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Follow Up - Highcastle: A Remembrance

Saturday, February 21, 2026

2:30 – 4:30pm Rose City Book Pub | 1329 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212 In Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv, we walked through the streets of early 2010s Lviv in independent Ukraine. With Highcastle, we’ll step back in time to the late 1920s, when the city—then part of interwar Poland—was called Lwów. Lem recalls his 'monstrous' younger self, his early passion for pointless destruction, and his fascination with his father's medical books and instruments. Born into a comfortable upper-middle class Jewish household in provincial Lvov (at that time in Poland, now a part of Ukraine), Lem was an odd child, a voracious reader of books and eater of sweets. The part of the book that will particularly interest readers of Lem's fiction is his recounting of how he created, in painstaking and laborious detail, multitudes of 'official' identities, passports, treaties, and trade agreements that formed documentation of wholly fictional society. Fun Fact. Stanisław Lem wrote this book in 1975, the first English language translation appeared in 1995. The 1995 translation uses the name Lvov--the reminder of the Soviet occupation of the city. Where to find it Used copies sometimes turn up at Powell’s. You can also often find affordable copies through Alibris and other online used-book marketplaces.

4 Years of Valor

Sunday, February 22, 2026

2:00 – 6:00pm Pioneer Courthouse Square | 701 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR Organized by DAWN, Portland-Lviv Friendship City will participate in the 4 Years of Valor community event commemorating four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Please join us to mark 4 years of full-scale war against Ukraine: An afternoon of music, engaging conversation, immersive exhibits and community in honor of Ukraine. Everyone is invited to join and show your support for Ukraine's courageous fight for liberty and survival.

Celebrate Vyshyvanka Day with Us!

Thursday, May 21, 2026

6:30 – 8:30pm Lucky Lab | 1945 NW Quimby ST, Portland, OR 97209 Vyshyvanka Day is a Ukrainian holiday, dedicated to preserving the rich traditions of creating and wearing vyshyvankas. This observance is deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture and has gained global prominence. People worldwide now wear vyshyvankas in solidarity with Ukraine. If you have a vyshyvanka, please wear it on this annual Vyshyvanka Day. If you don’t have a vyshyvanka yet, this is your opportunity to see vyshyvankas from different regions and learn their stories. You may even get a tip of where to get your own vyshyvanka for next year’s Vyshyvanka Day. The vyshyvanka is not just fabric and thread; it’s a living connection to the past, a celebration of artistic beauty identity, and a testament to resilience. •Family History: Vyshyvankas were often handmade and passed down as heirlooms within families. Wearing one can connect one to their ancestors and the history of their family. Sometimes specific embroidery patterns or colors held special meanings within families, serving as a way to remember important events or family traditions. •Beauty: The intricate embroidery on the vyshyvanka is a stunning art form. The colors and patterns are visually captivating and represent a celebration of artistic expression. •National Identity: Different regions in Ukraine have their own distinct styles and patterns in their embroidery. Wearing a vyshyvanka can signify where one’s family comes from and connect them to a specific part of Ukraine. •Power & Strength: Traditionally, the embroidery patterns were believed to hold protective powers, warding off evil and misfortune. Wearing a vyshyvanka symbolizes inner strength and a connection to something greater than oneself. Vyshyvanka’s Historical Roots Vyshyvanka has a centuries-old lineage, tracing back to an archaeological find in the village of Martynivka (Cherkasy region) in 1909. Among the artifacts unearthed were two statuettes—men elegantly attired in long, flowing shirts adorned with intricate chest-level embroidery, seemingly caught in the spirited dance of the hopak.

{past event} Highcastle: A Remembrance

Saturday, January 17, 2026

2:30 – 4:30pm Rose City Book Pub | 1329 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212 In Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv, we walked through the streets of early 2010s Lviv in independent Ukraine. With Highcastle, we’ll step back in time to the late 1920s, when the city—then part of interwar Poland—was called Lwów. Lem recalls his 'monstrous' younger self, his early passion for pointless destruction, and his fascination with his father's medical books and instruments. Born into a comfortable upper-middle class Jewish household in provincial Lvov (at that time in Poland, now a part of Ukraine), Lem was an odd child, a voracious reader of books and eater of sweets. The part of the book that will particularly interest readers of Lem's fiction is his recounting of how he created, in painstaking and laborious detail, multitudes of 'official' identities, passports, treaties, and trade agreements that formed documentation of wholly fictional society. Fun Fact. Stanisław Lem wrote this book in 1975, the first English language translation appeared in 1995. The 1995 translation uses the name Lvov--the reminder of the Soviet occupation of the city. Where to find it Used copies sometimes turn up at Powell’s. You can also often find affordable copies through Alibris and other online used-book marketplaces.

{past event} Ukrainian Carols Night

Saturday, January 3, 2026

2:00 – 5:00pm Southwest Community Center | 6820 SW 45th Ave, Portland, OR 97219 Organized by Lisova Pisnya, Portland-Lviv Friendship City will participate in Ukrainian Carols Night community event, coming together to make music and celebrate. Kids can get real caroling in Ukraine experience: residents of the village will be waiting for carols or poems ready to reward with cheer and sweet treats. Musical performances from Ukrainian Community Choir Lisova Pisnya, Inna Kovtun and many others; Caroling contest with prizes and gift cards from stores and community organizations.

{past event} When the Animals Could Talk

Saturday, December 6, 2025

2:30 – 4:30pm Rose City Book Pub | 1329 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212 At our members’ request, our December reading is a collection of fairy tales. Christmas is a magical season when St. Nicholas (Святий Миколай) brings gifts to children in Ukraine, and on Christmas Eve the animals receive the gift of speech for one night. Many a Ukrainian child would run to the barn on Christmas Eve to see whether the animals would speak. We chose a book of fairy tales—stories from different lands—collected by Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko. The collection, When the Animals Could Talk (Коли ще звірі говорили), was first published in Lviv in 1899, when Lviv was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A spirited anthology of animal tales gathered and retold by Ivan Franko, this collection blends Ukrainian and world folklore into sharp, witty fables where creatures think and speak like people. With humor and moral clarity, the stories explore themes of cleverness, justice, pride, greed, and compassion—inviting readers of all ages to reflect on human nature through the voices of the animal world. What to Read We’ll read the English-language translation published in 1987 in Soviet-occupied Ukraine. You’re welcome to read the full collection or just one story. Please also enjoy the artwork from the 1987 edition, which was not included in the original 1899 publication. Where to Find It When the Animals Could Talk (Dnipro, 1987) is available via Internet Archive—you can read it online or download it to your device. https://archive.org/details/ivan-franko-when-the-animals-could-talk-fables-dnipro-1987

{past event} Join us for a conversation with Ukrainian author Natalia Matolinets — Live from Lviv!

Saturday, November 1, 2025

9:30 – 11:00am Online Zoom Event Registration Required - See Special Events Portland-Lviv Friendship City Association is honored to host a conversation with Natalia Matolinets, author of All Necklaces Shielding the Goddess—a generational short story about Ukrainian women, resilience, memory, and the power of traditional jewelry as both amulet and symbol amidst war and displacement. All Necklaces Shielding the Goddess appears in the new collection, UNESCO City of Literature, an anthology combining articles, interviews, and reviews with four specially commissioned short stories from authors in Edinburgh, Exeter, Lviv, and Granada—showcasing how the UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature network sustains writers, readers, and global publishing. UNESCO City of Literature is available for free download: https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/mapublishing/unesco-cities-literature/

{past event} Join us at GlobalPDX!

Thursday, October 9, 2025

5:00–7:00 pm NW Portland Hostel | 479 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 We’re honored that Portland-Lviv Friendship City Association will be a featured guest speaker at GlobalPDX this month — sharing how Portland and Lviv are building bridges of friendship, culture, and humanitarian support between our two cities. GlobalPDX’s theme this month focuses on Portland–Ukraine relations, with special guest presentations, conversation, and networking among globally-minded changemakers. Don’t miss this inspiring evening — and bring a friend!

{past event} All Necklaces Shielding the Goddess

Saturday, October 11, 2025

2:30 – 4:30pm Rose City Book Pub | 1329 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212 All Necklaces Shielding the Goddess is a generational short story about Ukrainian women, resilience, memory, and the power of traditional jewelry as both amulet and symbol amidst war and displacement. The story alternates between the perspectives of Steftsia, a village healer and witch living under occupation, and her granddaughter Niia, generations later. Steftsia is known for her collection of intricate and powerful necklaces—coral beads (korali), herdans (beaded ribbons), and zgardas (cross pendants)—each with cultural and protective significance. These necklaces serve as her strength, heritage, and magical shield, embodying both her personal and collective memory as a healer and woman in her community. All Necklaces Shielding the Goddess appears in a new collection, UNESCO City of Literature. The anthology combines articles, interviews, and reviews with four specially commissioned works of short fiction from authors in Edinburgh, Exeter, Lviv, and Granada—showcasing how the UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature network sustains writers, readers, and global publishing. All Necklaces Shielding the Goddess is available for free download: https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/mapublishing/unesco-cities-literature/ We hope you’ll join us for a rich and thought-provoking discussion. Happy reading!

{past event} Follow Up: The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Saturday, September 13, 2025

2:30 – 4:30pm Rose City Book Pub | 1329 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212 Our follow-up discussion for The Unbearable Lightness of Being is Saturday, September 13 at 2:30 pm at Rose City Book Pub! Haven’t read The Unbearable Lightness of Being yet? Not to worry — you’re still welcome! You’ll get a taste of the plot and some lively discussion without any spoilers (unless you want them!). A perfect chance to get curious and see if it's something you want to read. Come for the company, stay for the conversation — book in hand or not.

{past event} Portland-Lviv at Ukrainian Day!

Saturday, August 23, 2025

11am–7pm Westmoreland Park (7530 SE 22nd Avenue, Portland). Celebrate Ukrainian culture with us at Ukrainian Day! Hosted by the Ukrainian Foundation, this free, family-friendly event features live music by Ukrainian and local musicians, traditional dance performances, national cuisine, artisan crafts, and hands-on workshops for all ages. Stop by the Portland-Lviv Friendship City booth to learn how we’re strengthening ties between Portland and Lviv, Ukraine through cultural exchange and humanitarian support. Explore our past and upcoming initiatives, meet our team, and find out how you can get involved in building community and international friendship. Let’s celebrate resilience, culture, and connection—together.

{past event} The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Saturday, August 16, 2025

2:00 – 4:00pm Rose City Book Pub | 1329 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97212 Set against the backdrop of 1968 Prague Spring and Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, The Unbearable Lightness of Being explores the intertwined lives of Tomas, Tereza, Sabina, and Franz. Through their loves, betrayals, and philosophical reflections, Kundera examines the tension between freedom and responsibility, body and soul, lightness and weight. This novel is a modern classic that beautifully weaves the political with the personal, the intimate with the historical. Whether you're revisiting or reading it for the first time, we hope you’ll join us for a rich and thought-provoking discussion. As always—no need to finish the book to attend, though be prepared for spoilers! Come for the company, stay for the conversation — book in hand or not.

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