Design Holiday Open House @ Digs

Press release from Digs:

 Four of Portland's finest design boutiques are hosting a progressive Holiday Open House to benefit the Oregon Food Bank. Join them for bubbles and treats at each location. 

Bring 5 non-perishable food items to 1 location and receive 20% off your total purchase at each location. 

Saturday, December 5, 3:00 pm - 6:00pm 

Digs In & Out @ 1829 NE Alberta

Holiday Hours for Frock

Photo credit: www.diyalert.com

Press Release from Frock: Frock will be open later every night thru December 23 until 7:00pm !! Perfect for your holiday shopping. Come and see them on your way home from work for great locally made affordable gifts. Frock- 1439 NE Alberta

Maira Kalman, Come Visit Alberta

Maira writes about her visits with Alice Waters and Michael Pollan. I think she's ready for Tin Shed. Photo credit: Maira Kalman.

La Femme @ Talisman/Nov. 27 Opening

One painter, one photographer, one gallery of work.  Opening reception Friday, Nov. 27, 5:30 PM. 1476 NE Alberta.

Slow Fashion/Donna and Toots

Can you write about sustainable practice fashion in Portland without bringing up Alberta? Apparently not. From today's Oregonian:

Suzanne Kraft at Donna & Toots on Alberta Street, in Portland, makes classic vintage button-up shirts out of quality fabric like Liberty of London as well as skirts she designs and sews herself. Made to last, they sell for between $58 and $70. 

Retrofit Cohousing in Alberta Arts

Today's Oregonian has a story about a sustainability consultant who built his new home to be an energy efficient as possible.

Perhaps he visited Alberta Arts District while he was brainstorming his plans. He might have walked by the people at Ongoing Community, who are walking the walk on a much lower budget.

The first article is accompanied by a picture of the new house.

The second article is not accompanied by a picture of Ongoing Community members eating a dinner which came from their shared garden.

Two different roads to utopia! Let's hope everyone gets there.

Little Things Opening/Guardino Gallery/Nov.27

IT STARTS THIS FRIDAY!
"LITTLE THINGS"
November 27-December 27
Reception, Friday, Nov 27, 6-9 pm

At the Guardino Gallery's 9th Annual Little Things Show, everything is little (7" and under").

This years participating artists are Diane Archer, Bridget Benton, Emilio Berwick, Flora Bowley, Stephanie Brockway, Scot Cameron-Bell, Kurumi Conley, Bill Dean, Tripper Dungan, Julia Gardner, Chris Giffin, Mar Goman, Denise Graham, Chris Haberman, Kim Hamblin, George Heath, Ingrid Hendrix, Jen Hennig, Marcia Hindman, Cynthia Hipkiss, Hsin-Yi Huang, Robert Huff, Peg Johnson, Janet Julian, Annette Lansing, Jamee Linton, Alisa Looney, Cynthia Monica, Kim Murton, Hilary Pfeifer, Dan Pillers, Jenn Rawling, Beth Robinson, Brigette Sarabi, Karen Swallow, Sara Swink, Jamin London Tinsel, Jill Torberson, Carole Turner, Terresa White, Holly Whitney & Steve Winkenwerder.

Here is a sampling of some of the Little Things:

Window Gallery: Hilary Pfeifer is back again with her whimsical creations. She will fill the window gallery with abstract wood angels.

For more information, visit:http://guardinogallery.com

Ampersand Book Party/Nov. 22

From the Ampersand website:
This coming Sunday marks the first in what we hope to be periodic readings at Ampersand.
Fiction writer Matthew Simmons will read from A Jello Horse, which was recently published by Baltimore-based Publishing Genius & got a great review in The Believer.
 Poet Daniel Bailey will read from his book of poems, The Drunk Sonnets, published by the Magic Helicopter Press. "From forgiveness in a beehive to tiny banquets for retired janitors, Bailey's fifty-three sonnets combine formal constraint with unfettered caterwauling. This is contemporary poetic sincerity that is not too shy to see the heart, to eat the heart, to carry a heart and hold it when it catches a shake."

Sunday, November 22nd at 7PM.


A recap of the evening by Karen Munro at Reading Local,

Alberta Shopping For Elves

Grasshopper - My “go to” spot for birthday presents, Grasshopper is a welcoming, open space with a friendly staff and a generous play area. The price range is a little high for those on a budget; it can be a great place for grandparents to splurge on a special gift. Kara Larson, the owner, first opened Tumbleweeds next door, and then opened Grasshopper for her lovely kid’s clothing line, Wild Carrots (fun prints and a DIY aesthetic) though she also carries a nice variety of other designer brands such as Kiwi Industries (cute sweaters), Tea, Cotton Caboodle, and Zutano. She has great taste in toys, focusing on natural materials (like the Plan Eco House, a wooden dollhouse that has a wind turbine and solar panels on the roof) and fun and intelligent design. 
Grasshopper
1816 NE Alberta 
503 335 3131

www.grasshopperstore.com

Green Bean Books - I can’t say enough about this wonderful space. Opened earlier this year, Green Bean Books has quickly become one of the neighborhood’s favorite family spaces. Jennifer Green was an teacher at Markham Elementary for ten years before fulfilling a long timedream of opening a kids’ bookstore on Alberta.”Reading was always my favorite part, as a teacher" she says. Green Bean carries a nice selection of kid’s books as well as vending machine facial hair (really, too cool!) and other fun knicknacks. There is a cozy reading area and sale shelf (by the back door) chock full of fabulous deals. Jennifer leads a reading time (walk-ins are welcome) every Tuesday from 11:00 to 11:30 am.

Green Bean Books

1600 NE Alberta

(503) 954 -2354

www.greenbeansbookspd.com

Mimosa Studios The perfect place for your favorite elf to make his/her own fabulous DIY gift. A favorite for birthday parties (they can host parties for adults too) and for handmade gifts for grandparents. Kids (and adults) come to Mimosa to glaze and/or paint the ceramic tile/ statue/ christmas tree ornament of their choice. A fun activity and a Christmas present - two for the price of one! Prices range from $5 for a tile to $56 for a large platter. The kilning process is free, and the piece is usually ready within four days of painting.

Mimosa Studios

1718 NE Alberta

503 288 0770

www.mimosa-studios.com I

Igpei Toys- The other half of the Origin Flowers retail space, this toy store was (amd still is) the brainchild of owner Beka Ambler’s son Isaac ‘s son (age 12 at the time of opening) and retains a true sense of fun. Nothing here is too expensive, too precious, or too educational. There are many small wonders. A great place for elves to shop for other elves. Check out the dinosaur flyers and cutie kid rings. And who doesn’t need a new piggybank these days? Depending on how much your allowance is, you might have some left over for Beka’s pretty flowers.

Igpei Toys

1534 NE Alberta

503 775-9599

Plan ahead: All these businesses are within 4 blocks, from Igpei on 15th to Grasshopper on 18th. Easy walking for short legs!

Alberta Shopping For Art Claus

Habromania

I always go to Habromania first when the kids and I are shopping for Daddy. Robert Hamilton sells what he calls “useful collectibles” as well as yard art (now you know which place I’m talking about, right? The little gargoyle garden across from the food carts) and both vintage and custom neon. If we don’t find anything for my husband, we at least have a ton of fun admiring the old Tonka trucks and visiting with the gargoyles.

Habromania

2303 NE Alberta

503 223 0767

www.habromania.com

Onda Gallery

Gorgeous imported crafts, plus art by primarily local and regional artists - the art is always amazing, and makes Onda my favorite stop for window shopping. Mr. Claus might get a Peruvian sweater or tiny handcarved bird this year. Be careful though, this might not be the spot to take littles who can’t handle the temptation of tiny breakable shiny stuff placed just at toddler grab - height.

Onda Gallery

2215 NE Alberta

503 493 - 1909

www.ondagallery.com

Guardino Gallery

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to take home gallery worthy art that will wrap and/or ship easily. Donna Guardino will be putting on her annual “Little Things” show from Nov. 27 – Dec 27, showcasing small pieces all under 7” tall by her favorite artists. Smaller means more affordable too. Make sure you get to the back room between the gallery’s main area and next door neighbor, HiiH. It is part of the gallery, chock full of irresistible surprises.

Guardino Gallery

2939 NE Alberta

503 281 9048

www.guardinogallery.com

HiiH Gallery

We come to HiiH every Christmas season like moths to a handmade paper lantern just because we can’t help ourselves. Hiih is not just a lamp store, it is a lamp wonderland. You can get there from inside Guardino Gallery. Or take the front door.

HiiH

2929 NE Alberta

503 493 - 4367

www.hiihgallery.com

redbird studio

The serenity level inside this shop is off the charts. Come here to chill out, then take home some hand printed, hand colored art which carries the same tranquil vibe. They make beautiful cards and elegant hand printed t shirts as well.

redbird studio

2927 NE Alberta

503 593 0833

www.redbirdstudio.biz

Heads up: Guardino Gallery, HiiH Gallery and redbird studio share a building and an aesthetic that creates a delightful flow.

Alberta Shopping For Fem Claus

Frock 
Frock has evolved since it opened 6 years ago as a vintage boutique on 30th and Alberta. Now on 14th, it sells fun and accessible fashions by almost entirely local crafters. I love their hats, crocheted, sewn, embroidered, you name it, and theirwhimsical and funky jewelry. If your Mrs./ Ms./Miss Claus is into that good old Portland-centric DIY aesthetic, I can’t think of a better place to shop for her. You just can’t go wrong.

Frock

1439 NE Alberta

503 595 0379

www.frockboutique.com

Garnish

Erica Lurie not only designs the fashions at Garnish, a boutique on 15th, but she also makes the jewelry, which is what I would send Mr. Claus shopping for. Made with sterling silver, gold fill, and semi-precious stones, her work is classy andbold. This holiday season, if you donate some gently used clothing item for the Garnish clothing and fund drive ( going on until Dec. 10) you’ll receive 10% off your purchase and Garnish will donate 10% to Hope Dolls, a local nonprofit providing programs and goods to abused and neglected children.

Garnish

1524 NE Alberta

503 282 3200

www.garnishapparel.com



Donna and Toots

This is where you go for that cute scarf or nifty sweater. A nice middle ground between extremes: their more tailored pieces are carefully constructed while also being creative and new.

Donna and Toots

1631 NE Alberta

503 241 5570

www.norfolkandwestern.org/donnaandtoots/blog

Tumbleweed

Owner Kara Larson likes dresses. Her own line is vintage inspired, and she sells brilliantly colored re-dyed vintage slips to go beneath them. Funky, feminine, and fun. You can find jewelery, lingerie, socks, shoes and books at this shop which specializes in “beautiful clothes for everyday. “

Tumbleweed

1812 NE Alberta

503 335 3100

www.tumbleweedboutique.com

SWOON

For shoppers who can’t make up their minds whether they want vintage clothes or vintage books, linens, aprons, cards, photos and furniture. Swoon loves re-use, and they’ll show you why you should too. Good for people who want to be the only one in the room wearing that dress.

Swoon

2734 NE Alberta

503 206 3076

www.swoonfinery.com .

Santa Shows Up/Eats Twice In A Row/Dec. 5

Saturday, Dec. 5 Santa drops in at the Kennedy School after breakfast at 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM. You can join him if you make a reservation. $10/children. $13/adults.

Breakfast is served in the gym.

All ages welcome. Cameras welcome. Remember, he knows when you’re awake! 5736 NE 33rd

Sunday mornings at the Star-E-Rose

Free music from 10 AM till Noon/ 2403 NE Alberta

1st Sunday of the month: KINGNIK (aka Nikki & Curtis)

A tub, a saw, 2 ukeleles & songs galore.

2nd Sunday of the month: HENRY & MOGGY

That downhome country/ragtime sound.

3rd Sunday of the month: JANET JULIAN

Guitar & freewheeling vocals.

4th Sunday of the month: 71ST STREET RAMBLERS

Old-time string band.

5th Sunday of any month with 5 Sundays: MARY ROSE

Labor/woman songs/Malvina Reynolds ditties.

Whiskey Days Book Party/Alberta Pub, Dec. 7

The Alberta Street Pub will host an evening of “books and booze, music and muses” in celebration of Whiskey Days release December 7th at 7:00pm. Joining Gaffney at the Book Release Bash will be local poets Heather Evanson and Christopher Luna.

Concordia University Christmas Concert/Dec. 11

Friday, Dec. 11 FREE 7:30 PM Chapel of the Holy Trinity on the Concordia University campus. Donations will be accepted. Seating for all services is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Last year the audience was encouraged to sing along.

Little Known Fact

Tips For Parents Who Don't Want To Learn The Hard Way Dept:

There's an advantage to visiting the Vernon School playground as opposed to Alberta Park in the colder months.

The playground is only as cold and wet as the rest of the neighborhood… the park is at least 10 degrees colder.

And windy.

Ask The Storeowner

Q: What do you sell in your shop that holiday shoppers would want to buy?

A: cork's selection of over 600 wines, 100 specialty brewsextra-virgin olive oil from European estates at excellent prices. Also available in bulk. Our high quality olive oil and six-year aged balsamic vinegar gift set is an affordable and a sustainable choice since the bottles can be refilled anytime at either cork location. Cork @ 2901 NE Alberta

A: Guardino Gallery’s Holiday Group Show, "Little Things" where 42 artists were given the challenge to create artwork that would be no larger than 7”X 7”(square/cube). This is the 9th year we have provided holiday shoppers with easily portable, exquisite paintings, clay, glass, resin, encaustic, metal, wood, photography and mixed media. Guardino Gallery @ 2939 NE Alberta

A: Tumbleweed has everything a fashionable girl loves...from organic teeshirts, made in the USA to denim to local hats and scarves made from recycled wool and cashmere. Tumbleweed @ 1812 NE Alberta

A: Grasshopper has toy recycle trucks and dump trucks --actually made from recycled milk jugs! We also sell Plan toys, the leader in the eco friendly toys. Our favorite this season, the eco-doll house. Another favorite, the Playmobil chicken coop. We are also loving games this holiday season... Dominos, Quirkle, Crayolina, Penguloo and lots more so you can spend time with your family. Grasshopper @ 1816 NE Alberta

A: bolt’s array of sewing project books with tons of fun, useful projects—some even for your gift receiver to make you! And don’t forget, a yard of fabric can easily fit in a stocking! Bolt @ 2136 NE Alberta

A: Pie Footwear has eco-friendly shoes, purses and socks galore for both men & women! Vegan options too. Pie Footwear has what your favorite eco-conscious fashionista is looking for this holiday season. When you treat your feet, think Pie Footwear and make your indulgence a responsible one. Pie @ 2916 NE Alberta

A: donna & toots has fun socks for women, men and kids. Stylish hats, scarves and gloves to accessorize our locally made skirts, tops and dresses. Not to mention our cozy coats and sweaters to add warmth and fashion to any cold gray day. donna & toots @ 1631 NE Alberta

A: Green Bean Books offers fantastic holiday picks in new and used children’s books as well as a great selection of grown-up fiction and nonfiction books. Buy whimsical gifts to go with your books such as fake moustaches, miniature journals, and cool shadow puppets. Or if you just need a break from your hectic holiday shopping, smack a fuzzy moustache on your upper lip, snuggle up on the couch by the faux-fire and read a great book at Green Bean Books! Green Bean Books @ 1600 NE Alberta

Kara Larson Sums It Up

“We’d like you to think outside the box this year...not shop at the big box. Thank you for supporting small shops...we make the world a better place.” Kara Larson, Proprietress of Grasshopper and Tumbleweed

Alberta Kid Expedition #1: Ribbons & Kazoos

My kids and I go on this particular expedition on a regular basis. We start by:

1. Walking up to Star E Rose on 24th for bagels and hot chocolate. If you go on Sunday, there will usually be live music from 10 - noon. Check out KingniK (our favorite band- with-washboard ever, catch a taste at http://www.last.fm/music/KingniK) on the first Sunday of every month.

2. Walk down Alberta to Bolt, and let everyone pick out a yard of ribbon for their hair. Trust me, they’ll find something they love. Ribbons can be worn Rambo-style, Karate Kid style, Hairband style, or Ozma style (positioned at the hairline, over the hair, bow on the side) Also, Bolt has a little bitty play table that sports a puzzle and a basket of board books. With any luck, you'll get a minute to scan the book shelves (awesome selection, books for beginners and craft divas alike, with the common element being fabulous taste) and patterns (not a huge selection, but a nice variety and the fabulous taste still applies).

3. Close Knit, next door, also has a book basket (and a super comfy couch for reading them on), but sadly will not allow us to buy one yard of that yummy super-chunky variegated wool at a time.

… and really, that’s about it, hot chocolate, washboard and kazoo playing, and ribbon tying just about wipe us out and it’s time for naps.

4. On the way back up Alberta, cross the street so you can peer in the windows at Onda and greet the rooster, cherubs, and gargoyles in front of Habromania.

5. Stop at Townsend’s for some chai and chamomile tea for the kids to take out, and your hands will stay warm all the way home.

Sustainable Practice Christmas

Here at the Alberta Squeak, we are excited by the the community building that comes with families putting their Christmas dollars back into the neighborhood and the celebratory sense of fun that comes with it.

Not only does shopping locally support neighborhood business and reduce your carbon footprint, but families find that shopping locally at Christmas can turn a stressful chore into a seasonal event, as much a part of the solstice experience as hanging the lights or cursing at the tree stand.

Come Away With Me, Lucille

Dennis Nyback, an independent film archivist based in Portland, keeps his eye out for old cars. Here’s a few he particularly enjoyed spotting in the Alberta neighborhood.

The nice two tone Chevy Panel truck usually parked at 19th is a 1951 model. It is so old the ignition does not start with the key. With the key in the ignition one then has to push on the foot starter, to the right of the accelerator, which has a mechanical connection with the starter. Working the starter with the toe and the accelerator with

the heel is a lost art. Much earlier the foot starter system had replaced using a hand crank in the front.

Just up the street I saw an early sixties Chevy Suburban. It is sort of two door station wagon built on the C-10 truck chassis. An attractive and rare design.

Not so rare in the same vicinity is what I'd guess is a 67 Ford Pickup. It is obviously a work truck but has nice original points. It is 250 Camper Special and has the long reach manual floor shifter with a granny low.

On a nearby side street is a sweet early sixties Studebaker Lark Daytona Wagonaire. It has the ultra groovy sliding roof option. You should check out the youtube commercial for that one.

The neighborhood also has more than its share of Volkswagon Beetles of the pre-1974 variety.

Most of the old cars in the neighborhood look like daily drivers. At the fringe of the area is a very rare car of another variety. It is 1930's Rolls Royce sedan. It, like all the others I usually see, is parked out doors. In Portland old cars don't mind a little rain.

Alphabetical Guide To Alberta Holiday Shopping

Apparel

Donna and Toots

Frock

Garnish

Tumbleweeds

Swoon

Art:

Guardino Gallery

Onda Gallery

Optic Nerve Arts

Six Days Artist Collective

Bicycles

Community Cycling Center

Board games

Grasshopper

Books

Green Bean Books

Cards:

Alberta Coop Grocery

Postal Central

red bird studio

Craft supplies

collage

Dollhouses

Grasshopper

Fabric

Bolt

Flowers

Origin Flowers and Gifts

Furniture

Digs

Glass

Jennifer Wells Glass Design

Hats

Tumbleweed

Lamps

HiiH

Musical instruments

Trade Up Music

Olive oil

cork

Pottery

Mimosa Studio

Purses

Pie Footwear

Scarves

donna and toots

tumbleweed

Shoes:

Ped X

Pie Footwear

Socks

donna and toots

Pie Footwear

Stickers:

No Limits Stickers

Sweaters

donna and toots

Tumbleweed

Tattoos:

1928 Tattoo

Toys

Grasshopper

Igpei Toys

Postal Central

Vintage Clothing:

Ampersand Vintage

Community Resale

Wine

Cork

Everyday Wine

Yarn

Close Knit

Buy Me Love ( with a coupon)

Haircuts

Bishops

Spank

Terrell Brandon Barbershop

Massage

Prana Llama Mindful Bodywork

Shrunken Head Massage

Vernon School Tree Recycling 2009

VERNON PTA

TREE RECYCLING

Saturday, Jan. 2

Vernon School

2044 NE Killingsworth

(drop off area on 20th)

9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Bring us your trees! We’ll shred them into ground cover for the garden.

All proceeds go to the PTA

$5 if you bring it to us

$10 we will pick up (within the Vernon circle)

$15-25 we will pick up (past the circle)

Trees must be plain, without flocking or tinsel.