Farewell to Lloyd Center

It was crazy, it was a party.  Actually, it was a wake.  People writing remembrances on the wall, and confiding them to strangers.  A man singing opera on the spiral staircase, another perched on a wall in the food court, pecking out poems on an old-fashioned typewriter.  The few stores still open were having deep sales, trying to get rid of their inventory.  And I have no idea where the line for carmel corn ended.  The rink was filled with skaters, some in costume and some with soap bubble guns.  The mall walkers were dancing through.  And everyone else walked aimlessly around, drinking in their very last visit to this mall.

August 15th Sketchcrawl - Riverplace

sketch by Deb Rossi

It's been a few years since we've been to Riverplace, so it seems like time to go back.  There'll be boats, bridges and beaches, different sorts of architect and loads of people.

sketch by Vicky Porter

This time we'll meet just south of the south end of the esplanade, in the plaza in front of the Portland Electric Boat Company, at 1811 S River Dr #400.  There's a coffee shop and a public restroom across the street, and a parking garage next door.  For people coming by transit, both streetcars and the southbound 35 and 40 stop at S River Pkwy & River Dr.  It's also possible to hike down from the bus mall, at Montgomery St.

• 10am: Meet at the Portland Electric Boat Company, 1811 S River Dr, for introductions
• Noon: Meet again at the same place, for an optional throwdown

Cloud Blueberry Farm, again

Lindy kindly invited us back to the blueberry farm, and this time  the blueberries were ripe and luscious-looking.

Extra Sketchcrawl, Aug 8 at the Lloyd Center

The past few years, we've been going to the Lloyd Center in the wintertime, each time thinking that it might be our last chance.  And now, finally, it is.  The mall last day is August 8th.  So let's have one last outing to say good-bye.

The ice skating rink might be open that day.  The mall walkers will definitely be there to strut their stuff.  There's supposed to be a guerrilla pop-up art show in the food circus. And I don't know how many people will come for old times sake.

• 
  11am (when the mall opens) meet at Capitalism, the stack of coins
  outside the southwest entrance.
• 1pm meet at the same place for an optional throwdown.

A note for anyone approaching on foot from the north.  The new music venue is going in just north of the Capitalism plaza, and the sidewalk on the east side of NE 9th is blocked.

(This sketchcrawl isn't replacing our regular 3rd Saturday one.  That one will still happen on Aug 15, someplace outdoors.)

Aug 3: NW Quimby Lucky Lab Drink & Draw

 

We're back at Lucky Lab for a casual drink & draw on Monday, August 3 from 5-7 PM.  Hope to see you there!

Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby

NE Industrial

 

Fine weather and a sizable number of sketchers joined us.  

The Fremont Bridge was a popular subject, but there was plenty of other things to sketch there.  We've decided that we should come to Lower Albina more often.

Throwdown from The Heist

We had a great time sketching people, food, and dogs at The Heist food carts in Woodstock recently. Such a lively spot! We could remain undercover (mostly) with so many people eating and chatting so we got some good practice sketching people in motion. Several curious onlookers came over to see what we were doing! We'll keep visiting fantastic food carts next month for our next SE Sketch on August 10. Stay tuned for details.

July 13 - Drink and Draw at the Heist

Join us for SE Sketch on Monday, July 13 from 5-7 pm at The Heist food carts on 4727 SE Woodstock Blvd.  There's plenty of seating, lots of food options, a back patio with firepits, and an indoor bar. The surrounding area offers lots of sketching opportunities with a lively streetscape, nearby Woodstock park, and historic buildings in one of Portland's oldest neighborhoods. There is a bus stop at SE Woodstock and 46th, just a block away from The Heist. A bike corral for parking is on the street corner entrance to the pod. See you there!

July 18th Sketchcrawl - NE Industrial

Sketch by Amy Stewart

In July, we're returning to the industrial neighborhood at the east end of the Fremont Bridge. There's plenty of cool architecture to sketch, interesting bridge views, excellent bagels, and the possibility of a pub lunch afterwards.

There's street parking, and the Yellow MAX and 35 and 40 buses stop close by.  Bernstein's has coffee and food, and there's another tiny coffee shop - Kalesa - in the Gotham Building at 722 N Page St, Portland, OR 97227.

• 10 AM:  Meet on the corner outside Bernstein's Bagels, 816 N Russell St, for introductions. 
• Noon: Meet back at the same place for a sketchbook throwdown. 

After our throwdown, some of us might head to the White Eagle Saloon, just down the block, for lunch. They have a nice patio and we can hope for good weather. Hope to see you there!

International Rose Test Garden

So, we didn't get drenched this time.  In fact, we couldn't have wished for better weather - overcast and mild, with the sun starting to break out towards the end.  And a satisfying number of new faces.