![]() Liz Middleton and her husband built the Be Kind VHS Depot off Southeast 45th Avenue to share their throw-back interest in VHS tapes and films during the pandemic. Little free landmarks are passion projects that provide peeks into the different interests of Portlanders. They had been picked up days later and I understood what Rossetti meant about sharing the love.įor those looking for a year-round display of friendly neighborhood skeletons, the SkeleKrewe yard near Woodstock Park hosts a vibrant display of colorful (and occasionally creepy) costumes and props. Recently, I dropped off a few jade, haworthia and aloe pups. “The greenhouse is my attempt to share my love of plants to hopefully spark interest in folks who want to try to maintain a plant but don’t want to pay for them make them more accessible and create community,” said owner Josh Rossetti. Visitors and locals alike can pick up unique souvenirs like a small plant from the Free Tiny Greenhouse. “I think that’s so cool, that you’re seeing literally neighborhood art.” “A lot of the regular art is from neighbors within a few blocks,” said Brady. Visitors can take a piece of art or leave something for someone else. The Free Little Art Gallery is an adorable exhibition of community art, postcard-sized watercolors and crayon sketches from neighborhood kids, fitted with tiny plastic people viewing paintings and drawing - all to scale. “I think of it as an offering,” said Grant Brady, the creator behind Free Little Art Gallery PDX in the Foster-Powell neighborhood. Foster-PowellĬommunity connections are at the heart of all the little free landmarks. Located a few blocks from Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Belmont, a once sleepy residential street boasts its own mix of vintage and indie shops, coffee houses, bars and food carts. Recent installations include works by Joel Conroy from Lil’ Planets and Ellis Chaney with Hilary Nichols from the Lavender Astronaut.Ī short bike ride in the shadow of Mount Tabor Park is the Lantern Diorama, maintained by a 10-year-old, showing a mini world set within a glass lantern. The Morrison Street Minigallery, one of the oldest little free landmarks, features a new artist every month. While many sidewalk attractions are exchanges based on the Little Free Library model, Portland has no shortage of art for art’s sake. Nothing says Portland more than an artist ready to place your poetry on their art, and many of the pieces are for sale (and the perfect size for a carry-on!) Sunnyside If you have some time, you can leave your own poem and contact information in the box and Peccia will create a piece just for you. Dan Peccia is a potter who inscribes his pottery with poetry and song lyrics. Poetry Pottery Box is a must-see for travelers who admire beautifully lyrical ceramic pieces. “My heart will explode thinking that this was part of someone’s childhood memory and that this seemed maybe normal to them.” ![]() “My long-term, long-term goal will be that someday somebody tells me that they grew up with the Dinorama,” said Mahlandt. Her PDX Dinorama + Dino Exchange features dinosaurs on bikes, roasting marshmallows and other fun reimaginings with a constant fresh rotation of dinos that visitors leave or take away. Mahlandt was first inspired by a neighbor who created a diorama in their yard just to amuse Mahlandt’s two small kids on their daily walks. Just northeast of Mount Tabor, in the cozy Montavilla neighborhood, Rachael Harm Mahlandt stages a tiny dinosaur wonderland in the corner of her front yard. So you get to stroll around and come across some unexpected delight. Take a walking, biking or rolling tour to check them all out.ĭifferent neighborhoods have different vibes and things that they have going on. With so many of these popping up, they’re a perfect sightseeing glimpse into each community. ![]() Although these sidewalk attractions appear all around the city, below, I share some of my favorites in Southeast Portland. In recent years, a new wave of “Little Free” landmarks has arisen out of creativity, fun and that trademark “Keep Portland Weird” energy. When I moved to Portland more than a decade ago, I found new-to-me writers from Little Free Libraries and fell in love with their work. Paul, Minnesota, it’s a perfect fit for crafty, book-loving Portland. While the Little Free Library originated in St. Free libraries might look like big birdhouses or mailboxes from afar but you’ll find them stacked with books looking for a new home. Little Free Libraries have been a familiar sidewalk attraction in Portland for many years. Read Moreįrom handmade dinosaur dioramas and mini-community art galleries to little free libraries filled with nostalgic VHS tapes and colorful skeins of yarn, Southeast Portland neighborhoods are rich with fun sidewalk surprises built by the very people who live there. Amy Lam is a writer and editor based in Portland. ![]()
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