What’s on the horizon

• Spring (or vernal) equinox | Tuesday, March 19 (aka the start of spring)
• Fall (or autumnal) equinox | Sunday, Sept. 22 (aka the start of fall)

• Summer solstice | Thursday, June 20 (aka the start of summer, and the longest day of the year)
• Winter solstice | Saturday, Dec. 21 (aka the start of winter, and the shortest day of the year)

How to watch

• Find your nearest DarkSite by using a light pollution map. If you’re using a resource that lists Bortle values, you’ll want to find a place tracking five or lower in order to track meteor showers.
• Join up with a local observatory or stargazing group, like Rose City Astronomers, or attend one of OMSI’s free Star Parties.

• Ticket to Dine | Monday, March 4-Sunday, March 31 | Times vary | Locations vary | Price of purchase | Whenever you eat at a participating location, you’ll get a ticket and a chance to win local prizes, like free drinks, a round of mini golf at Wonderwood Springs, concert passes, and more.
• Untapped Trivia | Monday, March 4 | 7-9 p.m. | Rose & Thistle Public House, 2314 NE Broadway, Portland | Free | Start your week with four rounds of trivia (topics are announced on social media) with prizes awarded to the top three teams.

• Oregon Raptors | Tuesday, March 5 | 6-7 p.m. | Online | $20-$30 | Learn about the 21 species of aerial hunters spotted in Oregon, from hawks to eagles, and pick up tips on where you can find them.
• Portland Film Festival — Women’s Voices | Tuesday, March 5 | 7 p.m. | McMenamins Kennedy School Theater, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland | $8 | This month’s indie film night features two works that celebrate women’s stories: “So Misunderstood” explores workplace culture; “Los Abogadas” spotlights female immigration attorneys.

• Craft Mixology Class: Women’s History Month - Cocktail HerStory | Wednesday, March 6 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Straightaway Cocktails, 901 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland | $85 | As the great poets have long pondered: to stir or to shake, that is the question. Discover the answer while building four craft cocktails inspired by women.

• Students across the entire Hillsboro School District can now get free breakfast and lunch on school days. With the expansion of the meals program, the district expects to serve approx. 16,000 meals each day. More schools in the Beaverton School District also recently expanded their free meal offerings. (KGW)

• The initial artist lineup has been announced for the 37th annual Waterfront Blues Festival this July. Names like Ben Harper, Bobby Rush, the North Mississippi Allstars, and Lo Steele will take the stage at Tom McCall Waterfront Park; save on ticket prices by buying early. (KOIN)

• Restore Oregon’s annual — and very popular — series of tours and events highlighting modernist architecture is on the horizon. The lineup kicks off May 9 with a lecture on architect Pietro Belluschi’s legacy and continues with tours of churches and private homes designed by either Belluschi or John Storrs. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

• PDX Climbers of Color is working to make rock climbing more socially and economically accessible for historically marginalized communities. The group hosts three monthly climbing nights for enthusiasts of all abilities at various Portland gyms and ventures outdoors during the warmer months. (KGW)

• Ohhh, this show is on fire. Kings of Leon will play a concert at the Moda Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, for their “Can We Please Have Fun” tour. Tickets to see the rock band and special guest Phantogram start at $35.50.

• Habitat for Humanity is hiring for multiple positions based in the Portland area, including full- and part-time roles in construction, homeownership programs, resource development, and retail. Learn more about each position and apply here.

• What do you get when you use AI to market an event on a tight budget? The disastrous and deliciously viral Willy Wonka “immersive experience” in Scotland, dubbed the Fyre Festival for kids. Artist Mike Bennett depicted “The Unknown,” an evil chocolate maker who jump-scared attendees — and we can’t stop laughing. (Forbes)

• When will Deandre Ayton and Moses Brown be off the injury list, and will Anfernee Simons up his game this season? Hear the experts speculate on these topics and more by listening to the Locked On Blazers daily podcast.

• Visiting another city and looking for a brunch as good as Pine State Biscuits? Check a map. Having trouble picking a credit card? Check The Ascent. They recommend this card for its incredible perks (like 0% interest on balance transfers for almost two years + 2% cash back).*

Fiction

• “Heartsick” by Chelsea Cain | Release date: September 2007 | You’ll get sucked into this tale of a Portland detective whose complex relationship with a serial killer is connected to another high-profile case.
• “Geek Love” by Katerine Dunn | Release date: March 1989 | Things get weird in this telling of a traveling carnival and a family-turned-freak-show.

For the family

• “Beezus and Ramona” by Beverly Cleary | Release date: January 1955 | A classic (and the first of what is now a beloved series), this book shows the highs and lows of sisterhood between a “grown-up” 9-year-old and an eccentric 4-year-old.