Today’s Forecast

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

☀️ Soak up the summer

Try our itinerary for a laid-back summer day in Portland

Several plates of food on two blue tables pushed together with people leaning over and eating.

You don’t need a reservation to visit Grape Ape near the Eastbank Esplanade. | Photo by Thomas Teal

The sun sparkles off the Willamette River, fluffy clouds drift high above the St. Johns Bridge, and the heady aroma of flowers floats on the breeze. Winter is behind us; the sun-drenched days of summer are ahead.

Making the most of these warm months is a delicate balancing act — and carving out time to slow down and relax is crucial. We came up with a simple itinerary for a laid-back summer day in Portland to help in that endeavor.

Morning

Swap your slippers for Birkenstocks and head to Either/Or in the Boise neighborhood. Wake up nice and slow with a creamy chai latte or cold brew. Hungry? Try the breakfast tacos. Pro tip: If one stop is your max for the day, camp out and take advantage of the cocktail menu and lunch items.

Midday

Enjoy a leisurely lunch or early happy hour at Grape Ape, a new wine bar on the Central Eastside. It opens at 11 a.m. every day (it’s closed on Mondays) and has indoor and outdoor seating, low-alcohol cocktails, and small plates ranging from marinated white beans to jambon-beurre baguettes.

Afternoon

Take a dip and enjoy the Willamette River — without actually having to get into the river — from the bubbling comfort of your own personal floating spa from Yacht Tubs. Want to spend time waterside without spending money? Rest your feet at Lovejoy Fountain Park, which is hidden from street view.

Evening

Dim the lights and wind down with dinner and a movie at Studio One Theaters in the Richmond neighborhood. See a first-run film in one of the “multiplex” theater’s seven themed rooms and order food and drinks delivered to your seat. Pro tip: Enjoy brunch and a $5 movie on the weekends, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Events

Friday, May 19

Black History 101 Mobile Museum | Friday, May 19 | 12-6 p.m. | Historic Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave., Portland | Free | See this interactive, tabletop exhibit that’s part of the 2023 Vanport Mosaic Festival featuring Black memorabilia, ranging from documents signed by Booker T. Washington to Jim Crow-era public plaques.
21st Annual Filmed by Bike Film Festival | Friday, May 19-Sunday, May 21 | The Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland | $55-$90 | Celebrate bike culture at this touring film festival featuring inspiring movies from around the world, filmmaker events, a bike ride, and after-parties.
McMenamins UFO Festival | Friday, May 19-Saturday, May 20 | McMenamins Hotel Oregon, 310 NE Evans St., McMinnville | Free | The otherworldly lineup of cosmic events includes a “UFO Parade,” costume contests (for humans and pets), an “Alien Abduction Dash” 5k race, and several (ticketed) ufology panelists and speakers.

Saturday, May 20

TEDxPortland: “Confluence” | Saturday, May 20 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Portland | $79-$300 | This year’s theme centers on the power of understanding and innovation inspired by the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, featuring 12 TED talks and four performances.
Portland Saturday Market | Saturday, May 20 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 2 SW Naito Pkwy., Portland | Free | Shop more than 150 booths showcasing a variety of arts, crafts, and food sold by local artisans at this historic open-air market.

Sunday, May 21

SHE FLIES Community Festival | Sunday, May 21 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Overlook Park, 1599 N. Fremont St., Portland | Free | This family-friendly event includes live fitness activities, interactive exhibits, and the awarding of $125,000 in grants to local groups advancing the Sport Oregon Foundation’s flagship initiative.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Traffic

Southeast Yamhill Street between 74th and 76th avenues will remain closed through at least Tuesday, May 23 as officials work to repair a sinkhole. The Portland Bureau of Transportation said the hole opened up a week ago, likely due to a leak in a private sewer lateral.

Development

Construction starts this week to remodel and expand Portland’s oldest food cart pod. The project — which is a collaboration between Expensify and ChefStable — will add more carts, seating, a bar, and an event stage to the “Midtown Beer Garden” pod on Southwest Fifth Avenue between Harvey Milk and Oak streets. (Portland Inno)

Active

Adaptive Biketown, Portland’s bike share program for people with disabilities, will lead a group ride this Saturday, May 20. Reserve a free e-bike online and head to Kerr Bikes & Boats — 1945 SE Water Ave. Building B (next to OMSI) — at 11 a.m. to embark on one of three routes.

Outdoors

Just days before the 43rd anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption, a landslide washed out a bridge along Washington State Route 504 (AKA Spirit Lake Memorial Highway). Johnston Ridge Observatory and Coldwater Lake are inaccessible, but Ape Cave, Lava Canyon, and the climbing route to the summit are still open. (KGW)

Plan Ahead

The Hillsboro Hops teamed up with Breakside Brewery and Pelican Brewing Company to host Craft Beer Night on Thursday, May 25. Fans 21+ who attend the game can try tastings from several local breweries, 5:30-7:45 p.m., in the Picnic Pavilion at Ron Tonkin Field.

Eat

Chef Aaron Adams opened his new tasting room, Workshop, next to Fermenter in Southeast Portland a few months ago, but closed it for the past few weeks to adjust the experience based on public feedback. Workshop reopens today with a smaller, five-course menu inspired by Adams’ Cuban and Spanish heritage. (Portland Business Journal)

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Unlock your home equity.*

Shop

Quick, who’s the next person you’ll buy a gift for? We’ve got 25 gift ideas that will spark joy + are perfect for every budget. One of our favorites? A heated back and neck massager to relieve pressure and tension.

Outdoors

🦕 ‘Life finds a way’

Oregon Zoo plants rare ‘living dinosaur’ to help restore species

A small tree with unique branches on a skinny, upright trunk.

“A Wollemi is different from the pines we’re used to in the Pacific Northwest,” said Seth Menser who oversees the Oregon Zoo’s horticulture program. | Photo by Shervin Hess via Oregon Zoo

We all know the movies that serve as cautionary tales against bringing back prehistoric megafauna — but what about restoring ancient flora? With considerably fewer teeth to contend with, dinosaur plants are undoubtedly safer alternatives.

The Oregon Zoo recently received a Wollemi pine. The tree species was thought to be extinct until 1994, when a living specimen was found in New South Wales in what The Washington Post called “one of the greatest biological reincarnations of all time.”

Wollemi pines are still extremely rare today, but conservationists are planting them around the world to help them make a comeback. The specimen that made its way to the Oregon Zoo didn’t even need to cross oceans — it was given to the zoo by Hoyt Arboretum, Portland’s living tree museum.

Zoo staff planted the 6-ft-tall tree last month in honor of Arbor Day. Visitors can see the “living dinosaur” at Elephant Lands near the entrance to Forest Hall.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

I’m trading the valley heat for the coastal breeze this weekend. The Florence Rhododendron Festival is going on now through Sunday, May 21. Billed as Oregon’s second-oldest flower festival, the event lineup includes a parade, street fair, car show, and a carnival in Florence’s Old Town.

I have fond memories of walking my beagle in the parade as a kid and looking out over the Siuslaw River while riding the Ferris wheel. My grandma was even a Rhody Princess once upon a time.

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