Positives outweigh negatives.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Last night, at a community meeting to hear feedback on the Last Thursday on Alberta event (read my analysis here), Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Mayor Sam Adams heard loud and clear that many people love the event just the way it is.

According to sources at the meeting and reports in the local media, upwards of 400 people crammed into the Acadian Ballroom on Alberta last night. There were many opinions expressed, but it seems the dominant opinion was that despite the growing pains, expense, and crowd control issues, the carfree environment of Last Thursday is something people feel is worth supporting. (more...)

Last Thursday on Alberta: A tough crowd.
(Photos © J. Maus)

A community meeting this Monday (2/8) being hosted by Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Mayor Sam Adams could have a major impact on the future of the Last Thursday on Alberta event. The meeting's event page states, "The Mayor and Commissioner are considering options for Last Thursday."
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Mayor's office would rather have folks
park... and then walk during Last Thursday.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Shoshanah Oppenheim, the Mayor's staffer who has been working with the Alberta community on the carfree Last Thursday, said they want to clear up as much space for pedestrians as possible for tonight's event.
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*Scroll down for ride report, photos and video

Nice moonwalk Curt!
-More images Video below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is dead.

This very sad news has led to respond with a bike ride, full of Michael Jackson music and memories.

Meet at 6:30 at the Peace Garden above the Eastbank Esplanade at east end of the Steel Bridge.
We'll hope to have a sound system with Michael Jackson music for sing-alongs and hopefully a microphone set up for karaoke opportunities. If you have gloves, please wear only one in honor of this great artist who had such a profound impact on many of our lives.
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Nearby residents Gregg Lavender
and Nikki Kress steal a kiss
in the middle of Alberta
Street last night.
- Slideshow below -
(Photos © J. Maus)

Last night, warm weather and the onset of summer brought throngs of Portlanders out to enjoy their neighborhood and the riches of their City at the first carfree Last Thursday on Alberta.

It was the first of six months that the main stretch of Alberta Street will be closed to cars from 6-10:00 pm.

The impact of not having to worry about car traffic is profound. I brought my family along last night and, after dancing in the street with the March Fourth Marching Band, we came across several dancers, musicians, artists, and performers who shared their gifts right in the middle of the road. (more...)

For several months last summer and fall, throngs of visitors to the popular Last Thursday art walk on NE Alberta St were able to walk, bike, skate, roll wheelchairs, push strollers, or stop to browse and socialize in the street without interference or danger from passing cars.

The street filled up quickly but still had plenty of room for nonmotorized passage in the first official carfree Last Thursday in July, 2008. (Photo © J. Maus)

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One of my photos from an exhibition
that will open Thursday night at
The Breeze Block Gallery.

I hope you haven't made plans for this Thursday night.

Besides the usual fun of Last Thursday on Alberta, this month's event will be officially carfree (more on that later). But if that's not enough to get out there, also this month is a very special bike and art event being hosted by the Breeze Block Gallery (at NE 10th and Alberta). (more...)

Cars won't be allowed on Alberta Street
during future Last Thursday events.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The City of Portland has decided to work with neighborhood groups and a coalition of city agencies to close NE Alberta Street to car traffic for the monthly Last Thursday event.

The agreement was made at a meeting in City Hall last night that was attended by a myriad of stakeholder groups including, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, Art on Alberta, TriMet, the Police Bureau, local neighborhood and business associations and others. (more...)

A carfree street, even without an official street closure permit. Photo taken on NE Alberta Street just east of 24th looking east.
More images
(Photos © J. Maus)

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The City of Portland, TriMet, and a neighborhood activist are moving forward on an effort to discourage cars from driving on NE Alberta Street during the monthly Last Thursday event.

Last month, Alberta Street neighborhood activist and business owner Magnus Johannesson drove two junker cars onto the street and created a temporary carfree zone before tow trucks and the Police Bureau showed up. (more...)

[Updated at 8:02pm on 6/30 -- see end of story.]

Two cars created a carfree zone
on Alberta Thursday night.
More images
(Photo: Stephen Upchurch)

In a brilliantly ironic bit of activism, two strategically placed cars helped created a three-block stretch of carfree streets during last week's Last Thursday event on Alberta Street.

The event was first reported by Stephen Upchurch, who shared what he saw on the Shift email list.
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Crowds gathered one last time at the
Alberta St. Clown House on NE 25th Ave.
(File photo)

This month's Last Thursday on Alberta was notable for several reasons: the clowns, the cops, and the crowds.

First and foremost, it was the last month in a long run of action at the Alberta Street Clown House (they're moving soon). By the time I left (just before sunset), the yard was already filling up and judging from these naked bike jousting photos on Dingo's blog, it looks like they had a fitting send-off.
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Just a quick post (I'm in Oakridge right now at MTB Oregon!) to share my photos from Last Thursday on Alberta.

It was a great night out there. Don't have time to share more, but hopefully the slideshow below will tell part of the story.
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This is their final month at the house on 24th and Alberta. Come one come all! Be a part of the fun or just see a show you'll never forget!

Dingo Dizmal, captain of
the Clown House.
(File photo)

Yes folks, it's true. Tonight at Last Thursday on Alberta Street, the Clown House (at NE 24th and Alberta) will play host to hijinks and fun for the very last time.

Due to rents that have shot far beyond a clown's wage, Dingo, Pinga, Chlorine, Will, and the rest of crew are looking for a new place to live. Ironically, they've been forced out of the neighborhood due to the gentrification that their presence helped hasten.

I'm sure wherever they end up, they'll become the same bastion of busking, irreverence and silliness that they've become known for on Alberta.
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Newlyweds Tiago and Adriane led the bike parade in a chariot.
(File photo)
Full slideshow below

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A winged devil jousting on a unicycle
wowed a packed crowd at the Clown House.
View gallery
(File photo)

Despite an increased police presence after last month's unfortunate incident, Last Thursday on Alberta got back to business last night.

The street pulsed with energy and creativity from street performers, local art, and of course bikes and cyclists of every persuasion imaginable.
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(*Editor's note, 4/29): My initial report got some facts wrong. I have tried to clean things up and I've added in more details. I regret the errors.

A car-less moment on Alberta.
File photo: 7/27/06

I wasn't there, but I just read the news on the Oregonian Blog that things got a little out of hand at Last Thursday on Alberta last night.

From the reports (which were confusing, so I apologize if my facts are not 100% correct), about 200 people had gathered at NE 24th and Alberta Street and were dancing in the streets at about 11:00 pm. When the cops showed up to check things out, they got sidetracked by a drunk fight at NE 18th. From here the details are sketchy, but they involve a handgun, a taser, allegedly thrown bottles at cops, and so on...
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Where else can you see grown men dressed as clowns, racing around a mud pit on mini-bikes?
File photo: 4/26/06

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I've covered NE Alberta Street a lot on this site. That's partly because it's in my neck of the woods, but also because it's just such an interesting street. It's full of creative bike culture and has a vibe unlike anywhere else in the city.
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