April 17, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

65º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:20 a.m. | Sunset 8 p.m.
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‘A true cultural hub in our community’

This artistic rendering shows an open space with light-colored hardwood floors, bookshelves along multiple walls, floor-to-ceiling artwork, a mezzanine, and small tables for people to read or work at.

“Not only will it be one of the largest physical centers in the nation for literature and storytelling, but it will also stand as a love letter to this city that has been our home for four decades,” said Andrew Proctor, executive director at Literary Arts. | Rendering by Bora Architecture & Interiors

Literary Arts is about to start a new chapter. The Portland nonprofit “with a mission to engage readers, support writers, and inspire the next generation with great literature” will relocate its downtown headquarters to the Central Eastside.

The organization behind programs like Portland Arts & Lectures and the Oregon Book Awards has outgrown its offices in the Pittock Block. After touring more than 40 buildings in the search for a new home, Literary Arts landed on a historic property at 716 SE Grand Ave. Constructed in 1904, the building originally housed Strowbridge Hardware and, later, a furniture store. At 14,000 sqft, it’s a sizeable upgrade for Literary Arts — 170% larger than the organization’s current downtown digs.

“The moment we stepped into this two-story gem, steeped in history with its exposed brick and original floors, it was as if Literary Arts had found its home,” said Amy Donohue, architect and principal at Bora Architecture and Literary Arts board member.

Bora Architecture & Interiors is working with Literary Arts to maximize the space’s potential for staff and the community, creating what Donohue refers to as “a welcoming environment for all, irrespective of age, income, race, education, or geographical background — a true cultural hub in our community.”

A rendering of the future Literary Arts headquarters shows a mezzanine with bookshelves and a connected office with an open view to the lower main level. — Dedicated space for staff will allow them privacy to focus on their work, while still feeling connected.
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Rendering by Bora Architecture & Interiors

Literary Arts, which will continue its online offerings, aims to open the center to the public this October — in time for its 40th anniversary and ahead of the Portland Book Festival in November. Here’s what you can expect:

A bookstore + cafe
Classroom + event spaces
Writing areas
Staff offices
A recording studio for radio show/podcast, “The Archive Project”

Relocation and renovation costs are estimated at approx. $13 million, including the $3.5 million Literary Arts paid for the building in 2022. The organization aims to cover the rest through fundraising.

Events

Wednesday, April 17

Orchids of Oregon | Wednesday, April 17 | 6-7 p.m. | Online | $20-$30 | Did you know ~28 of the world’s 28,000 orchid species grow wild in Oregon? Learn about their unique characteristics and where to spot them.

Thursday, April 18

Secret Roller Disco | Thursday, April 18 | 7-9 p.m. | Memory Den Vintage Mall, 499 SE Second Ave., Portland | Free | Go underground for this week’s vintage-themed skate party — the Rose City Rollers Skatemobile will have rental equipment available on site.
“Sh-Boom! Life Could Be A Dream” | Thursday, April 18-Sunday, April 28 | Times vary | Broadway Rose New Stage, 12850 SW Grant Ave., Tigard | $30-$54 | Relive the days of yesteryear with nostalgic oldies hits as a fledgling doo-wop singing group pursues their dreams of making it to the big time.

Friday, April 19

NE Broadway Earth Week Cleanup | Friday, April 19 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | All Seasons Windows, 701 NE Broadway, Portland | Free | Join Lloyd EcoDistrict and help clean up your community by removing litter and enhancing the area’s natural beauty.
Belmont Station 27th Anniversary Party! | Friday, April 19 | 12-11 p.m. | Belmont Station, 4500 SE Stark St., Portland | Price of purchase | Stop by this bottle shop in the Sunnyside neighborhood for new collaboration beers and hot sauce or sip specials at the adjacent Biercafé.
Conversational Lube: The First LIVE Comedy Dating Show | Friday, April 19 | 7 p.m. | McMenamins Al’s Den, 303 SW 12th Ave., Portland | $20 | Ditch the dating apps and try this live comedy show where singles are matched and experience their first date on stage with a professional comedian.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Sports

Mike Norris is out as the head coach of the Portland Thorns. Norris, who was promoted to the position in January 2023, has been reassigned as the club’s technical director. An international search for the next head coach is now underway; assistant coach Rob Gale will temporarily fill the role. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Portlander

Cameron Brink was drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA draft this week. Brink was a student at Beaverton’s Southridge High School, helping the school earn two state titles before transferring to Mountainside, and was ESPN’s No. 3 ranked high school player in the US. (KGW)

Eat

Remember when beloved food cart Bark City BBQ closed in 2022 because the owner was moving? Well, pitmaster Michael Keskin is back and ready to start again. Look for “a new evolution” of the cart’s menu when it reopens next month in the 23rd and Alberta Food Cart Pod. (Eater Portland)

Biz

The Port of Portland will cease cargo container handling operations at Terminal 6 by October. The port made the decision after efforts to lease the North Portland site to a third-party operator collapsed. Automobile imports/exports and “break bulk” cargo services too large for shipping containers will continue. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Development

A 30,000-sqft footwear and apparel manufacturing hub has taken its first big step in Old Town. The first building that will be part of the $125 million project — dubbed “Made in Old Town” — was recently purchased at 333 NW Fifth Ave. for an undisclosed amount. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live + Portland Business Journal)

Number

3%. That’s how much Portland property tax payments increased in 2023, rising to an average of $5,681 for a single-family home compared to $5,498 the previous year. Analysts expect the trend to stick around as home prices continue to climb and challenges plague the commercial real estate market. (Portland Business Journal)

Stat

On that note… More Portlanders are packing up and relocating across the Columbia. Fewer than 8,000 residents of the tri-county area moved to Clark County in 2019; that number surged in 2022 to nearly 14,000, according to a new report by an Oregon state economist. (KOIN)

Sports

Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said the franchise plans to invest in its young players and “development will continue to be a focus.” But how long are we talking about? Tune into Locked On Blazers for a breakdown of the team’s recent exit interviews. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Opening

🍻 Apples to apples

A pale beige building peaks out from among spring blossoming trees and shrubs.

Bauman’s on Oak will celebrate its grand opening Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21, with tours, raffles, and pie specials. | Photo by @baumansonoak

Bauman’s Cider Company will debut its first Portland tasting room this Friday, April 19 in the former home of Ecliptic Brewing’s Moon Room.

The much-anticipated opening of the 10,000-sqft space, dubbed Bauman’s on Oak, in Southeast Portland marks the company’s first expansion beyond its founder’s historic family farm in Gervais. The new space accommodates large-scale production, alleviating strain on the farm and increasing capacity. Bauman’s Cider went from producing 5,000 gallons of cider in its first year in 2015 to pumping out about 132,000 gallons in 2023.

The new taproom at 930 SE Oak St. will offer 30 taps and seating for 230 people. Cafe Olli founding partner and chef Daniel Green is in charge of the kitchen, which will showcase seasonal ingredients and produce harvested from the cidery’s farm.

The Buy

Briton Court’s new spring collection. Enter the new season with one of these unique printed dresses.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

You have until Sunday, May 5 to help name a type of apple bred at Washington State University. The “attractive, pink-blushed apple with outstanding eating quality” is a cross between Honeycrisp and Pink Lady apples and is over 20 years in the making. The winner will receive multiple prizes, including a charcuterie board engraved with the winning apple’s name and a box of the fruit to enjoy. How do you like them apples?

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