Category: Event

Community, Event

Watching Fireworks With Personal Use Banned

Portland City Council permanently banned the sale and use of all consumer fireworks within city limits in March 2022. This restriction includes Independence Day celebrations, often occurring during hot and dry weather. The ban also prohibits the purchase of personal fireworks outside the City and returning to Portland to use them, so Portland Fire & Rescue (PP&R) encourages people to attend the professional July 4th fireworks displays presented throughout the region. Montavilla residents can usually view the 10 p.m. Waterfront Blues Festival display from Mt. Tabor Park uphill from Reservoir Number 5.

The consumer fireworks prohibition passed the 2022 Portland City Council unanimously, in part due to a fatal fireworks fire the previous year and in reaction to the Eagle Creek Fire in the gorge, which started with the use of personal fireworks. Fire departments regularly experience a spike in injuries, fires, and fatalities during the fireworks season, which begins on June 23rd and runs through July 6th. People with pets also report significant stress inflicted on their animals during this time, with some dogs and cats becoming separated from their owners when they run away from the explosive sounds.

Map showing Mt. Tabor Park with marked view spot for fireworks display, highlighting nearby streets and landmarks.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustration

On June 15th, Portland’s Fire Marshal issued a burn ban for the City due to forecasted high summer temperatures and ongoing dry conditions. Effective immediately, people must refrain from using recreational campfires, fire pits, or burring yard debris. Outdoor grills, smokers, and similar cooking appliances are allowed if they use clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels. Residents should exercise extreme caution when using the allowed outdoor cooking devices and place them at least ten feet away from anything combustible, such as siding, fences, or shrubbery. The burn ban will remain in effect throughout the summer weather season.

A small firework emitting sparks and colors on a concrete surface, with discarded firework remnants nearby.

People can contact PF&R 503-823-3700 for additional information about the burn ban. Although the City prohibits the use of personal fireworks, emergency services request that people refrain from calling in reports of firework violations to 911 so that the dispatch system can remain open for reports of serious crimes, fires, and injuries. For non-emergencies reports of illegal fireworks displays, residents who witnessed the unauthorized use of fireworks can report the incident online (portland.gov/311/report-fireworks).

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Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Catalyst Construction & Kitchen Remodeling, a top-rated general contractor specializing in kitchen, bathroom, basement, and garage remodeling, as well as ADU construction and home additions. We thank them for their support.

Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink

White Lotus Summer Market at Fubonn

On June 6th, the White Lotus Summer Market began its four-weekend-long event featuring food, culture, and community behind the Fubonn Shopping Center at 2850 SE 82nd Avenue. Every Saturday and Sunday in June from 2 to 10 p.m., the over 40 vendors invite people to experience the outdoor market bringing together local vendors, cultural energy, and a community atmosphere.

A wooden sign reading 'Balong Panaderia' featuring a cartoon of a boy carrying bread. An adjacent black sign advertising the 'White Lotus Summer Market' with details about the event, including dates and market times.

Past occurrences of this summer event took place at the Shun Fat Supermarket, 5253 SE 82nd Avenue near Foster Road. The organizers designed the pop-up market to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned businesses and local entrepreneurs, providing a place for people to shop, eat, and connect. Entry to the market is free, with vendor assortments changing each weekend. People should review the market’s website to see the specific weekend guides. The 2026 White Lotus Summer Market season ends on June 28th.

A bustling outdoor market scene featuring food stalls under white and red tents, with vendors preparing and serving food. People are engaged in various activities, with some grilling, chatting, and serving customers.

People wanting direct access to the market can use Fubonn’s new, permanent, secondary entrance on SE 85th Avenue. The market removes some parking, but space remains around vendor stalls and in front of the complex adjacent to SE 82nd Avenue. Attendees are also encouraged to visit the year-round tenants of Fubonn Shopping Center who offer complimentary items and services. Time is running out to visit the White Lotus Summer Market, but residents will have another opportunity to shop at a market-style event on August 29th during the Jade International Night Market 2026, taking place at the nearby Portland Community College’s Southeast campus.

Two skewers of spiral-cut fried potatoes topped with sauces, placed on a brown paper wrapper on a table.
Grilled meat and sausages cooking on a barbecue grill, featuring various cuts of steak and several sausage links.
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Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Event, Transportation

Free Express Shuttle to Forest & Washington Park Pilot

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) launched a pilot express shuttle service this summer to help people from all over the city reach Forest Park and Washington Park. Shuttle buses operate on a regular Friday and Saturday schedule with stops extending into neighborhoods within East, North, and Northeast Portland. Park officials hope this program will allow more people to connect with the vast park resources on the west side of the City.

A circular water feature with cascading edges, surrounded by lush greenery and a stone building in the background.
Washington Park reflecting pool 3

The Forest Park and Washington Park Express Shuttle began service on June 12th and will operate until the end of the pilot program on August 22nd. Regional private transportation provider EcoShuttle is operating buses for the program, making regular stops between select neighborhoods and the two popular city parks. The free buses provide access to the unique park resources of Forest Park and Washington Park, as well as planned activities. Shuttle schedules to the parks and back to boarding points vary, and interested riders should consult the program’s website before making plans. Additionally, pets are not allowed on the shuttle, but service animals are allowed to accompany their people.

Map showing the shuttle routes and stops for Forest Park, including East Line, Express Park Loop, North Line, and Northeast Line.
Forest & Washington Park Express Shuttle Map Courtesy PP&R

Montavilla and East Portland residents can access the shuttle at the Gateway Transit Center on NE 99th Avenue or the entrance to Floyd Light Middle School at 826 SE 108th Avenue. Riders can find a timetable on a sign near the stop by looking for the Express Shuttle logo. Restrooms and other facilities at the adjacent community center are available to people waiting for the shuttle during center operating hours. The park terminus is located at the traffic circle at the Lower Macleay Trailhead, which features picnic tables, a covered picnic pavilion,  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible restrooms, and a short, paved, ADA-accessible trail.

Schedule for the Forest & Washington Park Express Shuttle covering Fridays and Saturdays from June 12 to August 22, 2026, including routes for Express Park Loop, North Line, Northeast Line, and East Line with departure times.
Forest & Washington Park Express Shuttle schedule Courtesy PP&R

Within the parks, a connecting shuttle takes riders to Washington Park, Oregon Zoo (Stop A), Pittock Mansion (Stop B), Upper Macleay Trailhead (Stop C), Lower Macleay Trailhead (Stop D), and Leif Erikson Drive Trailhead at Germantown Road (Stop E). PP&R collaborated with community partners who offer programming that includes guided hikes, events, and activities in Forest and Washington Parks.

TriMet transit options remain a good way to access Forest Park and Washington Park. However, this express shuttle eliminates travel costs and speeds up the journey across the city. Organizers hope this program will help people enjoy Portland’s largest parks during these warm summer days, when people are looking to get outdoors. Interested residents have until August 22nd to take advantage of this free express shuttle service.

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Community, Entertainment, Event, History

Archaeology Roadshow Returns to East Portland on May 30

In 2025, after a 12-year run downtown, the annual Archaeology Roadshow moved its educational and interactive showcase across the river to East Portland. For the second year, the organizers are taking over the grassy field at Gateway Discovery Park, 10520 NE Halsey Street, this May 30th with a theme of “Fire & Water.” Historians, members of universities, Tribes, government agencies, museums, and nonprofit cultural organizations will present over 30 exhibits at this free event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., sharing presentations and answering questions from inquisitive attendees. People can drop in anytime during the four-hour un-ticketed event. However, some presentations occur at specific times, including an opening “welcome blessing.”

This year’s Portland show features exhibits and hands-on activities demonstrating how fire and water are “fundamental to the human story for all times and places.” It features exhibits that showcase how the region’s Indigenous people engineered effective waterproofing technologies using materials crafted from the environment. People can practice using friction from a bow drill to build a fire, make stone tools, or throw a replica of an ancient spear. Attendees will also learn how ancient Ice Age floods shaped Portland landscapes in ways modern residents can still observe. Exhibitors will explain how Indigenous people and recent settlers managed water and fire to thrive in the watery and fire-prone Pacific Northwest region and expressed a deep connection to water and fire through arts and crafts.

A group of people engaging at an Archaeology Roadshow booth, examining ancient fishing tools and displays about net weight technology, with a banner in the background.
Student exhibitors Phil Daily and Dianna Wilson 2017, courtesy Archaeology Roadshow (Photo Corey James)

Virginia Butler, with the Archaeology Roadshow, explained that the event’s name is a homage to the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, which invites people to bring items for expert evaluation. Students working on the inaugural Portland event wanted people to make the connection to the TV show because the Archaeology Roadshow similarly allows attendees to bring up to three objects for expert examination, with the experts attempting to determine the objects’ ages and possible functions. Unlike the TV show, volunteers at this event do not offer appraisals; they help people connect to the history contained in those objects. Presentations cover the full span of human existence in the region, and organizers try not to set date limits on what constitutes archaeology. “Science can tell us people have probably been in this area for over 15,000 years. But the Indigenous perspective suggests you can’t really put a time on it because some of their origin stories say they’ve been here forever,” said Butler.

The Archaeology Roadshow embraces all phases of human settlement in the region and aims to offer visitors an experience that entertains and informs them about that shared history through activities and face-to-face engagement. The Archaeology Roadshow began in 2012 at Portland State University, driven by the university’s desire to expose students to public outreach practices through a campus event. The yearly event expanded beyond Portland in 2017, when the roadshow opened in Harney County, with shows in Burns and Hines featuring regional exhibitors and historical societies. Post-pandemic, they have continued to expand into places like the Dalles and Bend.

A man in a green shirt holds a pamphlet while explaining something to an elderly woman with short gray hair, who is listening attentively. They are in a park setting with a small model of trees on a table.
Exhibitor with visitor 2025, courtesy Archaeology Roadshow (Photo Lucy Behrens)

Butler noted that the Archaeology Roadshow is more than an informative event. It is a valuable tool in connecting organizations and municipalities to understand the importance of historical preservation as communities grow. “This kind of work is really about relationships. The Archaeology Roadshow builds relationships at different levels between the organizations doing this work. Every time you start digging in the ground, you might open up and identify some archaeology. There’s a lot of effort to ensure that we don’t lose historical knowledge as we go forth with development.” The organizing group wants to convey the ethics and legal aspects of artifact collecting in context, its importance to people, and its significance beyond regulation. “We want to emphasize that when you simply dig into what may seem to be an archaeological site and remove objects, you’re losing the context. We lose our ability to understand the broader meanings of what those artifacts mean relative to each other. We’re also harming descendant communities that might have special connections to those places. So we convey some of the ethics and the legal aspects of collecting,” said Butler.

Two children working together on a woodworking project on the ground, using tools to shape a piece of wood.
Two children starting a fire 2016, courtesy Archaeology Roadshow (Photo Kendal McDonald)

Overall, the roadshow project aims to expand people’s understanding of archaeology, a field often shaped by movies and school field trips. “I think most people think that archaeology is exciting; there’s an adventure and an explorer level to it. The Indiana Jones image is about finding things, and a lot of people think archaeology is a treasure hunt. I hope people come and realize it’s so much more than that. Archaeology is everywhere. History is happening everywhere. We are so much richer if we understand it, and we feel much more connected to a place if we understand its history,” said Butler. “People will walk in with one concept of archaeology, and then it’s going to get a lot bigger because of the cultural connections.”

Event organizers hope the Archaeology Roadshow’s move to East Portland has opened the event to more organizations and residents who do not always have the opportunity to engage with history in a hands-on, dynamic environment. Within the exhibits, guests will find people demonstrating skills, with the option to participate. Anyone interested in history will also find booths filled with people offering a museum’s worth of information, including Montavilla News contributor Patricia Sanders, who will join Paul Leistner from Mt. Tabor in sharing neighborhood history. Gateway Discovery Park is a fully accessible facility, and event staff will have translators available for Spanish speakers throughout the event so more people can participate in this community-enriching experience. The annual event is free and open to the public thanks to sponsorship support.

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Title image: Chinook Tribal members give opening drum song at the 2025 Portland Archaeology Roadshow with Portland City Council President Jamie Dunphy for District 1, left (Lucy Behrens)

Community, Entertainment, Event

The 2026 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade Images

On April 25th, marchers held the 20th annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade from Eastport Plaza Shopping Center to SE Clinton Street. Former U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 3rd congressional district, Earl Blumenauer, and Nancy Chapin were the 2026 Grand Marshals. The procession featured community groups, businesses, elected officials, dancing horses, youth performers, and the diverse cultural flavors that fill 82nd Avenue and East Portland.

A convertible car with two people waving, one seated in the back and another in the front passenger seat. The car is part of a parade, with a sign displaying names on its side. In the background, spectators are watching the event.
Grand Marshals Earl Blumenauer and Nancy Chapin

The parade drew significant crowds along its one-mile route, closing the busy roadway for a few hours on Saturday morning. Sunny skies warmed the morning air, but temperatures remained moderate for the marchers and fans lining the street. Organizers say it has never rained on the parade in its two-decade run.

With the 2026 parade completed, the 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition members will begin work on next year’s event, which they expect will continue to grow for another 20 years and feature more participants and enhanced production elements.

82nd Avenue is one of the most important city streets. I’m excited for the activity here to reconfigure it, to make it safer, to make it more efficient, and to help revitalize this important street, this is the number one transit street in the entire city. And the work that’s being done here is going to transform 82nd. It used to be kind of the dividing line. I think 82nd Avenue is going to bring the city together. I’m really excited about what’s happening here. This parade is an expression of that. – Earl Blumenauer

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Event

Independent Bookstores Day 2026

Montavilla residents do not have to travel far to celebrate the American Booksellers Association’s 13th annual Independent Bookstores Day with the neighborhood’s newest bookstore, Endless Wonders Books, which is hosting a sidewalk sale at 414 SE 80th Avenue. The Saturday, April 25th, event will feature local authors signing their books from noon to 4 p.m.

On November 13th, 2025, Endless Wonders Books opened a sales corner at Hungry Heart Bakery. Owners Zo Nicole and Mags Burke created the venture as a mobile and online bookstore before meeting Hungry Heart’s owner, Jax Hart, at a pride pop-up event in the Jupiter Hotel. That introduction eventually led to the book seller’s first store location within the bakery. Nicole describes themselves as a lifelong reader who grew tired of a tech career and used a layoff as the catalyst to pursue a dream of opening a bookstore that would surface works that include often overlooked or inaccurately represented communities.

Window display of a bookstore called 'Endless Wonders Books' featuring wooden shelves with stacked books, a plant, and a promotional poster for a dance event.

The sidewalk sale should expose more community members to the bookshop’s selection of titles by and about people from historically underrepresented or marginalized communities. Visitors that day will find new custom store merchandise, prizes, promotionally priced items, and an opportunity to meet five local authors. A scavenger hunt for a “Golden Ticket” could give one visitor 12 free audiobooks, and owners explain there will also be a raffle for a $50 gift card. This is in addition to sale-priced new and used books. Readers and interested community members can stop by this Saturday to find new books that don’t often appear in other storefronts and to purchase coffee or sweets from Hungry Heart.

Author schedule
12-1 p.m. Debut novelist, Olufunke Grace Bankole – @olufunke.grace.bankole (The Edge of Water)
1-2 p.m. Queer romance novelist, Alison Cochrun – @alisoncochrun
2-3 p.m. Queer romance novelist, Anita Kelly – @anitakellywrites
3-4 p.m. Epic fantasy author, C.J. Switzer – @cj_switzer.author
3-4 p.m. Middle grade and picture book author, Jasmine Sears – @where.the.veil.thins

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Community, Event

The 20th Annual 82nd Ave Parade Apr 25

The 20th annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade returns on April 25th at 9:30, featuring over 70 groups, including many returning and several new participants. The event organizers will use the scaled-back route implemented last year, starting at Eastport Plaza and ending just short of Montavilla at SE Clinton Street. To celebrate its two-decade run, organizers are adding additional days of activities in the district on Friday, the 24th, and Sunday, the 26th.

A colorful clown riding a unicycle and waving, surrounded by people in a festive parade with a robot performer nearby.

The volunteer-led organization, 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition, produces the parade each year, having taken over the operation from the 82nd Avenue Business Association. For most of its run, the parade started at Eastport Plaza Shopping Center and ended on SE Yamhill Street. This year, the procession will start from SE Cora Street, across the road from Eastport retail complex, and march less than a mile north, ending right before SE Division Street. People can gather along the SE 82nd Avenue parade route to view the marchers and procession vehicles. However, with the parade no longer ending at SE Yamhill Street, Montavilla spectators will need to walk south past Portland Community College’s Southeast campus to watch the various groups walk, dance, or drive down the road.

Participants in a parade performing with a colorful dragon and lion dance, with spectators watching along the street.

Ken Turner started work on parade planning in 2006 when he served as the Eastport Plaza Manager and 82nd Avenue Business Association President. In 2007, the first parade participants marched along its route and quickly grew into a significant community event over the following years. It has been 20 years since the first event; however, they have had to skip the tradition four times during its run. Planned protests and safety concerns led organizers to cancel the parade in 2017. Leaders halted the in-person event during the pandemic and took the parade online for 2022. The traditional parade returned in 2023 to a crowd ready to see its revival. Volunteers bringing this East Portland event to fruition believe the parade shows appreciation for the diverse population that defines 82nd Avenue by celebrating the community’s art, music, and dance.

A collage of various logos, including Eilene Curtiss, Raimore-Sundt, Funtastic Traveling Shows, Meals on Wheels People, PBOT, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, Hong Phat Supercenter, Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, Chick-fil-A Mall 205, and others, representing community organizations and businesses.
Sponsor logos for the 2026 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade

The Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Office of Arts & Culture provided funding for this year’s parade, along with sponsorship by several area businesses. Funtastic Carnival will set up in the parking lot of Hong Phat Super Center, 4200 SE 82nd Avenue, for all three days as part of the celebration. The Impalas Car Show will start right after the parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 25th. The parade features the Rose Festival Clown Prince, Rosarians, brass bands, premier Chinese dance groups, classic cars, America’s First Corps Band, City & Metro Councilors, costume characters, dance and theatrical groups, plus Middle and High school Marching and Jazz Bands.

A woman waves from the back of a black convertible car decorated with campaign signs during a parade. She is accompanied by another person in the front seat, and there's a crowd of spectators in the background.
Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards and State Representative Thuy Tran in 2024

People looking for a front-row seat can volunteer as parade traffic monitors. One or two volunteers control every crossing along the 82nd Avenue route, and staff coordinators still need people. Volunteer applicants can complete a form at 82rosescec.com. A little before the parade starts, and to its conclusion, unauthorized vehicles are prohibited on SE 82nd Avenue from SE Holgate Boulevard to Division Street. People driving to destinations in the area during that time should select a different route. APANO and the Parade are also holding a SOLVE Oregon cleanup on Sunday, April 26th, from 9:30 a.m. through noon to clean up after the event. People interested in volunteering can sign up at volunteer.solve.org.

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Disclosure: The author of this article is a SOLVE Oregon volunteer cleanup leader and organized the April 26th cleanup.

Business Relocating, Community, Event

VOA Oregon’s 130 Year Celebration Kicks Off Montavilla Campus Fundraising

On Thursday evening, March 12th, supporters and guests of Volunteers of America Oregon gathered near the Convention Center to celebrate the family safety, substance use treatment, behavioral health, and post-criminal justice system support organization’s 130 years in the state. After hearing from VOA Oregon’s current President and CEO, Maree Wacker, and Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read about the benefits of a planned 5.67-acre campus at 8815 NE Glisan Street, attendees were asked to donate towards the facility’s construction and support the group’s other active programs.

Event banner showcasing '130 Years from Past to Possibility Community Changemakers' with a mountain and city skyline backdrop, dated March 12, 2026.
VOA Oregons’s Community Changemakers: From Past to Possibility event on March 12, 2026

Volunteers of America Oregon purchased the Montavilla-based property in 2021, which had previously served as a church. The organization’s President and CEO at the time, Kay Toran, was instrumental in selecting the NE Glisan and 90th Avenue property as a new campus and treatment center. Her quarter-century of leadership concluded when she retired in early 2025, with few updates on campus development plans during the nonprofit’s leadership transition. The new location should allow the organization to co-locate some of its programs in an East Portland site, creating new community resources and one-stop service delivery alongside centralized administrative functions.

Aerial view of a modern building complex featuring solar panels, surrounded by landscaped green areas and a parking lot with several cars.
Looking Northwest at future NE Glisan site. Rendering by Opsis Architecture provided courtesy VOA Oregon

In February 2024,area residents reviewed renderings of the proposed facility and learned about the phased buildout plans. Designers with Opsis Architecture arranged the proposed campus with external functions in buildings adjacent to NE Glisan Street and internal services in the site’s northwest half. The proposed VOA Oregon buildings will stand two stories tall along the site’s southern edge, rising to three levels as the land slopes downhill, maintaining a consistent scale along the frontage. Crews will reconstruct the existing parking lot, adding more trees and landscaping between the 92 stalls. Another cluster of lots along the property’s northern edge will provide an additional 54 on-site parking spaces. The early redevelopment will raze the 1950s-era church building and add frontage improvements along NE Glisan Street with significant work on NE 90th Avenue. Road Crews will reconstruct sections of NE 90th, adding sidewalks, street trees, and curbside parking spaces to the street’s western edge.

During the 2024 community outreach, Toran noted that the construction schedule is dependent on fundraising efforts. Since that time, VOA Oregon began using two buildings at Jessup University’s Multnomah Campus for its residential treatment for women with children. This partnership leverages surplus dormitory space at the faith-based higher education campus located at 8435 NE Glisan Street, just west of the future VOA Oregon site. Jessup University placed its 20-acre Multnomah campus on the market in 2025 and is still seeking a buyer for the entire property. Depending on which group purchases the university site and its redevelopment timeline, VOA Oregon staff may have a limited timeframe to relocate to the new property. Making this fundraising effort essential to maintaining long-term operations in the area.

A woman speaking at a podium during a community event, with a city skyline backdrop and attendees in the audience.
VOA Oregons’s President and CEO Maree Wacker speaking at the Community Changemakers: From Past to Possibility event on March 12, 2026

A successful fundraising effort should advance the timeline for work at the VOA Oregon’s NE Glisan Street Health and Family Services Campus. Maree Wacker explained to the Thursday night audience what they intended to create at their site and why people should support their efforts. “Located in Northeast Portland, our campus will become a regional hub for healing, recovery, health, and hope. It will include 100 residential treatment beds for individuals facing severe substance use disorder, co-occurring mental health conditions, and pregnant women with children. Integrated intensive outpatient services that help individuals coming from residential care and back into the community, serving over 15,000 people each year.” She went on to explain that their trained staff will offer recovery housing with outpatient services, including peer support from people who have lived experience redirecting their lives from addiction. The campus will include space for essential health care, along with support, to create mental and physical stability so program participants can succeed in finding housing, employment, and long-term success. The organization provides specific support for families, and the planned campus includes facilities for childcare, helping people stay connected to their parental role as they seek behavioral health services.

A speaker in a suit stands at a podium with a banner reading 'FROM PAST to POSSIBILITY.' The background features silhouettes of buildings and a bridge.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read speaking at the Community Changemakers: From Past to Possibility event on March 12, 2026

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read followed up with a declaration that the proposed campus was “the kind of solution Oregon deserves. It’s a model that is integrated. It’s evidence-based. It’s place-based. And that vision becomes even more transformative when we recognize the power of placing services designed to care for people and families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives, all in one place.” Read continued to highlight the nonprofit’s campus design’s efficiency and effectiveness. “It’s not about convenience, it’s about connections, reducing duplication, simplifying access, and strengthening accountability. Above all, it is centering dignity and equity, ensuring that the people we’re serving are meeting a system that is designed around them.”

In both speakers’ descriptions of the planned site development, they highlighted the value of having a single location that serves the range of needs of people interested in improving their lives. “Imagine those 100 new residential treatment beds alongside outpatient services, alongside recovery housing, alongside family support. It’s not a collection of disconnected programs, but a true continuum of care, one that welcomes people at the turnstiles of crisis and walks with them through stabilization and healing and through long-term recovery,” exclaimed Read. “This campus is not merely a collection of buildings. In this case, it is a coordinated system. It’s not coordinating programs, but coordinating people, organized and designed around people.”

Collage of images depicting diverse groups and individuals receiving counseling and support from Volunteers of America Oregon, with text highlighting their treatment options.

“We are building a future where services are integrated, where isolation is replaced with connection, and where people now needing recovery encounter support instead of obstacles,” said Wacker. “This campus is more than buildings. It declares loudly and clearly, you belong here. No matter your past, hope lives here. A place that restores your dignity and gives you a chance to leave behind who you’ve been and finally become that person you always knew you could be.”

The VOA Oregon’s Health and Family Services Campus at 8815 NE Glisan Street is likely years away from opening. The nonprofit will continue seeking financial support for the multi-phase buildout. As of yet, there are no active demolition or construction permit applications listed for the property. However, remarks at this week’s fundraising event show the group is intent on continuing the work started under Kay Toran’s leadership and setting up roots in the Montavilla Neighborhood.

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Disclosure: The author of this article received a complimentary meal at the Community Changemakers: From Past to Possibility event on March 12, 2026.

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Event, Food and Drink

Zwickelmania Brewery Shuttle Service Loops Through Montavilla on Feb 21st

On February 21st, Zwickelmania returns to Oregon, with two of Montavilla’s breweries joining more than 55 other craft beer makers from across the state. Host businesses offer attendees Zwickel tasting pours from the fermentation tanks and guided brewery tours. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street and Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue will again participate in this annual celebration of local beer makers. Event organizers will offer free sober transportation between sites via a network of shuttle buses, which should broaden participants’ exposure to Portland’s selection of independent brewers.

Zwickelmania is an annual celebration of Oregon craft beer during Oregon Craft Beer Month, organized by the Oregon Brewers Guild. Member breweries open their production facility to the public for a behind-the-scenes view of their operation and to offer unique sampling opportunities. The event’s name stems from the industry term Zwickel, describing the valve or sample port mounted outside a cask or tank. Brewers use those ports to test the product during fermentation, and this annual event allows people 21 years or older to taste beer from a producer’s perspective.

Promotional flyer for Montavilla Brew Works featuring event details for Zwickelmania on February 21st, including brewery tours, beer tastings, and giveaways.

The 2026 beer-centric program offers a safe way for event attendees to visit more breweries through a free shuttle service that transports them to 16 participating Portland establishments. Attendees can catch one of six vehicles driving on two routes throughout the Eastside. This service allows drinkers to experience the event in several neighborhoods without getting behind the wheel or losing time taking indirect public transit. The participating businesses want people to enjoy the experience without overindulging while learning about the region’s craft beer producers. “We have bags of pretzels we’ll probably put on the tables to keep people eating and keep them hydrated,” said Michael Kora of Montavilla Brew Works. “Because if you get on the bus and even hit half of one of these routes, that’s a party.” During the event hours of 11 a.m. through 5 p.m., buses will depart from each location approximately every 30 minutes. The two shuttle routes overlap at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan Street for riders to transfer. However, there are too many participating locations to reach them all via the bus service during the event timeline, so people must plan to visit their favorite locations first or decide to explore some new beer makers.

Interior view of a brewing facility, featuring stainless steel fermentation tanks, a staircase, and various brewing equipment.
Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street

Kora explained that Montavilla Brew Works has always made beer production front and center in its tap room, with the fermentation tanks only protected by a table-height wall and a roped-off entrance. “I think you can go to a lot of breweries and there’s a pub out front and there’s some stainless [tanks in the back]. I guess there’s a brewery back there, but we’ve always liked to have it showcased,” Kora said. “So on a day like[Zwickelmania], it’s even more fun because people can cross the line and go into our workspace and hang out with us.” The brewery will be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, with the last tour starting around 4:30 p.m. People on the tour can have free samples at the brewer’s discretion, but patrons must pay for anything ordered at the bar or from the Oi! The Sausage food vender working the event. Kora said he will release a new Scottish Porter at the event, adding to a line of brews he has created that honors his heritage. “My mom came here when she was eight years old with her family. Cruised into Ellis Island, signed papers, and moved to Michigan. My grandparents started a family and started a new life. So I get to be a first-generation American,” recalled Kora. “Scottish beers often are thought of as very heavy, big alcohol, dark, which is true in some of them. But the Scots drink a lot of lager, they drink IPAs, they drink porters. So we’re starting to look into more historical styles and bring them out. It’s a cool story to tell, and they’re really good beers.”

Threshold will open for brewery tours every hour starting at 11 a.m. People can also find special beer tappings, unique food menu items, a prize raffle, and a live DJ. The Threshold team also created an “Ultimate Zwickelmania Survival Kit” consisting of wearable snacks, hydration, energy boosts, Underberg digestif bitter, a shuttle map, and a glossary of brewhouse terms. These are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to Threshold visitors while supplies last.

Interior view of a brewery with a wooden bar displaying merchandise and drinks, two staff members behind the counter, and a chalkboard menu listing various beverages and events.
Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue

Zwickelmania’s organizers gear the event toward craft beer enthusiasts who can sample directly from the Zwickel port, find unique beer releases, take tours, and meet brewers who provide educational talks. Kora also stressed how important it is to reach a wider audience that may not know about the breweries in Montavilla. “Zwickelmania sometimes brings out people that are not as familiar with us, or the brand, or the neighborhood. And so that’s where I get really excited.” Some host locations will offer food and beer pairings or specials. This non-ticketed event will only cost the price of beer and food at each location. Designated drivers can also find non-alcoholic drinks at the event. Oi! The Sausage will start selling grilled single sausages on a bun at Montavilla Brew Works in the afternoon. People interested in attending should visit the Zwickelmania website for more information and an up-to-date list of participating brewers.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Event flyer for Zwickelmania, an Oregon brewery tour, scheduled for Saturday, February 21 from 11 am to 5 pm, featuring a free shuttle service with buses departing approximately every 30 minutes. The map displays two routes with various breweries highlighted.
BreweryWhat They Offer
1188 Brewing CompanyFood and beer pairings, specials, vote for your favorite beer
Allgood Brewing CompanyTours, meet the brewer, $5 pint specials all day
Arch Rock BrewingBrewery tours, zwickel and/or other free samples
Away Days BrewingPin of cask ale for free samples and education about cask conditioned beers
Baerlic Brewing CompanyBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, pizza from Ranch Pizza
Barsideous BrewingGhost stories, guided theater and brewery tours, special beer releases, zwickel samples
Bevel Craft BrewingBrewery tours, zwickel samples, meet the brewer, special beer release
Binary Brewing Co.Brewery tours, special beer release, brewing education, zwickel samples
Boneyard BeerNew beer release, self-guided tours, zwickel samples, free pickles, food truck
Breakside Brewery – SlabtownSpecial beer release, brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
Buoy Beer CoState of Excitement beer for 25 cents from 5:00-5:15pm (1 per customer)
Claim 52 BrewingFinal Zwickelmania at original location, zwickel samples with brewers
Conversion BrewingBrewing and ingredient education, guided tasting, brewery tours
Cooper Mountain Ale WorksFood and beer pairing flights, brewery tours, meet the brewer, special release
Crooked Creek BreweryBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials, free coozies
Crux Fermentation ProjectSamples off barrels, special beer release, beer pairings
Deschutes Brewery – BendSelf-guided tours, samples of beers, NA brews, flavored malt beverages
Deschutes Brewery – PortlandBrewery tours (first come, first served), meet brewers, special releases, food specials
Double Mountain BrewingShort tours all day with small bites and zwickel samples, complimentary glass
Falling Sky BrewingBrewery tours and zwickel samples all day
Ferment Brewing CompanyBrewing process tours, zwickel samples, special beer release
Fort George BreweryFull production facility tour, meet the brewer, multiple zwickel samples
Gigantic Brewing CompanyBrewery tours, zwickel tastings, live music in Barrel Room, Flying Fish oysters and seafood
Grand Fir BrewingBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials
Ground Breaker BrewingGluten-free brewery tour with educational points, zwickel samples, food specials with Salvi PDX
Golden Valley BreweryGuided educational tours and samples at 12pm and 2pm
Heater Allen/Gold Dot BeerBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, beer & pretzel pairings
Hopworks Urban BreweryBrewery tours, pizza and beer pairings
Krauski’s Brewski’sNano brewery tours, samples from the source, meet the brewer, live music 6-9pm
Lazy Days BrewingBrewer tours, special beer release, pizza & food specials, zwickel samples
Leikam BrewingRecords with Tasha from Second Chance records, brewery tours, zwickel samples
Level BeerBrewer led tours, tank samples, free hop water for designated drivers
Living Haus Beer CoBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
Lucky Lab BrewingBrewery tours and guided tastings
Migration Brewing Co.16th Anniversary celebration, collaborations with Upright and Threshold, tours, zwickel samples
***Montavilla Brew Works***Oi! The Sausage food cart, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, raffles, cask beer release, live music
Ninkasi BrewingSpecial beer release
Oakshire BrewingFood & beer specials, special flight, Hellshire XV barrel-aged blend release
Old Town BrewingBrewery tours, zwickel samples, guided tastings, pizza and beer pairings with Baby Doll Pizza
pFriem Family Brewers – Hood RiverExclusive brewery tours, complimentary beer tastings, small bites
pFriem Family Brewers – MilwaukieComplimentary beer tastings, small bites
Public CoastBrewery tours, guided tasting, zwickel samples
Root and Rye Hop Farm & BreweryFirst pint for $5, meet the brewery, tours and zwickel samples
Side A BrewingBrewery tours and samplings, Dead of Winter party
Sisu Brewing Co.Brewery tours and samples at 12pm and 1pm on historic theater stage
Spider City BrewingTime slots with head brewer Melanie Betti, brewery tour/history, guided tasting, food specials
Steeplejack Brewing Co.Brewery tours, special pin tapping, food and beer pairings
StormBreaker BrewingBrewery tours, guided tastings, zwickel samples, barrel-aged bottle ring toss, prize wheel, 12th anniversary
Sunriver BrewingBurlington Hazy IPA release, maple sugar primed cask, Vermont-themed food, ice cream float shots
Terranaut BeerBrewery tours, special beer release, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
***Threshold Brewery and Blending***Hourly tours, free shuttle every 30 min, Ultimate Zwickelmania Survival Pack™, food specials
Thunder Island Brewing CoBrewery tours, meet the brewer, guided tastings with small bites, zwickel samples
UPP LiquidsMeet the brewers, beer samples with Bavarian pretzel pairings, tours
Von Ebert BrewingBrewer led tours, zwickel samples, guided tastings, free bottle openers
Wayfinder BeerBrewery tours, guided tastings, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials
Wild Ride BrewingGuided tours, meet the brewers, zwickel samples, complimentary beer & cookie pairings
Worthy BrewingMeet the brewer, brewer-led tours, zwickel samples, swag raffle, $5 pints, $3 fries, $6 pizza bites
Zoiglhaus BrewingBrewer lead tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples

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Event, New Business

TESO Life Store Opening on SE Washington Jan 31st

TESO Life will open its first Portland location at 10548 SE Washington Street next Saturday, January 31st. The Asian household goods seller took over the 23,200-square-foot storefront left vacant by Big Lots four years ago at Plaza 205. The shopping complex is currently reinventing itself to serve people interested in items and flavors from across Asia. Shoppers will find a variety of imported products, claw machines, and collectables inside the Japanese department store. The TESO Life staff will welcome people as the company hosts a grand opening celebration over the weekend, ending on February 2nd.

Once open, the store will serve guests daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Headquartered in Queens, New York, TESO Life began in 2017 and has expanded across the country with dozens of shops and plans to open more storefronts in the coming years, doubling its footprint. The organization will open another Oregon location at 4005 SW 117th Avenue in Beaverton this May. The store has a significant social media following among fans and customers seeking Asian skincare, hair care, and makeup products, as well as hard-to-find snacks and drinks not often sold in the United States.

Interior view of a vibrant retail store aisle filled with colorful toys and merchandise, featuring shelves of various products and prominent signage in the background.

This location is next door to Portland’s first 99 Ranch Market, which opened to large crowds on August 16th, 2025. Based on other locations’ opening days, attendees looking to check out the SE Washington Street TESO Life on January 31st should anticipate lines similar to those at its neighboring grocery store’s grand opening. The event organizers will offer free items with purchase during the opening weekend, further incentivizing large attendance. People can visit the company’s Instagram page for more details.

Article and phots by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.