7 pm – 10 pm * free 

 

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SATURDAY

“Practique inglés o español y ayude a los demás que están aprendiendo en un ambiente amable. Los participantes hablan la mitad del tiempo en inglés y la otra en español. Están bienvenidos los principiantes.

Practice English or Spanish and help other learners in a friendly atmosphere. Participants speak half the time in English and half in Spanish. Beginners welcome.”

Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy Blvd * 4 pm – 5 pm 

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Iftar Dinner, sponsored by the Somali Women Coalition of Portland:

“Please join us while we host our first Iftar [breaking of the Ramadan fast] potluck with the community. This event is open to everyone that would like to join and share a food for thought.” (Invitation)
East Portland Neighborhood Office (EPNO), 1017 NE 117th Ave * 8 pm – 10 pm
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Michelle Alany & the Mystics: 
“Journey through exotic lands with this fiddle-driven caravan of Klezmer, Balkan, Sephardic & original soul music all spiced up with a Texas twist. With her captivating band, Michelle Alany brings fresh interpretations of ancient melodies, hypnotic strings and wild improvisation with her energizing soulful music.”
The O’Neill Public House, 6000 NE Glisan St * 9:30 pm – 1 am 

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SUNDAY

1984’s “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” and five other second-run films are playing at Academy Theater.

7818 SE Stark St * show times *  $4 for adults, $3 for youth & seniors

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Enjoy your holiday weekend!

 

This weekend

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Hello all… the election wrapped up this week, but if you still have questions about the City Council election, both Jo Anne Hardesty and Loretta Smith spoke at this week’s Montavilla Neighborhood Assoication meeting (video).

There were also presentations from the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association; and Friends of Mt. Tabor Park at the MNA meeting.

And even though she was unable to unseat long-term incumbent Nick Fish for his City Council seat, Montavilla resident Julia DeGraw did win 30 percent of the vote.

The general election is November 6.

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Yesterday, I happened upon Dao Strom, the founder of De-Canon: A Visibility Project, a pop-up library and web resource project showcasing literary art by writers/artists of color.

With support from a place-making grant from APANO, they’ve transformed the Milepost 5 cafe into a warm and comfortable place to enjoy their collection. Just across from Strom’s bench is a bunch of cozy couches and the plush-est rug I’ve ever seen.

“Thanks to the generosity of Artists Milepost, we’ll be in residency there from mid May to late July. … Through these three months, the exhibit space will be open as a reading library, workspace, and venue for 4 days a week, with the occasional weekend events.  We are expanding our archive and hope to have over 500 books available for visitors to read.

If you’re interested in running an event (reading, workshop, discussion) in the De-Canon space during the May – July block, email us [contact] and we’ll try to make it work.”

Milepost 5, 8155 NE 81st Ave * hours vary 

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In July, the Belmont Goats (in Lents now) are needing a new home… Is there a lot in East Portland that would work? KGW reports.

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SATURDAY

Leach Botanical Garden 2018 Nature Fair:

“Chew Chomp Slurp: How Critters Eat! Come explore how the food an animal eats affects its body and behavior – including yours! There will be lots of skulls – bear, cougar, horse, alligator, gar, camel, beaver and many more! Also Lady Bug explorations, a salmon run game, critter boxes and mini-terrariums, magnifying glasses and nets, and of course, slug races. Make an animal mask, listen to a story, hear live music, try ikebana, slurp some ice-cream and chomp some popcorn.”

Leach Botanical Garden, Upper Garden Meadow, 6704 SE 122nd Ave * 10 am – 2 pm * free

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Montavilla East Tabor Business Association hosts #GoLocal Montavilla Spring Block Party. There’ll be bands, food, and fun in the streets of Montavilla!

SE 81st Ave between Stark St – Oak St * 2 pm – 10 pm

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“Join the Original Practice Shakespeare Festival for an interactive, improvisational, fun and funny performance of the best of Shakespeare and how his work has made our world a better world because of his plays.

First come, first served.”

Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy Blvd, * 3 pm – 3:45 pm * free 

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“Sacred, contemporary Christian, and gospel genres, and music from the pops and opera repertoire.”

Taborspace, 5441 SE Belmont St * Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 7 pm * $12 adults $12, kids under 12 free (tickets) 

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SUNDAY

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“Montavillage Spring Festival: Come celebrate Creative Science School and the Montavilla Community! Free and fun for the entire family. Live music and entertainment, food carts, vendors, balloon art, bouncy house, arts & crafts, obstacle course, and dunk tank!”

Creative Science School, 1231 SE 92nd Avenue * 1 pm – 4 pm

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Montavilla Kiwanis Club is having a pancake breakfast Sunday!

Colunbia Christian School, 9101 E Burnside St * 8:30 am – 1 pm * $5 individual, $20 family

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“Celebrating cultures: Come join Midland’s Teen Council to celebrate some of the many cultures in our neighborhood. Activities will include an ambient playlist, volunteer-run informational displays, performances, food tasting, and a collaborative poetry workshop.

First come, first served.”

Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave * 2 pm – 4 pm * free 

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The market is open for business on Sundays!

East PDX News did a nice story on the Montavilla Farmer’s Market… here. They also included a link to when the market started in 2007.

Montavilla Farmers Market, 7700 block of SE Stark St * 10 am – 2 pm 

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Enjoy your weekend!

This weekend

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There’s a Montavilla Neighborhood Association meeting this week, May 14th. Four candidates for Portland City Council will present, as well as representatives from Montavilla East Tabor Business Association and Mt. Tabor Stewardship Fund.

The full agenda is here.

Montavilla United Methodist Church, 232 SE 80th Ave *  6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

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FRIDAY

National Public Gardens Day 2018:
“All across the country, America will be celebrating our public gardens today. Here at Leach Garden, some special activities are planned. The Stone Cabin will be open from 11 – 2; our Education Coordinator, JoAnn Vrilakas, will lead an Ethnobotany Tour at noon; Gavin Bell of Dragonfly Forge will be on hand to sharpen pruning shears from 11 – 2; and local author, Teresa Bergen, will be in the gift shop from noon – 2 signing copies of her new book, Easy Portland Outdoors, which includes an entry on Leach Garden. Come by and enjoy this annual celebration of gardens with us!” 
Included above, Leach has a great new video on their web site with a bit of its history and features.
Leach Botanical Garden 6704 SE 122nd Ave * 11 am – 2 pm * free 
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SATURDAY

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The Lents Community Pet Parade is Saturday! It’s open for anyone, with a few safety considerations, of course. For more info go here.

Boys and Girls Club, 9330 SE Harold St * 11 am – 2 pm 

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Archives Roadshow

“We are taking the archives on the road and traveling to neighborhood libraries. Drop by and learn what you can find in the City’s collections and how you can do your own research. City archivists are ready to answer questions and get you started on your research projects. Even if you don’t have any specific questions, stop by to look at historic photos from the surrounding neighborhoods.

First come, first served.”

Holgate Library, 7905 SE Holgate Blvd * 3 pm – 4 pm 

SUNDAY

The always excellent Montavilla Farmers Market is in its second weekend this Sunday. For more information on what’s in store for this market… go here.

Montavilla Farmers Market, 7700 block of SE Stark St * 10 am – 2 pm 

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If you haven’t tried Lent’s Zoiglhaus, Mother’s Day is a good opportunity:

“The Zoigl-Chefs would like to invite you to a super special brunch in honor of all moms! And the best part?? A free Beermosa for every mom! 

From 11 am-3 pm on Sunday, May 13th we’ll be featuring a special brunch menu (regular menu also available!) Every mom gets a Beermosa on the house (with purchase of entree).”

Menu:

Grilled Romaine Steak Salad
Crab Cakes w/ Roasted Potatoes, Asparagus and Lemon Aioli
Pesto Spatzle W/ Smoked Chicken and Parmesan
Veggie Frittata w/ Arugula Salad
Zoiglhaus Brewing Company, 5716 SE 92nd Ave * 11 am – 3 pm 
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Mrs. Doyle & the Teapots: 
“Piping hot Irish traditional music served the old fashioned way with a twist of native wit! Andrea Wild from The Stomptowners will be joined by Teresa Baker on keys & Preston Howard on his mighty pipes.”
The O’Neill Public House, 6000 NE Glisan St * 7 pm – 9 pm * free
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Enjoy your weekend!