One of the most rewarding elements of Village Portland has been helping neighbors tell their stories. We all have a vision and the tools to tell them, and it’s been great encouraging neighbors and offering them a platform to tell their stories and their neighbors’ stories.
Less than two months ago, I decided to broaden the call to service. I already knew that Portlanders had a lot of love for their neighborhoods, and I was pleased to learn that people outside my circle of neighborhood advocates also had the interest in writing about them. We have a great new group of contributors working on stories, and one of the first published is from the new batch of contributors is by Lisa Kendall about Mt. Tabor Park.
Also this month, I gave a guest lecture at Portland State University about neighborhoods and neighborhood journalism. The educational component has always been an important part of Village Portland, and excited about expanding on the work with PSU, and a collaboration with local grade schools in the works.
Again, if anybody reading has a story to tell or know someone who has an interest in writing or advocacy, we’d love to help you tell it. Thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend!
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If you missed it, the East Portland Arts & Literary Festival was a great success for APANO. They said they had about 500 people attend over two days. I made it to the first night and took a bit of video of Joe Kye singing about finding connection.
This Tuesday was the Lents Neighborhood Association‘s first meeting with their new board… and they’re still recruiting new board members. We’ll have a story about the meeting this weekend.
Returning as chair, Sabina Urdes put together a packet of neighborhood updates.
One of them was that Portland Homeless Family Solutions moved in eight homeless families at the end of August. They’ll move in 14 more at the end of the year, and are renovating their buildings.
If you’d like to volunteer by cooking, activities with the youth, or helping in the garden, go here.
Also, Lents Park will be getting a new basketball court as part of a partnership with the Portland Trailblazers and Nike.
FRIDAY
Karaoke at the Eagle Eye Tavern!
5836 SE 92nd Ave * 9 pm – close
SATURDAY
In Brentwood-Darlington:
“Join the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association for our annual Spooktacular and Trunk-or-Treat on October 27th, 3 pm -5 pm! This FREE family-friendly outdoor event is open to everyone! Children and their accompanying adults are encouraged to dress up and trick-or-treat at the Brentwood-Darlington Community Center parking lot (7211 SE 62nd Ave, 97206). Bring gently used costumes and dress-up pieces for our free costume exchange. We will be gathering non-food items for the Lane Middle School Food Pantry. See the list below [at the link] and donate if you can!”
For more information, go here.
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Jack-O-Lantern Jars:
“Create your own unique Jack-O-Lantern Jar in this 1 hour workshop with Puppetkabob. Collage orange tissue paper to transform a glass jar into a hollowed-out pumpkin. Design spooky, eerie or even haunting facial features to finish the look. Add a flameless tea light for glowing effect ~ then have a bright & Happy Halloween!
Registration required.”
Holgate Library * 2 pm – 3 pm
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“Learn to go beyond snapshots with Storytelling Photography. We’ll explore Leach Botanical Garden (event) with fresh eyes and capture perspectives that elevate your images. Ideal for beginner and intermediate photographers, and for cameras or phones.
As a commercial art director and photographer, Eric Evans has spent 25 years creating compelling imagery for clients such as Target, Best Friends Animal Society, Aventura Clothing, Quip Magazine, and Ruby Receptionists (to name a few). He is the co-owner of House of Valentine, a boutique marketing and design agency. He lives and works here in Portland, Oregon.”
Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 SE 122nd Ave * 10:30 am – noon * $35 general / $25 Leach Garden Friend
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SUNDAY
Lents International Farmers Market:
“Portland’s only internationally focused market, LIFM provides fresh, affordable, and culturally unique produce to the diverse Lents community and offers farm-direct sales opportunities for immigrant, emerging farmers, and new business owners. In addition to standard market produce, the market features a variety of unique fresh produce from Hmong, Latino, & Russian farmers.”
The market is held every Sunday until Nov 18th.
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Making Calaveritas de Azúcar / Sugar Skulls:
“In this hands-on workshop, students will learn about the Day of the Dead celebration and its traditions. Participants will paint their own edible sugar skull and dedicate it to an ancestor or loved one. Why sugar? Throughout Mexico, Day of the Dead is a celebration of joyful remembrance, and the sweetness of sugar reminds us of joy. Nuestro Canto will also explain the special place that sugar skulls have in honoring our ancestors.
This event is part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.”
Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Ave * 2 pm – 4 pm
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“All the fun and none of the cleanup! Come hang out with us at Zoiglhaus (FB event) and we’ll set you up with a pumpkin, a carving kit, and two pints of beer to sip on while you make your creation! Hosted in our private event space where you’ll have room to craft your most extravagant jack-o-lantern!”
Zoiglhaus Brewing Company, 5716 SE 92nd Ave * 6 pm – 8 pm
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Perfect Monster & Witch’s Castle Halloween Rock Show:
Village Portland @ Lents 