Our Guide to July in Portland: Events, Resources, and Community Updates

Welcome to Summer! And welcome to our Guide to July -- featuring community events, our favorite activities in District 3, updates from our office in the community, resources, and our mid summer reads. Use the table of contents above to jump to whichever section you'd like. Thanks for being here!

Upcoming Events From Team Morillo

World Cup Watch Party at Mad Greek Deli

View full size image of graphic promoting the world cup watch party

We've had so much fun watching the World Cup this summer, so for our July constituent event, we're hosting a semifinals watch party at the beloved Mad Greek Deli -- a community staple in our city since 1977. Join me on Wednesday, July 15th at 11:00 am to gather and chat all things City Hall before the game kicks off at noon. 

Volunteer for Neighborhood Clean Up with Team Morillo

Team Morillo is gearing up to make SE Portland SPARKLE ahead of HappyLucky's big Pride Party!

View full size image of photo of a group of people outside

Join us in partnership with SOLVE and Central Eastside Industrial Council to for a neighborhood clean up day on Thursday, July 16th from 10:00 am to 1:00.

Sign up to volunteer with Team Morillo HERE. The deadline to register is 5:00 pm on Tuesday, July 14^th. We hope to see you there!

Walk with D3 Councilors

Join me and my D3 colleagues for a slow-paced, casual walk on Wednesday, July 29^th at 3:00 pm. I absolutely love going for walks, so this event is one of my favorite ways to hear your thoughts about what's happening in City Hall and beyond. 

View full size image of flyer promoting D3 walk with councilors

We will meet near the bathrooms at Laurelhurst Park at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, July 29^th for light refreshments before heading out for an easy, 1.5 mile stroll around Laurelhurst Park. I hope you can join us! And thank you to our friends at Oregon Walks for organizing this event!

My District 3 Picks for July

Summer in Portland is packed, but here are my top picks for activities and community events in District 3 for this time of year!

View full size image of graphic of a bulletin board full of flyers

🌈 PRIDE IN PORTLAND

I love that in Portland we get to celebrate Pride for two months. Our official City parade may not be in District 3, but our side of the city still has plenty of opportunities to celebrate the history, culture and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community:

• On Wednesday, July 15^th our City Council is officially kicking off Pride weekend with a celebration right here in City Hall, starting at 5:00 pm. Join us for a drag performance, cupcakes, music and merriment – and stick around for a ceremonial proclamation at the start of City Council meeting at 6:00 pm. 
• Portland's vibrant ballroom culture stomps the runway at the upcoming Kiki Ball, hosted by The Rebound and coming to SE Portland's Morrison Market on Friday, July 17^th. Created by queer and trans Black and brown New Yorkers in the 1970s, ballroom parties (often called "gay sports") are highly competitive displays of queer artistry that you don't want to miss. If this is your first ball, this beginner's guide by Eric Lee is a must-read. Learn more at The Rebound PDX.
• On Saturday, July 18^th, the Pride party to see and be seen is happening at HappyLucky from 6:00 to midnight. For one night only, HappyLucky is turning their corner of the Central Eastside into a full-blown block party of Queer talent, chaos, beauty, performance, music, and beautifully strange behavior. Learn more here.

🫶🏼 VOLUNTEER

We all have a shared stake in creating the city we want to see. There are so many opportunities to meet your neighbors and help make Portland the best city on earth. Doesn't it feel good to give back?

• Want to spend time in nature and help keep our parks beautiful? There are plenty of park tending days coming up to really get your hands dirty. Sign up to volunteer at Hazeltine Park on July 22^nd, Mt. Tabor on July 25^th, or Errol Heights Park on August 5^th. 
• For trash pickup volunteer days, check out these opportunities on Hawthorne on July 11^th,  Foster on July 11^th, or Woodstock on July 18^th.
• We are proud to have so many free fridges and pantries in our district. Join the Creston-Kenilworth Community Care committee on Saturday, July 25^th for a mutual aid bike ride to restock these vital community resources. Starts at 10:00 at Abernathy Elementary School. More info here.

🍧 STREET HAPPENINGS

Summer is prime time for taking a stroll to meet your neighbors – and for dropping a few bucks on local artisan goods. (Guess what? It grows the economy! Benefits everybody! Hurts nobody!)

• Thursday, July 9^th: the Night Market is back at Alder Block in the Central Eastside! If you're a fast pass person, make sure to purchase your pass before 4:00 pm today. And next weekend, join Indigenous makers at the Indigenous Marketplace at the Electric Blocks from 10-4. 
• WE LOVE A STREET FAIR. Thank goodness there are two in our district this month! On the same weekend, no less! On Saturday, July 25^th, head on down to Creston-Kennilworth for their Community Blocks Street Fair from 10:00-7:00, then on Sunday get your second dose at the Montavilla Street Fair, starting at 10:00 am. 
• Street activations galore are coming to District 3, starting with live music at Ankeny Rainbow Road for the Kernside Serenade on Sunday, July 19^th. We are also proud to host the Portland Thai Festival: a vibrant cultural event happening Saturday, July 25^thshowcasing Thailand's essence through food, traditions, and community.

🏡 NEIGHBORHOODS

District 3 has some of the most active neighborhood associations in the city. Check out these neighborhood events to find something near you.

• It's high time for neighborhood picnics and block parties! Hosford-Abernathy is hosting their Re-envisioning Caruthers Block Party on July 11^th from 11:00-3:00 to activate a street closed to vehicle traffic. Later in the summer, Buckman will host their annual Neighborhood Picnic on August 2^nd and Laurelhurst will host their annual Block Party on August 5^th at Laurelhurst Club from 5:00-8:00.
• Garage sales are popping off and neighborhoods are getting in on the action. Swing by Brentwood-Darlington for their community garage sale on Saturday, July 18^th, and save some space for the following weekend in Woodstock at the Woodstock neighborhood yard sale on July 25^th and 26^th. 
• The Best of Brooklyn BBQ is back on Thursday, July 23^rd! Join neighbors for free BBQ, live music, and community hangs at Brooklyn Park, from 6:00-8:00 pm. More info here. 

🏪 CELEBRATE SMALL BUSINESS

We are proud to be the home for so many small businesses in District 3 – from critical community spaces like the Woodstock Café to bustling centers like the Fubonn Market, District 3 is a hub of economic activity. Here are some ways you can support our small businesses in July:

• Friday, July 10^th marks 2 years of the beloved food cart pod Wonderlove! Join us to celebrate this milestone and enjoy great food, live music, and sunshine in the Central Eastside. Starts at 5:00 pm, more info here. 
• If you're into muscle cars, low-riders, hot rods, and custom vans, the Sandy Summer Cruise In is the parking lot party for you. Shutting down the block adjacent to the Sandy Hut, the Sandy Summer Cruise In has all the makings to be the rowdiest car show of the summer. Swing by the Sandy Hut on Saturday, July 11^th for a cold beer, a juicy burger, and all the engine-revving you could want from 4:00 to 10:00 pm. More info here. 
• Portland, it's time to raise those cups and brain-freeze responsibly, because the Mercury's Summer of Slushies is HERE! For the entire month of July, more than 25 of your favorite watering holes, restaurants, and cafes across the city are serving up their take on piñas, daquiris, frozen negronis, and other boozy, fruity, slushie creations for just $10 each! Tons of gems in D3 are participating, and our most anticipated drinks are the Picante Paradise at Brooklyn Carreta Bar & Carts, the Pineapple Mango Dole Whip at Moonshot Tavern, and the Orange Giulia at beloved southeast gem The Sandy Jug. 

🌲PARKS

• Comedy in the Park at Laurelhurst Park is back for the summer, happening every Friday at 6:00 pm. This year features the freshest line up of the funniest comedians from Portland and around the country, new community sponsors, hilarious hosts, your best buds and plenty of sunshine! More info here.
• On Thursday, July 9^th the Melao de Cuba Orchestra will be performing in the park at Mt. Tabor. They will have food vendors and family-friendly activities, including face-painting and adorable baby goats from Portland Goat Parties. Arrive early for better parking and seating! Starts at 6:30.
• It's time to get Elizabethan with Shakespeare in the Park happening July 10^th and 11^th at Laurelhurst! Oregon Practice Shakespeare Fest brings no-cost repertory Shakespeare to parks and venues all over the Portland Metro area. The company uses the original practice techniques of Elizabethan England: limited rehearsal, scrolls in hand, audience interaction, and an onstage prompter.

🎈 KIDS

If you've got little ones, Portland is a great place to be in the summer. Whether you're cooling off at a splash pad or enjoying the A/C at a nearby theater, there's plenty to fill the days. Here are my favorite early summer activities that are family friendly:

• Arts in the Parks is a free mobile arts program led by Multnomah Arts Center (MAC) in conjunction with Free Lunch + Play. It prioritizes creating high-quality art experiences and focuses on the process rather than the end product. Arts in the Parks will be in District 3 next week at Mt. Scott Park (10:00-1:30) and Creston Park (10:30-2:00), and the last week of July at Montavilla Park (10:00-1:30). 
• Catch a movie for free in the park this summer! On Friday, July 24^th the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association is screening Kung Fu Panda 4 at Brentwood Park, and on Friday, August 1^st the Buckman Community Association is screening Men In Black at Colonel Summers Park – starts at 7:30. 
• Kick off your Wednesday morning with live music, coffee, and community at The Heist! Join Portland kindie musician Mr. Ben for an interactive family singalong designed especially for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their caregivers. Happening July 15^th at 10:00 am.

🚴🏼 BIKES

We are square in the middle of BIKE SUMMER: our favorite part of the year! You can check out the full calendar of group rides at Shift2Bikes, but here are some of my favorite rides coming up in District 3:

• One of the best Bike Summer rides of the season is back for its second year: the Solidarity With Immigrants Ride. The ride kicks off with guest speakers, including Oregon State Senate District 15 candidate Myrna Muñoz, Oregon State Senate District 23 senator Khanh Pham, and representatives from the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC). Following an easy-paced 5-ish mile ride, we'll hang out at the end location with music and dancing. Bring flags, signs, and shirts and get ready to scream "Chinga la migra!" at the top of your lungs. Happening Sunday, July 12^th at Colonel Summers Park, 1:30 meet up.
• What's better than a bike ride? A bike ride followed by swimming, lounging, people watching, and sunset viewing in the Willamette River! Join Portlanders at Bar Botellon on Tuesday, July 14^th for a ride to the river to join the Human Access Project's Tuesday Splashdown at Audrey McCall Beach. The ride leaves at 6:15, but come early at 4:00 for Tapas Tuesday!
• On Saturday, July 18^th, Come along for a tour of established and future placemaking locations in the inner eastside at the Plazas and Placemaking Ride. This ride will present on a variety of plaza and street paintings with a behind the scenes look at how these spaces are made. The ride starts at the Heart of Hawthorne Plaza (at 37th Ave.) at 10 a.m. and proceeds on a 3.8 mile route that will highlight the salmon murals on Salmon St. and the Sunnyside Piazza. 

My Office in the Community

My favorite part of my job is getting out of the City Hall and among my people. Here's a snapshot of where I've been the past month:

• Disability Rights Oregon picket: Our team visited Disability Rights Oregon workers who are currently bargaining for a fair contract. Solidarity with DRO union!
• View full size image of ribbon cutting at the strong empowerment village
• Brown Hope Community Gathering: We were so excited to support our friends at Brown Hope for their fundraiser and hangout at Wonderlove!
• Darcelle Plaza opening: It was an honor to attend this beautiful and moving community gathering to celebrate the legacy of Darcelle and our City's ongoing commitment to supporting our LGBTQ+ siblings here in the rose city. 
• Waterfront Blues Festival kickoff: What a treat to celebrate the kickoff of this incredible Portland staple! 
• Juneteenth parade and festival: Our team was proud to march alongside other Councilors and community members down MLK Blvd. to celebrate the nation's biggest Black holiday. 
• Kernside Street Fair: Congrats to the Kernside Business Association for a wildly successful inaugural street fair!
• Portland for All webinar, "Justice Denied": Councilor Morillo spoke on a panel alongside former District Attorney Mike Schmidt and public defender Grant Hartley about our public defense crisis.
• View full size image of councilor morillo at Woodstock Cafe
• Strong Empowerment Village grand opening: Congratulations to Self Enhancement Inc. and all the community partners who made this visionary affordable housing a reality in North Portland.
• CEIC annual summer soiree: It was so lovely to connect with business leaders and those doing great work in their communities to help Portland thrive.
• Portland Businesses for All launch: We are SO excited about the work being done by so many progressive business owners who are organizing to make Portland affordable for all.
• Moda rally: Councilor Morillo spoke at a rally to demand a fair deal for Portland!
• Constituent coffee at Woodstock Café: We hosted our monthly constituent event at the beloved local Deaf owned and operated coffee shop in D3, the Woodstock Café.

Recent Reads

It's hard to follow everything that's happening in our city, region, state and country right now. Here are some of the most interesting reports that I've been noodling on lately:

• Oregon Capitol Chronicle: World Cup boosts Oregon Latino-owned businesses after Trump slowdown
• Willamette Week: They Arrived: Portland Is Becoming a Haven for Gender Refugees
• Portland Mercury: Maury Povich vs Thomas Jefferson and America's 250th Birthday
• OPB: Why Portland is at the heart of women's sports in the US
• The Oregonian: Undercover videos fuel new challenge to Portland police funding initiative
• Last Week in Hell: Nonprofit Sues City of Hillsboro Over Data Center Tax Breaks
• NW Labor Press: Good times for the ultra-rich

Resources

In Portland, we look out for each other. Here are some community resources to help you stay cool, stay informed, and help your neighbors do the same:

• It's getting HOT. Multnomah County keeps a regularly updated, interactive map of where to find cooling centers in your area. Check it out here.
• Did you know that you can borrow home and garden tools at local tool libraries? Learn more and find one near you here.
• On Saturday, July 25^th, Repair PDX is holding a free repair fair at Hedron Hackerspace. Bring tools, electronics, small appliances, and clean clothes for volunteers to repair or mend. More info here.
• The Central Eastside Commuter Pass is a Hop Card designed for folks who live or work in the Central Eastside Industrial. For only $17 per month, you can get unlimited rides on all TriMet services for six months, making it one of the best and most affordable ways to get around the district. Apply here.
• The North Tabor neighborhood association recently put together a step-by-step permit guide for how to host a block party in Portland. Check out this resource here! 

Thanks for reading! I hope to see you soon!

in solidarity,

Team Morillo