Harlem
on the Hill
A Night at the Cotton Club
The Evening
February 27, 2027
The Venue
Portland Art Museum
One evening. Three acts.
A community remembered,
a future reclaimed.
Harlem on the Hill is more than a gala. It is a celebration of the Williams & Russell legacy and the work of reparative development in historic Albina. This evening brings community back into shared space to honor what was taken, uplift what has endured, and invest in what comes next including new homes, a business and community hub, and a future for Albina shaped by the people who call it home.
ACT I
Arrival
A sunken ballroom awakens.
Step straight into a room that feels like it’s already in full swing. Live jazz hits as soon as you reach the doorway, a full champagne greeting is in your hand within moments, and the sunken ballroom buzzes with motion friends spotting each other across the floor, new introductions, laughter, and a steady hum of conversation. Around the room, photo moments, casino-style play, and a curated silent auction keep guests moving, mingling, and soaking in the Cotton Club energy from the very first act.
Live Jazz - Cocktails - Casino Lounge - Photo Moments
ACT II
Processional
The drumline calls us together.
The room tightens, the tempo kicks up, and the jazz band leaves the stage. Horns, drums, and dancers thread through the crowd, turning the entire floor into a moving second line. Guests fall in step, following the band up the stairway in a luminous procession that feels part Cotton Club, part homecoming parade — a collective rise into a main ballroom already set for a night of culture, motion, and momentum.
Live Performance - Captivation - Vitality - Cultural Tribute
ACT III
Celebration
The ballroom ignites.
The procession crests at the top of the stairs and the night opens into a new scene. A room that exudes the energy and excitement of a 1920’s Harlem jazz club, all brass, laughter, and champagne-lit conversation. Plated dinner is served in a space that feels lush, punctuated by intimate moments of story, gratitude, and a few truly special chances to turn admiration into impact. As those formal beats land, the beat and DJ push the energy higher, upstairs and downstairs stay in motion, and the night hits its stride as a full-floor celebration that feels alive in every corner.
Plated Dinner - Live Band - Remarks - Dancing
THE VENUE
A landmark, transformed.
The Portland Art Museum opens its halls for a night of cinematic staging: Drapery, candlelight, and Art Deco grandeur will be drawn from a century of Harlem inspiration.
OUR MISSION
Williams & Russell CDC
A community development corporation rooted in the historic legacy of the Williams & Russell families. Creating housing, economic opportunity, and a stronger neighborhood for all.
$11.4 M
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT
50 yrs
OF VACANCY ENDED
HOMEOWNER PROSPECTS ENGAGED
43
Join us
under the candlelight
Seats for Harlem on the Hill: A Night at the Cotton Club are limited. Reserve your place at the table, or let us know you'd like to be the first to hear when tickets open.
© 2026 Williams & Russell Community Development Corporation
Designed with reverence by Troy Calkins in Portland, OR.