by Rob Mathias, December 2006
On a blustery Friday evening, three friends ventured down to Multnomah Village to experience First Friday in the Village. As this was December 1, we encountered the Christmas version of this regular, pleasant event.
We began by wandering up the hill from our parking spot, stopping first at John’s Marketplace to get batteries for the camera. Multnomah Village oenophiles enjoyed what appeared to be a raucous wine-tasting experience.
Needing to keep our wits about us, we trudged up the hill to what passes as the Multnomah Village town square – a small space centered in an intersection that defies explanation. The town square – or maybe it is the town rhombus – may be small, but it is truly central. Here, we experienced the angelic voices of singing children and an unlit Christmas tree.
From there, we turned right along the main street, which is technically a highway, and proceeded along until we found the Lucky Labrador. One of us three hankered for a slice of pizza. The other two enjoyed the building – obviously converted from some kind of old school, church or government building … something for us to research later.
For now, we had to head across the street to the community center – another converted building – this one definitely a school. The sign out front declared “Pottery Sale” – a sure attraction for the non-pizza-eating pair of our threesome. We were delighted to find far more available than just pottery – it was really an ART sale! And just in time for Holiday shopping.
Sensing that Santa might soon be appearing, we braved the newly-sprung drizzle back to the town square, but got distracted by Fabulous and Found – far and away the best-decorated shop in the Village. Two of us wandered through while the third still finished his pizza. This converted house was packed to the gills with all sorts of fabulous knick knacks, furniture, household stuff and scintillating scents.
Now sure that Santa would be arriving soon, we nearly sprinted down to the town square to try to see the jolly old elf (some of us needed a personal audience to overcome our naughtiness.) And there he was, so surrounded by the children of Multnomah Village that we knew we would once again be reduced to writing Kris Kringle yet another plaintive post card. Oh well, he lit the tree with a twinkle of his nose, the children launched into another tune and the holidays were officially begun in Multnomah Village.
This story used by permission of the author. It originally appeared on MultnomahVillageHome.com.
