Today’s Forecast

49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.

Roots to the past

Portland’s official Heritage Trees connect past to present

Portland’s Heritage Tree program, which includes approx. 130 species of trees like these oaks, started in 1993. | Photo via Portland Parks and Recreation

In Portland’s infancy, trees were cut down in such great numbers that the city was dubbed “Stumptown.” But early Portlanders’ zeal for clear-cutting to make way for roads has dramatically shifted. Today, the City of Roses is home to over 4 million trees — some of which have the city’s official protection.

And there’s a good chance one is growing near your home.

More than 300 trees across Portland are registered Heritage Trees. City Council recognizes these neighborhood sentinels for their unique size, age, type, and historical significance.

The designation comes with special treatment. Heritage Trees are protected under Portland law and can’t be removed without first being officially decommissioned by City Council and the Urban Forestry Commission — and only if one is dead, dying, or poses a risk. Permits must be obtained before any work can be carried out on them, including pruning. Unlike similar programs in other cities, the Heritage Tree designation is attached to a Portland property title for the tree’s lifetime, even if the property is sold.

Why all the fuss? In the words of the city’s Heritage Tree field guide, these living landmarks “embody our ideals, actions, and environments at a given time in the past.” Some are older than Portland and share roots with the Indigenous peoples who cared for the land; others are young and represent species native to faraway countries. But all are tangible monuments connecting us with other cultures and bygone eras. They are silent teachers.

New trees are added to the Heritage Tree database yearly and nominations can be submitted through Monday, May 1. You can find a Heritage Tree in your neighborhood or take a self-guided walking tour using Portland Parks and Recreation’s online map.

Poll

Do you belong to a gym?

A. Yes
B. No

Congratulations to Linda J. for winning a $50 gift card to our online shop, Six & Main. Did you know you could be our next winner? Answer this week’s survey questions for a chance to score a gift card!

Submit your answer

Events

Monday, April 3

2023 Oregon Book Awards | Monday, Apr. 3 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland | $12-$65 | The state’s most accomplished writers in the poetry, fiction, nonfiction, young readers, and drama categories will have their achievements recognized.

Tuesday, April 4

The Portland GrandSLAM | Tuesday, Apr. 4 | 8 p.m. | Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland | $34 | Witness the winners of The Moth’s StorySLAM series compete for the championship title in this battle of wits and words.

Wednesday, April 5

Christopher Brown Quartet | Wednesday, Apr. 5 | 7 + 9 p.m. | The 1905, 830 N. Shaver St., Portland | $15-$20 | Let this four-piece band sway you to its rhythm in an intimate space where you can wash down a New York-style pizza with a perfect Aperol spritz.

Thursday, April 6

Bingo + Dog Adoption | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 6-8 p.m. | Level Beer, 5211 NE 148th Ave., Portland | Price of purchase | Ready to meet your new best friend? Join this evening of fun games, food trucks, cold drinks, and pups looking for their forever homes.

Plan ahead with our community events calendar below.

Turn Monday into Friday

Click here to have your event featured.

Finance

This billion-dollar startup wants to help you retire

Portrait of businesswoman standing against a wooden wall in office.

SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. | Photo by Dean Mitchell

This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement. 👀

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors serving our local area.

In just a few minutes, you can get matched with up to three financial advisors, each legally bound to work in your best interest. Now that’s service.*

Take the free quiz

News Notes

Weather

50º | Cloudy with showers | 66% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:47 a.m.
Set: 7:41 p.m.

Open

Kulfi has opened its second location a year after launching its first brick-and-mortar shop. The frozen dessert business started as a mobile cart before moving into a store on Northeast Alberta Avenue. Find flavors like Mango Lassi and Vietnamese Iced Coffee at the new location: 3540 N. Williams Ave. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Development

ZGF Architects and Portland International Airport released new renderings last week of PDX’s future main terminal and a handful of other areas like “The Garden” and “The Steps.” The facelift is all part of the $2 billion PDX NEXT project scheduled for completion in 2025. Did you notice the carpet? (KGW)

Film

A former Jefferson High School student (and future Oregon Ducks basketball player) will portray a young Lebron James in the upcoming film “Shooting Stars” — a story based on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Buzz Bissinger’s autobiography. The movie marks Marquis “Mookie” Cook’s acting debut and starts streaming Friday, June 2, on Peacock. (KGW)

Legacy

Richard “Dick” Charles Erath, a man hailed as a pioneer of Oregon’s wine industry, has died at the age of 87. The Erath Winery founder moved from California to Beaverton with his wife in the late 1960s in pursuit of his winemaking dreams, planting his first vines on land near Newberg. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Sports

Christine Sinclair is rooted in the Rose City. The Portland Thorns forward is one of just five National Women’s Soccer League players who helped launch the league and are still with their same teams — a posse fittingly dubbed “The Originals.” With 11 seasons behind her, Sinclair calls Portland by one name: “home.” (OPB)

Real Estate

A historic mansion in Northeast Portland’s Irvington neighborhood could be yours… for a cool $3 million. The 9,917-sqft home known as “Portland’s White House” was built in 1911 for lumber baron Robert Lytle in the Greek Revival style and features 14 columns, pristine gardens, a circular driveway, and old-world aesthetics. (KOIN)

Outdoors

A rare wolverine first spotted two weeks ago on McGuire Island continues to roam, catching the attention of residents near Damascus and Colton. For decades, the only Oregon wolverine sightings were in the Wallowa Mountains — but officials say the critters can travel far in search of their own territory. (KGW)

Eat

Craving a healthy and delicious snack that also supports a good cause? Meet PDXPOP! gourmet popcorn. Each bag is individually packaged, and can be shipped all over the US. Bonus: All proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels People. Add to cart. *

Wellness

Our tip for a gentle, gradual wake-up: Amazon’s Halo Rise, which uses smart alarm clock technology to simulate a sunrise. Bonus: Turn on the sleep tracking feature to help improve your sleep — no wearable device required.

Community

How to navigate our events page

How to navigate our community events page

Our events page makes it easy to find happenings on the go. | Photo by Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels

You may be familiar with the events section of our newsletter — but what about our website?

Make the most of our comprehensive events calendar with these pro tips for navigating our site like a true local.

Event search tools

First, head to our events page.

Then, start scrolling to see what events are coming up, or use these key features to filter events more specifically:

Magnifying glass icon: Search keywords to find event categories or search events by name.
“All Events” drop-down (desktop): Search for virtual events or “Editor’s Picks.”

What’s an Editor’s Pick, you ask? Those are events that our team has personally curated for our audience. Aka: fun, noteworthy, or important goings-on in the community.

Descending list icon (desktop): Choose how you want events for each day to be ordered — by time, popularity, or alphabetically.
Bullet list icon: Change the format from lists to thumbnails.
Additional tools: Select date, location, and/or radius.

Add your own event

You can add your own events to our community calendar. Here’s how:

“Add Event” calendar button: Click or tap this button, create a login, and input your event information. We need the name, date(s), time(s), location, price, and a brief description.

Bonus: You can always upload events for free, or choose a paid option to guarantee that it’s listed in our newsletter. Review our promotional offerings before clicking “submit.”

Happy event hunting!

The Wrap

Today’s Edition By:
Cambrie

From the Editor

I took my mom to The 1905 for the first time last week to watch the Chris Brown Quartet. Each band member was incredibly talented — and they put on a really fun show with original music and re-imagined covers of classics like “Human Nature” and “When I Fall in Love.” Definitely bring your appetite because this Boise neighborhood spot slings pizzas that pair perfectly with the live entertainment.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Get a history lesson on the first all-steel steamboat built in Portland — and the sternwheeler it accidentally sunk.

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY