Why a goat? Take a look! It’s become a Lents neighborhood tradition, it seems …
“Atho”, two-year-old goat of the Famous Belmont Goats – along with his human, Jason Jimenez – welcomes shoppers to the “Put a Goat on it Holiday Bizarre”.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It’s indeed a Holiday bazaar. But some might think it bizarre to name such an event the “Put a Goat on it Holiday Bizarre” – but, not in the Lents neighborhood.
The New Copper Penny Pantheon Banquet Room was the location for the new annual event, held this year on December 6.
Lents Holiday Bazaar organizer Rebecca Melton spends a moment with vendor Angela Muldoon of NovemberVintagePDX, who says she specializes in vintage items cultivated from estate sales and auctions.
“Amanda Gerace and I are coordinating the Lents ‘Put a Goat on it Holiday Bizarre’ this year,” smiled Rebecca Melton.
“We called it that last year, our first year, because the Famous Belmont goats had moved to Lents, and they were at the market as an attraction – complete with their little Santa hats,” Melton explained about the unusual name.
“This bazaar is for vendors selling handmade crafts and foods; predominately, people in the Lents area,” Melton told East Portland News.
Adding a touch of class is the music of the Con Cibo String Quartet.
They started, and have continued, this market, Melton said, in order to give Lents artisans a venue in which to sell their handcrafted goods. “Another reason is that we wanted to bring people from surrounding areas into Lents. And, at the same time, we want to promote businesses that are located here in Lents.”
The marketplace featured a total of 26 vendors, all of them inside the New Copper Penny Pantheon Banquet Room.
Amelia Bailey helps out at the table of Jennifer Dean with Plum Portland selling their homemade fruit jams.
“As you can see, it’s been very busy; and we’re very happy,” Melton said. “We tried to do a good job at marketing, and make this a big thing.”
Although it’s a volunteer “labor of love”, Melton commented, she enjoyed the outcome of her work. “The best part, for me, is that I get to meet a lot of new people while I help my community. It’s also fun getting people together, getting people to meet one another, also to sell and make some money!”
The goat sentry just seemed to enjoy itself. However, with the coming of development to Lents Town Center, many wonder if it is time for the herd to move on to greener pastures.
The event was sponsored by the Lents Neighborhood Association and the New Copper Penny. For more information about activities in the Lents neighborhood, see their website: CLICK HERE.
© 2015 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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