I often am involved in conversations that start with the sentence, “what the Village REALLY needs is a….” Perhaps you’ve had one of these conversations yourself. I find that they often end with the speaker wishing for a Trader Joe’s, a small independent movie theater or something along those lines. For my part, I’m pretty happy with the business and food options that we have in the Village, although I’d agree with the movie theater dream. I’d like to point out though, that I’m really pleased with the evolving live music scene that we have growing here.
You can now regularly find live music of various kinds at O’Connor’s Annex and Village Coffee. In addition, it appears that the Village Hut is starting a regular, intimate live music schedule now that summer is here. Don Snedecor’s nascent Jazz in the Village series may grow into an actual outdoor festival in the next year or so, and there is often live music at Sip D’Vine.
The option to hear some music, grab a glass of wine or beer or tea or coffee or whatever, or have a late supper brings people into the Village later into the evening, expanding the opportunities for all of our business owners, not just those hosting music (or in Renner’s case, Bingo). Once more venues offer the chance to do something after the dinner hour, it’s much more likely that people will get into the habit of coming into the Village at times other than the weekend breakfast hours. This should be a benefit to all the business owners, although it doesn’t help our traffic and parking issues.
Woody Allen famously said that the reason he lives in the city is so that he has someplace to walk after dinner. When I am in New York, I often think of this quote when I walk around the city after a long day. There’s always something happening, some interesting store to look in, some bar from which music flows onto the street. Of course that’s New York, and one of the reasons I walk in the evening is that I EXPECT to find something going on. WE haven’t quite gotten to that level here in Multnomah Village yet. In fact, I was just having a conversation with Patrick, the effusive bartender at Journeys, about the struggle of getting people out and about later in the evening. Perhaps a late night happy hour would do it, he suggested.
My Mother was recently visiting from back east. She’s come out here many times since we’ve lived in the Village and loves it here. She currently lives in a small town in Virginia that has a main drag that is something of a smaller-scale, southern-fired version of Multnomah Village. She was telling me, over beer and wine and an excellent plate of bites at Journeys, that their town stages a monthly “Ladies’ Night” where women purchase a wrist band or something from one of the participating vendors, and then come into the downtown area where the wristband is good for two drinks at any of the participating vendors, as well as special discounts offered by retailers and service providers. It seems to me that with the mix of services that we have in the Village right now, especially the wealth of boutique and spa service options, that such an event might work here in the Village.
Regular evening events such as live music and the Outdoor Cinema help expand the Village’s life past the monthly first Friday “late night” scene. They offer opportunities for those of us who live near the Village to get out in the evening and take advantage of downtown-style nightlife without having to go downtown. I for one am trying to do what I can to support these things, as they appeal to my interests. I encourage you to do the same. Next time one of those live music posters, or ads in the Post about a Jazz event catches your eye, or you’re just walking by Village Coffee and realizing they’ve got a BAND in there – stop by and listen to a song or two. Buy a drink, leave a tip, and enjoy the scene.
