CULTURAL DISTRICT UNITES
TO CELEBRATE ARRIVAL OF PORTLAND STREETCAR
Unprecedented collaboration by the diverse residents of Portland's Cultural District
to result in full day of performances, hands-on activities and demonstrations
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Portland, Ore.... In an unprecedented collaboration by the many diverse and vibrant organizations that comprise Portland's Cultural District, the arrival of the Portland Streetcars in the city's South Park Blocks on Saturday, July 21, will be greeted by a full day of open houses, music, performances, hands-on art activities and demonstrations. Planned and organized by a subcommittee of the Association for Portland Progress' Cultural District Council, the event is one of five celebrations scheduled along the Portland Streetcar route on opening day. As a special gift from the Cultural District, Oregon Symphony Associate Conductor Norman Leyden and a Symphony brass ensemble will present an original arrangement of "The Trolley Song" at the Streetcar's media kickoff July 20.

"This in an unprecedented collaboration showcasing the city's cultural riches located in and around the Cultural District," said Robert Mawson, senior program manager for the Association for Portland Progress.

Hosted by the Portland Art Museum, the Cultural District Streetcar Celebration is coordinated by representatives from the Museum, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA), the Oregon Historical Society, the Paramount Hotel and Southpark Restaurant, among others. City streets between Broadway and 10th Avenue (east to west) and Salmon and Jefferson Streets (north to south) will be closed for the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. event.

Highlights of the day will include: non-stop entertainment in Shemanski Plaza headlined by the Symphony's Norman Leyden and his Big Band with Shirley Nanette; free admission to the Portland Art Museum during the "Clement Greenberg: A Critic's Collection" and "Duane Hanson: Virtual Reality" exhibitions; free admission to the Oregon History Center for a presentation on the evolution of streetcars and a nonstop slide show on Portland's old streetcars; demonstrations by the chefs from Higgins, Southpark, Dragonfish, Heathman Hotel and Oritalia restaurants; free rickshaw rides; free backstage tours of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall as well as the Newmark and Winningstad Theaters; an outdoor wine garden with Wines on Broadway and BridgePort Ale, and booths and activities sponsored by Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theater, the NW Print Council, the NW Film Center, Portland Arts and Lectures, Portland Center Stage and many other arts, cultural and heritage organizations.

In addition, there will be many interactive activities designed for children and families, including an Oregon Symphony instrument "petting zoo," old-fashioned games and hands-on artifact kits on streetcars at the Oregon History Center and hands-on art activities at the Portland Art Museum. A children's activity tent will feature puppet making, mask-making and drama activities sponsored by Tears of Joy, Oregon Children's Theatre and the Tygres Heart Shakespeare Theatre.

The performance lineup for the mainstage in Shemanski Plaza (behind the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall), scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day, features: Tears of Joy; flamenco dancing by Oregon Ballet Theater; Oregon Symphony ensembles; improvisations by Oregon Children's' Theater; a Metropolitan Youth Symphony ensemble; "Take a Trip Around the World" from the Portland Opera; Metro Dancers; Czechoslovakian performers; and headliners Norman Leyden and his Big Band featuring vocalist Shirley Nanette.

Many of the downtown area's favorite food vendors also will be on site throughout the day.

11 - 11:30 a.m. , Shemanski Stage

Oregon Symphony Brass Quintet
Steve Conrow, trumpet
Craig Gibson, trumpet.
Barton Parker, horn
David Brian, trumpet
JatTik Clark, tuba

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Oregon Symphony tent near the Portland Art Museum

Brass Petting Zoo
Steve Conrow, trumpet.
Barton Parker, horn
David Brian, trombone.

1 - 2 p.m., Oregon Symphony tent near Portland Art Museum

String Petting Zoo
Erin Furbee, violin.
Matt Faust, violin
Jason Schooler, bass

1:30-2:45 p.m., Shemanski Stage

Norman Leydan and his Big Band with guest vocalist Shirley Nannette

2:30-3:30 p.m., Oregon Symphony tent near the Portland Art Museum

Woodwind Petting Zoo
Martha Herby, flute
Cheri Ann Egbers, clarinet
Karen Wagner, oboe

3:45-4:15 p.m., Shemanski Stage

Bassoon Brothers:
Mark Eubanks
Janice Richardson
Steve Harris Wangler
Mary Harris Wangler

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