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July 2006  A mirador is "A turret, window or balcony that commands an extensive view"

Mirador Turns Seven!
Summer Items
New Items
New Books
Sale Items
Division/Clinton Street Fair
Gift Registry

Mirador Turns Seven!
Each anniversary of starting Mirador gives us pause to reflect, but this year being our 7th anniversary on July 22, we are perhaps even a bit more thoughtful. Seven is a powerful number and has many references in our world and throughout history. For us, it feels a bit like we've finished one cycle and can now move into the next. And given that, here are some of our thoughts.

First and foremost, we would not be here today without the support of you, all our wonderful customers. We so much appreciate not only your purchases at Mirador, but your enthusiasm for our work and willingness to tell your friends about us. When we first started talking about starting a store some nine years ago, it was a dream not just to have a business but to imbue into a retail store qualities we saw lacking in the general marketplace.  We hoped to have a store that would be fun to come into, that would offer great customer service that could extend way beyond our walls. Such as, help on finding products we don't carry and info on how to clean without toxic products. That we could take some of our profits and give to organizations that are doing the great work of building a better world. That we could join the movement in the business world that holds dear the health of the environment and humankind and offer others a place to work that would help them grow as individuals and receive a decent wage for it.  We wanted to encourage a new (or is it old?) kind of eater who would care about where their food came from, how it was grown and then find joy in it's preparation. We see that not only have we met these goals, more good has come out of the experience of starting Mirador than we could have imagined. We have gone from running it ourselves to having several employees, from needing outside jobs to manage financially to being able to support ourselves and afford to have help. It feels good!

There is nothing more powerful than where and how we spend our money and it is so gratifying to see this reality become front and center with the "buy local" movement. It is very exciting to see the sustainable movement explode, especially here in Portland, and to be affirmed in our thought that positive societal change can be fostered by business. We are buoyed by all the interest in these movements.

If you could spend a week at Mirador, you would be energized by what we hear from customers: that they are not given over to despair in these times of the Bush regime, but rather that they are working harder than ever to improve the world, doing their own slice of the work.

Again, to all of you a "thanks for being there" and we look forward to the next seven!

Lynn & Steve

Summer Items
Summer is in full swing as I write this (though we Portlanders know that can change any time!). Below are a few of the products we sell that might come in handy this summer:
  • Grill baskets: Great for veggies and other small items–get that yummy smokey flavor without anything falling through the cracks.
  • Bio-fuel lighter fluid is odor free, 99% petroleum free, and made right here in Oregon!
  • Grill lighters and matches
  • Smoke-to-Taste wooden pellet packages add flavor to your grilled food–also made locally.
  • BBQ basting brushes, tongs, forks, lifters, and scrapers
  • Canning and preserving tools and supplies
  • Excalibur Food Dehydrator
  • Steam juicers (for grapes)
  • Juicer/strainers (for tomatoes)
  • Hammocks!
  • Sunhats
  • Gardening gloves and utensils
  • Candles–a must for those outdoor parties and evenings in the yard!
  • Mosquito oil from Uncle Harry’s repels mosquitoes naturally and doesn’t smell horrible (to humans–it must smell pretty bad to bugs).
  • Caribiner camping mugs                                   
New Items
  • New art by Doug Smith, prolific painter of quirky chickens, monks and more
  • Sustainable school/office supplies from Sustainable Group: recycled cardboard binders with reusable hardware; and paper folders, pockets, and tab dividers made of recycled and sustainable materials.  Made in Washington!
  • Outdoor clothes dryers, two sizes with 165 or 210 square feet of drying space. 
  • Fresh batch of beautiful wire bowls from South Africa, made from recycled telephone wire.
  • Lantern Moon woven plastic totes.  These ever-popular fair-trade totes are colorful and summery.  Great for beach expeditions, picnics, groceries, library books, or fresh produce from the farmers’ market.  
  • Japanese-inspired art prints by Sybil Shane Studio
  • Aroma sprays made in the area by Donna Mae. Two lovely scents--Fresh Linen and Drive Alert
If there are products you would like to see us carry, please let us know. Many of our products we order as a result of customer requests.

New Books (by Lael)
We are delighted to announce the arrival of books by Storey Publishing.  There are too many really neat new books to name them all here, but they include books about such topics as:
  • Keeping chickens
  • Candlemaking
  • Preserving food
  • Growing and using herbs
  • Cheese Making
  • Homebrewing beer from your own garden 
  • Natural Baby Care 
  • Winemaking from your own grapes
  • Homesteading 
  • Making soda pop
  • Compost
  • Beekeeping
  • Organic Gardening
Also, raw food lovers will be happy to note that we now have the newly revised Sunfood Diet Success System.

 Sale Items – 25% to 50% Off
  • Solar rechargeable radio headsets.
  • Selected bamboo cutting boards.
  • Zen alarm clocks.
  • Reclaimed rubber bags from Mexico.
  • Personal Blender.
  • Corn water bottles (very slightly dented). See above for more information.
  • Selected non-toxic pesticides and compost activator
  • Aromaland essential oils.
  • Selected books.
  • Lyra colored pencil sets.
  • Selected hand-made jewelry.
  • Bumper stickers.
  • Snuggly Duckling Hot Water Bottle.
  • Selected Candles and Candle holders.
Division/Clinton Street Fair
Mark Your Calendars – July 22nd!!

Saturday July 22nd is the annual Division/Clinton Street Fair, kicking off with a parade at 11:00 a.m. which runs from 17th to 39th. Division and Clinton streets will be host to vendor booths, kids activities, music and of course, food!

The Mirador parking lot will have an array of booths representing peace activists and artists and well as balloon artist extraordinaire  Joe Mishkin from  11:30 to 1:30. Joe entertains everyone to the hilt and enchants the kids with his creations.  The City Repair T-Horse will be at 22nd and Division, serving up tea and community.  There will be lots going on in the area, sure to be fun and we hope you can join us.

Gift Registry
Our gift registry has really taken off this year. If you have friends that are registered here you can see their registry here.

If you would like to register at Mirador for an event, here are some instructions on how to do it. This is a great way to get what you want and support a local business that shares your values.

To subscribe to the email newsletter, send an email to subscribe@miradorcommunitystore.com.

Mirador offers a discount to members of various groups. For details, click here.
Monday - 
Saturday 10:00 – 6:00
 Sunday 11:00 – 5:00
(Closed New Year's, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas;
Open 10:0 – 7:00 Monday – Friday from December 14 to December 23
Open 10:00 – 6:00 Christmas Eve)
Map and Directions to Mirador
2106 SE Division Street
Portland, Oregon 97202
503.231.5175
800.396.5090
 
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