December 2016 FEATURES The Southwest Portland Post • 5 Holiday Gala kicks off the season in Multnomah Village By KC Cowan The Southwest Portland Post If you keep your eyes peeled, you just may see a jolly old elf strolling around Multnomah Village on Dec. 2 and 3, perhaps checking to see who’s been naughty or nice. It’s just one of the activities planned by the Multnomah Village Business Association for the annual Holiday Gala. The two-day event is slated to include caroling, a tree- lighting, gingerbread making and much more. “It’s a two-day event for us now,” explained MVBA executive director Randy Bonella. “It starts Friday evening about 4:30 or so, with horse drawn wagons at the Multnomah Arts Center, and then at 6:15 at the Key Bank.” Friday night also includes carolers around the Christmas tree, which is set up by Village Beads on the corner of Southwest 35th Avenue and Capitol Highway. Umpqua Bank provides the strings of lights and n e i g h b o r s a d d o r n a m e n t s . The tree is officially lit at 6:42 p.m. Why such a precisely odd time? “Because it’s weird,” laughed B o n e l l a . “ N o rh y m e o r re a s o n for it.” All the stores will have special treats and specials, and Village D e n t a l w i l l h a v e f re e t re a t s a t Umpqua Bank with a raffle at 7 p.m. Shopping at all the stores continues until 9 p.m. that evening. Don’t sleep in on Saturday, or you might miss the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at the Lucky Lab brewpub from 8–11 a.m. Santa Claus will be there and youngsters (or just the young at heart) can get their photo staken with him, and give him their Christmas wish list. At 2 p.m., head over to Riversgate Church and make your own little gingerbread house for your decorations. There’s a $5 suggested donation, to cover costs. Then re t u r n t o t h e v i l l a g e s t o re s t o get a head start on your holiday shopping. The village businesses chip in to pay for all the fun to thank neighbors for their support during the year. “ I t ’ s a l w a y s g o o d t o re m i n d people that the shops in Multnomah Village are locally owned, small businesses,” said Bonella. “Many of the shop owners live in the area, too. And shopping local is a great way to keep your neighborhood strong and vital. So we always try to remind people to shop local.” The gala also kicks off the annual Golden Ticket shopping bonus, which runs through Dec. 31. The tickets are accepted at participating shops in both Multnomah Village and Hillsdale. Shoppers who purchase something that meets the store’s minimum requirement a re re w a rd e d w i t h a golden ticket. On the back is a list of participating shops and you can then take your golden ticket to that store for a special discount or treat. “Some people use it like a treasure hunt and go shop store to store,” said Bonella. The golden tickets help keep the holiday spirit going through the end of the year and they give people just one more good reason to “shop local” and support all the businesses that make Multnomah Village so special. Peachtree Gifts owner Petie Farkas (left) and employee Melissa strike a pose during the annual Holiday Gala event held on the first Friday of December in Multnomah Village. (Post file photo by Erik Vidstrand) Golden Ticket 2016 Your Ticket to Local Holiday Savings Now thru December 31st er nd mi Re Join us for Multnomah Village’s Holiday Gala: December 2nd & 3rd Participating Businesses A horse-drawn carriage leaves Key Bank in Multnomah Village in 2015. (Photo courtesy of Topanien Gifts) Hillsdale Multnomah Village Annastasia Salon Anne Bocci Annie Bloom’s Books Antoinette Antique Jewelry Craft Factory Healty Pets Northwest Indigo Traders Jacquelines Found & Fabulous Jones & Jones Jewelers Jules of Morrocco Clothing Little Shop of Drawers Maggies Boutique Multnomah Antiques Baker & Spice Cakery Casa Vaca Dairy Hill Ice Cream Down to Earth Cafe Driftwood Coffee Multnomah Marketplace Multnomah Village Dental Northwest Wools Peachtree Gifts Peggy Sundays Sara J Switch Shoes & Clothing Thinker Toys Topanian Global Gifts Village Beads Village Family Dental Village Frame & Gallery Hillsdale Veterinary Hospital Other Worlds Games & Comics Paloma Clothing Portland European Facials Southwest Portland Marial Arts The UPS Store Food & Drink GiGi’s Cafe Grand Central Baking Hatties Sweet Shop Marco’s Cafe Medley Nectar O’Connor’s Oak & Olive Otto & Anita’s Prosperity Pie Shoppe Renner’s Grill Salvador Molly’s Sasquatch Brewing Sip D’Vine Verde Cocina Special Thanks to our Gold Sponsors