Every First Thursday, the upscale residents of Portland’s downtown community flock together to admire art while sipping conservatively on wine and beer. This monthly event is a staple of Portland’s art scene and one not to be missed.
Every First Thursday, the upscale residents of Portland’s downtown community flock together to admire art while sipping conservatively on wine and beer. This monthly event is a staple of Portland’s art scene and one not to be missed.
Yet, at the tail end of the month, another celebration of an entirely different kind occurs: Last Thursday.
Once a month for the last 13 years, NE Alberta Street has been flooded with vendors, DJs, artists, craftsmen, jokers and acrobats. More block party than cocktail party, Last Thursday is one event that showcases all that is unusual and creative in Portland.
“It’s the east side’s response to First Thursday. It’s very organic,” said Rochelle Saliba, co-chairman of Friends of Last Thursday. “Anyone can set up where they like.”
Occupying over 20 blocks, this street fair is a massive event. Streets are closed off to traffic, with visitors having to traverse the event by foot, unicycle or wagon. The street is completely lined with vendors, and crowds fill every space in between.
During the winter months, the event retreats back into the local galleries and shops, but the cold does little to kill the excitement.
The art is do-it-yourself and individualized. Vendors sell handmade crafts next to carefully painted portraits composed only of numbers. Art here is much more affordable, with works rarely reaching over $100 a piece.
The independent attitude of the event also brings forth artists who may not usually fit into the high-art scene expected from the downtown event.
Hannah Woods, owner of clothing and accessory company Siren of the Sea, has been attending Last Thursday throughout this year.
“Even the first few rainy months were wonderful. There were a lot less vendors but still a great crowd,” Woods said. “The past few months you couldn’t even see from one side of the street to the other.”
Along with artists, a variety of performers frequent the event. Fire dancers, acrobats, hula-hoopers and other show people line the streets, performing their craft purely for donation.
Men and women will perform balancing acts while juggling and reciting poetry. People on stilts tower over the event. Their fragility is almost a metaphor for Last Thursday, which has often faced conflicts with the city because of wild antics.
Thanks to overcrowding, littering and the costs of police, the event has faced financial struggles. Earlier this year, Portlanders from the northeast complained about the event to the media. A new group, Friends of Last Thursday, has banded together to help fund and police the event with the help of volunteers.
The website states that they are to be “a clearly defined body that will, in partnership with the City of Portland, work to ensure Last Thursday results in a positive impact on all stakeholders.” Their mission is to facilitate a fun, safe and sustainable monthly public art festival that culturally enriches the community while fostering neighborhood respect.
Alongside all the professionals, Last Thursday brings out beginners and entrepreneurs in force. In between the handcrafted jewelry and one-of-a-kind prints are droves of children selling lemonade. These tiny artisans also tell jokes and give advice. Clearly, the do-it-yourself spirit often begins in utero.
Food of all kinds is within grasp, as long as lines aren’t seen as an overwhelming obstacle. Food carts of all sorts, most notably the local hit Koi Fusion and Portland classic Voodoo Donuts, line the streets, ready to feed hungry patrons in between drum circle gatherings.
A variety of local restaurants and shops are also open during the fair, such as Townshend’s Tea and the Branch Whiskey Bar. While the fun on the street may end, local bars and restaurants remain open, allowing visitors a thirst-quenching retreat and an opportunity to escape the heat of any lingering
fire spinners.
The street fair is free and open to all ages. The event begins at 5 p.m., with Alberta street closures beginning at 6 p.m., and ends around 10 p.m.
“It has been amazing to see so many happy and open-minded people truly enjoying each other,” Woods said.
