Livin’ La Vida Local

• Median family income: $52,400
• City’s population: 503,637
• Average cost to buy a home: $188,600
• Average cost of a gallon of gasoline in Oregon: $1.44 in the spring/summer of 1999

In the news

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters made its debut on Southeast Division Street.
• The Oregon Zoo and its Asian elephants began the Squish the Squash tradition.
• Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company, which first started making beer in 1856, ceases operations.

Who was performing

• Shania Twain brought her “Come On Over Tour” to the Rose Garden — now the Moda Center.
• In March, the venue also hosted Alanis Morissette on her Junkie Tour. Garbage tagged along — thankfully, they were “Only Happy When It Rains.”
• Other notable shows included a Lenny Kravitz/Buckcherry/Smash Mouth lineup, Amy Grant, and the All That Music & More Festival, which was headlined by heart throb boy band 98 Degrees.
• Jammin 95.5 FM became the city’s first radio station to play hip-hop and R&B all the time.

• Portraits of Portland: Photos from 1970s-1980s | Monday, July 29 | 7-8 p.m. | McMenamins Kennedy School , 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland | $5-$6 | See incredible images of people, forgotten things, and neighborhoods like Old Town shot by photographer Patrick F. Smith.

• Special Event: Sarah Sherman | Tuesday, July 30| 9:30 p.m. | Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE Ninth Ave., Portland | $30-$42 | Join this Saturday Night Live star — known professionally as Sarah Squirm — whose surreal and body horror comedy keep the laughs coming.

• The Gaslight Anthem | Wednesday, July 31 | 8 p.m. | Roseland Theater, 8 NW Sixth Ave., Portland | $45 | Trust us, this show from “The ’59 Sound” group was originally scheduled for McMenamins Grand Lodge, but it has been moved into the city.

• First Thursday Street Gallery | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 5-9 p.m. | Northwest 13th Avenue between Irving and Lovejoy streets, Portland | Free | Artists display their works in the street giving community members the chance to immerse themselves in Portland’s vibrant creative culture.
• Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 7:30 p.m. | Providence Park, 1844 SW Morrison St., Portland | $25+ | Keep the good home field vibes going strong for this mid-season tournament.

• Stringbender Festival | Friday, Aug. 2-Sunday, Aug. 4 | Times vary | Red Mud Ranch, 17689 S. Deininger Rd., Oregon City | $50-$150 | Eclectic is key at this three-day music festival featuring New Monsoon, Band of Comerados, Bodhi Mojo, and more.

• The financial future of Darcelle XV Showplace, a Portland drag show institution, is in jeopardy. Friday and Saturday shows at the Old Town venue are seeing about half the usual audience members, so the club is asking supporters to plan their celebrations at the club to keep the business afloat. (Portland Business Journal)

• Knock knock. Who’s there? Cascadia Contact. Huh? Orange you glad we told you about this inaugural tasting event from Division Winemaking Company, dedicated to tangerine-hued vintages produced in the PNW? Well yes, that does sound fun. Fittingly, there will also be cheese from La Femme Fromage. Tickets start at $15.

• Phones in the bag, please. That’s a refrain teachers at Grant High School will have to get used to after Portland Public Schools spent $60,825 on Yondr pouches, lockable phone cases meant to limit distractions for kids during the school day. The move precedes the district’s ongoing debate to implement a complete ban. (KGW)

• Friendly House will run its annual Community Yard Sale on Saturday, Aug. 17. To participate, email organizers with your address + hours for the map. You can donate a percentage of your proceeds or a flat amount to the nonprofit. Out-of-area folks can set up in the SELCO Community Credit Union lot.

• Keep up with Team USA and some of our favorite local athletes like Sophia Smith, who scored twice in the weekend win over Germany. Today, you can catch former University of Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu and her team as they take on Japan in 5x5 basketball at 12 p.m. (KGW)

• It’s the end of the July, why shouldn’t we be excited about the young core of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Deni Avdija? We’re loving Mike Richman’s positive energy on Locked On Blazers daily podcasts.
  

• Ready, set, shop — and save big. Today’s the last day to score discounts of up to 80% off on thousands of items like outdoor furniture, grills + more during Wayfair’s Black Friday in July sale. Psst... look out for flash deals + enjoy free shipping sitewide.*

• Gearing up for the school year? Shop Nike’s Back to School Sale for sneakers, athletic wear, and backpacks. Save an extra 25% with promo code SPORT25.*