Today’s Forecast

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

Travel and Outdoors

The ultimate road trip to Ashland, OR

Itching to get out of town, Portlanders? Skip those pesky airport security lines and jump in your car for a road trip to Ashland instead. From theatrical performances at the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival to the famous chicken soup at Brothers’ Restaurant — we’re spilling all the details on how to have an unforgettable time in the 541.

Actors perform at an open-air theatrical stage with Tudor-style architecture at dusk. — James Ryen, Jonathan Fisher, and Amy Lizardo in the 2022 production of “The Tempest” at the Allen Elizabethan Theatre.
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Photo by Joe Sofranko via @osfashland

📍 Essential info

Drive time: ~4.5 hours
Year city was established: 1852
Est. population: 21,607

🎟️ Experience

Oregon Shakespeare Festival
What started in July of 1935 with performances of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and “The Merchant of Venice” is now an 11-program festival running every February-November. It’s often referred to as the “Broadway of the West Coast,” has won multiple Tony Awards, and is one of Time magazine’s top five regional theater companies in the US.

Try a unique herbal elixir at Elder Apothecary.
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Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

🍴 Eat

The Black Sheep
Are you really getting the full Shakespearean experience if you don’t stop for a meal at a traditional British pub? Feast on a tried-and-tested favorite like bangers and mash, fish and chips, or shepherd’s pie while listening to live music or watching acrobats defy gravity.

🏨 Stay

Ashland Springs Hotel
Billed as “one of the most prominent landmarks in Southern Oregon,” the building originally known as Lithia Springs Hotel has been giving travelers a good night’s sleep since 1925. Today, the 3-star hotel features original chandeliers and elegant rooms that still evoke the charm of a bygone century. Look for the original stained glass bearing the “LH” (Lithia Hotel) crest over the front entrance.

Ashland Springs Hotel PDX Portland — The Ashland Springs Hotel has 100 rooms.
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Photo by Joe Mabel

Wait a minute, Portlanders. Before you head out the door, find the cheapest places to fill up your gas tank and stock up on road trip snacks from New Seasons Market. Also, bookmark this map so you have no trouble finding all of our recommendations while visiting Ashland.

More eats, stays, and things to do

Asked

When deciding on a road trip destination, what is the maximum amount of time you want to spend driving?

A. 1-3 hours
B. 4-6 hours
C. 6+ hours
D. None, I prefer to fly

Let us know

Events

Wednesday, April 19

Hiring Event at Din Tai Fung | Wednesday, April 19-Saturday, April 22 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Pioneer Place, 700 SW Fifth Ave. Ste. 1053, Portland | Free | The international Taiwanese dumpling chain is looking to hire “friendly, energetic, highly motivated people” for its soon-to-open restaurant in Pioneer Place.
Portland Pizza Week | Wednesday, April 19-Sunday, April 23 | Locations vary, Portland | $3 slices, $20 whole pies | Thirty-six participating pizzerias including The Blind Onion, Atlas Pizza, and Cicoria will offer special slices and whole pies that won’t cost you too much dough.

Thursday, April 20

Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival | Thursday, Apr. 20-Saturday, Apr. 22 | Times vary | Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Dr., Portland | $10-$12 | Find a wide variety of sewing, quilting, needle-art, and craft supplies — and possibly a new hobby.

Friday, April 21

Sustainable Fashion Forum | Friday, Apr. 21-Saturday, Apr. 22 | Times vary | Irving Street Studio, 907 NW Irving St., Portland | $95-$225 | Learn about the “complex environmental, social, and economic challenges at the intersection of fashion, business, and sustainability” at this lineup of panel discussions and networking opportunities.

Saturday, April 22

Two Conversations and a Game Show: An Evening of Megaphonic Podcasts | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 5 p.m. | Passages Bookshop, 1801 NW Upshur St. Ste. 660, Portland | Free | Attend a live podcast of three different shows — one about oddball films and history, one that’s a game show with trivia, and one that’s all about J.R.R. Tolkien — at a shop that sells rare books.
Earth Day Cleanup | Saturday, Apr. 22 | Times vary | Locations vary, Portland | Free | Give the gift of your time and energy to help SOLVE clean up and beautify areas around the Portland metro area and beyond.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Cause

How buying popcorn can help change lives 🍿

2 women standing and smiling, 1 holds a bag of popcorn

All proceeds from this small-batch, air-popped corn are donated back to Meals on Wheels People. | Photo provided by Meals on Wheels People

Good food for a good cause? Count us in.

Not only does PDXPOP! gourmet popcorn taste great — it also does great work. Each and every sale supports Meals On Wheels People’s mission of providing nutritious meals to homebound older adults.

We’re drooling over yummy flavors like Milk Chocolate Almond, White Cheddar, and Salted Butter Toffee (all of which start at $3.50 per bag). Give PDXPOP! popcorn a try and support a good cause.*

Get snacking, Portland

News Notes

Weather

The May flowers better be worth it. As of Tuesday morning, Portland had seen 3.76 inches of April rain — nearly triple the annual average, making this the 13th wettest April in recorded history. With a rainy forecast ahead, there’s a good chance this month could break April 2022’s record. (KOIN)

Community

The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming special election is one week away — Tuesday, April 25. Voters will cast their ballots on subjects like local education (school boards, community colleges, etc.), as well as water districts, fire departments, and additional local ballot measures on May 16. (KOIN)

Try This

The Choco Taco is basically the unicorn of frozen desserts, but you can get your hands on one at Kate’s Ice Cream from Thursday, April 20-Sunday, April 30. Kate’s version of the Klondike treat is a folded housemade gluten-free waffle cone stuffed with plant-based vanilla ice cream and sprinkled with roasted peanuts.

Plan Ahead

A free drag show is coming to Pioneer Courthouse Square this month. “Expressions: A Celebration of Drag and Transgender Rights” will take place 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 29. More than 15 performers and speakers will be there, including Mx. Dahlia Belle, Flawless Shade, and Bolivia Carmichaels. (Here is Oregon)
Join the Portland Chamber Orchestra, soloist Michelle Bushkova, and refugee speakers for an evening of Mozart and discussion on Saturday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now available for “From Darkness to Light: Refugee Experiences in Words and Music” at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.

Closing

All-vegan Jewish deli Ben & Esther’s (the one Lizzo likes) will shutter its original Rose City location on Northeast Sandy Boulevard on Saturday, April 29 — but assured customers that “Portland is fine without two locations just 10 minutes apart.” The shop on Northeast Alberta Street will stay open.

Portlander

What does Portland have in common with the Boston Marathon? This year’s top American finisher is a former University of Portland Pilots runner. Scott Fauble crossed the finish line with a time of 2:09:44, placing seventh overall. He braved the rain — and so did our friends at BOStoday. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Fun Fact

In case you missed it, there’s still a chance to win $500 by taking our brief survey. Your feedback is important to us, and we want to ensure the content we deliver to you is relevant. Take the survey.

Finance

Many Americans worry they’re not saving enough for retirement — and rightfully so. Find out if your savings meet the recommended amount by age, and how a financial advisor could help. *

Number

33.7+ million. That’s how many bottles of Champagne the US consumed in 2022. Keep the bubbly flowing with our favorite vacuum-insulated Champagne + wine chiller from S’well, plus the easiest Champagne stopper you’ll ever use.

Seasonal

🌎 Go planet, it’s (almost) your Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day in Portland

EarthDay.org also has resources for how to celebrate Earth Day year-round. | Photo via Pexels

Shoutout to planet Earth for keeping us all grounded. Let’s celebrate.

Saturday, April 22 marks Earth Day — an annual holiday that is celebrated by more than a billion people across 193 countries. This year’s campaign is “Invest In Our Planet,” and to help you do so, EarthDay.org has a plethora of resources that can help you get involved on local, national, and global levels. A few of our favorites include:

The 2023 Earth Day Action Toolkit — your resource for all things Earth Day and environmental advocacy.
The Earth Day event finder — search for local events taking place near you.
The Climate Literacy Communications Toolkit — learn about the key messaging and research behind climate literacy.

Interested in volunteering with a local environmental org in honor of Earth Day? Look no further than Green Lents and Friends of Trees.

Earth Day facts

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

If you read my note last week, you already know how much I adore Ashland and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The next time you visit, make time to stop by Elder Apothecary — head to the back and order an elixir off the very unique drink menu. And check out Tree House Books but keep your eyes low so you don’t miss the tiny surprise as you enter.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Here’s everything you need to know about Portland’s farmers markets.

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