With her always handy camera, Avery captures all the hottest happenings in Portland.
March 30, 2009
Crowds, art & good eats fill CeleSoiree
Whenever I get a chance to attend an event at the ancient Portland Company complex, I'm always excited to see how this funky space will be transformed. During this past Friday's CeleSoiree, I wasn't disappointed. This annual fundraiser for the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project did an amazing job turning an old warehouse into a stylish party venue.
When we arrived about an hour and half after the party started, the place was absolutely packed. ILAP is still compiling its numbers, but it was clear there were many more people than at last year's event.
It was easy to see why. The crowds were entertained with African drumming from Jordan Benissan and Celtic music from Boghat.
And who wouldn't want to come to an event with heaps and heaps of delicious food from a long list of local restaurants and caterers? These included Local Sprouts Cooperative, Bonobo, Food Factory Miyake, Green Elephant Bistro, Big Sky Bread Company, Aurora Provisions, Asmara, Standard Baking Company, Silly's, La Bodega Latina, Haggarty's and Rosemont Market.
Another big attraction came in the form of the 180 pieces of art in the silent auction. I was particularly thrilled to see the abstract botanical print at the far right of this display. It's a limited edition print from Field Gallery artists Friederike Hamann and Colin Sullivan-Stevens called "Green Tangle," and I happen to have one hanging in my bedroom. I hope whoever went home with that piece enjoys it as much as we have.
Since I spent most of my time at the gathering gabbing away with fun people, such as Michael and Melissa Bourque, Bree LaCasse, Chris Moore, Ina Demers and Collette Bouchard, I didn't get any great shots of the food or the music. Thankfully photographer Sam Cousins has more photos you can check out on his Flickr site.
Latest Comments
leer 127 commented: this is dope really dont get in to portland to much but this is sick. from ...
Kristy commented: I'm never going back. Terrible service followed by bland, overpriced food....
Michelle commented: Thanks for the article, Avery! I linked it on Goodwill's FB page!...
Gia commented: How refreshing to find homemade breads and the freshest ingredients in town...
Martha Bryon commented: NEW HOURS! We will now be open from 12:00 to 2:30 for Lunch and from 5:30 ...
kevin commented: Had a enjoyable time not to loud nice people @ wait staff... I would go bac...


CeleSoiree was the most fun I've had in ages! It was so well organized and the food, the art, the space and the crowd were absolutely gorgeous.
Posted by MariaApril 1, 2009 11:56 AM