Did you know that Casa Narjana has a covered patio? Now we can all continue enjoying the tropical feel through the fall. They have added outdoor heaters and their wonderful fireplace. Go visit them for some delicious tapas and great drinks!

Have you seen all the news on the new stores that are opening on our street? if not you NEED to click this link! Very exciting for us!

http://www.neighborhoodnotes.com/ne/boise/news/2009/10/mississippi_avenue_moving_forward_and_taking_action/

This is an older podcast. It not really the Sentinel’s its mostly a
co-produced piece but for those who you have not all ready heard Boise
Voices, it’s very very moving 8 minute sample. Apricot did a wonderful job

http://portlandsentinel.com/taxonomy/term/84

Dear Friends and Fans of Portland Story Theater, 

Have you ever been inside the John Palmer House? Some say it is haunted…  
On October 30th, you’ll have a chance to see for yourself. A tingle down your spine … the hair standing up on the back of your neck … goose bumps on your arms … It’s that time of year when we love to hear scary stories. 

On the night before Halloween, Portland Story Theater’s Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy will be joined by special guests Sharon Knorr, Penny Walter and Will Hornyak for an evening of scary stories at the beautiful and historic John Palmer House. Built in 1890 and reputed to be haunted, the John Palmer House is the perfect setting for Portland Story Theater’s first-ever fundraiser.

Only fifty tickets will be issued for this very special, one-night-only event; small groups of listeners will move through five different rooms of the house until they have heard all the stories. The stories will include some classics, such as Poe’s “The Telltale Heart,” a bit of H.P. Lovecraft, and some local ghost lore. All proceeds will go toward funding PST’s 2010 solo performance festival, Singlehandedly. This is your opportunity to support the unique spoken-word art form of PST and see one of Portland’s premiere historical homes.

• Who: Portland Story Theater with special guests Sharon Knorr, Penny Walter, and Will Hornyak

• What: Terrifying Tales at John Palmer House

• Where: John Palmer House, 4314 N. Mississippi, Portland, Oregon

• When: Friday, October 30th, 2009. Doors at 7:30, stories begin at 8:00; no late seating

• Tickets: Sliding scale, $25 to $50. Advance tickets are required. Purchase tickets online at Brown Paper Tickets

We encourage you to dress in costume, if you like. Bring your checkbooks to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a gift certificate to Andina Restaurant and other great stuff. Come at 7:30 for complimentary hors d’oeuvres, drinks for purchase, and some social time with the tellers. This event is not for children; no one under 21 will be admitted.

PST is deeply grateful to John Palmer House owners Maggie Kolkena and Susan Dunn for opening their home to us for this event.

Hope to see you there!

Lynne and Lawrence

Portland Story Theater

tellers@portlandstorytheater.com
www.portlandstorytheater.com
503-793-5484

•  

  Gumbo’s Favorite School/Office Supplies

  Endangered Species Giant Erasers

  KEEP THESE AROUND FOR AWHILE!
  Manufacture donates 2% of sales to Biological Diversity
  approx. 4-5 ” $12.95

• More fun times at Mississippi Pizza and Pub! Starting in October every Wednesday will be Trivia Night at 7:00pm. Round up your friends, pick your team name and head over there for a chance to win a cash pot! Oh yeah, don’t forget to eat a slice …and order a frosty beverage. 3552 N. Mississippi Ave.

• There’s a new kid on the block! Come see the wonderful creations at Jet Designs, 3753 N. Mississippi Ave.Described as classic, feminine and edgy: you’ll feel the wind in your hair! Their aim is to be conscious of our planet Earth and its me…mbers in all their endeavors. They choose natural fibers for easy care, long lasting wear and comfort. Produced locally to sustain our economy.
• Check out what are friends at Pin-Me-Apparel are up to….way to give back to OUR community. www.pdxneatsheet.com

• Due to the demand and success that BlackWagon.com has had with Reckon’s collection for babies and kids, Reckon and Black Wagon announce an exclusive collaboration on Reckon’s most popular styles for babies and kids. We saw these first hand and they a…re rocking! There are available online as well as their storefront at 3964 N. Mississippi. Kids T-Shirts coming soon

Don’t miss Jazz on Mississippi Ave on Saturday, September 12. Check out the link

• Project Clean Slate:
In partnership with several community organizations, Albina Community Bank’s Social Impact Banking Office helped teach this series of financial literacy classes that reached over 500 individuals that were working through challenges with criminal records. For more information, please visit www.projectcleanslate.com

Mississippi Avenue Lofts:
Targeted for LEED® Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Mississippi Avenue Lofts is a new sustainable 56,000 square foot 4-story mixed-use development featuring 32 live/work one, two-bedroom and penthouse lofts, secure parking and 5,900 square feet of ground floor commercial space. Consistent with their efforts to use more responsible products and services, the Mississippi Avenue Lofts team is also committed to local community banking and partners Albina as the primary construction and residential lender. Please visit www.mississippiavenuelofts.com to learn more about how the project is doing its part to reduce, reuse and recycle.

LifeStyle Beauty: September 7, 2009

Your host Dayna Cakebread will bring you knowledge and insight from the world of beauty and hair industry professionals, and explore the connections between beauty, self-image, and self esteem. Beautiful hair makes a Beautiful YOU! Dayna will draw from her expertise of over 15 years as a salon educator and owner of Belle Epoque Salon. She will feature guest speakers and beauty consultants from around the country and the world to teach you how to build your own personal beauty regimen, and how to get the most from your trips to the salon. Our open call-ins will answer your questions about products, hair tools, and how-to’s. Build your own personal style, find your personal truth! Tune in every first Monday from 8pm-8:30pm pacific time zone.Call-in Number: (914) 803-4194. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LifeStyle-Beauty

Grand Central Offers Free Afternoon Baking Demos

Step into a commercial kitchen to learn baking skills with professionals.  Leave with recipes for sweet and savory baked goods featuring U-Bake pastry.

PORTLAND, Ore. – August 18, 2009— Just in time for fall meals and holiday baking, Grand Central Bakery’s co-owner Piper Davis and Cuisine Manager Laura Ohm will host a series of six, free baking demonstrations featuring a few of their favorite uses for Grand Central’s versatile line of frozen U-Bake products. 

Each of the six demonstrations will be offered at 4 pm on the second and last Wednesday of the month, from September 16 through November 18.  Both classes during the month of November will focus on making perfect holiday pies. The hour-long demonstrations will take place at Grand Central Bakery’s Fremont location, 714 N. Fremont Avenue, in Portland.  No pre-registration is necessary and walk-ins are welcome.

Participants will learn how to create fall meals that are rewarding for the cook and a hit with eaters by applying a few simple techniques using the bakery’s premium U-Bake puff pastry and pie shells.  All of the demonstrations will feature two recipes—a savory and a sweet—that celebrate local veggies, fruits and nuts made even more delicious when encased in a delicate pastry or pie crust.Please check out www.grandcentralbakery.com for dates and class details.

GUMBO GIFTS

NATIONAL PLASTIC QUILT PROJECT:
The Quilt Project began earlier this year, as 18 artists continued the LNPB commitment of curbing the daily plastic consumption habit. Current squares created can be seen here. The quilt will be on display at Gumbo Gifts & Gallery, 3636 N Mississippi Ave through September. There is still time to participate, applications are available at www.LNPB.org 

”Think Ahead, Leave No Plastic Behind.”


http://portlandsentinel.com/?q=node/4977

Chapter Four has new fall hats!! Come in and see these totally cool hats.

Amy Lang at Black Wagon, 8/6!

Meet Amy Lang, author of “Birds + Bees + YOUR Kids,” Thursday, August 6, 7 p.m. at Black Wagon, 3964 N Mississippi Ave!

We are having a visit from Amy Lang, founder of Birds + Bees + Kids, to celebrate the release of her new book, Birds + Bees + YOUR Kids. The book works like a road map, navigating parents through the process of clarifying their values about sex, love and relationships in preparation for “the talk” that all parents eventually face with their kids. In her lectures and workshops in the Seattle area, Amy’s practical, agenda-free approach has helped scores of parents to discover how they feel about these issues and prepared them to be the sex expert in their children’s lives.

With the publication of Birds + Bees + YOUR Kids, this great resource is available to all parents! Please join us at Black Wagon (3964 N Mississippi Ave. in Portland) on Thursday, August 6th at 7 PM when Amy will talk about her work and answer questions. And of course, copies of the book will be available!

(For those who aren’t able to join us on Thursday, August 6th, our good friends at Bella Stella Big Kids are hosting a similar event with Amy on Wednesday, August 5 at 7 p.m. in their store at 2635 NE Broadway!)

Birds + Bees + Your Kids by Amy Lang

Black Wagon’s 1 year anniversary (there’s an awesome image on our blog; http://www.blackwagon.com/wordpress).

3-Year Anniversary Party, August 13th!
0 Comments Published by Megan July 14th, 2009 in 2nd Thursday Social, Black Wagon, Mississippi Ave

Come celebrate our first 3 years on fabulous Mississippi Ave with the Black Wagon Crew! We’ll have new art from Seth Neefus and Elijah Klauder, music by Super Professional DJ and the return of the photo booth by Melissa Hathaway! We’ll have yummy food & drink, and giveaways galore from small indie businesses on Mississippi and beyond! You won’t want to miss this party!

Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 – 5-9 PM or till the party stops rockin! – Black Wagon 3-Year Anniversary – Starring: DJ Brett Superstar – Art by: Seth Neefus & Elijah Klauder

Did you miss last night’s coverage of the new Mississippi Marketplace? If so, click on the link to check it out!

http://www.kgw.com/video/business-index.html?nvid=380629&shu=1

Check out these great services and product from our members:

Laughing Planet

Did you know that Laughing Planet Cafe now offeres Smart Beans? check out this link http://www.laughingplanetcafe.com/Smart_Beans.pdf

Grand Central Bakery

Seattle’s U-Bake is here!
Grand Central U-Bake Goodies include Cookies, Puff Pastry and Pies. All items are made with premium ingredients like sustainably-grown Shepard’s Grain flour, Larsen’s Creamery butter, locally grown fruit and fine chocolate sourced from Shokinag and Callebaut, and are free of artificial flavors and preservatives.  Now in Season -
Try our U-Bake Blueberry, Raspberry, or Marionberry pies today! From freezer to oven, you can have warm pie for dessert!

Visit them at the local farmer’s markets!

http://www.laughingplanetcafe.com/Smart_Beans.pdf

Check out the latest information from the Oregonian on the Mississippi Marketplace

Food-cart pod with amenities set to open in North Portland

by Karen Brooks, The Oregonian

Saturday July 11, 2009, 8:37 PM

Portland’s funky food-cart culture, one of the most vibrant and diverse in the country with hundreds of carts on the streets, is about to get organized, financed and landscaped.

North Mississippi Avenue, home to several well-known if eccentric carts, will be the scene of a new slice of food-cart culture.

Stephanie Yao Long/The OregonianDeveloper Roger Goldingay (left) and designer and contractor Michael Tunson will open Mississippi Marketplace in this open lot in August. The building will house a brewpub called Prost! adjacent to 10 food carts.

Set to open at the corner of North Mississippi and Skidmore Street in early August, Mississippi Marketplace will be Portland’s first curated food cart and market pod in a newly paved 10,000-square-foot lot. The project has been designed with an anchor tenant, a spiffy brewpub called Prost! set in a building transformed from a seedy board-up to a handcrafted Greek Revival beauty.

Ten food carts will be selected by developer Roger Goldingay, along with a cluster of booths devoted to crafts or a farmers market, depending on interest. Each cart will have amenities rarely available to food-cart owners: six to 12 seats per cart; access to a portable toilet; full-service electrical; a recycling plan; and someone to keep the grounds clean and tidy.

Until now, Portland’s exploding food-cart scene has taken a more duct-tape approach. Many carts subsist on bare bones, with limited electrical power, seating and bathroom access. Then again, they are free to create their own moods, like the late-night party scene created by the cart pod at Southeast 12th Avenueand Hawthorne Boulevard.

Multnomah County has more than 375 food carts, with action blossoming in the suburbs — and the applications keep coming.

Goldingay is a newcomer to the scene — not a foodie or a food-cart hopper. The upbeat, former professional soccer player has lived in the neighborhood for eight years and, until recently, owned the John Palmer House across the street.

Two years ago, Goldingay paid more than $900,000 for the two lots, to be developed into commercial real estate. Then came the crashing realities of the recent economic downturn. Nine months ago, Goldingay found no financing for larger projects. So he decided to tune in to the creative young energy transforming the neighborhood with restaurants, shops and food carts.

Nine months ago, in less an act of vision and more what he calls an act of desperation, he came up with a plan for the property: open a restaurant-brewpub in the building with an outside patio and launch an outdoor food court and marketplace to make use of the vacant land.

He circulated an application flier to food carts around the city explaining the concept for Mississippi Market. To his surprise, he has been flooded with applicants and plans to decide in the next two weeks who makes the cut.

Mississippi Avenue was a natural choice. The avenue has several noteworthy carts, such as the retro Moxie RX trailer, where cheddar biscuits and peanut butter-date shakes are inhaled at picnic tables in a weedy lot, and Junior Ambassador’s, where ice cream flavors such as “corn on the cob” and “tomato-mozzarella” are sold from what looks like a demented children’s playhouse.

“Food carts are the entrepreneurial adventure of the 21st century,” says Howard Shapiro, a board member of the nonprofit Albina Opportunities Corp., one of the lenders that helped Goldingay with financing. “These are more than little things on wheels. They’re serving darn good food and prices at a time when people just love food.”

Mississippi Marketplace will ultimately be influenced by Goldingay’s taste, an unknown at this time. The look also will be shaped by demands imposed by the city, including a directive to pave the lot, Goldingay says.

But Goldingay is offering amenities coveted by some cart owners who find cart life to be a tough business. And lenders such as AOC and Mercy Corps Northwest are willing to help owners finance food carts. Four have applied for assistance, says Terry Brandt, AOC’s executive director.

“Having these kind of services in place would make it easier to go down the food-cart path,” says Moxie’s Nancye Benson, who opened her cart four years ago and made her reputation with no luxuries. “But it’s sad that the new carts have to be on pavement. It would have been nice to be a green space; that’s nice in the urban environment.”

“I’m ecstatic with this idea,” says Andrea Spella, owner of the acclaimed Spella Caffe coffee cart in downtown Portland. Spella says he has seen a surge of interest in people looking to open a cart, especially out-of-towners exploring Portland’s celebrated food scene for new avenues of creative work.

“They realize that Portland really supports independent restaurants and business. They can make income immediately with very little overhead. And if there ends up being a different pod in each neighborhood, that would be awesome.”

The project has not been without costs. Goldingay looks stressed when discussing the costs and hoop-jumping to get this project off the ground, including his estimate of $100,000 in permits and improvements to the lot.

But he says it will all pay off in the long run — in more than just finances.

“This was an ugly lot just a few days ago,” he says, looking at the handsome new building for the brewpub renovated by Eterne Architectural Restoration. “We’re changing a neighborhood corner.”

– Karen Brooks; kbrooks@news.oregonian.com

Concerts In The Park » Dawson Park (7/15)

Once again Dawson Park will host three concerts this summer in July. The gazebo, renovated in the spring of 2008, will be the stage for the live performances. If you have a disability and require an accommodation call 503-823-2223 V/TT at least 2 days prior to the concert. All dogs must be on leash during concerts. Alcoholic beverages for personal consumption are permitted during concerts only, under the Summer Concerts Program’s special use permit. No vehicles are allowed in parks except by permit.

Dawson Park
N Stanton & N Williams
Wednesdays, 6:30 PM

July 15, Ocean 503 (Hard-Kicking Blues)
July 22, Hidden Beach Recording presents Mike Phillips (Funk & Jazz)
July 29, Grand Central Baking Company presents Linda Hornbuckle (Diva of Soul/R&B)

Food Vendors – Burly’s Kettle Corn, Hot Dog Ernie’s, Portland Ice Cream Company

For more details visit the Eliot Neighborhood Association.

Sharing Our Public Spaces

by pearlgirl

This just hit our inbox…

The present economic crisis has drastically impacted many of our neighbors. Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish invite all members of our neighborhoods to join them in a community forum to find alternative ways to share our streets and review opportunities for supporting members of our communities who are faced with homelessness and other challenges.

On April 29, 2009 the Portland City Council agreed to postpone a decision on the Sidewalk Obstructions Ordinance rather than vote to continue or allow it to sunset. A recent court ruling and the Portland Police decision suspending the sit/lie ordinance has created a wonderful opportunity for a community dialogue on the next steps. A report by the Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) Committee sets the framework for discussion about which services have been provided and which are needed.

One way that you can help is to join together and come up with ideas to support our neighbors who are struggling in meeting some of the most basic needs.

Possible discussion ideas:

• What are SAFE Recommendations – Areas of agreement, areas of disagreement?

• How are services coordinated/who does what in the City?

• What services are needed/missing/need enhancements?

• Who needs to be at the table?

• What issues are outstanding?

• Next Steps

Please Join Commissioner Fritz and Commissioner Fish along with other Portlanders as together we discuss opportunities to make our city friendly, supportive and accommodating for everyone.

There will be two community meetings with identical content on:

• Saturday, July 18 from 10a.m. to 12p.m at Kaiser Town Hall
  3704 N. Interstate, Portland.

• Tuesday, July 21 from 7p.m to 9p.m. at First Unitarian Church
  1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland.

Please Attend whichever meeting is more convenient for you. For more information contact Dora Perry at 503-823-3229.

 

Spanish and Cultural Education Center Opens in NE Portland

by pearlgirl

Tierra Educational Center, a locally owned Spanish and Latin American Cultural Center has opened in NE Portland to help bridge the communication and cultural gap between the growing Hispanic population and the community at large. The center offers quality and affordable Spanish classes for all levels, as well as special courses in topics specific to Latin American Culture and History. Tierra also hosts a free Spanish Conversation Clubevery Friday from 6-8 p.m., with guided discussion, guest speakers, and film screenings pertaining to Latin American issues.

 

Spanish in action: Manuel Resendiz teaches Spanish class

People of Hispanic descent account for 7% (an estimated 38,684 people) of the population in Portland, and these numbers continue to rise. It is becoming increasingly imperative that professional service fields are staffed with bilingual employees, and that the community develops a greater level of awareness pertaining to Latin American issues. More information on Tierra Educational Center and its programs can be found at www.tierracenter.com.

Tierra Educational Center, LLC
2915 NE M L King Blvd
503-213-3677
www.tierracenter.com

Mississippi flows past vacant storefronts

Submitted by Sentinel News Service on Wed, 07/01/2009 – 11:34am.

FOUND IN:

• Boise
• Neighborhoods
• Street Edition Stories
• Mississippi District

SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE

~ Mara Grunbaum, photo by Jason E Kaplan
Warmer weather means the sidewalks on North Mississippi Avenue are bustling, but almost as abundant as boutiques and bicycles these days are windows bearing “for lease” signs.

With several new development projects opening now or in upcoming months, the street is flush with available residential and retail space. That could be a boon for a rapidly growing neighborhood, which Mississippi has been for the last several years. But in the currently sagging economy, developers who undertook projects in fatter times are now finding it hard to move people — and their businesses — in.

 

Have you been to the new Q Center? Check out the events they have coming up this week:

Yoga With Charles
Every Tuesday
6:30-7:30pm

Portland Area Business Association Biz Builders
Every Thursday
7-9am

“Step!” Black Pride Fashion Event
Friday, June 12th
8-10:30pm

Queer Youth Coffeehouse
Saturday, June 13th
7-10pm

We want to extend an invitation to march with Q Center is this year’s Pride Parade on June 14th. Q Center will be the FIRST entry in the parade, and we’d love to share that honor with you. We’ll provide the T-shirts & tank tops–now all we need is you. The details of where/when we’ll be lining up are still pending, but we’ll post the details at www.pdxqcenter.org when we get them.

Black Wagon
Girl’s Clothes 30% off thru Tuesday 6/9th

Amy Ruppel Art Opening Thursday June 11th 4-7pm
www.blackwagon.com

Flutter has a sale through June 20th. All Frocky Jack Morgan is 30% off. Don’t miss this. www.flutterclutter.com

Pin Me Appareal has marked down all of their Spring/Summer Orla Kiely bags and accessories 30%.