starts with bikes parked outside…

belonging to the folks from the always informal and engaging PDX Permaculture Meetup…

who are watching a film tonight…

down the hall from the joyful sounds of the Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir…

which drifts on to the spacious back lawn where community members are practicing yoga…

perfect!

Our built-in buffet is COMPLETE! ! Now serving healthy food to our community, all by donation, 6 days a week.

Below is an invitation from Pastor Carley, also a TaborSpace volunteer barista and Steering Committee member:

Sunday begins the observance of Holy Week for Christians around the world, and for the congregation with whom we share space.  During holy week, Christians remember the last week of Jesus’ life on earth, beginning with the entry parade on Palm Sunday, including many intimate teaching times with his disciples, his conflict with the religious leaders, Passover celebrated with his disciples and finally his betrayal, death, burial and on Easter Sunday, his resurrection.

There will be few significant schedule changes during the week, with the exception of Good Friday.  On that day the coffee house will be closed for an hour at noon, while people gather in the sanctuary for worship at the traditional hour in which Jesus was crucified.  All are welcome to this time of remembering.  During the week, we invite you to come into the sanctuary to pray, to reflect, to recognize this holy week.  We will keep it lit and warm, as a place to keep vigil for any who would like to observe this practice.

TaborSpace hosts a wide variety of events: everything from movement classes to benefit concerts.

Beginning next week we’ll be offering our first ever improvised theatre class!  Brought to us by Happy Improv Fun Time!, the brainchild of Portland comedy duo Brad Fortier and Phil Incorvia, the class will run for 7 weeks and cost $185.  It will be a positive, welcoming space for beginners, and there are still several spots open.  Information on registering is available at www.happyimprovfuntime.com.

Brad Fortier

Brad and Phil met nearly 15 years ago at Portland’s nationally recognized Brody Theater and have been working together ever since.

Phil Incorvia

Phil has performed regularly at Portland Center Stage.  He was also instrumental in creating Super Project Lab, a local group that uses improv “as a means of teaching life skills” to historically under-served populations like incarcerated individuals and at-risk youth.

In addition to being an acting teacher, Brad is also a published anthropologist.  He notes that improvised theater has many benefits beyond having fun, including increased ability to communicate in today’s ever-changing workplaces.  The techniques taught in this class emphasize “being present and building relationships.”

And building relationships is what TaborSpace is all about!  Our wide range of class offerings brings together talented performers, activists, healers, artists, and other educators with people in our community who want to enrich their lives.

So if you have an idea for a class (no matter how out of the ordinary) come on up to our Belltower office during business hours, 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, and it would be our pleasure to help you make it happen…no joke!

Interested in community supported agriculture? TaborSpace will be a pickup location starting in May. You can get your box of fresh, local, seasonal vegetables here – once a week, all summer long! Signup and learn more by going to Grow Portland.

Mt. Tabor Middle School Art program is exhibiting at TaborSpace Coffee House during the month of March.  Students used a myriad of art mediums and art history genres to bring their gridded self-portraits to life. The art exhibit is free.  The show is running concurrently with our annual PTA Michael Allen Harrison concert on March 8th at 7:00 at Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church, in the same location, 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland.  Tickets for the concert at the door are $15  for adults, $10 for seniors/students.  Reception following performance at TaborSpace.  The concert features special guests Mt. Tabor Middle School Jazz Band.

Portraits, illumination, and more from talented local young artists!

A sumptuous seed swap made the Commons even more radiant than usual on a recent chilly evening.  Hosted by Portland Permaculture, the event featured a bounty of smiling faces, earnest gardening advice, engrossing conversations about salient ecological issues, and of course – seeds!  Delicata squash, catnip, purple coneflower, muskmellon, sweetpea, and sunflower were just a few of the varieties represented.

Event attendee Darla Schoenrock brought over a hundred seed packets to share, each one different.  She had no plans to take seeds with her, the night was about sharing her abundance.

Darla's abundance of seeds!

Darla is a recent transplant and new to Portland Permaculture.  Although she has a certificate in permaculture design, she feels that the friendly group is accessible to “permie” newcomers.  All levels of expertise are welcomed, which is part of what makes the group diverse.  She notes that “the healthiest ecosystems are the most diverse…and that goes for communities too.”

Part of TaborSpace’s mission is to provide a comfortable space where people can build relationships, and Darla sees an important parallel between this and the philosophy of permaculture.  “Tonight’s event is so much better than ordering from a seed catalog.  We’re exchanging ideas, not just things.  And we’re growing a community.  Planting those seeds is just as important as planting a physical garden.  Because many people can’t grow a garden…but they can make connections.”

Everyone dreams, no matter what their age. But as our life progresses, sometimes we let go of even our fondest dreams.  This is an art show to display the work of Charles Oliver, who realized his childhood dream of being an artist at the age of 66 as a method of treatment after suffering a stroke.

Charles and one of his beautiful paintings!

After adolescence, Charles gave up art for a law degree and had not picked up a paint brush until 2002 when he suffered a devastating stoke.  Initially, Charles was paralyzed and unable to speak.  Because he had no health insurance, he had to determine ways to recover on his own.  Charles took up painting as a therapeutic method of improving his physical and mental skills and well-being.

Recently, Charles had a second stroke.  He is motivated to continue to improve through his creation of artist paintings.

The collection demonstrates the courage and personal drive Charles found through his art.  His work incorporates a variety of techniques and styles.  It is Charles’ “dream” to share his beautiful pieces with others.  Each piece of this art collection represents a special moment, time or vision.

This wonderful show will be taking place in the Commons on Wednesday, February 29th from 6-8pm!

TaborSpace is one of Portland’s coziest, most charming places to get a craft coffee drink.

We have an amazing all-volunteer staff of Ristretto-trained baristas who care equally about coffee and community, and we want you to get to know them as well as our staff and regulars already do!  Over the next few months, we’ll be highlighting their contributions to TaborSpace and the Mt. Tabor neighborhood.

So without further ado, meet Will Elder!

He’s been volunteering here since August, 2011.  After hearing from a friend that TaborSpace is a great place to get work done with expertly roasted Ristretto coffee, he decided to visit us and became a volunteer barista quickly after.

Will finds that in addition to the considerable barista training he’s received, volunteering here gives him the opportunity to “feel a part of what [he] advocates for.”  This includes conscientious urban planning that provides neighborhood resources, and “multi-faceted non-profits that build social capital.”

TaborSpace always feels relaxing and engaging with Will behind the coffeebar.  He’s known for playing fantastic music, and likes to tailor his choices to suit the space.  In the morning he plays acoustic and folk, such as Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes.  In the afternoons, he prefers something more upbeat like LCD Soundsystem.  He’s a talented artist and showed a piece in September during our Volunteer Art Show.  Will enjoys multiple mediums, including 35mm photography and charcoal drawing, as well as discussing art with space users.

Next time you see Will, ask him to make you his signature Fizzy Lifting Drink, which is an iced Americano with sparkling water.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back for more on the people who make TaborSpace great!