06.07.2024

Today’s Forecast

87º | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:22 a.m. | Sunset 8:57 p.m.
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Photographers, please stand up

Introducing our 2024 Picture of the Year contest

Lan Su Chinese Garden's bridge reflects on the calm surface of a pond. New spring blooms can be seen all around.

Lan Su Chinese Garden is high on the list of Portland’s most photogenic places. | Photo by Eleni O.

At the end of 2023, we ran a photo contest and fittingly, our readers made us smile with their creativity. You submitted dozens of shots, including a cute costumed canine, a breathtaking Timberline sunrise, and a rainbow arching over the Willamette River.

They were so good, that we are getting a jump on our 2024 Picture of the Year contest. Help us sign off on spring in style by submitting your favorite shots that you took during the season.

Finalists will be selected by our team at the beginning of 2025. Then there will be a public vote via the newsletter and social media to pick a winner. Feel free revisit this page throughout the year to enter more photos; we’ll also circle back around with occasional reminders.

The rules and details

Photo submissions must include a visual element that directly connects to Portland or the surrounding area — those without a local element will not be considered. Additionally, images that include nudity or offensive language or visuals will not be accepted.

Try a different angle

Visual inspiration can arrive anywhere, but you can also strategically position yourself for an amazing snap. Consider attending a major community event, checking out one of these awesome parks, taking your fur-ever friend on a hike, or even sipping a latte at a top coffee shop.

Asked

Do you have a 2024 photo you’re proud of?

Don’t be shy — it just takes a minute to submit.

Give us your best shot

Events

Friday, June 7

Northeast Cully Neighborhood Bike Fair | Friday, June 7 | 2:45-5:45 p.m. | Scott Elementary School, 6700 NE Prescott St., Portland | Free | Get free bike-riding lessons for the kids (or yourself) and make sure your equipment is in tip-top shape.
“Love Letters to Portland” Art Opening | Friday, June 7 | 5-7 p.m. | Sidestreet Arts, 140 SE 28th Ave., Portland | Free | Fall head-over-heels for these local artists’ expression of love for our city.

Saturday, June 8

Juneteenth Freedom Celebration | Saturday, June 8 | 12-4 p.m. | Irvington Elementary School, 1320 NE Brazee St., Portland | Free | Equitable Giving Circle invites the BIPOC community for a family-friendly afternoon of barbecue, line dancing, vendors, music, and more.
PRIDE Downtown Alley Flea Market | Saturday, June 8 | 12-7 p.m. | Kindred Homestead Supply, 606 Main St., Vancouver | Free | Show all your colors at the fashion show, support local vendors, take in live performances, and most of all, enjoy the sunshine.
Portland Horror Film Festival | Saturday, June 8-Sunday, June 9 | Times vary | Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St., Portland | $15-$30 | See scary-good slashers and other flicks from indie filmmakers.
Pre-Father’s Day Artisan Market | Saturday, June 8 | 1-4 p.m. | Steelport Knife Co., 3602 NE Sandy Blvd., Ste. B, Portland | Free | Shop for a gift for Dad, sample food and drink, watch live demonstrations, and go on a factory tour at this fourth annual event.

Sunday, June 9

23rd Annual McMinnville Garden Club Tour and Faire | Sunday, June 9 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Locations vary, McMinnville | $10 | Looking for landscaping inspiration? This is the place to be.
Wood & Other Wonders Market | Sunday, June 9 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Urbanite, 1005 SE Grand Ave., Portland | Free | Meet baby goats + local artisans at this community market featuring demonstrations and interactive activities (think: blacksmithing, weaving, screen printing, and more).

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Eat

Meet your new dinner date: Purple Carrot plant-based meals

A green caraf and glass, plate of vegetarian noodles, and plate of limes on a green table.

Purple Carrot’s nutritious meals are loaded with flavor. | Photo by Purple Carrot

Introducing your secret weapon against boring, tasteless meals: Purple Carrot.

Purple Carrot offers chef-prepared, fully plant-based meals that are ready to eat in under two minutes. Prefer to cook yourself? Opt for meal kits or shop plant-based grocery items from a fully stocked “plantry.”

This spring, Purple Carrot is ushering in the warm weather with vibrant, seasonal meals like Roasted Red Pepper Farro Bowls with chickpeas and mint (yum).

Pick your Purple Carrot plan

News Notes

Try This

Do you consider yourself a fungi? Then get out and give the Game of Shrooms a go. The worldwide hide-and-seek event is coming to Portland on Saturday, June 8; local artists will post hints for you to find and keep mushroom-themed art pieces at places all over the city.

Cause

Stand for Children’s Early Literacy Success Initiative provides support to educators through research-backed practices at places like Rose Parks Elementary in Portland and other schools across Oregon. Here are some other local programs that encourage kids (and adults) to read. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Watch

When Team USA goes for gold in 3-on-3 basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, the roster will have some local talent. See Cameron Brink, a former Beaverton prep start and rookie for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA, compete in Paris July 30 through Aug. 5 via NBC + Peacock. (OPB)

Eat

Black Star Grill is getting new digs. The Ghanaian food cart will move into the former NOLA Doughnuts space in the Pearl District this summer, becoming the eatery’s first brick-and-mortar location. The venture fulfills plans that were initially paused due to the pandemic. (Portland Business Journal)

Fun Fact

Did you know the design of the Portland International Airport’s beloved carpet was inspired by the intersecting north-south and east-west runways? Learn more about how everybody’s favorite underfoot fabric became a civic icon in this Beat Check podcast. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Job

Portland is looking for a new City Controller, a position whose responsibilities directly impact the “financial integrity, transparency, and accountability” of government. Those interested are invited to apply online; salary ranges from $138,174 to $189,113.

Sports

Will they or won’t they — that’s the question surrounding potential trades for veteran players like Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon. Locked On Blazers’ host Mike Richman helps to break down the possibilities.

Pets

Bowl goals for dogs = Premium proteins. Vibrant veggies. Tantalizing textures. Be the dog parent who keeps mealtime exciting with 50% off Nom Nom’s pre-portioned, freshly-made meals.*

Civic

🗳️ Out with the old, in with the new

Portland wants you to practice ranked-choice voting before the election

A bicyclist with a dog in a backpack gives a thumbs up signal while standing next to an official ballot box for Multnomah County.

Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties will work together to coordinate Portland’s ranked-choice voting process. | Photo via @multnomahcounty

What is your favorite part about PDXtoday?

It’s quick and easy to read
There’s lots of information
The city editors’ sparkling humor and wit

In a typical format, you might pick your top choice and be done with it. But with ranked-choice voting — which will be implemented by the city of Portland as it transitions to a new form of government — tasks you with putting your selections in order, one through three.

Confused? Well, the voter education team and the Office of Community & Civic Life hope to eliminate any misunderstandings ahead of this year’s election with a practice run to answer the following question.

“What kind of neighborhood event would you most want to attend?”

Participants in this mock ballot will demonstrate single-winner and multi-winner outcomes, which will be used to elect a mayor and 12 city councilors from four districts, respectively.

Practice makes perfect

The Buy

The Buy 6.07.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The clear bag you need to go hands-free at any concerts, games, or events this summer (it’s stadium-approved).

Answered

What was Packy’s original name?

Packy the Asian elephant at the Oregon Zoo waves his trunk. His ears are pink on the edges and he has wet spots on his body. — Packy lived to be 54 and at 12 ft tall, was perhaps one of the tallest members of his species in the world.
|
Photo by EncMstr

Wow, we really stumped you — or should we say, trunked you?

Less than 10% of you correctly guessed that Fuzzy Face was Packy the Asian elephant’s original name. It was changed when Gresham teacher Wayne W. French won the baby-naming contest hosted by Portland radio station KPOJ in 1962.

Tembo, the word for elephant in Swahili, was the most popular guess with 38% of responses.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

Yesterday, Cambrie and I branched out to visit the World Forestry Center for the first time. The “Tree People” exhibition about Finnish folk culture was fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the Old Forestry Building from the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition. I give it 10/10 — wood recommend.

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