July 19: Portland 6th Avenue Street Fair

The Portland 6th Avenue Street Fair is taking place on July 19th this year between SW Washington and Taylor from 11:30 to 8 p.m. There seems to be a lot of action going on; from food to live music, that Saturday is sure to please. Details:

Enjoy the outdoors and live music at:

Red Star Roast House and Tavern, SW 5th & Washington

* Laurie Martinson’s piano student showcase, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
* Laurie Martinson’s piano student showcase, 2-3 p.m.
* Michael Allen Harrison, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
* Tom Grant, 5-6 p.m.
* Outside dining and beer garden, all day

Porto Terra Tuscan Grill & Bar, SW 6th & Taylor

* John Bunzow, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
* Terry Robb, 2-3 p.m.
* Jon Koonce, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
* Warren Pash, 5-6 p.m.
* Outside dining and beer garden, all day

Saks Fifth Avenue, SW 5th & Taylor

* Hoop Shine, Noon-1 p.m.
* DJ Rick, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
* KingNik Duo, 5-6 p.m.
* DJ Rev. Shines, 6:30-8 p.m.

Check out some of the events and activities for you to enjoy:

* Summer sales from Pioneer Place retailers
* Cosmetic makeovers and product samples from Macy’s
* Painting demonstration by local artist Gene Gill
* Beautiful vintage boat, provided by the Maritime Heritage Festival
* Portland Parks and Recreation’s “Rec’n'Roll” bus, featuring craft activities and a climbing wall for kids
* Outdoor dining and beer garden at Porto Terra Tuscan Grill and Bar and the Red Star Roast House and Tavern
* Hoops action with the Portland Trail Blazers
* Face painters and balloon souvenirs for kids
* Music and dancing to DJ Rick
* DJ Rev. Shines

For more info, go to The Next Big Thing Downtown’s page about the Street Fair.

Come celebrate the completion of light rail construction along NW 6th Ave

TriMet is done with construction along NW 6th Ave in downtown… and we’re all invited to celebrate with them! On May 1st, TriMet is having a 6th Avenue Street Fair from 5 - 9pm. Details from the news release:

6th Ave Street Fair
Thursday, May 1st 5-9 p.m.

* Pedi-cabs will provide free rides up and down 6th Avenue between NW Burnside and Hoyt streets
* Portland Classical Chinese Garden is free during fair hours
* Artist Dane Wilson’s work at the Rake Art Gallery; Artists Ted Katz and Dorothy Goode’s work at Butters Gallery
* A farmers market will be located near the Greyhound Station
* A skateboarding jam in front of Cal Skate

Cover charges apply to the following club shows:

* Punk Rock show at Club Satyricon starting at 6 p.m.
* Susannah Mars and Tom Grant will perform at Wilf’s starting at 7:30 p.m.
* Comedian Jeff Burghart will perform at 8 p.m. at Harvey’s Comedy Club

The street fair is the second in a series of The Next Big Thing Downtown events. Each event will celebrate completion of major construction of different segments of the Portland Mall Light Rail project, set to open in Sept. 2009. The Mall project is more than 50 percent complete; heavy civil construction is 78 percent complete.

I’ll make it out there…