SQUARE NEWS

2008 Festival of Flowers urban meadow

Designed by the Committee on the Environment

Presented by Hoffman construction company

On June 6th Pioneer Courthouse Square will officially launch its annual Festival of Flowers Celebration in the heart of downtown Portland. This year's design, Urban Meadow, created by the American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment will recreate nature's approach to sustainable landscape with a meadow in Portland's Living Room. Urban Meadow will blend together wildflowers, vegetables, trees, ornamental grasses and colorful annuals to create a brilliant display for all to enjoy!

In addition to the large scale installation located at the Square a satellite floral display will be located in the lobby of Fox Tower, home of Hoffman Construction Company's headquarters, with the support of TMT Development.

The 2008 Festival of Flowers is presented by Hoffman Construction Company with additional support from these generous community sponsors: Comcast Cable, Kink fm 102, KGW Newschannel 8, Portland Tribune, Portland Rose Festival Foundation and TMT Development Company.

KGW NewsChannel 8

Pioneer Courthouse Square is proud to announce that KGW NewsChannel 8 recently won the top honor of "Overall Excellence" in the 2007 Oregon Associated Press Broadcasters Association awards. It is the second consecutive year that KGW NewsChannel 8 has won the Association's most coveted award.  Portland's #1 rated television station also won the top awards for best newscast and best website. 

In addition to the overall excellence and best newscast awards, KGW NewsChannel 8 took home seven more first-place awards in the large market category for its journalism, recognizing the station's leadership in covering breaking news, weather and traffic.

NewsChannel 8's award-winning news coverage will be showcased soon at its new "Studio on the Square" in Pioneer Courthouse Square . The high definition studio will be housed in the space previously occupied by Powell's Travel Books.   KGW NewsChannel 8 is currently at work designing the studio that will bring Portland's living room onto the screen each and every day. 

PCS Banner Bags

With the recent announcement of Pioneer Courthouse Square's Event Banners being repurposed and sold as market totes, the response has been remarkable. Within the first week the Square's Online Gift Shop SOLD OUT of 4 of the 6 available styles. Special thanks goes to the Oregonian, 1190 KEX, and KGW NewsChannel 8 for their support in promoting the launch of these unique and utilitarian treasures.

To get your ‘One of a Kind' Banner Bag today click here or call 503.223.1613 before inventory sells out! Each limited edition market tote is only $38 and cannot be reproduced. 

Noon Tunes Presented by Volkswagen

Pioneer Courthouse Square is proud to announce this summer's Noon Tunes presented by Volkswagen Summer Concert Series line-up. Beginning July 8th at noon this year's series will kick off with the classic blues, rock and swing music of the Freewill Band. The Freewill Band features Erin Wallace, Peter Krainock, John Purcell, Phillip Guttman and Portland 's own Will Vinton (yes… Will Vinton the filmmaker, animator, director, producer and drummer!)

Noon Tunes will continue each and every Tuesday and Thursday through August 28th with 14 FREE concerts featuring some of the hottest local and regional talent around! For a complete listing of musical artists performing this summer at Pioneer Courthouse Square click here.

Noon Tunes presented by Volkswagen is Portland 's longest running FREE concert series and would not be possible without the generous support of the following community sponsors: Volkswagen of North America, KINK.fm 102, KGW NewsChannel 8 and the Portland Tribune.

Flicks on the Bricks Presented by SmartPark

The fifth annual Flicks on the Bricks presented by Smart Park is back this summer at Pioneer Courthouse Square! This beloved movie series will showcase four family-friendly movies on consecutive Friday nights in the heart of downtown Portland. Beginning July 25th and running through August 18th, the Square will be transformed into an outdoor movie theater for the entire community to enjoy!

Want to see your favorite movie on the big screen in the heart of downtown Portland this year? To suggest a movie for this summer's movie series, click here or call 503.223.1613.

Recent Successes

Portland Patrol Services Inc. Training Seminar

Portland Patrol Services, Inc. ( PPS ) recently held an officer training seminar in the Square's Theater on the Square.  PPS maintains an on-going training program for more than 100 officers working throughout the Portland metro area.   PPS specializes in challenging project sites and implements regular training to build healthy public and private-sector environments.   PPS has been providing special event security expertise at the Square since 1998 and 24-hour on-site security since 2007.

small change for solv, big change for oregon

In anticipation of one of the biggest cleanup efforts ever, SOLV recently held a fundraising rally at the Square to promote their new campaign Small Change for SOLV-Big Change for Oregon.  The campaign which is designed to fill the gap in SOLV's year round funding officially kicked-off at the annual SOLV Spring Beach Cleanup on March 29th.  Featured guest speakers included Mayor Tom Potter along with SOLV Executive Director Jack McGowan who encouraged participation in this springtime ritual aimed at removing debris and litter from Oregon 's 362-mile coast range.

american cancer society daffodil days

The American Cancer Society recently kicked-off their annual Daffodil Days Campaign at Pioneer Courthouse Square.  Vibrant bundles of daffodils along with Boyd's Bears were offered for sale in an effort to raise money for the fight against cancer.  The proceeds from the sale help support free programs and services to improve the lives of people facing cancer.  During the last 13 years, Daffodil Days has raised more than $200 million in gross revenue to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a life-threatening disease.

12-hour hunger strike

With colorful flags representing space, water, fire, earth and air the Northwest Tibetan Culture Association recently held a 12-hour hunger fast at the Square to show their support and solidarity for fellow Tibetans in their homeland.  Nearly 100 people participated in this 12-hour fast reciting prayers with the hope of bringing awareness to the current happenings in Tibet.