By Vanessa Miali | CNA Media Team

From its inception at Burning Man to a fixture on Alberta Street, Frock has become one of the most unique stores in Portland for clothing, gifts and one-of-a-kind treasures.

Last month, Frock celebrated its 15th anniversary, and this month begins a 1,000-square-foot expansion.

Co-owners Angie Heiney and Ali Wykhuis met in Portland in 1997 and have been friends ever since. Ali has a bachelor’s degree in apparel design and Angie has a master’s in business administration. Their talents brought them together, and their inspiration for Frock was ignited at Burning Man.

From 1999 to 2002, they attended the event in the northwest Nevada desert and spent thousands of dollars of their own money creating a vintage clothing store that quickly became one of the most popular boutiques at Burning Man.

“It was a huge privilege because we were contacted by Burning Man’s organizers to be a partner in the center camp,” Angie reported.

The crowd was treated to a shop filled with mannequins dressed in fanciful costumes, vintage clothing, accessories and wild decor. In the Burning Man “gift economy” tradition, Angie and Ali gave everything away.

“At one point I looked around at the amazing shop we had built in the middle of the desert and said to Ali, ‘This is nuts. Our shop is as good as any boutique I’ve ever seen in the world.’”

The following year, Frock opened its doors on Alberta. “It’s like a curated collection of things that represent the Alberta vibe,” Ali said.

Walking into Frock is like being swept away at a carnival. You’ll find everything from off the wall accessories to modern and eclectic clothing mixes. Who doesn’t need platform shoes with a garden party in the sole?

“We like to offer things people cannot find elsewhere,” Ali said. “We’ve had customers burst into tears over a found purchase.”

The Frock ladies owe their long-term success to shared business goals. They let each other try out new ideas and foster a nonrestrictive philosophy.

“It takes fortune, luck and a shared level of commitment,” Angie pointed out. “This is not some come-and-go shop. We have our heels dug in for the long haul.” As to why they’ve thrived, “Last Thursday drew us to the area and the support of the Concordia community keeps us here.”

What started out as radical self expression and a costume mindset has evolved into complete fashion insanity and their customers love it.

Vanessa Miali has lived in Concordia for 18 years. She is a former public relations professional with two kids who cooks every day and gardens occasionally.

By Steve Elder | CNA Media Team

Seven Rivers Barbecue is the eponymous creation of Seven Rivers. Yes, he gave his name to his food cart, a mix of the conventional and the unconventional.

The conventional is that Seven cooks and sells fine barbecue. Seven will tell you he makes brisket primarily, but the ribs are to die for.

It’s hard to say where the unconventional starts. There’s the location. The historical location of the barbecue is at 5527½ N.E. 34th Ave., behind Tuan’s service station. There are no other food carts on the street, or within blocks. No tables outside. You can leave home without your American Express card because the cart takes just cash.

The proper name of the place is Seven Rivers Catering and BBQ. That’s more like it. The place on 34th, for example, doesn’t include potato salad as a side dish – too much risk of food poisoning from mayonnaise. Potato salad with a catered order is great.

For the conventional, flags and banners wave during business hours. Signs are up and down the sidewalks.

Seven Rivers’ real name is Seven Rivers. He was born on the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh decade of the 20th century. His father was Ocie Rivers. His uncle was Alfred Rivers, lead singer of the Ink Spots, the pop vocal group that gained fame in the 1930s and ‘40s.

He claims no relationship to Doc Rivers, the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, or Doc’s son and player Austin Rivers. “Don’t call him Doc. He’ll tell you his name is Glen.”

Seven’s basketball claim is David Rivers, who played for Notre Dame and briefly for the Los Angeles Lakers. Seven Rivers was born and raised about a half mile down the street.

When did he start cooking? “I don’t think there was any time when I didn’t,” he said. “My grandmother was from Birmingham, Alabama. I was always in the kitchen. She would cook stuff like chitlins. I learned to do it early.”

Seven Rivers isn’t just in Concordia. For more than 10 years, he had the barbecue outlet at the Moda Center where he sold Blazer Nachos. After a year off, he soon will start selling wings at Moda events.

This summer, Seven Rivers Barbecue is at the Cully Farmers Market in the parking lot of Los Pepitos restaurant at 5011 N.E. 42nd Ave. Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. in August and 4 to 7 p.m. in September.

Steve Elder, East2@ ConcordiaPDX.org, is an inactive lawyer, a developer, activist and old grouch.

By Rachel Richards | CNA Media Team

Red Fox Vintage opened in 2010 at 3014 N.E. Killingsworth St. and is owned by local women Erin Beauchamp and Jodi Newton. Both were vintage vendors who said they opened the shop to create a space that has a mellow atmosphere with great customer service and great shopping.

Red Fox is similar to an antique mall, with different vendors renting space and selling from the store. It’s an eclectic destination for vintage shopping. The shop fits in with few retail stores in the area near 30th Avenue and Killingsworth Street. Inside, the owners reported, there is something for everyone: clothing, home decor, furniture, art, jewelry and accessories for shoppers to be inspired with creativity and individuality.

Erin promotes vintage resale as a way to preserve the past. “The shop has lots of nostalgia that is fun for everyone to shop,” she pointed out. “Buying vintage is green. It keeps things out of landfill and, with vintage products, you get better quality at lower prices – plus style recycles. You might as well have the original.”

Across the past eight years, Red Fox became a well known vintage store here in Concordia and, due to its success, it expanded into a second location in the southeast Portland Woodstock area in 2013.

The Concordia location is 1,500 square feet with 25 vendors, and the Woodstock location boasts 4,500 square feet and 60 vendors. According to Erin and Jodi professional vintage dealers from around the world frequent Portland and specifically Red Fox because of the variety of items available and the shop’s ability to showcase Portland’s unique style.

The owners both say their favorite thing about the business is the community they have been able to create with all the vendors in both neighborhoods.

Red Fox Vintage also gives back to the community and sponsors local teams and events. That includes the roller derby team the High Rollers, whose members once served as models for an event while skating around the shop.

Red Fox frequently sponsors clothing swaps and donates to local women’s shelters.

What’s the vision of the owners for their business’ future? Erin and Jodi smile and laugh. They subscribe to the movement to keep Portland weird.

Find out more about Red Fox Vintage by visiting its Instagram sites @RedFoxVintage and @RedFoxVintageWoodstock.

Rachel is a 16-year Concordia resident who loves her community. She has a background in counseling/education and uses her passion for helping others in her work as a real estate broker. Contact Rachel or learn more about her at RachelRichardsRealtor.com.

By Marsha Sandman | CNA Media Team

The imagination of Concordian Mandy Allen results in colorful, creative and unique anodized aluminum and silver jewelry as well as botanical inspired wall art.

Mandy Allen Metal Arts is a successful and popular line of jewelry that is sold locally and nationwide.

Although the transformation from plain aluminum sheet metal to colorful three-dimensional shapes and designs occurs right here in Concordia, the seeds of creativity were planted by Mandy’s 3rd grade teacher who recognized her artistic talent and encouraged her to pursue the arts.

After attending Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Mandy went on to study at Humboldt State University. There she gained a strong understanding of design and technique. She also met her husband, which is fortunate for Concordia, because his job transfer brought them here in 2004.

“In jewelry, as in life, balance is key – playful yet elegant, distinctive yet wearable, well-crafted yet affordable,” Mandy explained. “I love creating colorful anodized aluminum and silver jewelry that helps you celebrate your day simply by wearing it.”

In Mandy’s online Etsy store, she explained the process. “Anodizing is a process in which an electrical current is run through a sheet of aluminum while it is submerged in an acid solution. This stimulates a chemical reaction that forms an oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum.”

Mandy mixes and combines luminous dyes in a way that no one else does. She uses hammers and stakes to form myriad shapes and forms. Her jewelry is lightweight and comfortable to wear.

She said her design inspirations include botanicals, and Japanese textiles and design motifs. “The metal working process is very satisfying to me. I am continuously learning about the capabilities and the possibilities that metal has to offer. As I respond to the metal, the piece will evolve and come into focus.

“I feel a piece is only successful when I achieve a balance between craftsmanship, composition and artistic expression,” Mandy added.

She’ll sell her work at several art galleries and juried craft shows this summer. You can also find Mandy Allen Metal Arts at the Salem Art Festival in July, Local 14 in September, and at the Wild Arts Festival in November.

To see her collection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and wall art, visit AllenMetalArts.com or Allen Metal Arts on Etsy.

After living east, south, north and west, Marsha Sandman is home at last. And she wants to hear your story. Contact her at MarshaJSandman@ gmail.com.