Category: Event

Community, Event November 7, 2026November 7, 2026

VOA Oregon Opens Montavilla Campus

On October 29th, VOA Oregon celebrated the opening of two facilities in East Portland, including its Montavilla Campus in the former dorm housing of Multnomah University at 8435 NE Glisan Street. The new Outpatient Services center replaces a VOA Women’s Residential Treatment Center that closed at this site in April. That reportedly abrupt closure required 46 women enrolled in the program to transfer to other treatment options or discontinue the program. The nonprofit began renting space from the university in October 2024, before the school’s owners ceased most educational activity at the site and placed the property for sale in 2025. This location is blocks away from a planned six-acre VOA NE Glisan Street Health and Family Services Campus, which has been in the pre-development process since 2021 but has not advanced to permitting.

Welcome signs and balloons mark the entrance to Volunteers of America Oregon in a landscaped courtyard.

Senior Director of Behavioral Health with VOA Oregon, Christina Anderson, explained that reopening this space for daytime clinical use instead of overnight care was a way to continue the organization’s efforts while working around the aging building’s limitations that contributed to challenges in operating the previous Women’s Residential Treatment Center. “Residential and outpatient are considered two different populations, and their vulnerability and liabilities are different,” said Anderson. “The HVAC system and the lack of sprinklers were not conducive to a residential setting for outpatient.” The former dorm rooms now support clinician office space and clinical outpatient treatment rooms.

Two women speaking at a podium with an OAA Oregon sign, one gesturing toward the audience. — *_{VOA Oregon Board Chair Amy Wayson and CEO Maree Wacker}*

VOA Oregon President and CEO Maree Wacker said moving into this space has expanded the capacity of VOA Oregon’s behavioral health offerings. “VOA’s outpatient services program previously operated in a 13,000 square foot facility. We were busting out of the seams, and today here at the Montavilla Campus, we have 45,000 square feet in which to deliver these services, which are expanded and will help those who struggle.” Anderson added that those past space limitations would cause them to turn away people seeking help. “We have walk-in assessments Monday through Thursday starting at 10 a.m. In March, we had to literally close the doors because we could not bring anybody else in,” recalled Anderson.

Interior view of a long office hallway with carpeted floors, multiple doors, and VOA signs.

Wacker said VOA Oregon grew services by over 25% in 2026 before this move. They can now serve 750 individuals every week, and she expects to nearly double that number by the end of the calendar year. The increased site capacity will keep the doors open to more people seeking help, but it will also let the team expand its offerings. “Through the partnerships with Care Oregon, our program has experienced significant transformation. At the heart of the work has been the commitment to integrated team-based care,” said Anderson.

Three women wearing name badges sit together indoors, facing the camera. — *_{Christina Anderson, Maree Wacker, and Amy Wayson}*

Wacker highlighted that access and connectivity are important elements in responding to our community’s addiction and mental health crisis. “Here in Multnomah County, 45.6% of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness are struggling with a use disorder,” said Wacker. “Outpatient treatment is an important part of VOA Oregon’s continuum of care.” She pointed to the peer support offered in the Montavilla program as a critical part of the organization’s efforts. She said that case management services this year served over 1,300 people, helping individuals and families navigate housing instability, rebuild relationships, and identify community support.

Woman speaking at a podium with an Oregon OA sign in front of dark curtains — *_{Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards}*

Multnomah County Commissioner for District 3, Julia Brim-Edwards, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to thank the organization for its commitment to the community. “Opening this campus will open the doors to opportunity, support, and hope for our neighbors and community members who need that path and are ready for recovery,” remarked Brim-Edwards. “This new campus will mean more people have access to mental health care, addiction treatment, and recovery services that they need to live healthier and more stable lives. Today is really an important milestone for the Volunteers of America, but it’s also a great day for our entire community,” said Brim-Edwards.

Entrance sign for Volunteers of America Oregon outside a brick residential building.

The VOA Oregon Montavilla Campus operates out of two buildings on the north edge of the now-closed Jessup University Multnomah property, near NE Pacific Street and the athletics field. Staff currently offer outpatient services to people seeking assistance with substance use disorder recovery and mental health care. Southeast of this site, at 2609 SE 136th Avenue, VOA Oregon also opened its Family Relief Nursery building. That site supports young children and their caregivers through therapeutic early childhood services, home visits, and parenting support.

Article and photo 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.

Event, New Residence November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

SE 89th Ave Jade Apartments Open

On October 29th, officials and project leaders gathered to celebrate the opening of a 40-unit housing complex at 2909 SE 89th Avenue. Called The Jade Apartments, this joint venture between APANO and Gorman & Company transformed a 1.1-acre property into affordable family apartments in a dual-courtyard configuration. The developers endeavored to create a healthy, sustainable community, with solar panels providing most residential power and helping residents avoid most utility costs. The regulated affordable housing is reserved for households earning at or below 60% Area Median Income (AMI), with some units reserved for the 30% AMI level.

Three attendees sit together during a group event, with other people standing behind them. — *_{Sam Baraso, Quisha Light, and Khanh Pham at the Oct 29 event}*

Crews recently completed a half-street build along the site’s frontage, connecting a former gravel segment to the paved portions of SE 89th Avenue. The public improvements also added sidewalk on the western edge with a planting strip. This helps people walk to neighboring grocery stores like Fubonn or connect with frequent public transit on 82nd Avenue or SE Division Street. The ground floor offers accessible units for those with mobility concerns, and some of the 31 on-site parking stalls tuck under solar panels.

Newly paved residential street beside a modern multi-story apartment building, utility poles, and autumn trees. — *_{The Jade Apartments frontage improvements including sidewalk and half a paved road}*

Fifteen units in the new apartment building offer family-sized accommodations with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The developers also created 14 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom flats, each with a single bathroom. Residents can access various site amenities, including a bike room, package lockers, and resident services offices. People can also use a community room, two courtyards, and outdoor areas with a garden and play area for children. Larger apartments have in-unit washers and dryers. The building offers laundry rooms on each floor for the remaining residents.

Man in a suit and striped tie speaking at a Gorman & Company podium. — *_{Eric Jacobson with Gorman & Company}*

Eric Jacobson, Director of Real Estate Development at Gorman & Company, told event attendees it took nearly a decade to deliver the housing. “This project really originated back in 2018, and that’s a long time ago; it’s now 2026. It really started with a community effort looking at sustainability in the community and what the neighborhood needs,” recalled Jacobson. He explained how that early work highlighted disparities in how Portland invested in different parts of the city. “For example, there are still some gravel streets in this neighborhood, and this project is really intended to address some of those inequities and provide opportunities for people in this neighborhood,” said Jacobson.

State Senator Khanh Pham similarly reflected on the community visioning work that helped lead to this housing project. “Many years before I joined the legislature,” said Pham. “I was a community organizer, organizing all along 82nd Avenue—particularly in the Jade District—and this vision to see these two plots of land start to be filled with affordable housing and green space and renewable energy is just a testament to the determination of the community members who live here.” The new housing development is across the street from an Oregon Metro-owned property purchased in 2025 for Transit Oriented Development. Community groups have shown interest in seeing the 1.46-acre parcel at the intersection of SE 90th Place and SE 89th Avenue turned into a public park. Those efforts are ongoing but align with visioning work started a decade ago.

Smiling man in glasses and a plaid blazer speaking into a microphone indoors — *_{Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang}*

Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang, who also works as the Community Development Director at APANO, applauded the housing project, which joins other affordable housing APANO is involved with, including Legin Commons and Alyssa Daye Gardens. He cautioned that these accomplishments are encouraging but less than what the region needs to meet its housing demand. “In 2024, APANO projects were 20 percent of Portland’s apartment production,” said Hwang. “Which is impressive for this organization but very distressing for our city and region as a whole because that just means the denominator was so low. We only permitted 800 some housing units in the whole city that year, so something to celebrate here, but I think that speaks to the work that we have to do.”

Man in a black suit and glasses speaking into a microphone indoors — *_{Todd Struble with APANO}*

Adding housing stock to the market could drive down costs of older, naturally occurring affordable housing if inventory eases demand pressures. However, waiting for the market to adjust is not practical for household budgets already stretched by inflation, creating housing insecurity. “We need more deeply affordable housing,” remarked Quisha Light, the Interim Director of the Portland Housing Bureau. “There are five units here that are at least 30 percent or less; the others are 60 percent or less. That’s significant; those numbers matter because they make it possible for a family to be stable and not have to continue to move, make it possible for children to be in schools where they can make friendships,” said Light. People “can actually get connected in a community.”

Bright empty room with a large window, roller blind, ceiling light, and wall-mounted air conditioner — *_{Ductless heat pump in The Jade unit’s bedroom}*

Over the last few years, a growing perception is that 60 percent AMI-restricted units are not meeting the housing needs of lower-income renters in the Portland market. East of 82nd, they can sometimes cost more than older market-rate units while requiring applications to demonstrate they are below income limits. Based on current regulated affordable housing numbers—maximum rent and income limits adjust each year—a three-bedroom unit at The Jade costs $2,001 per month, and a four-person household would need to make under $76,980 per year to qualify. Bundled utilities help offset the price gap, and these units are newer, with better amenities and closer access to high-ridership transit lines.

Modern L-shaped kitchen with wood cabinets, black appliances, white countertops, and wood-look flooring

To build these units, with the environmental supporting features at current material and labor rates, required public-private cooperation. “The Jade is providing 40 homes that will be affordable for generations. Our new neighbors will be able to walk to the MAX Green Line or the FX2 bus rapid transit line on Division,” explained Hwang. “That’s why, in addition to the $4.4 million from Metro’s affordable housing bond, Metro chipped in a transit-oriented development grant to get the Jade built. People living here will have comfortable, climate-resilient homes and lower energy bills, thanks to our solar array, green building materials, 50-year roofs, and a high-energy-efficiency HVAC supported by the Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund.” He also noted that the project furthers the Greening of Jade project by adding more trees and green public spaces to the neighborhood.

Solar panel carport over a parking area beside landscaped grounds and residential buildings in autumn. — *_{Solar panels over parking}*

Even with that public support, developers say they are limited in how many deeply affordable units they can provide while still meeting lenders’ and for-profit partners’ financial requirements. Including 60 percent AMI units in an affordable housing development not only helps the specific project move forward but can also incentivize future projects to break ground. For Gorman & Company, this is just the beginning of their affordable housing plans for the region. “This is our first project here in Portland, but we’re not expecting it to be our last. We already have other projects in our pipeline, and we’re looking forward to more fruitful partnerships like this with all of our development partners and all of our funding partners,” remarked Jacobson.

White front-loading washing machine and dryer side by side in a laundry nook — *_{Energy Star appliances}*

Portland Clean Energy Fund Program Manager Sam Baraso stressed the value of this type of affordable housing, built for the long-term support it can provide to people facing rising power costs and a harsher climate. “We were fortunate, along with our partners, the Portland Housing Bureau, to invest about $1.4 million to bring a 207-kilowatt solar array to the building, heat pump water heaters, ductless heat pumps, Energy Star appliances, and EV charging stations,” listed Baraso. “What this all means is, yes, it’s important to get these buildings up to make sure that they’re affordable for folks, but we don’t care just about the first cost. We want to make sure these units are sustainable and that they help put money back in your pockets; our energy prices have gone up 60% in the past five years. In a building like this, you can turn on the heat in your building, you can close the windows and turn on the AC when there’s bad air, and you can do so without breaking the bank.”

Modern three-story apartment building with white and red siding, black-framed windows, balconies, and landscaped entrance

Todd Struble is the Real Estate Development Manager at APANO and played a significant role in bringing this project to the neighborhood. Additionally, he served as the Jade District Manager a decade ago when community visioning for the Jade apartments took form. “Housing affordability is something that I heard about when I was door knocking and talking with folks. And more than a decade later, it remains one of the major civic issues of our time. So to be part of creating and welcoming families to permanent affordable housing is extremely rewarding,” said Struble. Residents are moving in now, and area neighbors will soon see more activity at this family-oriented housing complex.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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.

Event, New Business October 31, 2026October 31, 2026

LatTéa on SE Division Celebrates Opening

LatTéa at 8733 SE Division Street Unit 110 celebrated its grand opening on October 25th, five months after making the transformation from Ocha Tea and Coffee. Mark Asa and Hannah Lam took over the space from a previous owner to build their dream family coffee shop. Both new owners have an affinity for the surrounding Jade district community, having worked in neighboring businesses and spent their formative years along SE Division Street.

_{LatTéa owners Hannah Lam and Mark Asa at ribbon cutting}

The couple purchased Ocha in July 2025 and kept the location mostly the same, retaining as many of the original staff as they could. “We’ve always wanted to open up our own coffee shop, and Ocha seemed like a great stepping stone for us to learn that. When we first took over, we just left operations as is, learned the routine, learned the system, learned the environment,” recalled Asa. Then, the day after Mother’s Day 2026, they closed Ocha and began a multi-week rebranding effort. They welcomed customers back into the space the last week of May, but family and health issues pushed back the formal reopening celebration. LatTéa continued to serve customers in a multi-month soft-opening mode as Asa took care of himself. “So I have a great team, and while I was decommissioned, my wife was holding the fort down and taking care of our baby and handling our other business,” explained Asa.

A coffee shop counter with a menu displayed on screens above. A customer is interacting with a barista, who is wearing a cap. The countertop has various items such as cups, a menu, and decor, including a banner with traditional motifs. — *_{LatTéa owners Mark Asa and Hannah Lam at work}*

The location matters to the owners, who see their business as a community touchpoint and a permanent home. “I grew up walking up and down Division in the early 90s, so I don’t foresee us moving anywhere,” said Asa. He explained that his father had a long career in the restaurant breakfast industry, which influenced his desire to open a cafe. Asa explained that Hannah Lam has more direct food-service experience, with a business degree and work history as a hostess at Excellent Cuisine when it was called Wong’s King Seafood, located in the same complex as their shop.

A display case filled with various baked goods including pastries, donuts, and cinnamon rolls. The top shelf features a glazed donut, while the middle shelf showcases cinnamon rolls and fruit-filled pastries. The bottom shelf contains a basket with sweet treats and disposable containers. In the background, there are snack supplies and colorful decor. — *_{Pastry display box with some of the non drink menu items}*

With the new name, the owners adjusted the menu, keeping five main classic drinks from Ocha. They then developed new offerings, bringing in items they discovered in their travels. “We would go to San Francisco, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, and other big food areas,” said Asa. “We’ve always [appreciated] milk teas, coffees, lattes, and everything, and we remember those, thinking about what works best.” They determined ingredient quality and preparation most influenced the value people perceived in good cafe experiences. That led them to focus on vendor selection as a way to boost their business impact and earn the community’s patronage.

Cozy seating area featuring leather chairs and a wooden table, with a row of colorful vending machines in the background. — *_{Gachapon vending machines}*

Mark Asa also knows that a community store is more than just drinks, particularly near a school. “As a kid walking up and down these streets, I didn’t have a lot of money. Whenever I saved my money, I’d always go to either 7-Eleven or Canton Grill and get a soda from them.” Thinking back to those days prompted Asa to add gachapon vending machines to the shop. He says he works with vendors to source authentic products in the machines but at a relatively low price. “I keep them as low as possible,” said Asa, explaining the margins are essentially set to cover credit card fees but otherwise close to cost. “A lot of the kids, after school, save their allowance and they come here. So knowing that, I just try to keep everything as low as possible.”

LatTéa is open weekdays starting at 11 a.m. and open an hour earlier on weekends. They close most nights at 7 p.m. but stay open an hour later on Friday and Saturday. The company website, online ordering, and the company’s Instagram page have additional information about menu items and special events. They are also interested in partnering with the community for gatherings, having recently hosted a coffee with a District 3 City Councilor. They hope people will stop by to try their new drinks and rediscover the space.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Community, Event October 12, 2026October 11, 2026

Arbor Day at Harrison Park Oct 17

The Urban Forestry team at Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and APANO will host an Arbor Day Celebration in Harrison Park at 2101 SE 84th Avenue on Saturday, October 17th. This free, family-friendly event is open to everyone from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with tree-related activities and bucket-truck lift rides for children. The PP&R Yard Tree Giveaway team will hand out over 200 free trees to people who register in advance, and attendees can plant 15 new trees, enjoy tree-themed activities, live performances, and free food from area Jade District vendors.

A grassy park with several young trees and tall greenery, under a cloudy sky.

Arbor Day celebrations have been a Portland tradition since 1889. America recognizes the annual observance on the last Friday in April; however, Portland Celebrates Arbor Day in October due to the changing climate. Planting outside the dry summer months lets newly planted trees receive a natural autumn soaking from the rainy weather. The day has become more significant for people interested in growing the urban tree canopy. Planting trees is often identified as a way to mitigate some of the effects of rising temperatures by shading pavement and sidewalks. This lowers the temperature directly under the tree and can also reduce ambient air temperature in communities with significant tree coverage.

This Arbor Day celebration marks Portland’s 50th year holding a Tree City USA designation. The Arbor Day Foundation recognizes this achievement as part of its work, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The U.S. Forest Service provided Inflation Reduction Act-sourced funding for this year’s Arbor Day celebration in Portland. The Meyer Memorial Trust also provided additional support.

Sign for a community tree planting event, advertising Arbor Day on 10/17/26, with a green background and illustrations of trees and plants.

People looking to embrace car-free travel to the event can join the Arbor Day Bike Bus with the Bureau of Transportation. It starts at 9 a.m. from Glenhaven Park’s BIKETOWN station at NE 81st Avenue and NE Siskiyou Street, with stops along the way to join the pack. If participants need to borrow a bike, they can request free BIKETOWN rental codes by emailing claire.bach@portlandoregon.gov.

In addition to the vertical rides to the top of the trees in a real PP&R Urban Forestry bucket truck, people can enjoy music, live performances, free food, and games for all ages. The event programming will recognize this year’s Bill Naito Community Trees Award winners. The annual award honors the late builder and community leader who helped found the Urban Forestry Commission in 1974 and chaired it until his death.

A playground swing set with multiple swings in blue, red, and black colors, set on a wood chip surface in a grassy park environment.

With Portland’s Arbor Day celebrations scheduled for Harrison Park this Saturday, people in Montavilla and surrounding neighborhoods can easily access this free event. Last year’s event took place at Sacajawea Head Start in the Cully neighborhood. In 2024, it was held at Glenfair Park in East Portland. The Arbor Day events focus on these communities because they have fewer trees in urban areas than other parts of the city west of 82nd Avenue. In a 2010 to 2016 inventory, not a single neighborhood east of 82nd Avenue met the citywide average canopy coverage of 30.7%, excluding natural areas like Powell Butte. Since then, many Urban Forestry efforts have worked to address this inequity through focused tree giveaway programs targeting impacted neighborhoods and holding events closer to where trees are needed to help lower summer temperatures that spike in those hot spots. The Arbor Day event can be an effective way for Portlanders to celebrate trees and their role in improving communities while having a good time in a city park.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.

Community, Event September 21, 2026September 20, 2026

Jade Outdoor Spaces Open House Oct 1st

On October 1st, APANO Communities United Fund will host an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. to gather Jade District residents’ perspectives on access to green space. Participants attending the drop-in gathering within the community room at 8118 SE Division Street will join a focused conversation about a roughly 1.5-acre property owned by Metro on the southeast corner of SE 89th Avenue and 90th Place. All area residents, whether or not they attend, can complete an anonymous online survey to share their opinions.

Oregon Metro owns the large parcel at 2815 SE 90th Place after purchasing the property in July 2025 for planned Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). Community advocates have long envisioned the large property as a neighborhood park and recently sought support for that project. Last March, APANO collected 149 community member signatures on a letter calling for meaningful engagement and substantial green space at the site. This support follows the 2014 Jade District community visioning plan and the 2018 EPA Greening the Jade project work. That previous community outreach recorded in those documents showed a desire and expressed need for green space across all groups in the neighborhood.

Announcement for a community open house hosted by APANO to discuss the future of the 1.5-acre site at 2815 SE 90th Place, including details about affordable housing and green space. — *_{APANO open house flyer (tiếng Việt,}*_Español_{, and}_简体中文₎

Since sharing that letter, organizers have focused on developing plans based on current capacity for new parks, indicating the need for a practical shared-use model for the site. A standalone park or community garden without housing would require another organization to purchase the property from Metro and take responsibility for long-term maintenance. A mixed housing and green space approach could include shared outdoor areas for residents or a combination of affordable housing and publicly accessible green space, community gardens, paths, or gathering areas. They expect the open house and survey results will help rank community priorities for affordable housing, outdoor recreation, and public access to green space. APANO will compile the results into a community engagement report for Metro to inform its plan for the site and shape Request for Proposal (RFP) language used to secure future development.

Although creating a full site park is less likely, APANO staff expect an opportunity for public use of part of the 1.5-acre site, and survey and open house input could support that initiative. The open house will have language support in Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Mandarin. People needing childcare or American Sign Language support to participate should call or text (503) 922-3910 by September 24th. The venue is wheelchair accessible and off the 72 and FX 2 TriMet bus lines. No registration is needed to attend this family-friendly event.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Event, Transportation September 20, 2026September 19, 2026

Jade and Montavilla Bike Ride Sept 30

Portland is recognized as a bikeable city that invests in infrastructure that makes this transportation and recreation activity more accessible to new or vulnerable riders. On Wednesday, September 30th, the New to Portland 2026 Rides series will gather in the Montavilla Plaza at SE 79th Avenue and SE Stark Street for a 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. moderate-paced 6- to 8-mile bicycle ride. The event is geared towards people who are new to town, new to cycling, or want to explore low-stress bike routes on the east side of Mount Tabor.

A cloud with the text "New to Portland 2026 Rides" and graphics of two people riding bikes.

This Jade District and Montavilla ride is free and open to everyone, and people without a bike can ride free on a BIKETOWN e-assist bike. People interested in that offer will need to ask the ride leader for a free ride code to cover the cost of the bike ride and download the BIKETOWN app or the Lyft app. Participants can expect to roll past several neighborhood parks along current and future bikeways while discovering lesser-known features of the area.

This is a slower-paced ride, and participants can expect to travel in the group at 8 to 10 mph. Event organizers want to direct people to one of Portland’s bike shops to rent or buy a bike if they are interested in this event or in adopting cycling as one of the many ways to navigate the city. This Portland Bureau of Transportation-hosted event is made possible with support from Oregon Metro and the Federal Transit Administration. People are encouraged to check the BIKETOWN map for station locations near the event if they plan to use the program. The City also offers a checklist to help you get started on a bike and prepare for a ride on city streets.

Article and photo by

Jacob Loeb

Entertainment, Event September 3, 2026September 3, 2026

2026 Montavilla Jazz Fest this Holiday Weekend

Montavilla Jazz is back this weekend for a three-day, village-style festival spanning locations inside and beyond the neighborhood. Over the Labor Day Weekend, the 13th Annual Montavilla Jazz Festival celebrates Portland’s music scene between September 4th and 6th. Montavillajazz.org has a detailed schedule of ticketed and wristband-accessed performances. However, many Montavilla locations will present live music featuring student, youth, and emerging artists as official Village Stage hosts. Those performances will not have a cover charge.

A jazz band performing on stage with a drummer in the background, a pianist playing a keyboard, and a double bass player partially visible. The drummer wears a blue shirt, while the pianist is dressed in a patterned shirt. — *_{2024 Montavilla Jazz Festival’s SoundsTruck NW stage located in the Montavilla Plaza}*

Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue hosts a live music Village Stage and serves Polish favorite foods, including pierogi, sausage dogs, and zapiekanka. Replicant / Mudd Work Cafe at 7033 NE Glisan Street will also host Village Stage music throughout the weekend. Vino Veritas Wine Bar & Shop at
7835 SE Stark Street has often hosted live jazz throughout the year, and its Village Stage is booked throughout the festival weekend. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street has two nights of Village Stage music paired with food vendors. They will allow all ages in the brewery during the event.

Montavilla Brew Works Saturday, September 5th, Live Performances and meals by Korean Wagon food truck
2:00–3:00 PM Ian Arellano Trio | Clark College/PSU
4:00–5:00 PM Ian Arellano Trio | Clark College/PSU
6:00–8:00 PM MHCC Kane St. Combo

Montavilla Brew Works Sunday, September 6th, Live Performances with food by Oi!The Sausage pop-up
2:00–3:00 PM Tommy Blize Jazz Trio
4:00–5:00 PM Swingin’ Sounds Community Combo
6:00–8:00 PM MHCC Division St. Combo

Bipartisan Cafe at 7901 SE Stark Street, East Glisan Pizza Lounge at 8001 NE Glisan Street, and Gigantic Robot Room at 6935 NE Glisan Street are joining the Village Stage host locations in offering discounts and promotions to 2026 Montavilla Jazz Festival wristband holders. Full details are available on the festival website montavillajazz.org/festival

A crowd of people seated under canopies at an outdoor event, with a diverse audience engaged in the program. — *_{2024 Montavilla Jazz Festival goers}*

Academy Theater at 7818 SE Stark Street will show Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1988) on Thursday, September 3rd at 7 p.m. and Breathless (1960) on September 4th at 10 p.m. for those looking to enjoy jazz on the big screen. Primary Venues this year include Caldera Amphitheater at Mt. Tabor Park. Alberta Rose Theatre at 3000 NE Alberta Street, Portland Metro Arts at 9003 SE Stark Street, Show Bar at 1300 SE Stark Street, and the SoundsTruck NW located in the Montavilla Plaza at 79th Avenue and SE Stark Street. The Montavilla Jazz Festival has grown beyond the neighborhood where it started, but it still works to boost the area businesses that support musicians year-round. People are invited to purchase tickets within their means or visit Village Stage locations to join Portland’s annual jazz celebration.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink August 27, 2026August 27, 2026

My Voice Music Block Party August 30

On August 30th, My Voice Music (MVM) and Ascending Flow will host a Block Party with live youth music, DJs, and skateboarding to introduce the BUS-A-Flow mobile studio. The MVM youth-focused nonprofit organization opened its Montavilla facility at 8911 SE Stark Street in September 2023. Recently, muralists completed work on the outside of the building, highlighting this music-based after-school program provider’s activities within. People are invited to visit between 1 and 6 p.m. to participate in this free gathering.

A colorful mural depicting a woman singing into a microphone, with a hand holding a pen nearby. The background features vibrant, abstract patterns.

Event organizers will close SE 89th Avenue north of SE Stark Street beside the MVM building preceding the Sunday, August 30th, activities. The block party will showcase performances representing the range of music being created by My Voice Music and Ascending Flow participants. Ascending Flow will use its converted transit vehicle dubbed BUS-A-Flow to bring a mobile recording studio, performance stage, and creative hub to communities across Oregon. This mural-painted, customized vehicle will further the nonprofit’s work, including free programs for young people navigating foster care, experiencing housing instability, and seeking to build positive life skills.

Mural on a building featuring the phrases 'MY VOICE MUSIC' and 'WRITE', surrounded by colorful abstract designs and greenery.

Ascending Flow works out in the community but lists the SE Stark Street address as its main location, joining MVM in its rehabilitated former bakery building. Since 2008, MVM has served young people by facilitating their artistic expression through writing, recording, and performing original music. Several setbacks delayed the opening of the Montavilla SE Portland headquarters, including the 2021 death of MVM’s founding Executive Director, Ian Mouser. For the last three years, the youth music center has helped expand the organization’s programs and supported efforts by similarly aligned organizations.

A colorful mural on a building featuring a large, expressive face singing, a microphone, and the words 'WRITE' and 'RECORD' in bold letters, surrounded by vibrant swirls of color.

This co-hosted event serves as the annual Ascending Flow Show and showcases the new MVM mural created through a partnership between the two non-profits working from the location, with support from an Oregon Metro Community placemaking grant. Members of the MVM community shared the program’s significance to their lives, and young artists translated those stories and experiences into the mural’s imagery and design with guidance from Damon Smyth and OC Note.

The block party includes many activities with skate ramps, basketball, and face painting. Attendees can enjoy free food, Live DJs, and youth performances. The Portland Bureau of Transportation will have bike helmets and supplies for bike-decorating activities. The community is invited to experience the new mural, see the BUS-A-Flow mobile studio up close, and learn about the supportive programs at this East Portland resource destination.

Jacob Loeb

Community, Construction, Event August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Remodeled Belmont Library Opening Aug 15 Weekend

After nearly two years closed for renovations, the Belmont Library at 1038 SE Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard reopens for a weekend celebration. People can attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 15th, and then enter the building starting at 10 a.m. for two days of activities highlighting the new facilities and amenities. This Multnomah County library features fabric artwork mimicking large-scale pages torn from a spiral notebook created by Britt Howard with Portland Garment Factory. This Montavilla business burned down in 2021 and was later relocated to a building adjacent to Interstate 205.

Exterior view of a modern library building under construction, featuring a red metal facade and large windows. A construction worker is using a lift to work on the upper part of the building, while another worker stands nearby. A sign for the library is displayed in front, surrounded by a fence and construction cones.

On September 7th, 2024, the Belmont Library closed for renovations that tripled its original size with a two-story addition to the 1924-era brick building. Demolition crews removed portions of the building added in 2000 and part of the parking lot to make way for the now-completed addition. Despite its modest 5,420-square-foot capacity, this branch was one of the busiest locations in the entire Multnomah County Library system before closing. During the closure, patrons visited a temporary branch at 3557 SE Hawthorne Boulevard. Library staff provided extra effort to keep the temporary location open even as they worked to ready the new facility for this opening weekend. However, the community has been without a local pickup location since August 3rd, and the hold shelves at the new location are already populated with an impressive number of reserved books, according to staff.

Sign indicating Multnomah County Library, Belmont branch, with a notice stating 'LIBRARY CLOSED' due to construction, reopening in Spring 2026, and listing nearest library locations.

This work is part of a voter-approved library expansion initiative and represents the last major update to complete the work. Bora Architecture and Interiors designed this cross-laminated timber expansion featuring wood products from Oregon and Washington. Crews created dedicated areas for different age groups of readers. The entire century-old part of the building serves the youngest patrons and their caregivers with interactive and tactile displays, size-appropriate furniture, and shelves of children’s books. This area also features remembrances of Jeanie Diaz, a youth librarian killed by a driver who crashed into a bus stop near the library where she was waiting in 2023. People can see a note from one of Diaz’s two children inside an interactive display. Library representatives say a plaque honoring Jeanie Diaz is also planned for the space.

A hand-drawn note on a piece of cardboard that reads 'mom loves Myra I LOVE YOU too' surrounded by colorful decorative objects. — *_{A note from Jeanie Diaz’s child included in the Belmont Library’s kids reading room interactive display.}*

In addition to the kids’ room, holds pick-up area, and Lucky Day items shelves, the first floor also features a large reservable community space for gatherings and events. Other amenities and the primary book shelves are on the second floor, accessed by two elevators and a public staircase at the front of the building. Visitors can find flexible meeting spaces with updated technology, laptops for on-site work, and fixed computer stations. Library staff understand the changing role of the public resource they provide. Consequently, high-speed internet throughout the facility is a key feature of these upgrades, along with access to printers and other digital tools people require to connect with job opportunities and services. This top-floor space also offers a teen area with facilities for homework and creative expression, alongside young-adult book titles on the adjacent shelves.

Three large, abstract paper sculptures resembling sails or wings, suspended from a ceiling with wooden beams and black pendant lights. — *_{Fabric artwork mimicking large scale pages torn a spiral notebook created by Britt Howard}*

Above the teen space is the fabric artwork by Britt Howard that looks like a paper airplane made from a lined spiral notebook page. A paper fortune teller and a crumpled ball flank the classic folded flyer. Its exaggerated scale and playful, soft-sculpted schoolroom shapes provide a sense of place where young people fight boredom and embrace their own interests. The upper walls of the second floor feature a mural with over 200 handmade objects integrated into the artwork. It is the creation of Pacific Northwest artist Emily Counts.

A modern library interior featuring bookshelves filled with various books, a large table with stylish lamps, and comfortable seating. — *_{LED lights with device charging ports at a reading table in the library shelves}*

The new library offers four on-site parking spaces. Two are reserved for people with a Disabled Person Parking Permit to use without a time limit, and the other two are available for quick visits that are less than 15 minutes. Crews reconstructed the sidewalk around Belmont Library, making more space for pedestrians and adding locations with enlarged bicycle parking that can support cargo bikes. Landscapers have planted new street trees to replace some cut down during construction and have also installed other public amenities around the property.

An interior view of a modern self-service checkout area featuring conveyor belts and a digital screen displaying instructions. — *_{Automated material handling equipment sorts returned books into bins}*

Technology improvements in the facility also assist staff with automated material handling, which sorts returned books into bins for transfer or reshelving. Kiosks throughout the building allow people to find titles and resources or check out items without needing to find a person for assistance. However, public feedback made clear that people visiting this branch also enjoy the human interaction. So the library features strategically located desks in public places so that an employee is often accessible to visitors and staff can see if people need help. They also use an in-building communication system that lets everyone stay in contact wherever they are for support and collaboration that isn’t tied to a desk.

People interested in joining the weekend celebration starting at 9:30 a.m. on August 15th can park in the Walgreens lot to the north of the library or take public transit to the location. After the office opening, the library will resume its normal schedule and welcome back an eager public to this well-used community resource.

Article and Photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, Event August 9, 2026August 16, 2026

2026 Adult Soapbox Derby Saturday Aug 15

On Saturday, August 15th, the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby returns for its 27th year of gravity-induced fun. Starting at 10 a.m., people will gather for this free event along SE Reservoir Loop Drive and at locations around the Mt. Tabor Park course to watch contestants roll down the extinct urban volcano at increasing speed. Over 150 volunteers will assist racers and attendees on the derby day until the event concludes at 4 p.m. Montavilla residents can cheer on the local business entrant and sponsor, Covert Cafe.

A man wearing a white shirt with colorful patches and a baseball cap stands confidently on a road at a lively event. In the background, spectators gather around homemade vehicles while trees line the area. — *_{PDX Adult Soapbox Derby 2025 (Jacob Loeb)}*

In the summer of 1997, Paul Zenk and Eric Foren loosely organized a small group of friends to race down Mt. Tabor’s winding roads in an event that would create the inaugural PDX Adult Soapbox Derby. The annual community gathering has grown yearly to include 42 racing teams and between 7,000 and 10,000 spectators. This free-to-attend day of races features highly engineered carts and some haphazardly crafted contraptions that all rely on gravity for propulsion. People wishing to attend should anticipate walking some distance to the event and bringing water or other refreshments. Some concession items and merchandise are available for purchase at the event.

A colorful, decorated parade float shaped like a car, featuring bright green fur and a large, whimsical character with a blue head and pink arms. Two participants are sitting inside the float, while a fire truck with firefighters is in the foreground, and a large crowd is visible in the background enjoying the parade. — *_{PDX Adult Soapbox Derby 2025 (Jacob Loeb)}*

In 2016, Justin James and his ‘Team Rusty Rocket’ secured the track’s fastest run at 71.10 seconds. Each year, participants put in significant effort to create fast, thematically creative entries. Some carts travel up to 50 MPH down the paved park roads as they try to secure the quickest time or the biggest cheers. The Soapbox Derby is a family-friendly event, but volunteers must clear the track before each run for safety, and responsible adults need to remain close enough to ensure their children are out of the way when a race starts. Parking in the park and neighborhood is limited, and people should plan to bike, walk, or take transit.

This article will update with photos of the 2026 Adult Soapbox Derby

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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