08.21.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

What would you do with a million dahlias?

Discover the world of dahlias at the American Dahlia Society National Show

Several large flowers with petals that go from white on the outer edges to soft pink in the center surrounded by greenery.

Dahlia tubers are commonly dug up at the end of the growing season and kept in dry storage through winter. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

Roses are synonymous with Portland, but there’s a different summer flower whose local fanbase is growing by leaps and bounds. What it lacks in scent it makes up for with a shockingly diverse array of shapes and colors, not to mention being far friendlier than the thorny rose. We’re talking about the dahlia.

You’ll find these bold blooms growing in gardens across the city, being sold by the bucketload at farmers markets, and adorning wedding arrangements. There are more than 20,000 different cultivars divided into whimsical categories like waterlily, cactus, pompom, and anemone — and they come in every color except blue and jet black. Fun fact: Because they grow from edible tubers, dahlias were originally classified as vegetables.

The 56th annual American Dahlia Society National Show, considered “the Olympics of dahlia-dom,” returns to Portland this week for the third time in its long history. The prestigious event draws commercial growers, hobbyists, and general enthusiasts from across the country. Visitors can expect to see judged exhibits and attend seminars covering topics like growing dahlias and new industry research.

The show takes place Thursday, Aug. 24-Monday, Aug. 28, at the Holiday Inn Portland Columbia Riverfront Hotel and Convention Center. It’s free and open to the general public Saturday, Aug. 26, and Sunday, Aug. 27.

Can’t get enough of these showy flowers? Swan Island Dahlias — the largest dahlia-growing business in the US since the 1960s — is holding its Annual Dahlia Festival now through September. Admission is free.

Events

Monday, Aug. 21

Anonymous Theatre - “The Pirates of Penzance” | Monday, Aug. 21 | 7-10 p.m. | Anonymous Theatre, Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland | $40-$60 | Actors will perform this swashbuckling comedic operetta without having ever met the rest of the cast, delivering their first lines from their seats in the audience.
Portland Mercury’s Burger Week 2023 | Monday, Aug. 21-Sunday, Aug. 27 | Times vary | Locations vary, Portland | $8 | Plot your personalized burger adventure through the city and try everything from vegan to classic options.

Tuesday, Aug. 22

Science and Sawdust | Tuesday, Aug. 22-Saturday, Sept. 30 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | 421 NE 10th Ave., Portland | $2-$5 | Fans of Mike Bennett will love this cartoon museum, which features characters from past projects like “A to Zoo” and Bennett Acres, plus a photo booth and gift shop.

Wednesday, Aug. 23

The Hummingbirds of Oregon | Wednesday, Aug. 23 | 6-7 p.m. | Online | $20-$30 | Learn about these tiny superstars of the bird world and how to attract and safely feed them in your yard.

Thursday, Aug. 24

Meet The Plug Panel & Networking Mixer | Thursday, Aug. 24 | 12-5 p.m. | Jackie’s, 930 SE Sandy Blvd., Portland | $40 | Representatives from the music, fashion, and cannabis industries will share insights on how to succeed in the hip-hop industry; part of the proceeds support the Friends of Noise nonprofit.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Health

An air quality alert is in place for parts of Oregon — including Multnomah County — as smoke from fires burning in Canada and Eastern Washington clogs the skies. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said the air in Portland is unhealthy for sensitive groups, but may improve by Monday afternoon. (KOIN)

Open

Beaverton residents who work remotely, take note. VIDA Coworking has opened a new location in Raleigh Hills’ Valley Plaza. Members can access 23 private offices and 26 dedicated desks within the 12,000-sqft space, as well as a kid-friendly room, a workout area, and a kitchen. (Portland Tribune)

Sports

You know you’re crushing a sport when your technique earns its own name. Ryan Crouser, a Sam Barlow High School graduate and two-time Olympic champion, broke his own shot-put world record in May using a style he developed a few months earlier dubbed the “Crouser Slide.” (KGW)

Pets

Dogs, don your cutest outfits and take your humans to the Portland Mercado this Wednesday, Aug. 23, for the Doggie Fashion Show. The event supports the Portland Animal Welfare Team, which provides free and low-cost veterinary care for families experiencing houselessness or extreme poverty. Contest entries are $10 each.

Family

OMSI is transforming its Portland Mini Maker Fair into the Oregon Science Festival. The inaugural celebration of STEAM education (science, engineering, technology, art, and math) will run Monday, Sept. 11-Friday, Sept. 15, at the Southeast Portland museum and feature workshops, tours, lectures, film screenings, and more.

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. Calculate your payment.*

Biz

The show will go on... someplace else

Doug Fir Lounge will host a final show in late September before moving

doug fir lounge burnside portland pdx.jpeg

The Doug Fir Lounge on East Burnside Street has a mid-century-meets-log-cabin dining room with a basement-level performance venue. | Photo by Another Believer

Doug Fir Lounge is bidding farewell to its home of nearly two decades and moving into a new space 880 yards away.

The restaurant and music venue will vacate its spot at the Jupiter Hotel on East Burnside Street and take up residence in the former Le Bistro Montage space at 301 SE Morrison St. The new space will accommodate 300+ guests and offer expanded dressing rooms, an intimate private bar, and a patio.

Doug Fir has been a Portland standby since opening in 2004, attracting famous and lesser-known artists alike to its intimate performance space. It’s unclear whether the Jupiter Hotel, which completed a $1 million renovation project following the COVID-19 pandemic, is still searching for a replacement tenant.

A final show will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Burnside location. Doug Fir plans to reopen in its new location in early 2024.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

Restore Oregon has announced 14 projects to receive a 2023 DeMuro Award for Excellence, honoring their work to preserve, reuse, and revitalize architectural and cultural sites across Oregon. Take a look at the winning projects; a public award ceremony and fundraiser will be held Friday, Sept. 22, at Castaway Portland.

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