In the Holiday Season 2011, the Husband & his loyal sidekick- Lil'Jake produced a Pop-Up shop- Boys' Fort, as it turns out, the most successful shop in the Downtown Portland Pop-Up Shop program. The store was to be just for the season, hoping to garner interest in the duo's design services. Boys' Fort, named for a structure in our back garden, created by The Husband, took on a life of its own, with a big number of fans & excited customers.
A month ago, The Husband & his lackey re-opened the shop in the neighborhood in which we reside. Some would see it as a risky move. Although Kenton has gradually improved in the 11+ years that we have been here, the 3 blocks of downtown have the look of a down-on-its-luck area, with several boarded up storefronts.
I love Kenton, & I feel invested in making it a truly terrific, yet un-commercial (no Starbucks) neighborhood in Portland. Kenton is evolving into something special & something fantastic. For those of you that remember Portland's Mississippi Neighborhood or Ballard in Seattle before they were the hip, thriving neighborhoods, you'll remember that just a decade ago, the areas were basically derelict & empty, rather like me. All it took was a few brave entrepreneurs to come in & begin to fill the void, & am a fan of all each one.
Salvage Works & Solabee Botanicals had work represented at The Pop-Up Shop version. Now BOYS' FORT shares a space with Salvage Works & Solabee at 2030 North Willis Boulevard. These local, small businesses are helping to make Kenton a spot worth exploring & dropping some money in.
The following photos were shot by my buddy, the bodacious Bobby Bell at Third Thursday, the Kenton neighborhood's monthly street party.
Every September, the swifts return to an abandoned industrial Chimney in Downtown Kenton
A month ago, The Husband & his lackey re-opened the shop in the neighborhood in which we reside. Some would see it as a risky move. Although Kenton has gradually improved in the 11+ years that we have been here, the 3 blocks of downtown have the look of a down-on-its-luck area, with several boarded up storefronts.
I love Kenton, & I feel invested in making it a truly terrific, yet un-commercial (no Starbucks) neighborhood in Portland. Kenton is evolving into something special & something fantastic. For those of you that remember Portland's Mississippi Neighborhood or Ballard in Seattle before they were the hip, thriving neighborhoods, you'll remember that just a decade ago, the areas were basically derelict & empty, rather like me. All it took was a few brave entrepreneurs to come in & begin to fill the void, & am a fan of all each one.
Salvage Works & Solabee Botanicals had work represented at The Pop-Up Shop version. Now BOYS' FORT shares a space with Salvage Works & Solabee at 2030 North Willis Boulevard. These local, small businesses are helping to make Kenton a spot worth exploring & dropping some money in.
The following photos were shot by my buddy, the bodacious Bobby Bell at Third Thursday, the Kenton neighborhood's monthly street party.
To the distress of neighborhood Mommies, this is the official Boys' Fort Slingshot, not to be confused with the official Boys' Fort Sling.
Q. What does Boy's Fort have in common with your host- Stephen?
A. They both feature old wood.
The Chicken Coop is by the guys & gals of Salvage Works. The plants are from Solabee. What Portland homestead should be without the ubiquitous chickens? Very Portland.
An unidentified Portland Dude eyes the fort.
Boys' Fort, Solabee Botanicals & Salvage Works collaborated on the must-have Baby Doll Head Planters that sold out during the holidays. They're back & they have their eye on you.
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