Citrine Bloom – Montavilla News

Two events will attract visitors to Montavilla’s commercial corridors this Saturday evening. Winter Wassail along NE Glisan Street features festive beverages, snacks, carolers, and holiday lighting. Participating stores and restaurants between 82nd and 68th Avenues will remain open for last-minute holiday gifts and festivities. People are invited to Wassail (Go from location to location caroling and/or drinking in merriment) on Glisan from 4 to 8 p.m. this December 17th.

*Promotional image provide by event coordinators*

That same night, SE Stark Street businesses will host the Montavilla Soiree & Pub Crawl from 6 to 9 p.m. The Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) organized this winter celebration in the historic downtown to support neighborhood businesses as they enjoy the best parts of the colder months.

Drinkers, shoppers, and anyone looking for a fun Saturday night can explore the collection of holiday-themed cocktails, food specials, live music, and late-night last-minute shopping in one big evening event. No matter where you reside, some part of Montavilla will have an activity to warm your spirit on a cold night.

These are some of the participating businesses on Glisan Street:

Futura Coffee Roasters – Truffle Parmesan Popcorn, Molasses Cookies, and Pistachio Eggnog jars (vegan options)
Blank Slate Bar – Collaboration with Futura Coffee Roasters for a joint celebration
Citrine Bloom
Hinterland
Fressen Artisan Bakery – “Insanely delicious winter dinner and treats”
Secret Pizza Society
True North Studios
East Glisan Pizza Lounge – Eggnog by the glass (boozy option) or by the flight (includes alcohol)
Sparrow Salon – mini energy clearing sessions

These are some of the participating businesses on Stark Street:

Beer Bunker – music with Gwen Hamilton and Travis Shoemake with Peruvian food
Vino Veritas – Live music and holiday themed drinks with food specials, games and prizes
Tinker Tavern – Holiday food and drink specials, cocoa bar and photo booth
Threshold – Drink specials, music and live music
Arbor Hall – Live music and hot buttered rum
The Observatory and Over and Out – $5 holiday drink special
Wink Vintage – holiday sale and collection box for Rahab’s Sisters
Union Rose – holiday sale and collection box for Rahab’s Sisters
Personal Beast – all night happy hour for treats
BoneJax – open late for last minute holiday sales
Red Shed Tree Lot – Photo booths and fire pits

Rahabs Sisters will be collecting gloves, hats, jackets, blankets, and tents. Drop off locations will be Union Rose and Wink Vintage.

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author if this article serves on the Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association (METBA) board. METBA sponsors some of these events.

Citrine Bloom recently relocated to 7114 NE Glisan Street in Montavilla. The plant store moved from its original location at 4136 SE 42nd Ave in August. Making plants affordable, accessible, and manageable for all people is a core goal for the shop’s owner.

Jessica Pierce created Citrine Bloom with the principle values of community support and the joy of plants. Plants had become too serious, according to Pierce. The store’s design is approachable by anyone trying to make their life better through added foliage. Additionally, the shop features products from a select group of vendors. All makers are female-identifying or people of color. Pierce wants to encourage these small business people and makers who need early support in their ventures.

Citrine Bloom moved to Montavilla to be closer to existing customers. Like many Portland businesses, the shop is closed to the public during the pandemic. However, they have an online store featuring many of their products. Pierce delivers those products, and moving to the building on Glisan Street cuts down those delivery times.

The building Citrine Bloom moved into is over 100-years-old. Most recently, the storefront was a hobby shop, but the building’s history started in 1914. Originally this building contained just two storefronts instead of the three that it has today. The addresses were 1828 and 1830 E Glisan Street before the Portland street renumbering in the 1930s. The half of the building now occupied by the plant store was a local creamery, according to the 1924 Sanborn map. Years later, the building expanded to fill in the alleyway between the structure and its westward neighbor, creating an additional shop.

Pierce hopes to open Citrine Bloom’s storefront for shoppers in December. However, that is dependent on how safe it will be to do so. Until then, the online shop is available for orders, and staff can assist by phone at 503-395-0032.