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Neighborhood History NORTHEAST PDX

BY CHAUNCEY WHEELER-SCOTT
Staff Writer

The Pioneer Log features

april 6, 2012

upcoming events
ADVENTURES CLOSE TO HOME
A BENEFIT FESTIVAL FOR ROCK N ROLL CAMP FOR GIRLS

sther Klein sits in her red leather recliner, sewing neck pillows for the Veterans hospital, chatting with my mother in her typical lively and enthusiastic tone. Ester is my parents next-door neighbor; she is in her eighties and has lived in the same house in NE Portland for 64 years. She has seen the many transformations that this part of Portland has gone through, and has been a part of the ever-growing culture of Northeast since she was in her twenties. When she first came to the Northeast everything was dirt and gravel roads, nothing but farmland and beautiful trees. Now, the Northeast is a successful and thriving urban center, known for its culture and for being the most diverse neighborhood in Portland, both racially and socioeconomically. Having spent all of her adult life in the Northeast, Esther can recall the simpler and more rural culture that predominated in the Northeast for many years. When my children were growing up, we had chickens, rabbits, geese, orchards and vegetable gardens. The only meat I ever bought was beef, and we would buy what we wanted in bulk. We made a freezer for it at some point. That was the only freezer we had. There are still traces of this older time in the Northeast; Esther owns a peahen (a female peacock) and a lot more chickens than regulations on animals within city limits allow. When I inquired

about this, she explained that anyone who lived in the area before the regulations were created dont have to obey them. Because the percentage of people who remain in the Northeast is so high, most of her neighbors still have an abundance of animals. Thomas Wheeler, my grandfather, grew up in a part of Northeast near where Esther lives. He is 64 years old now, and his recollections echo Esthers. He explained that during World War II, there was an increase in community gardensthey could be found all over the Northeast. While his stories of a rural Portland contrast with our modern experience, one thing has remained the same through all the years; Alberta Street has always been a center for entertainment. Thomas told me about a theater on 30th and Alberta, where we would go watch matinee cowboy films and Sci-Fis on Saturdays in black and white. My favorite was Buck Rodgers, he traveled in a spaceship. It cost us five cents to see the movie. Thomas also attended the Kennedy School for most of his elementary education. The Kennedy School is one of the biggest landmarks in Northeast. The building is now owned by Mike and Brian McMenamin. It is now a party and concert venue, brewery, restaurant, hotel, cigar room, bar and movie theater. Its also a great place to soak in a heated outdoor pool. It is an eccentric and delightful des-

tination for community members, families, tourists and friends. The history of the Kennedy school is also interesting. It was originally opened as a K-8 school in 1915. However, the school also served as a public meeting hall, a Red Cross drawing center, a public playground and on a few occasions, a flood relief shelter. Sadly, the school was closed at the end of the 1974-5 school year, due to declining enrollment and overwhelming repair costs. Following the closure, a coalition of neighbors, former students, past PTA presidents and the Portland Development Commission fought several demolition orders and saved the building. It wasnt until 1997 that the McMenamin duo purchased the building and started renovations in the spring of that year. It was a long time coming, but on October 22, 1997, the original principals bell was rung on the front steps at 7 a.m. to announce the reopening of the Kennedy School. It has become something much different from the school it was almost 100 years ago, but still retains its value and service to the community, existing as a testament to all the history it carries. Inside, the walls (and ceiling) are lined with old photos of former students and artwork inspired by their stories. The Kennedy School stands as a beautiful example of the rich tapestry of history, culture and community that has defined the Northeast for so many years.

Today, 3:30 pm Stamm PASSOVER SEDER Today, 4:30 pm Gregg Pavillion RSVP at http://pdxhillel.org/

3RD ANNUAL LAW AND DISORDER CONFERENCE Today through Sunday PSU Smith Memorial Student Union

GLOBAL POVERTY PROJECT PRESENTATION Today, 7 pm Council Chamber LUAU 2012 Saturday, 5 pm Pamplin Center
50TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS SYMPOSIUM April 9-11 Various locations on campus Schedule at lclark.edu

SISTER SPIT: NEXT GENERATION

MULTIMEDIA, QUEER-CENTRIC BRILLIANCE

April 12, 7 pm Council Chamber

Middle Eastern food carts

A search for superior shawarma throughout Southwest Portland
BY KEVIN RYAN
Staff Writer

Top five

Over the break, I had plenty of time to kill and a craving for shawarma. With all the wonderful food carts downtown, it was hard to pick where to go for my fix of lamby goodness. I was overwhelmed by pita, overpowered by tzatziki sauce and completely dominated by the smell of lamb. While my brain went into panic, my stomach took control and guided me to five of the best Middle Eastern food carts in Portland.
PHOTOS BY KEVIN RYAN

Adams King of Shawarma and Gyro SW 3rd and Ash The sign is right, Adam is the King of Shawarma. This shawarma is loaded with everything, including hummus, fries and lots of really garlicky sauce. Its more on the expensive side at $9, but you get plenty of shawarma for your money. It has everything needed to make an exceptional blend of savory, spicy, sweet and fresh. The fries are a particularly nice touch When all of my friends go to Voodoo Donuts, I walk down a block and get a shawarma from Adams and then gloat about the superiority of my purchase.

Sheish Kabob Grill SW 10th and Alder This is one of the first food carts I ate at in Portland, and I still go back every once in a while. For $8.50, their lamb shawarma is a worth it, even if the wait is unusually long for a food cart. There is a generous amount of perfectly cooked lamb that creates a wonderful textural experience with the crisp lettuce and the soft pita. Their shawarma is the quintessential shawarma, hitting on the savory lamb and the fresh vegetables wrapped in a warm pita.

El Masry Egyptian SW 3rd and Washington These guys know what theyre doing with lamb gyros. For just $7, I got a lamb gyro the size of a rolled up Sunday newspaper. Their tatziki sauce, although a bit watery for my taste, has a wonderful hint of olive that is not common in lamb gyros, so its a special treat for olive lovers. They will also give you as much hot sauce as you like, which always pleases me. Did I mention the gyro is gigantic? You could feed a whole football player with it!

Sabrias Arabic Food SW 5th and Oak Sabrias is a good benchmark for any type of Arabic food. Sabrias is especially good for college students on a budget: I got a falafel for just $5. All the ingredients are cooked just the right amount, so the falafel is not completely dry and still holds its integrity when you bite into it. Ask for extra sauce though, otherwise you wont get much. While not a particularly remarkable food cart, it is cheap and has more vegetarian options than other Middle Eastern carts.

Sultans Kitchen SW 4th and Hall Yeah, its a bit out of the way, but its well worth the trip. A doner kebab (gyro meat in a burrito made of pita) only costs $6. This is a very authentic Turkish doner. There was a perfect amount of spicy sundried tomato sauce at play with the succulent, savory lamb. With the addition of a little lettuce, tomato and tatziki, this doner gets everything right. It is toasted to perfection, and it oozes with sauce. The combination of flavors is beautifully vibrant, I actually laughed out loud as I was eating it. People looked at me weird, but I didnt care because I had a doner.