Welcome to the July edition of What’s Up in Beaumont-Wilshire — your monthly roundup of meetings, news, events, and ways to get involved in the neighborhood.
Meetings & Engagement
BWNA Board Meeting — July 13 (Monday), 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Sylvan Learning, 4300 NE Fremont St., Suite 150. Held in person and broadcast via Zoom (link posted on the Upcoming Events page prior to the meeting).
In addition to regular updates from our committees, topics to be covered include:
- Guest speaker: Community Development Director Sky Waters from NAYA (Native American Youth & Family Center), the new owners of Bethany Lutheran Church, to detail plans for the property. Q&A to follow.
- Updates on internal BWNA business and projects, including:
- The recently opened Beaumont Crossing plaza
- BWNA participation at Fremont Fest (sponsored by the BBA)
- The BWNA-sponsored Art & Garden Tour (Sat., July 18)
- Pedestrian safety measures
- A proposed city zoning change aimed at incentivizing multiplexes and apartment buildings in our neighborhood
- …and more!
A full agenda will be posted on the Upcoming Events page prior to the meeting. As always, all meetings are open to the public — please come join your neighbors. See on the calendar.
BWNA Events Committee Meeting — July 7 (Tuesday), 7:00–8:30 p.m.
For meeting location, contact committee chair John Sandie at SandieFam@gmail.com.
BWNA Communications Committee Meeting — July 8 (Wednesday), 4:30–6:00 p.m.
For meeting location, contact committee chair Steven Avery at hello@stevenavery.com.
Community News
Public Plaza Update
Barriers and outdoor furniture are being installed at the intersection of NE 44th Avenue and Fremont Street, kicking off the summer season with our new community plaza. Beaumont Crossing, the official name for the plaza, is the result of months of hard work by volunteers from the BWNA and the Beaumont Business Association. NE 44th Avenue will be closed to traffic at Fremont for the duration of the three-month plaza trial period.
2026 PDX World Naked Bike Ride to Launch from Wilshire Park
Thousands of riders are expected to descend upon our neighborhood on Saturday, July 25. Wilshire Park is likely to be entirely packed with celebrants as they converge beginning around 6:30 p.m., before the official ride starts at 8:00 p.m. Parking and transportation routes will be significantly affected — and the ride’s final destination and route will not be announced until the ride begins. Note that riders will not return to the park at the conclusion of the event. For more information visit pdxwnbr.org. See on the calendar.
Bethany Lutheran’s Future
Bethany Lutheran Church is being gifted to the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), which plans to build elder housing at the site. Find out more at the BWNA board meeting on July 13, or read more from OPB.
Play for Free at The Paladins League
The Paladins League co-owner Jess Monsey announced in a recent email that the board game-playing space on NE Fremont Street will no longer charge for access to its extensive board game library. “We hope this helps even more people to enjoy each other’s good company,” Monsey wrote. Look for more details in the July–August BWNA newsletter, or visit thepaladinsleague.com.
Flags on Fremont Continue to Disappear
Over 35 of our orange pedestrian safety flags are missing — up from a count of 20 just last month. Some were found burned. BWNA is interested in tips regarding the missing flags. If you have any information, please email info@bwnapdx.org.
Events in B-W and Nearby
Community Plaza Street Painting
June 28 (Sunday), 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. — Beaumont Crossing (NE Fremont & 44th Ave.)
Join in creating community art by painting the street at the new public plaza. All ages are welcome, and painting supplies will be provided.
Free Live Music for All Ages
June 28, July 12, July 26 (Sundays), 5:00–7:00 p.m. — Concordia Commons (NE Killingsworth & 30th Ave.)
Every 2nd and 4th Sunday, June through September, the Concordia Neighborhood Association is putting on a series of live music events with a family focus. Event details at the Concordia Neighborhood Association events page.
- 6/28 Tyler Smith — DJ with family-friendly grooves
- 7/12 Julia and the Astronauts — Americana from the Gorge, Portland, Vancouver, and beyond
- 7/26 Portland Mountain Boys — string band music, old time and timeless tunes played with heart
First Thursdays on Fremont Street
July 2, August 6, September 3 (Thursdays) — Times vary — NE Fremont Street in Beaumont Village
Businesses on Fremont Street host special events on the first Thursday of the month through September. Visit the BBA’s Instagram (@bbapdx) for more details or look for balloons in front of participating businesses.
BWNA Neighborhood Yard Sale
July 11 (Saturday), 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. — Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood
Whether you’re ready to declutter and make some cash or want to hunt for one-of-a-kind treasures, you won’t want to miss this community yard sale! BWNA will promote the event and produce an interactive map of participating households. No fee to participate.
BWNA Art & Garden Tour
July 18 (Saturday), 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. — Beaumont-Wilshire — Tickets: $17 donation, limited
In its third year, this BWNA-sponsored event offers the opportunity to discover five private gardens in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood, each with art for sale displayed in the gardens. Get ideas for your own garden, meet new people, connect with old friends, and simply partake in the community — all while helping BWNA raise funds for our many free events throughout the year. Thank you to our sponsor, local plant retailer Garden Fever.
Fremont Fest Marketplace: Through the Ages
August 1 (Saturday), 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. — NE Fremont Street in Beaumont Village
The Beaumont Business Association hosts this family-friendly festival on NE Fremont Street between NE 42nd and NE 51st avenues, with over 200 vendors offering a diverse mix of local goods, food, and artisan products. The theme is “Through the Ages,” a celebration of four decades of community, small businesses, music, memories, and neighborhood tradition.
Get Involved
Meet people. Do good. Have fun! For more information about ways to get involved, visit our Get Involved page.
Outgoing & love the neighborhood and the newsletter?
Do you love to meet new people and would enjoy extolling the virtues of the BWNA newsletter to prospective advertisers? If this type of volunteer effort would hit your hot buttons, we’d love to have you on the newsletter team. Advertising revenue is the main fundraising source for BWNA’s events, so it’s an important role. Email Editor@BWNApdx.org if you’re interested.
Calling STEM/STEAM volunteers
Help bring back the Science Fair to Alameda Elementary, or a Family Science night. These events provide elementary students with an invaluable opportunity to nurture their curiosity, develop critical thinking skills, and get hands-on learning experience in a friendly, supportive environment. If interested and able, contact Julia Love at vpcurriculum@alamedaschool.org.
Ideas for our Speakers Forum?
Birds, bees, seeds? History or herstory? City politics? Aging in place? Downsizing? In 2025, BWNA logged talks on neighborhood history, beneficial bugs, going all-electric, and the Cascadia Subduction Zone. What’s in store for 2026? Send ideas to John Sandie at SandieFam@gmail.com.
Be a Trash Walker
Help keep the neighborhood clean by picking up trash and removing graffiti. BWNA holds two organized cleanup events per year, but regular attention keeps the problem in check. To receive free cleaning supplies, email Angela Frome.
Help with events
Looking to get involved, but not too involved? We’d love your occasional help with neighborhood events — many hands make light work. Email BWNA Events Chair John Sandie to be notified when help is needed.
Newsletter distribution team
Get a walk in, meet new neighbors, and help bring news to the neighborhood. The distribution team is seeking people to hand-deliver the BWNA newsletter to a prescribed route every other month, or in a fill-in capacity. Email John Sandie or Georgina Head for more information.
Ongoing BWNA Events
BWNA Board Meetings are held the 2nd Monday of January, March, May, July, September, and November from 7:00–8:30 p.m. The public is welcome; time for public input is limited.
BWNA General Meetings are the 2nd Monday of February, April, June, August, October, and December from 7:00–8:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend and participate.
Meeting locations change; most meetings are also held via Zoom. Look for current info in your monthly email from BWNA or check the Upcoming Events page on the day of the meeting.