Portland Events, Music, Art, Entertainment, Sustainability | PDXPIPELINE.com

From Our Sponsors @ Portland Saturday Market:
It’s August, and Labor Day is just around the corner. For many this means the end of summer; flip-flops are tucked away, and fall is heralded in with the promise of cooler air, the start of a new school year, and football.

But, wait! We aren’t there yet. The weather is still warm and the sun is still shining...

It’s business as usual at Portland Saturday Market, and we invite you to have one last fling with summer! Join us on Saturdays and Sundays, browse through our booths, savor all of the sights and sounds of the season, and enjoy the fruits of our labor!

Related: Portland Saturday Market | Info + Survival Guide, FREE, Crafts, Food, Music

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Live Music At Portland Saturday Market:

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It’s Gonna Be A Zoo!

The Oregon Zoo’s Zoo Animal Presenters (ZAP) programis an innovative, 3-year, paid internship program that has been working since 1999 to connect urban youth with animals and nature while providing a comprehensive workforce training program for urban teens.ZAP team members – trained in natural science, animal handling, interpretation methods and public speaking – gain confidence and real world work experience by returning to the community to provide live animal-based outreach programming to children and families under served by conservation programs.

The ZAP Team will be at Portland Saturday Market on Sunday, September 4, 12 – 2PM

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Meet Your Maker: Horn Of Africa (Food Booth #20)

Website: www.hornofafrica.net

1. How did you get started?
I was a vendor in California, in the late 80s, at a flea market. I moved to Oregon in June 1990. I went to PCC in 1994. After graduating from PCC, I transferred to PSU. However, I missed the San Jose Flea Market so, I started asking people I know if there was a flea market in Portland. We found the flea market in North Portland; it was an indoor market and not what we were looking for. I then asked one of my classmates, Vicki Brown, and she gave us complete information about Portland Saturday Market. My wife Khadija and I tried to go there, but we were stopped at Skidmore Fountain Market. We did not get to the right market. The next day Vicki came with us: we went to the office and ask for an application and told them what we want to sell, and they were very excited because they did not have African food.

After we were accepted, the main problem was finding a commissary to prepare the food: we went to Pitman restaurant supply, who asked for $500 dollars a month in rent, it was too expensive for us at that time. However, the Portland Saturday Market recommended us to check with Good Food Commissary in Northwest. They leased to us for $125 dollars a month. The office was very helpful by giving us that information.

2.Who has influenced you most in your life?
When I was in middle school my guardian, which is my cousin pulled me out of school to have me work for him because of labor union’s problems back then in Ethiopia. At that particular time, the country was undergoing a change from capitalism to socialism. He didn’t want to have problems with his employees. He fired them and made me responsible for the store. I was too young to take care of the business. I was very sad to quit school and work in a clothing shop. My teacher, Mr. Silashie, who was his very good friend who came to me and said don’t be sad I will do all the best I can to convince your cousin to allow you come back to school at least part time.

He went to my cousin and asked him, “Why did you pull the boy out of school? Shame on you. He is one of my best students in the class. Please don’t destroy this young boy’s future. In the future, he will benefit you and the country as well. Please, I want the boy back in my class. He can work for you after noon, but in the morning, I want him in the class.” He convinced my cousin and came back to me and said, “I convinced him; don’t worry you will come back.”

Finally, he advised me- he said, “I want you to be educated; education is not only to get a good job but also to be the good example for your children in the future.” He said, “At least you have to graduate high school. If you are graduated from high school- even after the age of forty years- you will be able to come back and finish college. He also said, “Remember I am an ink, and you are a paper if you wrote on a paper with an ink and try to erase it again, you cannot. I want you to be my paper. This means everything I teach you has to remain in your brain forever.” Education is an asset that goes with you to the grave. Everything else will stay behind; therefore my middle school teacher, Mr Silashie has an influence in my life and remained my hero as well.

3. What is the difference between PSM and other Markets
PSM is a unique an open-air market, where all the local vendors sell what they make, not what is imported or purchased. It is a market where people can meet the local artisans. In other markets, vendors sell imported goods rather than making it themselves.

4. Describe the difference between “arts” and “crafts”?
Craft is originally a German word meaning “power or ability”. I believe “crafts” implies more technical skills; like those needed to build a ship or bridge. Whereas, “arts” involve a hobby, something that someone enjoys doing. Musicians, painters and poets are artists. If someone paints his favorite color or draws his favorite picture on the boat it will turn to arts. To me the main difference, when I buy a piece of art from PSM, I want to see the signature otherwise I don’t know who made it. The signature makes a big difference between arts and crafts.

5. What is the last book you read?
From Dictatorship to Democracy by Gene Sharp and Matt Gaffney