Extra Action Marching Band In the Park

Last week we had some friends in town..Extra Action Marching Band! They played down at Dante's on Saturday evening then went to Rotture for the BlowPony. My husband knows most of the band so they stayed at our house for a few days after the Gay Pride Weekend in Portland. They didn't have a gig till thursday in Olympia, so they stayed in Portland for a few days. They practiced in the park on monday evening (the large box is from the new grill I bought my husband for his birthday and was used as a drum during practice), at one point I looked over at all the people on the pedestrian overpass and in the park watching the band practice. It was a fun impromptu event that brought the neighbors together. Isn't that what a park is all about? An open space provided for recreational use....we use our park almost every day to walk the kitties, show movies or watch a marching band. We live in a magical city that allows us the freedom to do this type of thing, my husband calls it a bubble. We live in a magical bubble that has wonderful food, great civic interactions and best of all great weather. 

MOVIE NIGHT

Join us Saturday May 30th for the first of several evening this summer of movies in the park. Movies start at dust, bring a chair or blanket to sit on, some popcorn or red vines and something to drink. See you in the park!

Some Random Photos of the Park

Some of the things that have appeared in the park over the last several years. And a tribute to Patti and Dale who helped out with the opening and were members of Friends of the Pittman Addition. We miss you Dale..

Spring!!!!

Spring is here!!! Look at that lovely Cherry Blossom Tree. The grass is so green, the park looks really nice this time of the year when everything is starting to bloom. If you look closely you can see one of the three nests that is in the cherry tree. On the top about the middle, you can see a dark spot, that is one of the 3 nests that made it through the winter.

The sun was out the other day and it was very warm. Everyone was out just enjoying the afternoon. Though the trees look bare there are signs of spring popping up everywhere. I can't wait for the trees to start producing pears and apples. This year I'm going to be more diligent about getting pears for juice. I will can the juice so I can have some on one of the coldest night next winter. It will remind me of sunshine. 

The crocus are popping up and the lady in the tree is falling down, this may be her last year in the park. You can see behind fence in the park they took two houses down and are building an 8 unit building. It will have a drive way down the center and 4 units on each side of the property. They have marked the trees that are going to be pulled out too, there are 5 trees. I really hope that they have to plant some more trees to make up for the ones that will be cut. The building will also go up 3 stories and have balconies on the top so people can see downtown or maybe so you can see the plaid pantry on Interstate & Going. Of course what we can not have a park with out graffiti. I think we paint the edge of the tables every year because of graffiti.

Last week I went out to clean up the park as there was a lot of trash. I thank most dog owners for cleaning up your pop. But please next time take the poop with you. Cleaning up bags of poop & trash are not how I want to spend my afternoon. 

 
All the trees are starting to turn in the park, it looks wonderful this time of the year. A few weeks ago we put some blocks of wood out on one of the tables. It's fun to see people sitting at the table playing with the blocks. Kids love to build and often sit at the table building interesting structures, almost every day there is a new structure made from the blocks and it's fun to see how long they stand.

Today I noticed the tree along the trail that I guess I have not noticed before it's called a Harlequin Glorybower. In the fall the blooms are red star shaped with a lovely blue center that looks like a blueberry. My neighbors planted the tree several years ago and in the spring the flower is bright white and smells sweet like vanilla. It's a spectacular tree that really puts on a show all year. It's growing next to a Symphoricarpos albus (otherwise known as the Common Snowberry) which the white berries on the Snowberry bush really set off the Harlequin Glorybower.

Last couple weeks of the 

Farmers Market on Mississippi 

Our Friend Rachel who is on the Friends of Pittman Addition committee is wrapping up the Farmers Market that she has been hosting over on Mississippi. The last couple markets are on Thursdays from 3-7pm. So head on over to North Mississippi & Shaver to see what's available Thursday September 25th from 3-7pm, you will not be disappointed. 

Walking the Kitties

Every evening between 6 & 8pm our cats want to go out into the park and go for a walk. All four of our cats love to follow us into the park and just play….we love to watch them as they frolic. This is my husband on the bench with all the kitties wondering around him in the early evening.

We had another fire in the park this afternoon…remember the bark dust if very dry and will catch in fire if you drop your cigarette. Please be careful….our kitties really love the park.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Fires in the park

Over the last month we have put out 3 fires that appear to have started from cigarette's being dropped on the bark dust path. The last fire smothered for several hours under one of the picnic tables. If you smoke please be careful where you drop your cigarette, make sure it's out…we would really hate to lose the park to a fire.

Pear & Apple Juice

I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted anything….Sorry it's been a very busy summer. 

The pear and apple trees are dropping fruit like crazy. Last year I made several apple pies. I have not been very interested in the pear tree till just recently. I found out that I love pear juice and last summer we bought a steamer. We finally decided to try it out and picked up a bunch of apples and pears. The first batch of apples only produced about 32oz of juice and the juice was a little sour. The second batch we used pears, we got about 64 oz of pear juice and it taste wonderful. I have been going out and picking up the pears that fall on the ground, cutting them up and putting them in the juicer. We have several container of pear juice. Last year I also put up several container of apples to be used in future pies. 

Fruit Trees!!!!

The fruit trees in the park are in full bloom. I think this year we will have a nice crop of pears and apples. Though the pears are already dropping from the tree they are not fully ripe they need a little more time. The apples are coming in and I expect to be making several apple pies this fall. If you come to pick the fruit please do not destroy the branches to get the fruit. Some kids did that the other day, they climbed into the tree to shake the branches thus breaking off a couple large branches out of the tree and onto the table in the park. 

Pittman Addition HydroPark Opening

The band was great all the kids danced, several artists came out to say hello. Fun was had by all.

Julian Voss-Andre & Jim Schmidt two of the park artist. 

THANK YOU TO PETISCO 

For providing a plate of snacks for the Pittman Addition HydroPark opening on Sunday June 22nd. 

Join us Sunday June 22nd from 4-7pm 

at the

Pittman Addition Hydro Park 

Not really just a beautiful sunset

Salvation Mountain in California

Hope you can make it!!!

Julian Voss-Andreae, one of the sculptors in the park, was featured in the June/July 2014 Pacific Northwest Sculptors newsletters. 

Check out the article Here

Come see one of Julian's pieces at the Park Celebration on Sunday June 22nd from 4-7pm.

Meet your neighbors and dance to the sound of The New Iberians.

Pittman Addition HydroPark Celebration 

Sunday June 22nd from 4-7pm 

We are getting ready to celebrate the fact that we have 5 pieces of sculpture in the park. The park in in bloom and really looks nice. There is one sad fact…the park benches are going to have to go away. The biggest problem is the graffiti that has covered the benches over the years. There is one bench that was hit the hardest, mostly because it is back in the far east corner of the park. Folks always find their way to this particular bench and do things that are not appropriate. SO…we are going to replace 2 of the 3 benches that are in the park. That being said here is one of the latest photos of the park in full bloom.

Everything is very green and the park looks so nice. We hope that you can join us on Sunday June 22nd from 4-7pm for a celebration of sculpture in our little park in North Portland On Going Court between Concord and Colonial…Behind the Plaid Pantry on Interstate and Going Street. 

For the last 9 months the end of the street has has been the staging ground for the sewer repair that has been happening in the area. There were large concrete pipes, barriers, and a cargo container that held tools and supplies for the construction crew.  

Last week the construction crew everything away…even the cargo container.

Now you get a nice view of the park and all the sculptures that are up. The trees are in bloom and the park is looking very inviting. We are looking forward to seeing the community come visit the park for the opening on June 22nd from 3-7pm. We hope to have a nice selection of musicians, activities and food for everyone to share and enjoy.  

SO JOIN US 

 SUNDAY JUNE 22nd from 3pm-7pm

A recent beautiful day in the park, the trees are in bloom, people are biking through the park and the benches have been freshly painted. Everything looks beautiful and spring like.