Welcome to Village Portland

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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

We’re most excited about the Village Portland @ Montavilla site. It has the space for more in-depth stories, as well as a neighborhood directory where neighbors can find and learn the story of local businesses and organizations.

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

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

andrewtaylorwilkins@gmail.com

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Business owners invest so much time, energy, and money for the chance to build a business that reflects their values and serves their customers in a unique way. Many neighbors want to support businesses that share their values, and we want to help owners tell this story.

We can help tell your story by putting together the best mix of video, photographs, and words that will tell your neighbors who you are, why you do what you do, and why they should support what you’re doing.

Take a look at the story of Montavilla Mini Farm, a neighbor who sells produce from her side yard garden. The full story is here, and you can watch the video below.

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Here are a few more of the stores about the community and volunteerism that makes East Portland a great place to live:

Life’s a little different in East Portland. Meet some of the activist and artists working in their community through a mural by local artist Alex Chui:

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

Volunteers work year-round and raise about $30,000 to put on the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby, an amazing mix of DIY engineering, art, and racing in Mt. Tabor Park:

Village Portland @ Montavilla

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This weekend

Welcome to your weekend. If you missed it, there was a Montavilla Neighborhood Association meeting this week… and at the meeting there was a presentation from Montavilla Co-op and SMART (Start Making a Reader Today).

Both are seeking volunteers from the neighborhood, as is the MNA board.

The story is here.

FRIDAY, FEB 15TH

Live jazz (event):

Live jazz at Vino Veritas with Kathleen Hollingsworth.

This wine and bottle shop has live music regularly, including most Fridays and Sundays.

Vino Veritas, 7835 SE Stark St * 7 pm – 10 pm * donations accepted

“Mary Queen of Scots”:

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

SATURDAY, FEB 16TH

Portland Police body cam town hall (event):

Portland Police are have one of several town hall meetings to discuss beginning a pilot body camera program, Saturday morning.

East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Ave * 9 am – 11 am

Black Storytime:

“The African and African American experience comes alive for children from birth to age 6 (with a favorite adult and other family members). In a positive and affirming environment, have fun with books and stories, songs, and movement activities. Black Storytime builds language and literacy skills your child needs to be ready for kindergarten.”

Midland Library, * 11:15 am – 11:45 am

Live music at Eastside (website):

DeMure / Redeemers / PCR

Eastside Bar & Grill, 2530 NE 82nd Ave * 9 pm

SUNDAY, FEB 17TH

Poetry in the garden:

AUTHORS TOP L to R: Omar El Akkad, Alicia Jo Rabins, Sam Roxas-Chua 姚 
BOTTOM L to R: Rachel King, Mary Milstead, Stevan Allrea

Why There Are Words features live author readings at Leach Botanical Garden.

The following six acclaimed authors will read on the theme of Peace and Justice. Omar El Akkad, Alicia Jo Rabins, Sam Roxas-Chua 姚 , Rachel King, Mary Milstead, and Stevan Allrea.

Leach Botanical Garden * 4 pm * $10 suggested donation

Montavilla Neighborhood Association – February general meeting

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This month’s meeting had a presentation from Start Making a Reader Today and Montavilla Food Co-op.

Both organizations, as well as the MNA, have opportunities for volunteers available.

SMART is needing substitute volunteers to help students in local schools with their reading. Their representative said now’s a good time to get involved because neighbors can take on substitute shifts without having to commit to a full school year.

SMART has opportunities in all three of the public schools in Montavilla.

Montavilla Co-op is seeking volunteers for their board as they reach a critical threshold in their mission to bring a member-owned grocery store to the neighborhood. The co-op representatives also answered some challenging questions about the co-op’s progress.

Here’s a page on the co-op’s website where questions about their progress are answered. You can also submit your own questions there.

The MNA board also considered a proposal to allow Angela Todd, one of the founders of the Montavilla Initiative, become a member of the MNA. She said her volunteer work in the neighborhood and the fact that she lives on the boundary line as reasons she should be accepted.

Also, board member Patricia Sanders stepped down from the board. She said she needed more time for personal projects, including those regarding Montavilla history.

The MNA is seeking volunteers for its board, as well as help with other elements of the organization.

This weekend

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Since there’s a serious winter storm headed our way, before you head out to any of these events it would be a good idea to make sure it hasn’t been cancelled.

KPTV weather believes the snow will start after 7 pm Friday, and that the roads will be icy Saturday.

11pm Thurs WX Blog

If you know anyone’s who is sleeping outside, help them find shelter by calling 211 on your phone. The Montavilla Emergency Warming Shelter (website) has been open all week, and is seeking volunteers and supplies.

Portland Central Church of the Nazarene near 99th and Powell is also open, in a partnership with Agape Village. This shelter can house up to 150 folks.

APANO has chosen Chi Nguyen as their new executive director. According to their newsletter, they’ll have an event to welcome her at their new building on SE Division and 82nd Ave in late April:

Here’s a paragraph from the release about her background:

“During Chi’s seven-month interim period, she greatly expanded the capacity of APANO’s internal administrative systems while leading the organization through an extremely successful election cycle and responding to the humanitarian crisis in Sheridan, where 123 asylum-seekers, most from SE Asia, were detained in a federal prison. Chi brings a unique combination of business, political, education, and social justice experience, as well as important perspectives key to APANO’s work — as a Vietnamese immigrant and refugee, parent, member of the LGBTQ community, former elected official, and successful business owner. Before joining APANO, Chi started the socially-minded company AutoMedic and served as a city councilor in King City, Oregon. She also teaches at Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management.”

You can subscribe to APANO’s newsletter here.

It’s great to see more live music in East Portland. EastSide Bar & Grill (schedule) has a cool variety of music nearly every night. Check out their schedule here. And this weekend:

Fri: rockabilly with Roostertails
Sat: rock from Blackflash / Echocheck / Moonraker
Sun: open jam (5 pm – 9 pm) with Ron Fast

EastSide Bar & Grill, 2530 NE 82nd Ave * 9-ish pm

FRIDAY, FEB 8TH

Black History Month: STEM Spotlight:

“All of February, come by SE campus Mt. Tabor Great Hall and check out the TV screen to see a display of black leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Learn about the wonderful contributions these people have made to furthering education, research, and more!Mt. Tabor Great Hall, 2305 SE 82nd Ave

SATURDAY, FEB 9TH

Lunar new year

“The Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in many Asian cultures, celebrating life, good health and prosperity. Join us to bring in the new year with cultural performances, educational activities and light refreshments. Happy New Year!”

Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy Blvd * 2 pm – 4 pm

Pay It Forward fundraiser:

“Don’t miss out on buying your special valentine a special gift from a local vendor. The gift means more when it comes from a local vendor. We will have a variety of special gifts for your loved ones. Come out and shop. Also, while you are shopping, we will be having a Raffle drawing throughout the day.”

Pay It Forward Store, 16126 SE Stark St * 10:30 am – 5 pm

IRCO seed swap with Outgrowing Hunger:

“Bring extra seed you have saved in your garden to share with others and discover new varieties. Local gardeners and farmers will have the opportunity to learn about seed saving and take home seeds. If you do not have any seed to share, you are welcome to come too— we normally have plenty of seeds.”

IRCO Community Room, 10323 NE Glisan St * 2:30 pm – 4 pm

SUNDAY, FEB 10TH

Winter stock up market:

For the full list of producers and some of the special fall produce available, go here.

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

This weekend

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It’s awesome to see so many new businesses pop up in the neighborhood!

Welcome PDXFit (7323 NE Glisan St), a community-focused gym, and White Pepper (1124 NE 80th Ave), a catering service, to Montavilla!

FRIDAY, FEB 1ST

Milepost 5 art show (event):

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One of the inventive artists at MP5, Kim Bookman, is having an art show, and I don’t think we could say it any better:

“Vagina Interrupted: a Farewell Fundraiser show… ALL ABOUT VAGINAS! Come take a look and splash a cup of wine while celebrating, nature’s ultimate pocket! Let’s get up close and personal shall we. This is a graphic show with graphic imagery so let’s leave the kiddos at home. There will be snacks, wine, music and perhaps a performance or two and a very special appearance by Regina, Portland’s largest and plushiest vagina!!”

Milepost 5, 850 NE 81st Ave * 6 pm – 9 pm

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Black history presentation:

Youth Curated Black History Traveling Museum STJ

“World Stage Theatre has partnered with Black Student Union groups from Portland metro high schools to create Black History Month displays. Each group has chosen a specific time period in history to highlight the African American experience to do collective research and curate pieces for the displays. Midland Library will host David Douglas High School’s display.” 

The display is part of a citywide Black History Festival (schedule) here in Portland.

Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave

Youth prisoner theatre (event):

Creating Life Inside @ Sellwood Playhouse, Portland [from 25 January to 2 February]

“Rogue Pack returns to Fertile Ground with “Creating Life Inside,” a devised play based on writings by young men ages 15-17 at Donald E. Long Detention Center [in Montavilla] who are awaiting trial.”

“Experience these youths’ account of life in prison, as well as their memories, and fantasies, heroes, and dreams. They describe their “heartless background”, present situation and their hopes for the future. Join us for talk-backs each night to discuss current issues around youth incarceration with people who work closely with the justice system.”

The play is being held Fri & Sat, these are the show’s final showings.

Sellwood Playhouse, 901 SE Spokane St * 7:30 pm * $20 suggested, sliding scale

Holiday screening at Academy:

You’ve seen it before, but “Groundhog Day” is worth trying again until you get it right.

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

SATURDAY, FEB 2ND

Once Upon a Time Family Theatre:

“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. Though simply produced, these delightful and engaging productions will soon have everyone fully absorbed in the interaction of live theatre.”

This month’s production: “The Princess & the Pea”

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

Ants Ants Ants Family Music:

Ants Ants Ants

“A fun sing-along family music band that kids of any age (1-100) will enjoy!  With their three-part harmonies and amazing guitar work, these ants put on a show that fans won’t soon forget. See them perform songs from their new album, ‘Why Why Why?'”

Holgate Library * 11 am – 11:45 am

SUNDAY, FEB 3RD

Eastside Bar & Grill, 2530 Ne 82nd Ave * 5 pm – 9 pm * free

This weekend

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For people who are committed to bettering their community, the Martin Luther King Jr Tribute event was one of those events that really refills your tank. We filmed this one song from Portland’s Bridge City Soul.

Foster Powell Neighborhood Association gives a detailed breakdown of the draft report of a 82nd Ave study. Read more about what’s being considered here.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25TH

Youth prisoner theatre (event):

Creating Life Inside @ Sellwood Playhouse, Portland [from 25 January to 2 February]

“Rogue Pack returns to Fertile Ground with “Creating Life Inside,” a devised play based on writings by young men ages 15-17 at Donald E. Long Detention Center [in Montavilla] who are awaiting trial.”

“Experience these youths’ account of life in prison, as well as their memories, and fantasies, heroes, and dreams. They describe their “heartless background”, present situation and their hopes for the future. Join us for talk-backs each night to discuss current issues around youth incarceration with people who work closely with the justice system.”

The play is being held Fri & Sat, this weekend and next.

Sellwood Playhouse, 901 SE Spokane St * 7:30 pm * $20 suggested, sliding scale

Live music at Eastside Grill (website):

9 pm – Drone Riders 

10 pm – Saint Jacks Parade

11 pm – Cherry Bomb 13

Eastside Bar & Grill, 2530 Ne 82nd Ave * 9 pm * $5

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26TH

Stewardship Saturday (event):

“Johnson Lake has experienced a number of changes over the last century. It was a popular swimming hole until the Vanport flood of 1948 which flooded the lake and made it murky. Since then the lake has experienced pollution, but clean-up projects – in fact, the Council’s very first native planting – have helped to restore the property surrounding the lake.”

Johnson Lake Property, NE 92nd Ave & NE Colfax St * 9 am – noon

Groundwater 101 (event):

“Join the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for Groundwater 101 – a FREE educational workshop that teaches groundwater basics including local geology and hydrology, the role groundwater plays in our drinking water system, and what we can do to protect this important resource that lies beneath the cities of Portland, Gresham, and Fairview.” 

Mckinstry, 16790 NE Mason St * 9 am – 1 pm

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Portland Metro Arts winter showcase (tickets):

“Babes in Toyland”

“Join us for this wonderful retelling of Victor Herbert’s classic operetta. Music, sets, costumes and cast will combine to whisk you away to ‘the land you’ll oft recall as the best of all… TOYLAND!'”

Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark St * Sat & Sun – 2 pm * $10 adults, $7 children & seniors

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27TH

Talk Time:

“Talk Time is an informal conversation circle for non-native speakers to practice speaking English. First come, first served.”

Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy Blvd * 12:30 pm – 2 pm

Montavilla Neighborhood Association – January general meeting

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@ 2:40 – A representative from the City of Portland‘s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability gives a presentation on a historical resources study planned for Montavilla.

It’s a pilot project, and the only one being done in Portland.

The board is also looking for more board members. For contact information, visit their website here.

@ 1:20 – The general meeting ends, and the MNA board meeting begins.