This news from Maggie Bermingham regarding the planned NE swap and play:

Some of you may know that the Activistas of UrbanMamas.com are holding a fundraising garage sale on 8/22 for a wonderful new nonprofit, Family Forward Oregon. (http://www.urbanmamas.com/urbanmamas/2009/07/save-the-date-urbanmamas-is-havin-a-garage-sale.html) They are willing to donate any leftovers that we may want in order to set up our space. I’m still working out the details but I plan to volunteer to support the event and express appreciation for the donation. If anyone else is interested, please let me know.

Secondly, the Victory Outreach Church, currently at 30th and Alberta, is going to be moving and will be leasing their building which was an old theatre. They have a nice street level “cafe” space with lots of windows facing 30th that they are willing to lease to us VERY inexpensively compared to other properties in the area. It is too small for an indoor play park but would be a very nice place to gather while we grow and continue to look for a large indoor play park type space. We could set it up to be family friendly and could start the swap piece of the co-op. Eventually, it would be a good space to bring in entertainers. Anyway, I have to give an answer soon so I’m wondering how many of you would be interested in officially joining the co-op and becoming founding members. Like the other two co-ops, there will be a $25 joining fee and then $20/mo. Also like the other co-ops, I would like to collect 3 months at a time at the beginning of each quarter but can make exceptions in cases of hardship. I would need a minimum of 10 to pull this off right now. You can email me directly (maggiebermingham@gmail.com) rather than post to the board. If, there are not enough interested folks, I will pass on this and keep looking. We don’t have any other options available at this time. I also welcome comments and feedback.

To learn more about the swap and play or get involved, join the yahoo group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NE_Ptld_family_swap_shop/

Urban Gardens: Coming to a Lot Near You!

Woodlawn neighbor Nat West saw an empty lot across the street from him was filling up with trash. He then set out to create an orderly farm out of the chaos. Under the tutelage of friend Dan Bravin whose POP farming organization consults people interested in installing urban farms around the city, West has transformed the space into 1440 square feet of an intensely planted organic vegetable garden.

He says that he grows what he and his family like to eat. “We eat cauliflower and broccoli maybe three times a year, but we eat greens and lettuces all the time. With a CSA, (community supported agriculture) there is pressure to deliver something new every week. People might get bored if you only have mustard greens for three weeks in a row.” So, he says, he sees the future leading him more toward a market garden, selling to restaurants, than expanding into a full-blown CSA. He is testing the waters this year, deciding what this excellent resource will evolve into. He is keeping track of his progress and pitfalls so that he might take this project to new heights next year. And he’s got his eye on other lots in the area.

West says he really loves the effect this has had on the neighborhood. Turning a veritable garbage dump into a flourishing garden has lifted the spirits of all the people in the area. A home owner whose property flanks the garden is allowing West to use his water. Others have offered to help with the farm work. Many people, he says, walk by and ask, “What’s getting built here?” Which makes him smile and answer, “Nothing!” He recently put up a sign to tell people about this project, which he calls Fruits of Our Neighbors, and offering his contact information for the large amount of curiosity he and the farm are generating.

Despite having one full-size lot at his disposal, he is still looking for big open plots in Woodlawn, Concordia, Piedmont, King and Alberta Arts neighborhoods. Drop him a line if you’ve got something – natjwest@gmail.com.

Read the original full article at:NeighborhoodNotes

Cherry Extract Music presents a late-night, locally grown jazz music series, titled ‘Round Midnight, which showcases some of Portland’s world-class musicians, talented up-and-coming bands, vocalists and spoken word performers. ‘Round Midnight will be held every Saturday from 11:30pm to 1:30am at Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Vanport Square. This Jazz series helps to support jazz and art programming at Jefferson High School.
Saturday, May 9: Cary Simms & Company, featuring smooth jazz saxophonist Cary Simms, whose music is full of emotion and funk. While growing up in Oakland, Cary developed an ear for melodies by spending hours listening to gospel, jazz and rhythm & blues. He was mentored by several Portland musicians, including Dennis Springer, Thara Memory, Janice Scoggins and Ricky Callier and Cary has played with internationally known gospel and vocal artists, including Yolanda Adams and comedian Jonathan Slocum and numerous talented local musicians, including Farnell Newton, Eddie Fontaine and Brian Ward

Saturday, May 16: Nae!Nay! & Friends, featuring spoken word poet, playwright and vocalist S. Renee Mitchell, who is a former award-winning columnist for The Oregonian. Renee developed her striking performance style after moving to Portland in 1998 and making a strong impression at numerous spoken word cafes. She has since started singing and has recorded three CDs and several iTunes singles with her business partner David Ornette Cherry, both co-producers of the ‘Round Midnight series. Renee has performed with many local jazz musicians, including Thara Memory, Linda Hornbuckle, Janice Scroggins, Ron Steen, Devin Phillips, Farnell Newton, Eddie Fontaine and Cary Simms.

See you Saturday ‘Round Midnight at Curious Comedy. To see a complete schedule of performers, go to http://www.roundmidnightpdx.com