#portland

#portland

There are some litmus tests to identify a dive, though they aren't always conclusive: Has the bar been around since the Hoover administration? Is there wall-to-wall carpeting? Does the bathroom fill you with unease? Is the OLCC's requirement to serve hot food begrudgingly met with microwaved meals, hot dogs, and maybe a fryer? But ultimately it comes down to that ineffable quality of vibes, and the sentiment made famous by Justice Potter Stewart in 1964: I know it when I see it.

For decades, Portland's lampposts and community boards have told a vibrant history. Oftentimes stacked one on top of another, feet-thick, stapled up on poles lining hip-strips like Mississippi and Hawthorne avenues, concert posters clue in passersby that certain artists will be playing at a certain time and date at a certain place; while also telling a story of a city's culture and history, its music and art scenes, and the people involved in those scenes.

A lawsuit environmental advocates filed against the city of Portland after it issued a land use credential to Zenith Energy will be heard in a specialized administrative court, after a state appeals court returned the case. Environmental advocates say the court's decision is a win because the case will be heard by a board of attorneys with a better understanding of the complex legal framework around state land use law.

If you appreciate the Mercury's interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good Morning, Portland: Here comes the rain again, falling on my head like a memory, falling on my head like a new emotion. We're looking at rain for the foreseeable future, folks. Let's hit the news!

There comes a time in the life of many a journalist when we're asked to take a break from gorging ourselves on vegan fast-food or banana tiramisu, combing through the collections at Mother Foucault's, and bus-hopping our way to Seattle to do some real honest-to-goodness research. We're talking straying from our beats, leaving our comfort zones, peeling off our protective layers, literally and figuratively.

This isn't Minnesota or Ontario or New England, where skating rinks rival movie theaters and bowling alleys in quantity and attendance. And it's not New York City, where seasonal outdoor rinks at Rockefeller Center and in Central Park offer cinematic backdrops. Some of the spots where a young Tonya Harding practiced her first jumps no longer exist, like the old rinks at Clackamas Town Center and Jantzen Beach. But Portlanders do still have options, including places that offer stick-and-puck time, hockey rec leagues, and beginners' lessons.

What's the cost of a high trust society? The sort of place where you could lightly lose track of your kid for, say, 20 minutes, and not necessarily double over with a triumvirate of guilt, panic, and shame? At the Next Level Pinball Museum, the going rate is $23 per person. It might be the best money I ever spent.

Friends After Good Sound are a newcomer to Portland's experimental music scene. They are a collective of young, queer composers and performers that exclusively play works composed for them by Portland-based composers. Their approach to music has a gaiety and a wicked sense of humor. Hence their name, which abbreviates to a reclaimed slur for queer people. The name is clearly meant to ruffle some feathers, acting as a shibboleth separating the gays and their allies

It's Election Day today, and in Portland, that means it's time to make your final decision about renewing a levy that will help fund the city's parks and recreation programs. One person that won't be supporting it? Councilor Dan Ryan, who came out against the levy last week after voting to refer it to the ballot back in July. Ryan formerly served as the city's commissioner in charge of parks and recreation, prior to the local government transition at the beginning of this year.

Inspired by owner Craig Florence's time working at Paris's Shakespeare and Company (a hub for English-speaking expat writers and readers since 1951), Mother Foucault's is an old-world paradise for artists and intellectuals. The aesthetic lends authenticity to Runkel's Platonic dialogues. "I took my boyfriend here on our first date so he would think I was cool," he says. And the kids love that Florence doesn't care if they buy anything.

A new entry in the National Register of Historic Places may be a spot you regularly pick up dog poop! That's right, Balch Gulch Bridge-spanning the gulch between NW 29th and NW 31st, where many pick up Forest Park's Lower Macleay Trail-was officially designated by the National Park Service in September. Bridge heads likely already know that the steel structure makes use of a load-bearing framework of triangles fastened with flexible pin connections.

"On Sunday morning, our dear friend and dedicated community leader, Candace, experienced a devastating fire that damaged both her car and home, destroying many of her personal belongings. We are deeply grateful she is safe, but the fire has created unexpected logistical and financial challenges," Calcagni explained in the online fundraiser. "Anyone who knows Candace knows how tirelessly she works to uplift others. She shows up for her community every day, and now it's our turn to show up for her."

Unfortunately, due to ongoing building issues outside of our control, we have to say goodbye to this location.

We need our city hall, mayor and council members to collectively revoke the ICE facility permit and represent the values of Portland residents,

It's been two years since the start of the war in Gaza, and it's easy to feel helpless in the face of destruction and violence halfway around the world. A group of local bands presents a simple opportunity for you to engage: come to Mother Foucault's Bookshop, donate the cost of a concert ticket, and it will all go to Gaza Soup Kitchen, which provides clean drinking water, basic medical care, and vegetarian meals to Palestinians in need.

Looking for the silver-linings in a Portlandic "war zone." As troops continue to roll in, unwelcome, to American cities, you can be forgiven for calling the national picture "pretty bleak." But even now, the news will occasionally let you get off a chuckle or guffaw, even if it isn't always from your better nature. It's SchadenFriday; go ahead and indulge.

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky An aide to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller recently texted with high-level Trump administration officials about deploying the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland, Oregon, according to The Minneapolis Star Tribune. Images of the texts were taken by a source who then sent them to the Star Tribune. The texts indicated that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth considered deploying the legendary division within the U.S. The publication reported that Anthony Salisbury, who is a Miller deputy, communicated with other Trump officials last weekend via the app Signal in a conspicuous manner:

The news came at an emergency press conference on Friday evening, where Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced that the "rumors about deployment" of national law enforcement "became a reality" today, after a week of escalating rhetoric out of the White House. Wilson said the city has confirmed sightings of armored federal law enforcement vehicles and agents on Portland's streets. He and other elected officials and community leaders urged Portlanders not to "take the bait" from the Trump administration, encouraging calm and nonviolent protest.

"I think some people only look at the numbers and see the number of deaths are not going in the right direction. It's important to explain that Vision Zero is not a model, it's a goal," Koyama Lane told the Mercury. She says Portland should remain steadfast in its belief that no one should die while trying to get around the city. "Getting to that number zero is a holistic goal that we can never give up on," Koyama Lane said.

HELLOOOO, SMART STUFF! It's time once again to put your brainy-brain to the test with this week's edition of POP QUIZ PDX -our weekly, local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week we'll be testing your knowledge on celebrities who love Portland, dipshit presidents who HATE Portland, and... wait. Did the rapture happen, and I missed it? 🤔 But first! How did you do on our last quiz? Oooo-wheeee, you are so smart! But when asked which mall food court restaurant you would

From his own childhood, Hargrave said, he has a lot of experience to draw on to relate to Scar's feeling of being "second best," and being "the villain" doesn't trouble him too much. Each night he and actors playing Zazu and Rafiki gather before the show, go through their makeup and puppetry sessions, and help each other get into their roles. "It's ritualistic that drops you right into character," Hargrave said.

"So I went in, and nobody was there. And it was transformational," Isaak said. "You walk into that space, and you know you are someplace else. And if you're lucky, you can relinquish all the baggage that you're carrying and just be in that place."

When the city of Portland permitted Zenith Energy to continue operating its fuel transport and storage facility in Northwest Portland three years ago, it did so on several conditions designed to limit potential harms to the environment. The land use compatibility statement issued by the city requires Zenith to phase out its use of crude oil, reduce its storage tank capacity, and reduce other potentially toxic emissions.

We often revel in the artistic craftsmanship of hand-built bikes. For most, owning one is like owning an original Picasso, only you also get to ride it. Many of us will settle for reading about handmade frames and bikes online or attending events showcasing them. And very few of us will actually attempt to build one. Surely, the know-how aspect is a huge barrier, as many may not have a mind bent toward frame building.

I was blind for two and a half years. This is the first time I've seen anything.

Dan McLean got an eviction notice at his apartment last week, instructing him to be out in less than five days. But McLean, who lives at a property owned by Home Forward-and is severely visually impaired-didn't know he'd been served previous eviction papers or that he was behind on rent. He says the housing voucher he receives wasn't covering his full rent, but no one at The Yards at Union Station apartments bothered to tell him, and he started racking up back rent and fees. To make things worse, court summons were being sent to a mailbox he didn't have access to.

The MAX rumbles through the opening shot of James Sweeney's new Portland-set psychological dramedy, Twinless. The train clears to reveal an empty restaurant. It's quiet, but forebodingly quiet- almost peaceful. Soon, the city swells into a bustling yet pointedly isolating backdrop for this black comedy about two grieving young men who bond in a support group for those who have lost a twin. This tranquility won't last.

Members will provide their perspectives and feedback, and make recommendations on next steps and direction for the project to the city's Community & Economic Development Service Area, which is managing the project. Topics for review and discussions will include recommendations from the previous Performing Arts Venue Workgroup, results from previous and future transportation studies, findings from an upcoming market feasibility study, potential funding and partnership opportunities, and more.

Here at Property Watch, we love Portland's "everyday houses": the common foursquares, ranches, and bungalows that line our streets and make up much of the city's housing stock. While they tend to be less showy and ornate, they're no less important, says architectural historian Thomas Hubka, for "their significant contribution to the over-all quality of our city's quality of life." Even more so when they become the subject of a creative makeover, like this jewel box of a bungalow in the Roseway neighborhood.

In July, Nguyen, Tran, and a Beaverton coffee shop that hosted a Whisk & Bloom event all received letters in the mail threatening legal action if they didn't stop selling Marukyu Koyamaen, a brand of high-end matcha often considered the gold standard of Japanese tea makers.

The Edlefsen house stands as a testament to early 20th-century architecture, showcasing original oak hardwood floors, leaded glass windows, and thoughtful updates that blend old and new.