Plus: Portland Seafood & Wine Festival
6AM City In-house

Take it to the court 🏓

Coming soon: Portland’s first indoor pickleball-only recreation center
A person in shorts and athletic shoes prepares to serve a yellow plastic ball in an indoor gym.
“It’s so fun it almost becomes your personality, you want to talk about it all the time and play as much as you can,” says Lindsay Noack, The Drop Shot co-founder. | Photo by Lindsay Noack/The Drop Shot
Pickleball. You’ve heard about it — like, a lot lately — and maybe you’ve even played it. In a town with a proven affinity for pickles and ball sports, we aren’t overly surprised that the term “pickleball” is basically trending in Portland circles. But what exactly is it? And how can newbies pick up a paddle and smash some plastic balls?

When a local woman-owned business called The Drop Shot reached out to us about its plans to build the city’s first indoor pickleball-only recreation center, we seized the opportunity to learn more. Co-founder Lindsay Noack explained that the sport — which started in the 1960s in Washington — can basically be played in any open, flat space and combines elements of badminton, ping pong, and tennis.

Four people pose for a photo next to a low net on an outdoor court while holding paddles.

You’ll find outdoor pickleball courts around Portland, including at Columbia Park & Annex, Gabriel Park, and Portland Tennis Center. | Photo by @gregdavispsu

Noack attributes pickleball’s rise in popularity, in part, to the pandemic. People sought out ways to stay active and connect with others — and found something special in the sport. She believes Portland needs an accessible, welcoming, easy-to-learn game now more than ever. Enter: The Drop Shot. She hatched the business idea last summer after taking beginner pickleball lessons.

“What really opened my eyes was that you could be 8 or 80 and still be competitive,” she said. “It wasn’t a sport where age or ability discouraged participation. You don’t have to be the fastest or the strongest to be successful.”

Two people stand side by side for a photo in front of a photo backdrop with the words "Sport Oregon" and "She Flies"

The Drop Shot founders, Maggie Deeks (left) and Lindsay Noack. | Photo by Lindsay Noack/The Drop Shot

Noack and her friend/business partner Maggie Deeks are working to open an indoor recreation center in the Central Eastside area by late summer that will house at least 10 indoor pickleball courts. It will welcome players of all ages — particularly women and gender-expansive people — to compete in a fun environment.

You can try the sport and learn more about supporting The Drop Shot at its first pickleball pop-up event Friday, March 10, 6-9 p.m., and Saturday, March 11, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., at Lloyd Center.
Do you play pickleball?
________________________________________________________

A. Yes, I’m a regular
B. I’ve tried it once or twice
C. Not yet, but I want to
D. Nope and I don’t plan to
LET US KNOW
Meals on Wheels People

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Feb. 28
  • Northwest Outward Bound School Film Screening | Tuesday, Feb. 28 | 5:30 p.m. | Northwest Outward Bound School, Blagen Building, 34 NW First Ave., Portland | Free | See two films — “Wood Hood” and “Becoming Ruby” — that highlight the importance of outdoor recreation and nature immersion for the Black community.
  • “My Fair Lady” | Tuesday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 5 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland | $29.75-$139.75 | Every Portlander knows a thing or two about “rain,” not “rine.”
Wednesday, March 1
  • Portland Brewery Dining Month | Wednesday, March 1-Friday, March 31 | Times vary | Locations vary | $35 | Support local breweries all March long by trying three-course prix-fixe meals and drink pairings (with $10 vouchers to return) at nine participating locations.
Thursday, March 2
  • Watercolor Nature Journaling - 5 Week Series | Thursday, Mar. 2-Thursday, Mar. 30 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Online | $74-$80 | Watercolor artist Elizabeth Higgins will show you new techniques to bring your nature sketches to life from the comfort of your own home.
Friday, March 3
  • 17th Annual Portland Seafood & Wine Festival | Friday, Mar. 3-Saturday, Mar. 4 | Times vary | Portland Expo Center, 2060 Marine Dr. W., Portland | $13-$125 | Enjoy fresh, locally caught seafood during peak Dungeness crab season, along with wine, craft beer, cider, and distilled spirits plus live entertainment and family-friendly activities.
  • Monster Jam | Friday, March 3-Sunday, March 5 | Times vary | Moda Center, 1 N. Center Court St., Portland | $22-$88 | See souped-up machines like Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, and Megalodon push the limits of four-wheeled stunts and racing.
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.
TIME MARCHES ON

Weather
  • 41Âş | Rain and snow showers | 47% chance of wintry mix
  • Last week’s storm buried Portland in snow, but also revealed many good Samaritans. Jon Gilbert worked through the night to free over 20 vehicles stranded on an icy off-ramp, while a boys wrestling team from Southern Oregon pushed cars stuck in downtown Portland (before winning the state championship the next day). ❄️ (KGW)
Sunrise + Sunset
  • Rise: 6:50 a.m.
  • Set: 5:56 p.m.
Traffic
  • Did your vehicle get towed during the snowstorm? Find out where it was taken, then contact the city of Portland. You’ll need to provide ID and proof of ownership. Citation fees will be waived for cars picked up before noon today, Feb. 28. đźš™ (KOIN)
Try This
  • Learn the ancient jewelry-making technique of wax carving on Sunday, March 12, at The Slow Haus in Northeast Portland. Workshop participants will create a bubble letter, heart locket, or flower pendant with wax. The shape is then cast into your metal of choice and hung on a necklace chain. đź“ż
Plan Ahead
  • PDX LIVE returns to Pioneer Courthouse Square this summer. The concert series kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 9 with The Mountain Goats and Blitzen Trapper. The lineup ends with Fleet Floxes and Uwade on Thursday, Aug. 24. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. 🎸 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Watch
  • If you’ve seen Netflix’s new rom-com movie “Your Place or Mine,” you may have spotted Reese Witherspoon rocking this Powell’s City of Books T-shirt. It was a subtle nod to Witherspoon’s time spent in Portland for “Wild,” the 2014 movie adaptation of local author Cheryl Strayed’s memoir about backpacking the PCT. đź‘• (Portland Monthly)
History
  • Ever wonder why West Linn isn’t just Linn? The sawmill town of Robin’s Nest was renamed Linn City in 1845 in honor of Sen. Lewis F. Linn. Back-to-back disasters sent many survivors packing but development eventually returned and, facing impending annexation, the area was incorporated as West Linn in 1913. đź“ś (Willamette Week)
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Let’s get fiscal

Filing your taxes in Portland, OR
tax-season-custom-section.jpg
Don’t let tax season be a stressor — these resources can help. | Photo via Unsplash
For better or worse, it’s that time of year again — tax season. Before you stress, we’re here to share some guidance for filing.

First and foremost, see the IRS’s list of up-to-date tax tips. It covers frequently asked questions like understanding business travel deductions and how military members and their families can receive help with their taxes at no cost.

Portland is also home to these local tax resources:
Ready to get started filing your taxes? File online with H&R Block’s four different filing options, from free to Premium. Or, file with a tax pro’s help. Don’t forget, the last day to file your taxes is Tuesday, April 18.*
GET FILING
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: Happy birthday to my husband and BFF, Gavin! We’ll be celebrating at Emerald City Comic Con this weekend in Seattle — and I’ll be tapping Alina and Gabe at SEAtoday for some top-notch dining recs. Because walking around in costumes all day really makes you hungry, you know?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? SheBrew Fest returns next week.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

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