Meet and Greet BBQ

Last Sunday may have started off as a rainy and dreary day, but by 2:00 the rain had stopped and people were walking around the Alberta neighborhood again. That day Eric Steen and Sandy Sampson hosted the Meet and Greet BBQ at The Lot. People from that community had been invited and encouraged to bring something for the grill. Neighbors contributed chicken, corn, salad, and drinks. Marco Frattaroli, a local restaurant owner, roasted a pig and there were veggie burgers as well. About 25 community members met each other for the first time.

Eric and Sandy used the Meet and Greet primarily as a way to meet people in the neighborhood. They also used the day to launch the Neighborhood Resource Exchange, which essentially will connect neighbors who can help each other in various ways. Neighbors can fill out a form and drop it in a box near the lot if they have any needs or resources to offer other community members.

Sandy has a slideshow here.

Launch Day Film Stills

A few stills from the moon launch footage.

Moon Launch a Total Disaster

Dear Loyal Supporters.

I regret to inform you that my recent moon launch was entirely unsuccessful. Though I am truly embarrassed at the utter failure of my attempt, I appreciate your continuing support. Please stay tuned as I continue my quest to embark on the first moon voyage by an astronaut assuming unsolicited corporate sponsorship.

Please enjoy this inspirational quote in recompense for the pepsi-mentos rocket fuel debacle.

"Freedoms ring will never ring brighter than when moon temples shine brightly in the nights sky."

-anonymous aspiring astronaut

most sincerely,

Cyrus.

Moon Launch this Sunday!

May 18th
Pepsi Rocket Ship Moon Voyage Launch!
host: Cyrus W Smith

Cyrus W Smith will be kicking off the a lot of ______ event series with a a very special moon voyage launch party! Traveling on his home made Pepsi rocket ship, this exciting countdown will have fabulous prizes and refreshments. Upon reaching the moon, Cyrus hopes to enslave the space monkeys who live on the moon, erecting a temple, and eventually manufacturing a rocket ship for a return to earth.

Cyrus Smith is a huge fan of Michael Jordan, Christmas, and the Pepsi-Cola soft drink corporation. Often described as "unendingly optimistic," Cyrus devotes most of his time to a mail art project (cyruswsmith.com), a radio program (arttalkam.blogspot.com), and The Pancake Clubhouse Historic Township an Activity Destination for the Living Arts (welcomes you), an art-type situation and event space in NE Portland. (pancakeclubhouse.blogspot.com).

A Lot of Projects

This blog will be dedicated to the documentation of "a lot of _______," a series of convergences, experiments, collaborations, and adventures initiated by the students of the PSU MFA Social Practice Program. Originally located at Neghborhood Projects (15th and Alberta), just south of Alberta on 15th street, Neighborhood Projects had now expanded to encompass activities all over Portland, Oregon. Please see project posts, map, and calendar for details on current endeavors.