Foster-Powell ‘Summer Soirée’ returns to Laurelwood Park

INCLUDES VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | Take a look the activity swirling around this summer’s second ‘place-making’ event by the Foster Area Business Association …

A parade of attendees cross SE Foster Road at Holgate Boulevard, as the Foster Road Summer Soirée is underway.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The Saturday afternoon of June 22nd found SE Foster Road sidewalks filled with folks taking in this year’s Foster Road Summer Soirée – with the nexus being the booths set up in PP&R’s triangular Laurelwood Park at Holgate Boulevard.

Even early in the afternoon, it appeared that this event – put on by the Foster Area Business Association (FABA) Neighborhood Business District – was already a success.

Beside Laurelwood Park, folks browse the many vendors set up on the sidewalk.

Venture Portland’s FABA District Manager Jeff Lynott and co-worker McKenzie Malone are on hand to tell about the neighborhood business district.

“Beautiful weather for this, our second annual event, isn’t it?” rhetorically asked FABA’s Venture Portland District Manager Jeff Lynott, as he greeted people at the association’s booth.

“Again this year, we have live entertainment that includes music in the park – in addition to the vendors here, and all up and down Foster Road,” he continued.

In Laurelwood Park, folks take advantage of the shade while enjoying live entertainment.

Grilling the locally-made sausages, in front of the 5 and DIME on SE Foster Road at 66th Avenue, here’s Shig Matthews.

Many families strolled past the vendors, looking at their wares; others actively shopped and purchased things that caught their eye. Yet others relaxed in the park’s shade, as they sat listening to the live music.

Take our exclusive-yet-brief video tour of this year’s Foster Summer Soirée:

“This is really important to FABA, because more than 40 businesses are activating their establishments and storefronts today by providing food specials and sidewalk sales,” Lynott said.

Here’s some of the throng visiting the dozens of vendors set up on SE Foster Road.

Showing her pretty, yet functional, mug it’s Xtina Coleman of Xtina on Fire Ceramics.

“With the return of our Foster Road Summer Soirée, we’re highlighting both the practical reasons to visit our neighborhood business district, and pointing out the fun things that are happening on Foster Road,” he remarked. “This brings awareness to all of our local businesses – the firms our local community supports every week.”

Learn more about the Foster Area Business Association by visiting their official website: CLICK HERE.

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