Plus: A shakeup to Oregon's newspaper industry.
 
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Sending it back to the ‘60s

Portland decades: the 1960s
A historic photo shows Portland's Memorial Coliseum during construction. The structure's roof sits atop four massive pillars.
Thanks to complex rooftop supports, Memorial Coliseum has only four columns. | Photo via Portland City Archives
Much like elsewhere in the country, social movements gained a foothold in Portland during the 1960s. Activists fought for justice on multiple fronts, taking on racial and gender discrimination, as well as threats to the environment; at the same time, beloved cultural institutions opened their doors.

Population: 372,676

Mayors: Terrence Doyle “Terry” Schrunk (1957-1972)

1960 — More than 5,000 shoppers attend the opening of the Lloyd Center, which developers advertise as the “biggest mall in the world.” Several months later, Memorial Coliseum becomes Portland’s largest indoor arena.

Concerns citizens meet to discuss the Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project in 1963.

From 1961 to 1972, members of the Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project planted 1,115 trees throughout North Portland.

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Photo via Portland City Archives

1961 — Portland Public Schools converts its adult education program into a separate entity, thus establishing Portland Community College.

1962 — Packy, the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in 44 years, is born at the Oregon Zoo. Radio station KPOJ holds a baby-naming contest for the young pachyderm. The Columbus Day storm brings Category 3 hurricane-force winds and devastation to the PNW.

1963 — “Golden Gate red” replaces the Broadway Bridge’s black paint, a color it wore for 50 years.

1964 — The NAACP chapter of Portland marks its 50th anniversary by moving into new headquarters on North Williams Avenue.

Large trees lean over in front of Portland's Pittock Mansion, showing the devastation of the Columbus Day storm in 1962.

The record windstorm of 1962 caused severe damage to Pittock Mansion; a max gust of 116 mph was recorded on the Morrison Bridge.

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Photo via Portland City Archive

1965 — Following a conservation campaign which saw citizens raise $67,500, the newly restored Pittock Mansion avoids the bulldozer and instead opens to the public as a museum.

1966 — Thirty-one Vietnam War protesters are arrested outside of the Sheraton Motor Inn, where Vice President Hubert Humphrey defends the US’ involvement in the conflict.

1967 — The Portland Japanese Garden formally opens, drawing 28,000 visitors before closing for the winter. A protest against police treatment of Black people boils over at Irving Park, leading to the “Albina riot.”

1968 — Three years after allegedly getting fired from Little Richard’s band in the middle of a show at the Crystal Ballroom, guitarist Jimi Hendrix returns for a packed show in Memorial Coliseum.

1969 — Rose City Transit goes bankrupt and the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, or TriMet, takes over with minimal bumps along the way.
Asked

Before he was named Packy by the people of Portland, what was the baby Asian elephant called?

An archival photo shows a baby elephant, Packy, with two adult elephants and zookeepers.

Packy’s parents, Thonglaw and Belle, were born in the wild.

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Photo via Portland City Archives

A. Peanut
B. Tembo
C. Fuzzy Face
D. Tiny
That's a tusk one
 
Events
Wednesday, June 5
  • Portland Pickles vs. Walla Walla Sweets | Wednesday, June 5 | 7:05-10:05 p.m. | Walker Stadium, 4727 SE 92nd Ave., Ste. 4601, Portland | $12-$25 | It’s “Portland Is Better Than Seattle Night” and “Woof Wednesday” — talk about the stars aligning.
Thursday, June 6
Friday, June 7
  • Spread Peace: Wish Tree by Yoko Ono | Friday, June 7-Monday, June 10 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave., Portland | $16-$22 | Contribute your aspirations to this interactive artwork by the acclaimed artist and global peace advocate.
  • Blend - Art + Culture + Community | Friday, June 7-Sunday, June 9 | Times vary | The Goldsmith Blocks, 10 NW Fifth Ave., Portland | $0-$35 | Celebrate underrepresented artists in the Pacific Northwest during a weekend of music, food and drinks, and various activities; use code PDXTODAY for 50% off.
Saturday, June 8
  • HONK! PDX | Saturday, June 8-Sunday, June 9 | Times vary | Locations vary, Portland | Free | Join street bands from around the world at this family-friendly festival, hosted at Lents Park and in the Montavilla neighborhood the final day.
  • Portland Thorns vs. North Carolina Courage | Saturday, June 8 | 7 p.m. | Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison St., Portland | $22-$136 | There’s a party in Portland for Pride Night, so come cheer on the squad.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Seasonal

Culture

6 ultimate summer experiences at Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island
Presented by a PDXtoday Partner
gif showing an aerial image of Topaz Farm, people dining outside, and people listening to live music
This family-owned and operated 130-acre working farm on Sauvie Island is just 20 minutes from downtown Portland. | Photos provided by Topaz Farm, @wlapointephoto, and Julia Varga
The official start of summer is right around the corner (read: only 15 days away). Portlanders have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of warm weather and sunny skies at Topaz Farm.

Located just 30 minutes away, Topaz Farm offers an array of activities that cater to all ages — making it the perfect destination for family outings, date nights, or solo adventures. Here are our top recs:
  • Enjoy exquisite farm-to-plate dinners under a massive 500-year-old oak tree.
  • Pick fresh berries and cut fresh flowers on the island’s only regeneratively grown, no-spray field.
  • Experience Sauvie Island’s original and largest sunflower festival.
  • Take in live folk, indie, bluegrass, and country music during Americana Harvest Fest nights.
  • Enjoy free kids experiences, including hands-on tractor rides, animal talks + storytime sessions.
  • Attend a special event like Sip ‘n’ Cut flowers, Sip ‘n’ Paint classes, plus cooking, pickling, and canning classes.
Create lasting memories this summer by enjoying the farm’s bar and grill, adorable animals, and the island’s largest farm store.
Plan your visit to Topaz Farm
News Notes
Biz
  • Oregon’s newspaper industry experienced a dramatic shakeup this week. Pamplin Media Group, publisher of the Portland Tribune and many other publications, sold to Mississippi-based Carpenter Media. Also, layoffs struck EO Media, resulting in cutbacks at The Bulletin in Bend, while causing five other Eastern Oregon papers to fold entirely. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Edu
  • Portland Public Schools has selected its next superintendent — Kimberlee Armstrong, who makes history as the first Black woman to hold the role. Previously, she was the district’s academic chief officer. The hire concludes a national search; last week, the three finalists took part in a public forum at Grant High School. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Feel Good
  • After an overwhelming outpouring of community support, the team behind The Sudra has announced it will reopen as Asha, “a cocktail bar, a date night destination, a place to gather with friends, and an inclusive space.” Some favorite dishes will survive the shift, with new additions added to refresh the menu.
Volunteer
  • We’re less than a month away from the Waterfront Blues Festival (Tuesday, July 2–Sunday, July 7) and the event is still looking for volunteers. Roles include entry gate operations, merch sales, VIP service, hydration, and more. Completing your shift also gets you free entry to the concerts for that day.
Plan Ahead
  • Small Shops & What Knot will host a “90’s Theme Sip & Shop” on Saturday, June 15 at Stage 722. From 12 to 6 p.m., attendees can browse local vendors, enjoy food carts and a full bar, get permanent jewelry and flash tattoos, and listen to throwback tunes. Entry is free.
History
Fun Fact
  • Providence Park has had many names and hosted many events in its long history. One thrifter recently spotted quite the artifact from its past — a mint-condition lunchbox, sporting mascots Boomer the Beaver and Larry the Lightbulb, representing our city’s former baseball team and PGE’s previous stadium naming rights.
Sports
  • ESPN’s FPI (football power index) is a metric for predicting a college team’s performance throughout the season based on roster skill and depth. The Oregon Ducks are ranked No. 2 in the country, behind only Georgia in 2024. Locked On Ducks discusses why that matters (and why it doesn’t).
    Finance
    • You know a restaurant’s good if other chefs eat there, and you can trust a gym where athletes train. So, we’ll trust this rec: This card recommended by The Ascent has no annual fee and offers up to 5% cash back, a sign-up bonus, and 0% intro APR into 2025.*
     
    Try This

    🍎 Aguas frescas-inspired ciders

    La Familia Cider brings its aguas frescas-inspired beverages to Portland
    La Familia Cider owners Jose and Shani Gonzalez (right) pose with their four children (left) in front of their Salem cider house.
    Established in 2017, La Familia is now sold by 500+ retailers across the PNW. | Photo via La Familia Cider Company
    If you didn’t catch the name, La Familia Cider Company is a family affair.

    Jose and Shani Gonzalez oversee the cider making and business operations, their daughter Jazzelle runs the flagship cider house in Salem, and son Jay Jay will have the honor of managing the Portland taproom, opening today at 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

    Drawing on the owner’s Mexican heritage, La Familia’s ciders incorporate the fruity flavors of aguas frescas, like Guayaba (guava) and Jamaica (hibiscus), while rotating in seasonal releases. Pro tip: Try the La Niña Fresa, a tap-exclusive cider made with Oregon strawberries.

    In the new family- and pet-friendly space, guests can enjoy 29 taps: 15 ciders from La Familia and other producers, with 14 craft beers, plus cider cocktails. A small Mexican food menu rounds out the offerings.

    La Familia donates a percentage of its profits to local nonprofit organizations helping families gain citizenship through the legal immigration process.
    The Buy

    The Buy 6.05.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
    The ultimate summer grill accessory: a wireless smart thermometer. Stick it in your food, cook as usual, and the thermometer will notify your smartphone when your meat has reached the ideal internal temp. Hello, perfectly cooked steaks…
    Answered

    Some like it cold... more like it hot

    Three mugs of coffee sit in the sun, with the middle one served black and steaming. The outer two mugs are topped with latte foam, a heart on the right and dappled cinnamon on the left. The middle mug features ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

    Egyptian coffee shop Tov specializes in sweet, dark roasts.

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    Photo by @tovcoffeebar

    Last week we asked readers, “If you had to choose between only drinking hot or iced coffee for the rest of your life, what would you pick?”

    Here’s the verdict.
    • 78% have to have it hot
    • 22% say it’s got to be iced
    If you haven’t had your morning pick-me-up yet, try one of the coffee shops linked below.
    Order up
     
    The Wrap
     
    ben-mcbee-headshot-2024.png

    Today’s edition by:
    Ben
    From the editor
    I’m a big fan of comedian Ian Karmel, the Beaverton native and host of All Fantasy Everything — “the only podcast to ever exist.”

    He’ll be at Powell’s City of Books this Saturday in support of his new book, “T-Shirt Swim Club: Stories from Being Fat in a World of Thin People,” written with his sister, psychologist Dr. Alisa Karmel. Get it at a local bookstore or online.
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