Historic Downtown Oregon City

Blue Collar Creative: This is Downtown…

Blue Collar Creative is a marketing and recruitment campaign for artists, entrepreneurs and creative professionals who are interested in growing their business in Downtown Oregon City. Watch this great video about Main Street, and come check out Oregon City for yourselves!

Read more about the Blue Collar Creative campaign here.

Posted in Home, Photo Album

Here are some photos from Downtown Oregon City’s very first Art Walk event on October 2nd. This premier event was called “Arts in Action Fueled by Coffee Rush.” It was a great event that involved artists in and out of doors all along Main Street showcasing their artwork to the public. To continue this event in the upcoming rainy months, the First Friday Art Walk will move indoors. Business owners are hosting artists to display their art throughout their stores, and they invite you in to see your local artists in action!
Read more about upcoming First Friday Art Walk events on our latest Art Walk press release here.

Photos taken by Heather Wuest.

(Click on one picture and scroll your mouse to the edge of the photo-viewer. There are arrows that will allow you to navigate through the entire group of photos!)

Posted in Photo Album

The non-profit Main Street Oregon City is coordinating a fall downtown cleanup day on Saturday, November 7th.  From 9am to 1pm downtown business owners, supporters, and neighbors are invited to rake leaves, pull weeds, spread mulch, and plant bulbs in five sites downtown.

The event is also an opportunity to learn about using recycling products for urban gardening.  Composted material will be applied as mulch. Spring and summer bulbs will be planted and trees and shrubs will be trimmed back for improved flowering next year. “This is a nice opportunity to put downtown’s planted areas to bed for the winter,” said Lloyd Purdy, Downtown Manager for Oregon City.  “A fall cleanup downtown helps businesses and downtown visitors transition into the winter season.”

In a uniquely downtown approach to this cleanup, some project volunteers will also apply elbow grease to downtown’s historic markers and bronze plaques that celebrate our community’s history. The “top brass” team will polish downtown’s historic markers during the cleanup day.

Volunteers from the community are invited to participate. Event coordinators and volunteers will meet at Liberty Plaza at 9 am on November the 7th. For more information contact Lloyd Purdy, Downtown Manager at (503) 522-1564.
Join us to help CleanUP DOWNtown!

Posted in Home

Downtown Oregon City continues to celebrate the commerce and culture of Oregon City with a First Friday Art Walk on the first Friday of every month. The upcoming Art Walk, on November 6th, will feature more businesses open late inviting customers and new artists in out of the cold.

Meet Paula Lewis, a local artist who is part of the creative team that plans for the First Friday Art Walks. Paula became a member of Oregon City’s First Friday Art Walk planning team because of her strong desire to promote the arts. After seeing the results of last month’s Art Walk, she is very excited that the series is doing great things for the arts and businesses in Oregon City. The First Friday event has expanded to include more than 18 locations featuring artists and their work.

Lewis, who also designed the red paintbrush Downtown Oregon City Art Walk logo, took part in the first Art Walk on October 2nd and set up a workspace just outside her studio. Here, she created an art piece in front of the public, exhibiting her process and answering questions from curious spectators. She completed a nature inspired painted mannequin entitled, “Fern.”

She recalls, “As I was working, I noticed the steadily growing movement of people up and down Main Street. I overheard shout-outs of approval, and people wanting to see more from artists.” Lewis feels very encouraged by the response to Oregon City’s first Art Walk, and says, “I feel a real connection with my community being a part of this event. The neighboring businesses are just as enthusiastic.”

Lewis is known for her decorative paintings, murals, and faux textures. Her art is inspired by nature, trends, texture, and especially color. At October’s First Friday event, Lewis was one of the many artists that displayed their technique to the public on the streets of Downtown. Now that the weather isn’t as permitting, the Oregon City Art Walk will move indoors. Lewis has an art studio in Downtown Oregon City at 712 Main Street where she goes to create her art. During the upcoming Art Walk on Friday November 6th, all the artists will be inside. Downtown businesses will be inviting visitors in to meet the artists and enjoy the art on display.

Lewis enjoys participating in downtown Oregon City’s First Friday Art Walk as an artist because she thrives on interacting with the public. “I have a real conviction as a decorative painter, and the experience of speaking with passers-by has allowed me to be articulate about it. When planning a piece to display, I call up imagination, state of mind, and craftsmanship. I find I enjoy sharing those things to the public. Many interested and curious people seem to associate with my process.” Lewis shares, “I can always learn interesting ideas from the public’s comments and file them away as inspiration and encouragement. I was even asked about pieces to sell, which means I’m creating marketable art.”

Oregon City’s First Friday events are made possible through a partnership with Three Rivers Artist Guild, the non-profit Main Street Oregon City as well as a First Friday media sponsor, The Oregonian.

To see more from Paula Lewis, visit her website at www.paulaflewis.com.

To date, downtown’s First Friday Art Walk includes artists at the following locations:

Coffee Rush, 900 Main Street
Winestock, 820 Main Street
Cypress Restaurant, 820 Main Street
Madco Draperies and Floor Covering, 818 Main Street
Bush’s Furniture, 804 Main Street
Fourneir Group insurance, 814 Main Street
Caufield House, 723 Main Street
Pilates with Fe, 702 Main Street
Mi Famiglia, 701 Main Street
Ben Bright Photography, 619 Main Street
ECP Copy, 623 Main Street
Hopps Upholstery, 916 Main Street
Living Room Pub, 206 8th Street
Muno’s Bakery, 616-A Main Street
Hand Crafted for You, 616-B Main Street
Premier Insurance, 900 Main Street
The Paula Lewis Art Studio, 712 Main Street
Howden Art and Framing, 1512 Washington Street
Forte Florist, 1502 Washington Street

More downtown locations are added every month so there is always something new to see.

For more information about First Friday Art Walks in Downtown Oregon City, keep reading our Downtown Oregon City website.

View photos from October 2nd’s First Friday Art Walk here.

Posted in News & Press

Market Discovers Roots Downtown…
Oregon City Farmers Market Opens 8th Street Winter Market in Time for the Holidays.

Oregon City foodies can get their fix of locally produced foods during the winter in downtown Oregon City. The Oregon City Farmers Market will hold two winter markets downtown this year. The first Winter Market on 8th Street is scheduled for Saturday, November 21st. The second for Saturday, December 19th.

Celebrating its place in local history, Downtown’s Winter Market will set up next to Busch Furniture Store on 8th Street between Main Street and Railroad Street on the site of the original Oregon City Producers Market, which opened in 1924.

A 1926 press release from the original market lists products sold in that market were very similar to what will be available this year. This include fresh produce, beef, chicken, pork, fresh fish, farm eggs, preserves and pickles, wines, breads, goats cheese, pastries and pies, honey, wild mushrooms, Christmas trees, wreaths, and goats milks soaps.

“Historic downtown Oregon City is a great location for a winter market,” said Lloyd Purdy Downtown Manager. “We’re pleased to welcome the Oregon City Farmers Market downtown for the holidays.”

The summer market will continue to be held at the County’s Public Services Building parking lot from May through the end of October in 2010. Market officials say that location is too exposed for an outdoor winter market. Apart from its historical significance, the downtown market on 8th Street offers shelter from winter winds, as well as an intimate location with the bluff and the Singer Creek Falls anchoring one end of the market, and across the street the newly opened Caufield House offering a full-service deli as well as breakfasts, lunches and hot drinks.

“A Winter Market in downtown Oregon City is a natural next step for the Oregon City Farmers Market,” said Jackie Hammond-Williams, Market Manager. “It gives us an opportunity to extend the fresh produce and agricultural product season to area residents.”

A downtown location offers a convenient change of venue for the Oregon City Farmers market with plenty of close parking available during these Saturday events and as always debit and Oregon Trail cards are accepted.

The Thanksgiving market will be held on Saturday November. 21st. The Christmas Market will be held Saturday December 19th. Both markets run from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. rain or shine.

For more details visit: www.orcityfarmersmarket.com or contact Market Manager Jackie Hammond Williams at 503 734-0192.

Posted in News & Press

Monday, October 26^th — Meet a winemaker from Southern France at Winestock from 6-8 pm. Serge Ferigoule will be in the shop pouring wines from his winery “Sang des Cailloux” which translates to “Blood of the Stones”. This renowned winery and 17 hectare vineyard sites, planted mostly to Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre, are located in the village of Vacqueyras, just outside of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, in the heart of the Rhone Valley. Vacqueyras is a compelling wine growing region where the vines are planted in an ancient riverbed, comprised of large stones called “gallets”, this soil composition has a dramatic effect on the outcome of the wine. In such a warm region as the Southern Rhone, the rocks deflect sunlight, maintain moisture below the surface and create vines with deep roots that struggle for nutrients but have strong, healthy immunities. The stone influence is present and detectable in the glass, see for yourself at Winestock this Monday!  Winestock is thrilled to bring Serge and his world-class white and red wines to Oregon City, he is thought of as a superstar in the wine world and the quality and level of winemaking talents becomes obvious with the first sip of “Sang des Cailloux.” As an added bonus Winestock has special ordered Magnum sized bottles to use for the Winetasting event.

Monday, Oct 26th 6-8pm, meet winemaker from France and taste white and red wines from Magnums! Tasting fee is $15, and no RSVP required. All are welcome to join in – the newest wine drinkers to the most serious collectors. This tasting will help launch the hour change at Winestock, who is now open 7 days a week, at 3pm. Cheers to Serge and to Monday’s special event at Winestock!
-Sarrah Torres // Winestock // (503) 656-9463

Posted in Home

Thursday, October 22, the non-profit Main Street Oregon City will celebrate its first year of work in historic downtown Oregon City with an annual meeting and public presentation. The non-profit Main Street Oregon City was created as a volunteer led organization that works with downtown business owners, property owners and downtown supporters to make all of historic downtown Oregon City a better place to live, work and visit.

The non-profit Main Street Oregon City will host an annual meeting at 7 am on Thursday, October 22nd, to “Celebrate Downtown.” The meeting will include a review of downtown successes from 2009 and an unveiling of goals, projects and plans for 2010. Read the full press release about this meeting here.

Posted in Home

Thursday, October 22, the non-profit Main Street Oregon City will celebrate its first year of work in historic downtown Oregon City with an annual meeting and public presentation. The non-profit Main Street Oregon City was created as a volunteer led organization that works with downtown business owners, property owners and downtown supporters to make all of historic downtown Oregon City a better place to live, work and visit.
The non-profit Main Street Oregon City will host an annual meeting at 7 am on Thursday, October 22nd to “Celebrate Downtown.” The meeting will include a review of downtown successes from 2009 and an unveiling of goals, projects and plans for 2010.

The non-profit Main Street Oregon City, modeled after the National Trust’s Main Street approach to downtown revitalization, works in four areas of downtown development: marketing & promotions, economic development and business recruitment, design and planning, and building community capacity.

“This has been a very positive first year for downtown Oregon City,” said Downtown Manager Lloyd Purdy. “The hard work of downtown business owners, property owners and supporters ensures that downtown Oregon City is well positioned for success in 2010.”

Celebrating successes from 2009 includes: The creation of a recruitment campaign for creative professionals to downtown Oregon City that will be introduced at the October 22 meeting and implemented in 2010. The creation of a downtown dialogue to facilitated discussions about the future of downtown Oregon City. The creation of a “Taste of Downtown” video series to highlight downtown’s restaurants that will be introduced at the October 22 meeting. A downtown retail market analysis that will guide retail recruitment efforts downtown in 2010. The creation of a monthly “First Friday” event series in downtown that will continue throughout 2010. Funding for a downtown mural brochure that will be introduced in 2010. And the creation of a “First Steps” walking tour that will be unveiled in 2010.

This will also be an opportunity to welcome new downtown businesses that opened in 2009 including: The Verdict, The Caufield House, Remember Books, Pioneer Pub, Oregon City Ice House, The Vintage Shop, David Boyer Floor Covering, and Premiere Insurance.

The highlight of the meeting may very well be the awards presented to downtown business owners, property owners and downtown supporters. The award series includes: The Golden Bootstrap Award for entrepreneurial spirit. The Golden Yardstick Award for the greatest measure of innovation. The Golden Palette Award for the newest downtown art event. The Golden Brick Award for most successful storefront renovation, and several more awards for service to downtown.

During the meeting the non-profit Main Street Oregon City will share several goals for 2010. This includes: Increasing the branding and brand recognition of the downtown marketplace, the addition of a signature event to the downtown event schedule in the summer of 2010, improving the gateways to downtown, enhancing the streetscape, and the formation of an Organization Committee to guide volunteer recruitment efforts and fundraising efforts for downtown.

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Posted in News & Press

Oregon City has a new deli! Ryan & Maria Smith opened The Caufield House a few short weeks ago at 723 Main Street. Their deli features a full-breakfast menu, Beaverton Bakery pastries, and Stumptown coffee that are sure to brighten anyone’s morning. For lunch, stop by The Caufield House for personalized to-go sandwiches. They also offer dinner items that you can take home and cook for the family, such as steaks and kabobs. With a cozy atmosphere, it’s a nice place to sit down and enjoy their selection of local wine and microbrews. Ryan and Maria chose to open their new business in Oregon City because they feel like it’s a great meeting spot. They have previous experience in reinventing buildings in downtown Oregon City, and they decided that owning their own business would be the next natural step.

The Caufield House has already planned an exciting Halloween event for October 24^th. Pumpkins & Pigskins is an all-age event featuring a costume contest and pumpkin decorating for the kids, mimosas and lattes for the moms, and college football with microbrews for the dads next door at The Verdict. $2 gets your child pumpkins, decorating supplies, and hot coca or cider. Stop by The Caufield House on October 24^th between 10am-3pm for the festivities. The costume contest winners will be announced on the 30^th during the Main Street Oregon City trick-or-treating event!

If you can’t make it to The Caufield House for the Halloween festivities, their regular hours are Monday through Friday 6:30am to 6pm. Saturday and Sunday 7am to 3pm. Contact them at (503) 305-8017. Click here to see their event flier.

Posted in Home

Have you visited Main Street Oregon City’s wood-oven pizzeria yet? Mi Famiglia, meaning “my family” in Italian, is family owned and operated by Patty Eddy and her two sons, Kyle and Eric. They decided to open their business on Main Street because they like the area and see potential in Oregon City’s close-knit community. After over two years open, they still reflect that they started the pizzeria to create something together as family – and they have been doing just that.

Today they serve wood fired pizzas, calzones, and lasagna, as well as paninis, salads, appetizers, and local beer & wine. In an attempt to better serve a wider range of people, they now serve gluten-free pizza too. They make all their dough, sauces, and dressings fresh from scratch daily. They often showcase live music acts that play while you sit down for dinner. Stop by Mi Famiglia for a wood-oven pizza experience that you won’t soon forget!

Mi Famiglia is located at 701 Main Street, and they are all over social media! You can follow their news updates on their Facebook Fan Page, Twitter Account, or Myspace Account. Check out their entire menu on their website: http://www.mi-famiglia.com/menu.html.

Posted in Home