06.09.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

🐉 The dragon and the rose

Portland’s sister city: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Pagodas line either side of a long walkway which ends in a massive Buddha statue at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum.

Fo Guang is home to the world’s largest copper-cast Buddha statue, standing nearly 36 stories tall. | Photo by Zairon

Divided by the vast Pacific Ocean, it’s fitting that the symbol of Portland and Kaohsiung’s sister relationship is a boat. Every year during the Rose Festival, the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association hosts the Dragon Boat Races on the Willamette River — a display of colorful craftsmanship and competitive spirit.

Since 1988, this partnership with Taiwan’s southern port city has floated on the warm waters of congeniality, with many goodwill missions and unique gifts — like a freshly caught, 36-pound Tillamook Bay Chinook salmon once presented to Mayor Nan Cheng Su.

Let’s see what else there is to explore.

Liuhe Night Market in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. — Eat street food to your heart’s content at Liuhe Night Market.
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Photo by taitiro1987

Key facts

Kaohsiung City is Taiwan’s largest industrial center and the country’s “Maritime Capital.” As a powerhouse of commerce and culture, visitors can enjoy shopping in its many night markets, dine on dishes like duck rice and beef noodles at Michelin-rated restaurants, and take in the Pier-2 Art Center’s expansive galleries.

There are opportunities aplenty for outdoor recreation, from biking along the Love River and playing on Cijin Island’s black sand beaches, to hiking the mountain slopes of Shoushan, where Formosan rock monkeys swing in the banyan trees.

An aerial view of the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. — Tradition tells to the enter the dragon’s mouth and exit through the tiger.
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Photo by Brennan Tolman

Main attractions

Start your trip by turning bad luck into good fortune at the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas on Lotus Pond. As you hop around Kaohsiung on the metro, be sure to stop at the Dome of Light — the world’s largest public art installation made from individual pieces of colored glass. Interacting with the exhibits at the National Science and Technology Museum makes for a day of fun.

Outside of town, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is a sprawling monastery with temples and a massive 354-ft golden statue, while Tianliao Moon World presents otherworldly landscapes.

Other sister cities

Our travels to visit Portland’s international family have so far taken us to Ulsan, South Korea, Guadalajara, Mexico, and Bologna, Italy.

Events

Friday, June 9

ACL Bag Brawl | Friday, Jun. 9-Sunday, Jun. 11 | Times vary | Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Dr., Portland | Free | Toss your attention to this thrilling weekend of cornhole, which will have games that are broadcast live on TV.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” | Friday, June 9-Sunday, July 2 | Times vary | Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland | $25-$93 | Embark on a beguiling odyssey full of mistaken identities, misguided passions, love potions, and magic spells.

Saturday, June 10

Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races | Saturday, Jun. 10-Sunday, Jun. 11 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | South Hawthorne Waterfront Park, 1403 S. Harbor Way, Portland | Free | More than 60 different teams — local, national, and international — will compete in boats provided through the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association.
Grand Floral Parade | Saturday, Jun. 10 | 10 a.m. | Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 Winning Way, Portland | $15-$30 | Watch the flower-bedecked floats roll by from a paid seat inside or for free out on the streets during one of Portland’s most cherished traditions.
ilani BBQ Fest presents BBQ, Beer, Bubbles and Bloody Mary Brunch | Saturday, June 10-Sunday, June 11 | Times vary | ilani Cowlitz Ballroom, 1 Cowlitz Way, Ridgefield | $65 | Who says you can’t eat barbecue for breakfast?

Sunday, June 11

The Portland Pickle Party | Sunday, Jun. 11 | 12-5 p.m. | Church Bar, 2600 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland | Free | Brine your saltiest friends for a jarring celebration of fermented foods, cocktails, art, hot sauce, candles, eating contests, and more pickle-infused fun.

Monday, June 12

Skip the Small Talk | Monday, Jun. 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Von Ebert Brewing + Kitchen, 131 NW 13th Ave., Portland | $15 | Have meaningful conversations with strangers that don’t leave you drained in a comfortable environment facilitated by interesting question prompts.

Tuesday, June 13

Piano Bar with Courtney Freed and David Saffert | Tuesday, Jun. 13 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Alan J. Beard Mezzanine at The Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland | Free | Sing your favorite tune open-mic style — don’t forget to bring sheet music — or sit back and enjoy the talent and a delightful glass of wine with friends.

Events calendar here

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Finance

🪺 How’s your nest egg doing?

Don’t make these seven mistakes when hiring a financial advisor. | Photo by SmartAsset

Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor.

But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

Check out these seven secrets comfortable retirees know about hiring one, so you can optimize your savings and get back to the balance that matters most — explore, relax, or both?*

See all 7 secrets

News Notes

Community

Portland City Council has passed a ban on daytime camping on public lands between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Members of the unhoused community could face fines if they’re found in violation of the rules, which go into effect 30 days from the policy’s approval. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Traffic

Two weekends of road work will shut down Southwest Hall Boulevard at rail crossings in Tigard (today to Monday, June 12) and Beaverton (Friday, June 23-Monday, June 26). Might as well rename it Halt Boulevard. Joking aside, you may want to plan an alternate route. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Plan Ahead

Jeff Peart, founder of golf apparel brand Chasing Aces, started his company to keep the positive memories of his golden retriever Franklin alive. On Saturday, July 29, The Franklin Open will bring local businesses and golfers together for nine holes of fun in Tigard, with a raffle benefiting Golden Bond Rescue.

Watch

It’s a bird? It’s a plane? It’s... a dragon boat. For Lan Su Chinese Garden’s upcoming Nights of the Dragon Boat, a rainbow-hued craft was lowered onto the inner lake via a large crane. The event offers the opportunity to experience rich cultural traditions, shop from local vendors, and appreciate community art.

Outdoors

Columbia Children’s Arboretum is home to new ADA-accessible paths, a bus drop-off and turnaround, and more enhancements thanks to the completion of a long-term improvement project. Join Portland Culture and Livability Commissioner Dan Ryan and neighbors on Sunday, June 11, for a celebration featuring live music, refreshments, and kid-friendly activities.

Fun Fact

The city’s first electric-powered fire engine will go into service Monday, June 12, with a “push in” ceremony at Old Town’s Station 01. The zero-emissions vehicle, AKA a “pumper,” is a 42,000-pound Pierce Volterra that can seat six firefighters, possesses a 1,500 gallons-per-minute pump, and holds 500 gallons of water on board.

Ranked

Peep this — Portland ranked No. 12 on Lawn Love’s “2023’s Best Cities for Birdwatching.” The study compared the 200 largest US cities and found that birdwatchers flock to the City of Roses for its abundance of natural space and variety of feathery species. (Lawn Love)

Eat

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

Holiday

Reminder: Father’s Day is a little over a week away. Give Dad a listening upgrade with the second generation AirPods Pro. Or help ease muscle soreness with the Theragun Mini 2.0. Plus, this portable neck fan will make everyone laugh — but catch Dad using it the very next day.*

Opening

‘Dignity and rights for all persons’

Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education reopens with a street festival and new exhibits

An elderly man wearing a red beret observes one of core exhibits a the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education.

Upgrades include better museum lighting on the first floor. | Photo by OJMCHE

The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) has been closed for four months while it expanded its footprint and renovated the space’s galleries.

But this Sunday, June 11, it reopens to the public alongside a free street festival, 12-3 p.m., which will feature performances from Portland Lee’s Association Dragon & Lion Dance team, Portland Taiko, Klezmer music from Michelle Alany and the Mystics, and a taco truck.

At the center of OJMCHE’s reemergence is the new core exhibit, “Human Rights After the Holocaust,” a photographic exploration of “the work needed to achieve dignity and rights for all persons” and “the ways that hope is essential to our endeavors.” Master painters highlight two other special exhibitions: “But a Dream, Salvador Dali” and “The Jews of Amsterdam, Rembrandt and Pander.”

Lefty’s Cafe will also now be operated by Jacob & Son’s and serve Pacific Northwest-inspired deli dishes like challah grilled cheese tuna melts, potato knishes, and more.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

Portland Gear will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow morning to celebrate the grand opening of its store in Washington Square. At 10 a.m., the first 100 people will get a free hat and copy of owner Marcus Harvey’s new book, “Product of the People.” There will also be a DJ, photo opportunities, and the unveiling of a new limited-edition item.

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