6AM City In-house

A skyjacking case still up in the air ✈️

D.B. Cooper enthusiast brings citizen sleuths together at Vancouver’s CooperCon
Witness sketches of a 1971 skyjacker who went by the name Dan Cooper.
Sketches based on nearly identical physical descriptions of Cooper provided by two flight attendants. | Graphics via FBI
On Nov. 24, 1971, a man boarded a commercial plane in Portland and jumped into history as one of the FBI’s most sought-after criminals. Today, the D.B. Cooper case remains unsolved — but that doesn’t mean the mystery has gone stale.

Citizen sleuths and scientists still search for whispers and clues to help unravel the truth behind the daring hijacking of Northwest Orient Flight 305. Whether the man who stole $200,000 in cash and parachuted out of the back of the plane into a forest survived may never be known, but his legend lives on at CooperCon.

True-crime investigator Eric Ulis spearheads the convention in Vancouver, which is billed as “the world’s only annual event focused on the legendary 1971 skyjacking and mystery — the only unsolved skyjacking in US history.”

The fourth annual CooperCon will take place Friday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 20 at Kiggins Theatre. Each day is packed with a lineup of debates and presentations, covering everything from the $5,800 found in 1980 in Clark County to Hollywood’s interpretation of the infamous events. There’s even a session on the PNW’s other legend… Bigfoot.

Eric also manages a dedicated Facebook page where its 3,200+ members can tune into regular live streams, chime in on discussion threads (who you would cast to play the skyjacker in a movie?), and share theories.

The FBI closed the book on the NORJAK case in 2016. If there are any answers still out there, they’ll need to be unearthed by dogged enthusiasts or someone in the right place at the right time, which brings us to this: It’s widely believed that Cooper jumped near Ariel, Washington. The remaining sum of $20 bills was never recovered and though an old strap was found in recent years, it seems the parachute is still missing.

Anyone who finds such evidence is asked to contact their local FBI field office.

What do you think happened to D.B. Cooper?
6AM City In-house

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Monday, Nov. 14
  • Every Husband’s Nightmare Bazaar and Vintage Marketplace | Monday, Nov. 14-Saturday, Nov. 19 | Times vary | Westside Commons, Wingspan Convention Center, 801 NE 34th Ave., Hillsboro | Free | Browse seasonal decor, Oregon foods, personal care, jewelry, and more at the 34th annual extravaganza.
Tuesday, Nov. 15
Wednesday, Nov. 16
  • AWOLNATION | Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Roseland Theater, 8 NW Sixth Ave., Portland | $58-$114 | The LA-born rock band sails into Rose City with special guests Badflower and The Mysterines.
Thursday, Nov. 17
  • Heather Goodwind Art Exhibit Opening Reception | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 5 p.m. | Antoinette Hatfield Hall, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland | Free | Be among the first to see the works of this award-winning visual artist who studied with traditional and contemporary ink artists in China.
Friday, Nov. 18
  • Gem Faire | Friday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 20 | Times vary | Westside Commons, 801 NE 34th Ave., Hillsboro | $7 | Find everything from fine jewelry to beading tools at one of the largest shows of its kind in the US.
  • BrewLights | Friday, Nov. 18-Saturday, Nov. 19 | 4-10 p.m. | Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd., Portland | $35-$65 | Enjoy the twinkling magical wonderland of ZooLights without kids at this 21+ event featuring food carts, live music, and more than 45 local breweries.
We have a monthly 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.
NEW WEEK, NEW EVENTS

Weather
  • 53º | Mainly sunny | 4% chance of rain
Sunrise + Sunset
  • Rise: 7:08 a.m.
  • Set: 4:40 p.m.
Opening
  • North Mississippi Avenue is getting some Austin flavor. Lustre Pearl Portland will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m.-2 a.m., at 3932 N. Mississippi Ave. The Austin-born business will have a full bar, wood-fired pizza, pop-up vendors, live music, giveaways, and more. 🍕
  • Mark your calendar for another grand opening: Fracture Brewing’s new taproom at 1015 SE Stark St. on Thursday, Dec. 1. The party coincides with the opening of Lil’ America — a pod of food carts owned by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ chefs located outside the taproom’s doors.🍻
Watch
  • QDoc and the Portland Queer Film Festival are back this month after a two-year hiatus. The former — billed as “the only festival in the U.S. devoted specifically to queer documentaries” — runs today, Nov. 11-Sunday, Nov. 13 at the Hollywood Theatre, while the latter is Tuesday, Nov. 15-Sunday, Nov. 20 at Cinema 21. 🏳️‍🌈
Biz
  • Investment banking titan Goldman Sachs is putting big bucks into a renewable energy storage project developer and operator in Portland. The company’s fund supporting the new GridStor venture has raised more than $410 million from investors. 🔋 (Portland Business Journal)
Community
  • The charred remains of Northeast Portland’s Roseway Theater are being torn down. Demolition work at the theater, which was gutted by an electrical fire in August, is expected to take up to two months to complete. Owner Greg Wood plans to donate the historic building’s stained glass to other theaters. (Willamette Week)
DYK
  • … that you can go behind the scenes — literally — at the Bagdad Theater? McMenamins Back Stage Bar occupies the cavernous space behind the Bagdad’s screen. The colorful, sultry pub is a great spot to shoot pool and have a drink, but the real gem is the mural showcasing the theater’s rich history.
Shop
  • Our online store Six & Main is now featuring Plant Based Candles, a candle business based in Portland. It gets better… You can reuse the vessel as a planter with the wildflower seeds that are included in each order. Start shopping locally now. 🛍
Wellness
  • Oh hey, November. The key to keeping your spirits up and avoiding seasonal affective disorder this time of year? Sunlight. Magic up more sunshine indoors with a light therapy lamp. This glare-free mood light is height and angle adjustable, while this subtly designed lamp lets you adjust light warmth and brightness. ☀️*
Learn
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Culture

What are you thankful for in Portland?
PDX Portland Attitude of Gratitude street art mural
The figure in this mural at Southeast Ninth Avenue and Division has 1,000+ plants for hair. | Photo by @irenemayphotography
We’re partway through November — aka National Gratitude Month — and we’re gearing up for a season of thankfulness.

Whether it’s taking a crisp evening walk through Laurelhurst Park, the first sip of Portland Cider Co.'s new seasonal ciders, or a bike ride along your favorite section of the Springwater Corridor — we want to know what you’re thankful for here in Rose City.

We city editors are thankful for a lot — our readers, Pomodoro pizzas at Cafe Olli, shows at the ‘Schnitz, and the opportunity to keep Portland informed for nearly a full year now.

Send us your sentimental stories and we could highlight your gratitude in a newsletter closer to Thanksgiving. Plus, we’ve got dozens of seasonal events + fall features along the way.

Bonus: While you’re feeling gracious, check out our volunteer guide to donate your time, skills, money, or talents to 40+ local organizations.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: Spoiler alert — Marvel already solved the riddle of Dan “D.B.” Cooper’s real identity. If you watched the “Loki” series on Disney+, you know what I mean.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Gobble and wobble to a turkey trot near you.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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