By Erica Somes
ofni.1596089526swen-1596089526ratse1596089526ht@se1596089526mosac1596089526ire1596089526, @thewritere
The last month of summer is here which means it’s time to head to Alberta Street. I even convinced my daughter Z and my son Somes to go with me, so we crammed into the Datsun. Z always has to sit in the middle – and usually complains. Her brother will say something rude and then it devolves into a pushing match. That didn’t happen. It was weird. We got to Alberta and found a parking spot. On the street. And my parallel parking was superb.
We stopped at Mimosa Studios to paint pottery and we all painted gnomes – because Somes rhymes with gnomes. Our gnomes were adorable. Then I realized my son will be going to college in a year and I’d be left with only a gnome, and I started crying.
To cheer up, we walked by the Alberta Main Street office and marveled at Bunny With a Tool Belt’s “Window of Wonders.” The unicorn inspired creatures were my favorite. Then the kids wanted to eat. It’s so annoying how they always want to be fed.
We were totally psyched to find an outside table at Petite Provence. Z ordered a chocolate croissant and Somes ordered a marion berry, cream cheese brioche. I ordered the flight of mimosas.
We sat and talked and laughed. The kids did not bicker. Not once. It seemed unnatural. I wondered if they knew I was dying of a terrible disease and hadn’t told me?
We decided to stay a bit longer and take family photos with the big wooden dinosaurs that now adorn the street. We were all smiling. Together. Then I woke up.
It was a dream. I knew the ride in the Datsun was too peaceful. The kids agreeing to family photos would never happen. I’d been to Alberta Street, researching this article, and was so enamored that I dreamed about it.
The moral of the story, however, is that you can do all of these things. For real.
There truly is much to do on Alberta this summer that is new and fun. Many businesses have turned their parking into outdoor seating and it’s wonderful to walk by people, enjoying themselves amid the beautiful planters and handcrafted tables. So, get out there and find the dinosaurs, gaze at the murals and support the locally owned businesses. Alberta Street, with all its resilient entrepreneurs, is waiting for you.
Mimosa Studios
Reopened from Thursday through Sunday, with appointment times at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., take the kids or go with a friend and paint your own gnome, or cup or plate or bowl. Try the to-go kit with everything you need to take home and paint yourself silly. It’s a brilliant activity in-store or at home – and so fun to pick up your project after it’s been fired. Plus, this summer, Mimosa Studios is donating 10 percent of its gnome sales to the Oregon Humane Society.
Address: 1718 N.E. Alberta St. Phone: 503-288-0770 Web: www.mimosastudios.com Instagram: @MimosaStudios
Petite Provence Boulangerie and Patisserie
Offering an enticing menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, cocktails, coffees and bakery yummies, the Provence now offers expanded outdoor seating for 22, with socially-distanced tables inside. Beautiful plantings and an open atmosphere make it so welcoming and relaxing. Take the parents. Take your kids. Take a date. Just don’t forget to try my favorite – the mimosa flight – brut champagne with fresh orange, grapefruit, pineapple and seasonal fruit juices.
Address: 1824 N.E. Alberta St. Phone: 503-284-6564 Web: www.provencepdx.com Instagram: @PetiteProvenceAlberta
Alberta Main Street
A non-profit community organization, focused on advancing social justice within the vibrant, neighborhood culture of historic Alberta Street. Each year, the organization works with businesses, artists, residents and musicians to host a street fair. This summer, on August 8, there will be a lineup of bands performing in the Alberta Rose Theater – streaming live online – as well as on several big screens set up indoors and outdoors along Alberta. So go, listen to music and enjoy the offerings of Alberta Street Fair in a new and different way.
Address: 1722 N.E. Alberta St. Phone: 503-683-3252 Web: www.alberamainst.org Instagram: @AlbertaStreet
Window of Wonders by Bunny With a Toolbelt
Bunny With a Toolbelt offers a street’s-eye-view of whimsical wooden critters, cacti and rainbows, with lots of unicorn horns atop imaginary animals. Hilary Pfeifer sculpts her work from 75 percent reclaimed wood. Word on the street is that Pfeifer used to dress up in a bunny costume, just because. I want to be Hilary’s friend. She could come to my urban farm in her bunny outfit and make the neighborhood kiddos ecstatic.
Address: 1722 N.E. Alberta St. Phone: 503-342-2928 Web: www.bunnywithatoolbelt.com Instagram: @bunnywithatoolbelt
Mike Bennett’s Dinosaurs
When the Oregon Zoo closed in March, Mike Bennett started an “A-Zoo” in front of his house, showcasing a new animal daily for each letter of the alphabet. He then approached Alberta Main Street about making dinosaurs for the neighborhood. His installation is called Albertasauraus PDX. Bennett began creating and placing 40 wooden, cut-out dinosaurs all along Alberta. He hopes to give families and dinosaur lovers of all ages something free and safe to do outside. Check out Bennett’s instagram and website for lots of cool videos of him making art.
Web: www.atozoopdx.com Instagram: @MikeBennettArt
Green Bean
Green Bean’s little, community bookstore rocks. They sell books. Real books made from paper. You can go online or call and buy books from them that may be picked up during business hours. They also partnered up with Bunny with a Tool Belt and Mike Bennett to create a free map you can pick up in front of the store. The map will take you on a self-guided, walking tour of animal art on the street, with 28 cryptic clues. All the art is between 14th and 30th avenues on Alberta Street.
Address: 1600 N.E. Alberta Phone: 503-954-2354 Web: www.greenbeanbookspdx.com Instagram: @GreenBeanBooks
Good luck dear readers, have fun during August on Alberta and sweet dreams.
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Erica on the Block: This year, August on Alberta brings 'virtual' street fair - Hollywood Star News
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