The Screaming Banshee (pictured) is part of a drink list designed to be “as tasty as it is blood-curdling.” | Photo by Black Lagoon
Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble. Something is brewing over on East Burnside Street — and it’s about to cast a spell on Portland.
Hey Love, the Instagram-worthy bar inside the Jupiter NEXT Hotel, will transform into an immersive Halloween-themed pop-up bar called Black Lagoon next month. We were lured — ahem, invited — into the ghostly lair for a glimpse at what you can expect while it haunts the Rose City.
💀 The vibe
Hey Love — which is a warm, plant paradise when it’s not possessed — will mutate into a dungeon-like space that pays homage to the macabre (read: life-sized coffins and skulls), with a splash of goth and metal. Founders Erin Hayes + Kelsey Ramage describe the overall theme as more like “House of 1,000 Corpses” and less like “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” We still can’t be sure whether we heard cocktail shakers… or the dragging of chains across gravestonesduring our visit.
🍹 The drinks
From the Screaming Banshee (Botanist gin, apricot cordial, pineapple syrup + Greek yogurt) to the Hellraiser (Hornitos, spiced rum, Cointreau, and almond syrup), each beverage is crafted with Halloween in mind. Many will be served in custom glassware that guests can buy and take home. Black Lagoon first materialized in Toronto last year and was recently namedCanada’s Best Pop-Up Bar, partly thanks to its drinks of “pure class stirred with a drop of kitsch.”
🗓️ The details
Black Lagoon promises a “creepy-as-hell” experience. The name is, after all, a nod to the 1954 black-and-white monster movie, “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Guests are encouraged to come in costume. You can visit the pop-up bar from Mon., Oct. 17-Mon., Oct. 31.
Creep it real and share this story with a friend who likes to eat, drink, and be scary.
PSU Viking Days 2022 | Now-Sat., Oct. 1 | Times vary | Locations vary | Free | Students, get to know your campus through a series of events + activities including volleyball games, drag shows, music, and more.
Wednesday
Hike Forest Park with WRISE! | Wed., Sept. 28 | 5 p.m. | Lower Macleay Park, 2960 NW Upshur St. | Free | Get moving + find some fall colors on this short, after-work hike. 🍂
Thursday
The Midnight | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 8 p.m. | McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside St. | $32.50+ | Dance to electronic music that blends Americana with film scores, synth-pop + rock.
Friday
“Day of the Dead” (1985) | Fri., Sept. 30 | 7 p.m. | Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St. | $8 | Can you survive the zombie apocalypse? 🧟
End of Summer/Early Halloween Boat Party | Fri., Sept. 30-Sat., Oct. 1 | 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. | Portland Spirit Salmon Street Springs Dock, 1020 SW Naito Pkwy. | $30+ | Join the fiesta boat for a celebration cruise on the Willamette River. 🛥️
Saturday
Cookshop’s Grand Re-Opening Party | Sat., Oct. 1 | 12-5 p.m. | Southeast Clinton Street + 26th Avenue | Free | Celebrate the businesses that call this corner home with shopping, decorating, cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, and more.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
80º | Sunny with a few afternoon clouds | 6% chance of rain
Sunrise + Sunset
Rise: 7:03 a.m.
Set: 6:58 p.m.
Cause
Portland — the city of beer, roses, and a three-legged pupfluencer named Bethanee Hamilton with 230,000 Instagram followers. Together with owner Lindsay Van Bramer, the French bulldog helps fundraise for various causes; this month, donors to the Portland Children’s Cancer Association can buy a plushie version of Beth to support patient programming. 🐶 (Portland Monthly)
Open
We have liftoff. Aviation Gin’snew distillery is now open in Northwest Portland. For $28, you can take a tour of the nearly 33,000-sqft facility at 2075 NW Wilson St. + snoop inside co-owner Ryan Reynolds’ “office” which doubles as an escape room. 🍸
Travel
Who’s up for a trip to Vancouver? We’re talking about the one that requires a passport. Amtrakhas resumed its daily roundtrip train service to Vancouver, BC, which it suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Portland travelers will need to change trains inSeattle. 🚈 (KOIN)
Community
Professional cuddler Samantha Hess is taking some personal space. Since opening her business in 2013, Samantha has spent 4,500+ session hours with clients with the goal of making their lives better. She also held a cuddle convention and appeared on “America’s Got Talent.” Now, she’s stepping away to “go be a person.” (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Watch
The new CBS series “So Help Me Todd” is a personal project for creator Scott Prendergast. While the show is filmed in Vancouver, BC, it’s actually set in the Rose City — which, in real life, is home to Scott’s family. Look for local references during the Thurs., Sept. 29, premiere at 9 p.m. 📺 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Film
A Portland production company is about to debut its latest feminist horror flick. Monstrous Femme Films’ short “Baby Fever” features a prom-queen-wannabe in the 1970s… and aliens. The film will premiere at festivals next month, but other shorts produced by the company are available to watch online. 🎬 (KOIN)
Shop
Football season is in full swing. If you’re headed to a game this fall, don’t forget to pack your game day essentials in a stadium approved bag. This clear crossbody with 8,000+ positive reviews is a must + we also love this trendy fanny pack option.*
Real Estate
What’s next for you and your family? Travel? Marriage? Buying a house? According to recent stats, 70% of millennials would pick buying their dream house over their dream wedding. If you’re ready for your big (moving) day, here’s how Opendoor can help.*
Eat
Skip the meal hassle with Sunbasket, a meal kit delivery service that makes healthy eating beyond easy. Sunbasket offers 10 different meal plans that work for those with dietary preferences and specific restrictions (think: paleo, gluten-free, veg, diabetes-friendly + more). Bonus: Sign up for $100 off your first four deliveries. 🥕 *
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Make that two scoops of the frozen bugs, please. | Photo by Salt and Straw
Salt & Straw is unveiling five special new flavors as we head into the spookiest of seasons. You’ll find these bone-chilling options at its scoop shops (there are three in Portland) starting Fri., Sept. 30:
🍫 The Great Candycopia | Arguably the hardest part of being an adult is saying goodbye to trick-or-treating — but this flavor fills that nostalgic void with housemade candy favorites (think: Kit Kats, Reese’s, Snickers, Heath bars) blended into salted butterscotch ice cream. 🐛 Don Bugito’s Creepy Crawly Critters | We’ve set our sights on this matcha ice cream with toffee-brittle mealworms + chocolate crickets. You read that right — there are actual insects in this ice cream. High five for extra protein. 🎃 Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Bread | Is that the sweet aroma of Grandma’s just-baked pumpkin bread we smell? With swaths of whipped cream frosting? Drool. 🐈 Black Cat Licorice & Lavender | This is the unexpected seasonal flavor you were hoping would cross your path, with anise, fennel caramel + salted lavender ice cream. 🔮 Double Bubble Toil & Trouble | A bubble gum-flavored delight without the dairy fright (it’s vegan).
Be sure to take your costume-wearingkids or pups trick-or-treating at Salt & Straw on Halloween (Mon., Oct. 31) for a free kid’s scoop or Pup Cup.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.
Editor’s pick: Oh coffee, where would we bean without you? You keep us grounded, and for that, we celebrate you this Thurs., Sept. 29 — aka National Coffee Day. Show your favorite neighborhood coffee shop some love, try a spot you’ve been curious about but never visited, or go on a stimulatingjava journey with our PDXtoday Coffee Crawl.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Treat your shelf to one of these locally written books.
Editorial:Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Trevor Peters, Britt Thorson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea, Eva Limmer, Jessica Te | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.
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