The Multnomah Villager

From our back deck, this time of year, we can see this fully lit Christmas Tree up on the hill somewhere between about 37th and 38th along Canby. We always enjoy it being there. It appears that someone went out in their yard or to the wooded area behind their house, and fully lit a “wild” tree. This year, we decided to track this tree down, with the idea that we’d send a thank you note to whoever lights the tree since we enjoy seeing it up there in the dark every year. Our first quest was unsuccessful, but maybe not for it turns out this this “tree” is actually a very convincing looking (at least from our vantage point down on 35th) pyramid of lighted strands, set up like a tepee on the roof of a garage.

Although not quote a romantic as a tree full of lights found out in the middle of a forest, it’s one of the things we really enjoy about Christmas here in and around the Village. Happy Holidays everyone!

Since snow on Christmas day is such a rare occurrence here in Portland, we dragged ourselves out of the warmth and headed up the hill to walk through the empty Village and take in the sights, before cruising down to John’s for a replacement bag of chips. It’s an annual pilgrimage for Mrs. V and sorry, Rick, if we’ d known you were working we’d have brought a plate of cookies and treats!

Hopefully, you all got a chance to get out and walk “the circuit” on Wednesday night. A serious impro9vement over the bitter cold of last year, after braving the crowds up in the Village earlier in the evening, Jr V took us out on his trick-or-treating route.

He was dressed as “Ash Ketchum“, who’s the main character in the Pokemon cartoon series. His costume had been a hit among Pokemon fans at the MaplewoodHalloween parade earlier in the day, and sure enough - we hadn’t gone far before he was getting some knowing thumbs-up from kids and adults like who are familiar with the characters. In particular, there were a group of sixth graders up on Canby Street who paid particular attention to him, which impressed Jr. V a great deal. So thanks David, and your friends, for being cool and letting a first grader tag along on your trick-or-treat route. He was pretty excited to be hanging out with the big kids and you guys really helped make this Halloween night a great one.

(click the poster for a larger view)

Tomorrow night’s the big night. With apologies to “A Christmas Story”, it’s one of the “biggest nights of the kid year”. Anticipation of this sugar-fueled bacchanal has been building in our household for a long time. Looks like we’re going to get lucky and not have to wear rain gear over our costumes this year, too. It’s good to plan ahead in Oregon, and try to direct your kid towards weather safe costumes. Mountain Climber…. Commercial fisherman in yellow rain slicks… Walrus… That sort of thing. Yeah, that doesn’t work in our house either.

Starting off the night tonight will be the Multnomah Village Business Association’s “Halloween in the Village”. Billed as an event to give the kids a safe, fun alternative to the wilds of the untamed village back streets, this event “starts” at Starbucks (where parents can score a free cup of coffee, which will be usefulm it’s going to be cold.) and a walking map of the route. Sounds like a fun event for little kids. Especially if they like advertising! No - really, I’m not trying to be all cynical about this - and Mrs. V and Jr. V will probably go. But I can’t - ’cause I’ll still be at work.

I annoyed Randy at the last MNA meeting by making this comment, but 3:30-5:30PM? I mean, I understand that it costs to stay open late and business owners have kids too and they need to get home and all - but you know, we don’t even pick up Jr. V from Kids’ Corner until around 5:30 usually…

Anyway, that’s nitpicking. This sounds like fun way for little kids and moms and dads that stay at home or get off early to have some fun while it’s still light outside. Thanks to the participating businesses. If I can get off early, maybe I’ll stop in too.

I meant to post about this BEFORE Christmas, but you know how it is this time of year…. Daniel Ronan, of Students for Environmental Action at Wilson High, emailed to remind me that Wilson is recycling Christmas trees to raise money for general beautification work on the Wilson campus. They will come and pick up your tree for $10. Now, due to my lax holiday posting schedule, we’ve already missed our chance to reserve a time for this weekend, but you can request a pickup NEXT Saturday (that’d be the 6th) as long as you make your request no later than this Wednesday (the 3rd). Fill out an online form to reuqest a pickup!

Link to the form is here….

Thanks Daniel.

In other sanitation news, trash pickups are ONE DAY LATER both this week and next week because of the holidays. From the looks of my street, I’m one of the few that got this memo - which came in the form of a pre-recorded phone call this year.

Well, we walked up to the Village tonight to take part in the big December First Friday festivities. The main attraction being the lighting of the Village Christmas tree by Santa himself. Here’s some pictures along with the narrative:

A group of carolers was pressed right up against the glass outisde Birdie’s. Note my incredible shaky-photo-in-the-dark-skillz.

Naturally, we headed straight for the toystore after Jr. V ducked into Fat City to greet several of his friends. We’d all eventually end up at the Toy Store, ’cause it’s our destiny. After checking out the offerings and some presents we may have to pick up later when the recipient isn’t watching our every move, we headed back outside to secure a spot over by the tree.

It’s rather foggy tonight, even more so now, but the fog certainly beats the torrential rains we’ve had since October so we were not complaining.

Of course, we ran into Jessie from The SW Community Connection, who is at pretty much any event anywhere in our area. We strategized on good places to get a picture of the tree, which was not yet lit. Crowds built up quickly as we found a spot on the corner and she photographed a few people and interviewed Michelle from Village Beads as the excitement built up.

Santa was making his rounds (one of the kids in the caroling group was his “#1 fan”, at least according to the kid, who kept trying to get Santa to hear him say it. In this picture, Mr. Claus high-fives Jr. V’s friend Zev.

Jessie wondered if there would be a countdown to the lighting of the tree… The answer to that was no. With no fanfare whatsoever, the tree was off, then on!

And here’s the tree after it was lit up! This is the first year that the MVBA has “done” a Christmas tree, but it seemed a very popular event, so I suppose it won’t be the last. Breakfast with Santa at the Lucky Lab tomorrow morning, and don’t forget to do your Christmas Shopping in the Village tomorrow, since it’s Maplewood Day, where a percentage of what you spend is donated to the Maplewood Elementary Playground Fund.

Speking of Maplewood fundraisers… wanna buy some wrapping paper, or coffee, or cookie dough, or pretzel dough, or scrip, or books, or God knows what else?

Next month’s (next week’s) First Friday (December 2nd) kicks off the holiday season in Multnomah Village with many of the retailers and other businesses adding special holiday themed events to the usual slate of First Friday revels. There’s posters about this up around town, and the schedule’s printed in the Connection. I’m going to quote their version and post this info for those of you who may not get this paper or see one of the posters before Friday. Note that I’m not typing everyone’s address since once you’re in the Village you can pretty much find all these people.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd
5-9PM unless noted

• Horse-drawn Carriage Rides 6-8PM. Load at Key Bank, 35th and Capitol Hwy. Donations accepted.
• The Savory Chefs offer tasty treats for the holidays, Sip d’Vine
• Watercolors by Ania Kocerek-Williams. Reception at Beyond Borders, continues Saturday.
• Trunk Show of custom jewelry by Sue Huston at Village Frame & Gallery, 2-9 PM, continues Saturday 10AM - 4PM
• Mediterranean Food & Turkish Coffee samples, live music and door prizes 6-9PM at Indigo Traders. Holiday sweets continue Saturday
• Open house with refreshments, door prizes and face painting for children at Fusion Cut and Color Salon, continues Saturday
• Enter a Holiday Raffle to win prizes; proceeds to support Neighborhood House’s Emergency Food Box Program. [NOTE: I've seen these boxes all over, but have not seen any entry forms yet]

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3rd
Enjoy Strolling Carolers and street performers.

• Breakfast with Santa, 8:30-10:30AM, Lucky Lab Public House
• get your face painted while waiting to vidit Santa at O’Connors Annex, noon -2PM
• Crazy Quilt demonstration and sample sale at Fibers in Motion, 1-2PM
• Personalized beaded wire ornaments - Free - at Village Beads noon-3PM
• Learn to make a Yule Log, 1-3PM, Jacqueline’s Found and Fabulous
• Kid’s ornament craft activity, 1-3PM, Thinker Toys

Now that sounds like a full slate of activity to me. Avoid the malls and come over to the Village this Friday to add some local flavor to your Christmas shopping this year.