Smaller ‘Taste of Parkrose’ continues on

It’s no longer a street fair; but take a look at this festival featuring a lot of ‘Big Green Egg’ barbecues …

Lots of “Big Green Egg” ceramic Kamado grills, provided by Parkrose Hardware, here cook samples of a wide variety of meats and vegetables at the “Taste of Parkrose”.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Instead of holding a street fair this year, the Historic Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative moved their “Taste of Parkrose” to the parking lot shared by Parkrose Hardware and the soon-to-be-opened Grocery Outlet store, on June 25.

Tammy Elliott, Annette Stanhope, Dr. Mingus Mapps, Kate Coenen, Arlene Kimura, and Tom Badrick enjoy a moment together in the Gateway Brewing beer garden at the 2016 Taste of Parkrose.

“This is our third annual street fair,” said Historic Parkrose Director Dr. Mingus Mapps. “It’s been an amazing day, thanks to our sponsors.”

Here with a Big Green Egg Kamado grill is Parkrose Hardware’s Roy Gregory, who typically works in the tool department, but demonstrates grills on Saturdays. He’s cooking “Beer Can Chicken”.

Earlier in the day, students from Parkrose High School organized a “Fun Run”, taking participants on a two-footed tour of this outer East Portland neighborhood. “The most important thing about having this event is building community,” Mapps told East Portland News.

Parkrose Business Association organizer Adrianne Sweetwater talks with visitors at the event.

Entertaining with their Afro-Latin-Blues music is Portland’s own band, Ojos Feos.

Aaron Guerra, lead culinary instructor with the new Clark College Culinary Institute prepares meats on the grill.

“Building a community really does take a village,” Mapps reflected. “As we work together, we build stronger bonds and social capital.

“And the event itself is a great way to expose people to many of the businesses that are here in the area. I hope that it also serves as an opportunity for neighbors to meet neighbors,” concluded Mapps.

Find out more about Historic Parkrose by visiting their Facebook page: CLICK HERE.

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