What a Celebration of Green Streets’ First Year!
Despite the torrential rain Friday, September 26th, there was a terrific turnout for Portland Green Streets’ Celebration of Our 1st Year! (For other photos and notes from September, click here)
Over 50 Green Streeters convened at the super-welcoming Green Streets’ sponsor Slainte Winebar (special thanks is owed to owner, Ian Farnsworth, for all his work on the event!)
As Green Streeter Ian Riddell said, “Even though it will be a soggy bike ride home, I had to ride during the first anniversary of Green Streets!” Folks arrived on foot, by bike, via bus and carpool (and a few single occupancy vehicles – many of which doubled as carpools due to the weather at the end of the evening!) 
Everyone enjoyed great music from Chris Keenan and Jim Tasse, $2 pints, a Green Streets Day Proclamation delivered by Portland’s Mayor Ed Suslovic, and tasty food from Aurora Provisions, Down-Home Cookin’ (next door to Slainte!), Pepper Club, and North Star Cafe.
Between sets, Green Streets’ lead organizer, Sarah Cushman, took some time to honor the accomplishments of those who have participated in Green Streets Day over the first year, including:
- the 150+ people who have signed in their participation online – collectively saving over the past 12 Green Streets Days: 5,723 single-occupancy vehicle miles, 231 gallons of gas, $883 in cash, and 4,600 pounds of CO2 emissions – with many Green Streeters getting around green more throughout the month, too. Imagine how much we’ll save as the number of participants keeps growing!
the 50 people who have volunteered to help organize the Green Streets effort in their schools and workplaces!- and the 50 businesses and organizations which have joined the initiative by offering fun incentives to Green Streets participants!
As Regina Booth – pictured here celebrating Green Streets earlier in the day with co-workers (all members of the Green Team at Spectrum Printing and Graphics) – said, “The Green Streets Day Annual Celebration was such a HUGE success! The place was packed. The music was great, the seating was very comfortable. The best surprise was that so many people I knew personally were ‘Green Streeters’!”
Thanks to everyone for coming out and making it such a great night! And save the date: Wed, Nov 12th, for a “Winterization of the Green Streets Experience – how to go green through the winter” event – co-sponsored with the Portland Bike Commuter Meetup. P.S. If anyone left a camera at Slainte – please give a call to Ian, the owner, at 828-0900 to arrange picking it up! 
