6AM City In-house

An idea of note 🎶

Monthly Melody brings live classical music to you
A cellist sits in a light living room playing his instrument
Monthly Melody started in September 2022, and now offers cello, violin, viola, and harp music. | Photo via Monthly Melody
Like many of the most illustrious composers, cellist Armon Lalo has accomplished a prodigious amount early in life.

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area to Taiwanese immigrants, Lalo picked up the cello at the age of 3. He then honed his craft at competitions, going from busking at Southern California piers to performing at the American Music Awards with Diana Ross, and even playing for Michelle Obama at the White House.

Now, Lalo is tuning another impressive project — Monthly Melody, a service where Portland-area clients can book local classical musicians to play stringed instruments in their home, on a recurring basis or with as little as 48 hours’ notice. In essence, it’s DoorDash for Bach, Beethoven, or Vivaldi.

“I’m trying to bridge the gap between playing music on an iPhone, with having a theater-going experience to see a world-renowned artist,” he explained.

As a fourth-year student at Reed College, Lalo studies music and biology. Although he’s spending a lot less time doing research at OHSU’s neuroscience lab, that scientific approach helps him reach more people and make music more accessible.

A black and white photo of a cello musician

“I feel like the music business is a people business,” he said.

Photo via Monthly Melody


Lalo and co. are also connecting generations, whether that’s performing for an older client who can’t leave the home easily, or a mother of two who simply wants that creative exposure for her kids.

“It reminds me of ancient Chinese or Greek societies, where there was a harpist in the library, or a violinist playing in the government halls,” he said. “That doesn’t exist anymore, but I know people want it in their homes.”

On Saturday, Dec. 10, you can attend a free recital to hear Lalo and his colleagues play, plus learn more about what Monthly Melody offers.

“At the end of the day, our task is so different, because we have to engage with people and be outgoing. There’s extra motivation to explain what we’re playing, or what the instrument is, or our own past, to get to know people on a personal level and keep the client.”
Nau

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Friday, Dec. 9
  • 82nd and Woodstock Holiday Night Market | Friday, Dec. 9 + Saturday, Dec. 10 | 4-10 p.m. | The Old Pawn Shop, 5939 SE 82nd Ave., Portland | Free | Shop for jewelry, hand-forged knives, stained glass, bath and body products, art, crafts, and other gifts at this pop-up.
  • The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition | Friday, Dec. 9 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW Sixth Ave., Portland | Free | Caroling groups will serenade a 10-block radius around Portland’s Living Room; the top three groups will compete in a “carol-off” with the winners chosen by crowd applause.
Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Kneighborhood Knits | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 1-3 p.m. | Lents Town Center, 8931 SE Foster Rd., Portland | Free | Come out and learn to knit, or bring your crafting and meet some new folks while you work on your project.
  • Dog Photos with Santa | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 2-5 p.m. | Barrio, 7238 SE Foster Rd., Portland | Suggested $10 donation | Who’s been a good dog? Bring your pup (even if they’ve been naughty) for a posed photo with Saint Nick, tasty dog treats, and raffle prizes to benefit Family Dogs New Life Shelter.
  • Gospel Christmas with the Oregon Symphony | Saturday, Dec. 10 + Sunday, Dec. 11 | Times vary | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland | $25-$115 | Bring joy to your holiday season with the 23rd annual performance of this beloved concert.
Sunday, Dec. 11
  • Holiday Sunday Morning BINGO | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | The Siren Theater, 315 NW Davis St., Portland | $10-$20 | Come for mimosas, prizes, comedy, special guests, and of course, the game in the name.
Monday, Dec. 12
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
IT'S FRIDAY, WE'RE IN LOVE
The Grotto

Weather
  • 43º | Rain | 98% chance of rain
Sunrise + Sunset
  • Rise: 7:39 a.m.
  • Set: 4:26 p.m.
Community
  • The Portland Water Bureau has long feared that the outdated water lines carrying drinking water to the city’s west side would not survive a Cascadia earthquake. But, the plan to place a new pipe deep in the bedrock beneath the Willamette River, originally set to be completed this year, has hit setbacks and will be reassessed. 🚧 (Willamette Week)
  • TriMet is considering a fare hike of 30 cents, starting in January 2024. This would bring the cost of a regular adult fare to $2.80. The public can now weigh in on the proposal by leaving a comment on the agency’s website. 🚋 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Civic
  • It’s back to the office for City of Portland employees — at least for 20 hours a week. Mayor Ted Wheeler has also proposed a rule requiring employees to work in either Washington or Oregon — or risk losing their jobs. Workers can apply for an exception to the hourly requirement, which goes into place in April 2023. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Eat
  • Quaintrelle will host a seven-course holiday prix fixe meal on Fri., Dec. 24. Chef Ryley Eckersley has created a “Feast of the Seven Fishes” pescatarian Christmas Eve menu, featuring oysters, kampachi, seafood pastas, grilled swordfish, and more. Reservations are available (5-7:30 p.m.) online, and cost $185 per person with gratuity included. 🐟
Holiday
  • Make sure your Hanukkah feast is one to remember this year. These are the local eateries where you can find holiday briskets, latkes, sufganiyot, and other must-have dishes for your celebration. 🕎 (Eater Portland)
Development
  • The Ava Roasteria mixed-use project has broken ground in Tigard. When completed it will be the tallest building along Main Street. Its first floor will host a coffee shop and cocktail bar, a bakery, and a roasting room for the small coffee house chain. The other two floors will contain 22 apartments. (The Times)
Job
  • Do you like the outdoors and mentoring kids? OMSI is looking for people to join its outdoor education team and one of the largest museum-based outdoor ed programs in the country. Staff oversee two camps: one on the Oregon Coast in Newport, and another in the high desert outside of Fossil. 🌳
  • Oaks Amusement Park wants to hire someone responsible with strong leadership abilities to be its roller rink session supervisor. If this feels like something you’re wheely qualified for, skate on over to the website and apply. 🛼
Stat
  • Of all the challenges people have faced in 2022, 43% of buyers said finding a home that best suits their needs was the toughest challenge.*
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6AM City In-house

Phasing out diesel for a cleaner future 🚛

Portland to phase out the sale of petroleum diesel by 2030
A freeway filled with semi trucks and cars with buildings in the background
Biofuels used in the blends will be made primarily from used cooking oil and animal fat. | Photo via ODOT
Portland City Council is betting big on biofuels. Following a unanimous decision from the board on Wednesday, the sale of petroleum-based diesel will be phased out by 2030, an important step toward cutting emissions by 50% under the newly adopted climate emergency plan.

Getting there will be a gradual change, which officials hope will help to alleviate concerns over biodiesel supply. Starting in 2024, drivers of medium-sized and heavy trucks will be able to fuel up with petroleum diesel that’s blended with renewable fuels in increasingly larger increments.

The effort will lead to cleaner air by also diminishing diesel particulate matter, also called black carbon or soot, which can cause asthma attacks and respiratory diseases. This pollution is especially harmful to children and tends to be concentrated near low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.

“This policy is what the clean energy transition looks like,” Commissioner Carmen Rubio said.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ben.

Editor’s pick: Holy cannoli, Batman — did anyone else see Pizza Thief’s holiday cannoli, filled with chocolate citrus, pistachio, and candied orange peel?

Just so you know, it’s really hard to write a newsletter when your mouth is watering uncontrollably.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? There are levels to The Grotto, a tranquil sanctuary in Northeast Portland.
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Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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