The Health, Wellness, and Social Spaces committee met last week and agreed to sponsor the, as of this year, South Waterfront Annual Fourth of July picnic. It will take place in the new and quite attractive area outside the Atwater–well, kind of between the Atwater and the Town Houses across the street. The idea is to have spill over space should we have a huge crowd. Last year this was held in the courtyard of the Meriwether with combined sponsorship of the Meriwether Events Committee and the HWSS. Those who were there know how much fun it was so mark your calendars and stay tuned for details. We realize that the 4th is on Friday so people may be taking long weekend trips but those of us who stay here, at home in SWF, will be having a great party.

We are getting closer and closer to our goal of $10,000, having collected $6,100 so far. If you would still like to make a contribution to Neighborhood House, especially before the end of the year, please ask your concierge for an envelope. We suggest mailing them at this point in the campaign. Last year, contributions continued to arrive long after our rather artificial deadline of December 15 when we removed the boxes from the lobbies of the buildings. One box is still available at Bella Espresso. We are most grateful, as is Neighborhood House, for the contributions that have been received. We are definitely a neighborhood that cares about our neighbors who are in need.

Peggy Pusch and Linda McCaw

The homes in the John Ross dramatically contrasted with each other. The Kenney home demonstrated beautifully how to make a small space work effectively and how to display special pieces collected over time in a cozy environment. This was definitely a place to get advice on how to down-size with grace. One could easily curl up with a good book and a cat on your lap.

The Buford home showed how white, both in the walls and slip covered furniture, could provide the kind of background that showcased their art, much of it produced by the artist who resides here, off to great advantage. The home is expansive and charming and looks over a patio that had been planned to give the impression of a large yard where the gardener in the house could putter among potted plants. Sculpture and books compliment the paintings and provides a visual treat that keeps the visitor engaged in the environment.

Finally the Hardman/Nollen home is exceptional in its combination of living and work space that draws on the panoramic views of the city and employed lovely decorative features, creative lighting, and comfortable furniture. Here there is definitely a sense of city living as you look directly out at the surrounding buildings and the lights of those more distant. If you saw the article in the New York Times several weeks ago about the interchange between the outside and inside of largely glass buildings, (and some questions about what is private!) you could appreciate how much this is demonstrated here .

This is one person’s review of the homes visited and selection of the features that are so appealing in homes that show contrasts in life style and use of space. Please let us know what features of the homes were most memorable for you. We are already thinking about how this tour can be organized next year. One more thing, there is information on Neighborhood House elsewhere on this blog and continuing opportunities to contribute to their excellent work. Please mail an envelope directly to Neighborhood House. We do not yet know how much as been donated and we’ll post a final figure when the appeal has been completed.

mdp

The House Tour took place in three buildings and both wings of the Meriwether are featured in this posting. The Miller home with it’s (depending on who you talk with) Gothic castle or Italian villa theme invited you to enter a fantasy land. It was thoroughly and elegantly decked out for the holidays and, indeed, there were many comments about getting “season fever” from the visit. Furnished in a traditional, old world, style, it is possible to believe that the knight whose armor stands in the living room will drop in at any moment–and be able to relax in comfortable chairs or have a drink at the full bar.

The Clark home pulled you into a totally different era. It is far more modern with clean lines complimented by Asian accents and with a choice of color that invites you to feel at home. Here, as in all the homes, there is art that blends with the decor–in this case much of it contemporary, begging you for an interpretation. Relaxing in front of the fireplace or hosting a dinner party is definitely an option here.

Several homes tended toward contemporary furniture; they are not at all the same and have interesting contrasts. The Pyko/Schneider home is punctuated with Asian and antique pieces. Floor to ceiling carved wooden panels slide over the pantry and utility rooms, providing texture to the hallway and saving space. A reclaimed Indonesian doorway hides the wine storage in a living room niche at the end of the hallway. Much of the lighting in this home is clever and attractive; for example, a small crystal chandelier is centered over the bathtub. The living room is arranged at a very intriguing angle. The collection of mirrors in the guest powder room and entrance hall allows reflection in many shapes and sizes. There are little surprises throughout the home and it is fun to keep discovering them.

Moving on to the McBride residence, you find a combination art gallery and living space that definitely draws attention to the many paintings that adorn the walls. And you cannot miss a single room because they all have original pieces on display. Greeted by a large friendly dog, you can wander about for quite a while, checking out amazing glass and metal free-standing pieces along with playful artwork that hangs close to landscapes and Japanese etchings.

At the top of the building, the Krages have very contemporary furnishing accented with modern paintings, hangings, and a light focused glass sculpture, all displayed beside a sensational broad sweeping view of the city and river. A sense of drama is created in this high ceilinged penthouse with the use of black paint and elegant wallcoverings. One room is dedicated to an interest in film and it is possible to enjoy memorabilia related to the hosts favorite movies as well as actually viewing those films. We want to hear your responses to these homes so do let us know what “stood out” for you.

For the second year, the Health, Wellness and Social Spaces Committee (emphasis for this event on “Social Spaces”) sponsored a South Waterfront House Tour and charitable support for Neighborhood House. This year, Umpqua Bank gave the post-tour party! The party had three purposes, to bring people together for some socializing after the tour and to welcome Neighborhood House folks (its board and primary supporters) together and to orient them to the House Tour, and to contribute $5.00 to Neighborhood House for each person who came to the party. There were 309 guests–you do the arithmetic.  The House Tour included five homes in the Meriwether (3 in the West Tower and 2 in the East Tower) and three in the John Ross. How do you say this was a superlative success without sounding a bit over-the-top? Frankly, it was an amazing success. The spirit and camaraderie   of residents and their guests was palpable in the hallways, the elevators, and certainly at each home.  Well over (and we have yet to get an accurate count) 300 visited the 8 houses that were open. They were all different sizes and beautifully decorated in quite different styles. People who attended got a taste of the many home options that exist in our neighborhood and how dramatically different people arrange and treat their living space. We’re really interested in hearing about your experience with the House Tour so send your comments. I’ll be posting my observations over the next few days. mdp

Last year, it was decided that we needed to reach out as a community to an agency in the southwest whose programs serve all age groups and meet multiple needs of people in the community. Neighborhood House was selected. It was a low key campaign because we were new and had very little lead time.Now, for the second year, the 20/20 Health, Wellness and Social Spaces Committee is spearheading a major fund raising drive for this agency. Umpqua Bank, Bella Expresso, and Urbana Market and each building lobby have collection boxes and Bee Cleaners has offered to clean good clothing donated to the drive. In fact, this offer inspired Neighborhood House to start a clothing program for their clients in addition to the existing food distribution program. Neighborhood House is the only comprehensive social service agency serving Southwest Portland. It helps more than 6,000 low-income and other vulnerable children, families and seniors each year through innovative and life-changing programs. Flyers explaining their programs and envelopes to mail or drop donations in the box are available at all the locations listed above. You can also donate on line at www.nhweb.org. Our goal is to raise $10,000 and we invite you to join us in this effort.