Lizz Berry, Programs Director, for Maine Crafts Association, Shows T-Shirt Available at the Debut of the Event. (Cost of T-Shirt is $22.00). Maine Crafts Association is Hosting the Vend Through the end of September 2020.

Catherine Worthington, Brunswick, is the Creator of this Textile Art Featuring a Loon. The Cost is $575. cworthington63@gmail.com or (207) 233-4879 @cmwartist

Fiction Writer Jud Widing, Holds up One of his Many Books at the East End Vend on Sunday Afternoon.  His email address is: jud@judwiding.com.  @judwiding.

The corner of Congress Street and Washington Avenue is a highly visible empty parking lot on weekends – a perfect space for a mini-market where artists, farmers and food makers can showcase and  sell their products at a time when public space is hard to find because of the pandemic that has shutdown so much of Portland.

As a backdrop to the space is a stunning mural by Walpole artist Susan Bartlett Rice. It was commissioned by the then building owner Miks Salisbury.  The parking lot was once occupied by a dry cleaner.  The owner sold it to the owner of a proposed second Bingas Wingas eatery. In addition, at one time the space was also considered for a high rise building. Both ideas fell through. Industrial pollutants from the dry cleaner may have been a factor in the failure of the proposed apartment building to be built on the spot. Extensive mitigation probably would have been required for the construction of the building.  For more information on the mural, please visit post herein dated September 21, 2016.

The parking lot will accommodate 15 vendors.   There are still some slots available.  The cost is $25. for members of the Maine Crafts Association, the non-profit hosting the Vend.  For non-members of the non-profit, the cost is $35.    Please visit East End Vend.com to sign up.

The Vend runs every Friday from 3:00 pm- 7:00 pm. On Sundays, it runs from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.  Face coverings and social distancing are strictly adhered to in this location.

Sadie Bliss, a Munjoy Hill resident, is the executive director of the non-profit Maine Crafts Association.