Today’s Forecast

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

If you build it, they will come

Unleash your inner kid at Bricks Cascade LEGO Fan Expo

You’re looking at hours upon hours of focus and creativity. | Photo by Will Nickelson

In this age of technology and smartphones, most physical toys must compete for a kid’s attention. But there are some that have proven immune to the pressures of the digital playground; fewer still can claim consistent popularity for decades among people of all ages. Such is the case for LEGO.

Love them or hate them (though the latter could only be true if you’ve ever stepped on a rogue piece in the middle of the night), LEGO will never go out of style. If you’re a fan of the colorful bricks and accessories, or have a friend or loved one who is, you won’t want to miss the Bricks Cascade LEGO Fan Expo.

The 11th edition of the event will take place Saturday, May 13-Sunday, May 14, at the Oregon Convention Center. Hailed by The Oregonian as one of the 50 best events in the state, Bricks Cascade brings hundreds of expert builders from around the world to Portland. It’s organized by Bricklandia, a local nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that works to promote LEGO artistic creations, share building tips, and support fellow enthusiasts.

A large indoor convention center room full of people and display tables. — “LEGO” comes from the Danish words “leg” and “godt,” meaning “play well.“
|
Photo by Will Nickelson

Here are some quick highlights about the 2023 Bricks Cascade LEGO Fan Expo:

60,000 sqft of displays and play space
Open voting for the expo’s “People’s Choice Award”
Yearly themed LEGO kits
Leave your mark (in bricks) on the Wall of Creation
Vendors selling unique, custom, and rare LEGO-based products
DUPLO play area for young children
Photo opportunities

One- and two-day passes are available online.

Events

Friday, May 12

Wine & Cookbook Pop Up | Friday, May 12-Saturday, May 13 | 5-10 p.m. | Futura Coffee Roasters, 7201 NE Glisan St., Portland | Price of purchase | Bring the mother figure in your life for an evening of vino and conversation.
The Helio Sequence | Friday, May 12 | 8:30 p.m. | Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland | $25 | This rock duo from Beavertown is ready to put on a great show for the hometown crowd.
Interdimensional Art Show | Friday, May 12-Sunday, May 14 | Times vary | The Den, 116 SE Yamhill St., Portland | $18-$50 | Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this event, where guests can meet trailblazing creatives and support them by purchasing their work.

Saturday, May 13

The Archaeology Roadshow | Saturday, May 13 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Portland State University, Walk of the Heroines, SW 11th Ave., Portland | Free | Learn about transportation modes of the distant past through presentations and activities hosted by experts from Oregon and beyond.
St. Johns Bizarre | Saturday, May 13 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | North Lombard Street and Philadelphia Avenue, Portland | Free | Soak up the sun in NoPo with the return of this quirky market featuring craft vendors, food carts, a beer garden, live music, and more.
Vancouver Farmers Market | Saturday, May 13-Sunday, May 14 | Times vary | West Eighth Street and Esther Street, Vancouver | Free | Find handmade goods, locally grown produce, plants, honey, kombucha, and more — and meet a record 63 new small businesses joining the market for the 2023 season.

Sunday, May 14

Mother’s Day Cosmic Brunch | Sunday, May 14 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Ecliptic Brewing, 825 N. Cook St., Portland | $25-$55 | Dine on a four-course prix fixe menu, drink beer and special cocktails, and make Mom feel appreciated at the pop-up flower shop.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Finance

Kick back and retire (yes, please)

SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area. | Photo by SmartAsset

This billion-dollar startup wants to help you retire.

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 who serve your area.

It’s never too late to work towards more radiant golden years. Take this quiz to see if you can retire comfortably.*

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News Notes

Weather

An excessive heat watch will be in effect from Sat., May 13 at 2 p.m. until Mon., May 15 at 8 p.m., with daytime highs expected to near or even break records. Just because it’s hot outside, doesn’t mean local rivers are safe. Spring snow melt means dangerously cold and swift water. (OPB)

Community

Chronic homelessness — defined as a person being unhoused for at least a year, or repeatedly, while struggling with a disabling condition — fell by 17% in the tri-county area in 2023. However, more people in Multnomah County are staying in shelters, partially due to increased availability and more accurate data collection. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live + KOIN)

Shop

Nike by Bridgeport Village, a digitally-enabled, small-format store, is now open and will focus on “championing female athletes through a premium, differentiated and seamless retail experience.” It’s the apparel giant’s 50th location of this design. To celebrate the occasion, there will also be a community run on Saturday, May 13.

Coming Soon

In what seems like the blink of an eye, Life Time Beaverton, an athletic club and premium coworking space, sprung up off the Cedar Hills exit on Highway 26. Now, the luxury country club — the first Life Time in Oregon — is set to open Wednesday, May 31.

Arts

Discover a world of dance. White Bird’s 2023-24 season slate has officially been announced and will include performances from Pilobolus, Music From the Sole, Black Grace, and more. Single-sale tickets are not yet on sale, but first-time and returning subscriptions are available.

Eat

Shop Halo Halo owner Geleen Abenoja is so close to opening her brick-and-mortar location in Southeast Portland’s Woodstock neighborhood. The Filipino bakery, cafe, and community space should open by summer, serving treats like sans rival cake and its namesake shaved ice dessert made with sweet beans, ube, and jackfruit. (KOIN)

Festival

In seven rotations of the Earth — Fri., May 19-Sat., May 20 — the McMenamins UFO Festival lands in McMinnville, featuring expert speakers, live music, costume contests, a 5K race, a parade, and more. Read up on how the event got started and plan out your interstellar visit with the full schedule.

Sports

With pick No. 215 in the WHL Prospects Draft, the Portland Winterhawks selected Morgan Stickney — the first ever female American player to be drafted by the junior ice hockey league. The goalie hails from Redondo Beach, California.

Outdoors

A couple of Hedwigs, er... two snowy owls are the Oregon Zoo’s newest residents in its Great Northwest section. The fluffy white pair, named Rocky and Banff, are unlike other owl species in that they spend more time on the ground and are active in the daytime.

Travel

A new intercity night route between Portland and Sacrament is now available via FlixBus. The trip will be offered four times a week (departures vary based on direction). Southbound stops include Salem, OSU Corvallis, Eugene, Roseburg, Redding, Oroville, and Marysville. Tickets start at $62.99.

Transit

Oregon’s first (and oldest) reinforced concrete bridge just can’t hold what it used to. The Oregon Department of Transportation has implemented new vehicle weight restrictions on the Northeast 28th Avenue Bridge over Interstate 84. Read about its 115-year history of carrying cars over Sullivan’s Gulch.

Holiday

How to win Mother’s Day? Send the mother figure in your life iconic meals and desserts from across the country with Goldbelly. Think: Ina Garten’s coconut cake, a New York bagel brunch kit, and a chef’s steak dinner for four. Yup, it’s all on Goldbelly.*

Quiz

How well do you know your headlines?

PDXtoday news quiz: August 2023

People enjoy the rooftop bar at KEX Hotel in Portland

August was hot off the press. | Photo by @kexportland

Okay, PDXtoday readers, let’s test your memory skills.

We bring you roughly seven news notes each day, which amounts to nearly 150 pieces of news every month. Can you remember the stories we shared in April?

If you...

🧠 are fascinated by medical innovation

🚢 like big boats and you cannot lie

🍔 love to daydream about new foodie destinations

... then we’re betting our little test will be easy peasy lemon squeezy. 🍋

Show off your skills by taking our news quiz — we’ll give high-scorers a shoutout in an upcoming newsletter.

It takes 5 minutes

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

"Can I get a hot tub?” I don’t know about you, but I’ve been seeing floating hot tubs on the Willamette River — like those Yacht Tubs rents out — all over my social media lately. My envy is bubbling just beneath the surface.

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