Plus: Antique autos at Pittock Mansion.
 
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A reptile in the rafters

Reptile in the rafters: Remembering the iguana that once called Next Adventure home
A portrait of an iguana shows a lizard looking sullenly with spikes and scales ranging in color from grey and white to yellow and orange.
As Iggy lived a “quarter century ago and pre-cellphone,” no photos exist of the dino descendant, but here’s a reference to help you imagine. | Photo by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
“I wanna know about the iguana.”

That’s what we found ourselves saying early one morning while reading a rather curious post on the Ask Portland Reddit page, where u/McGannahanSkjellyfet inquired, “Did Next Adventure used to have a huge iguana that lived in a network of catwalks that ran through the entire store? Or am I losing my mind?”

A little bit of scrolling saw similar recollections:

“Yes they did! I saw it in the late ‘90s when I was a kid. My dad and I went to look for backpacking stuff and I remember being so excited about it. The iguana was also in some of their TV commercials, I’m almost positive,” said u/haylilray.

Still we had our doubts that an actual iguana would be allowed to have free reign over an outdoor gear store like a mild-mannered Godzilla meandering through Tokyo. Was this some sort of lizard-based legend or would it balance on the scales of truth? We decided to investigate.

A sign reads Southeast Stark Street, Historic District. There's also a double bulbed lamppost with a "bus right lane" sign, next to Next Adventure, a yellow and blue painted outdoor gear store in Southeast Portland.

The droppings were reportedly a bit of an issue.

|

Photo by Mark McClure

The key to this cold-blooded case starts with Next Adventure’s founders, owners, and life-long friends, Deek Heykamp and Bryan Knudsen. They’re just “two local guys” who opened up the Southeast Grand Avenue shop in 1997 to share their passion for expeditions in nature, from fishing trips to shredding the slopes of Mount Hood.

Turns out the existence of the iguana was not a stretch, although Knudsen’s pet “Iggy” was nearly 6 ft long and “roamed the shop relatively unescorted causing many customers a serious case of the heebie-jeebies.”

“Iggy was very well-behaved around people but reacted violently when he saw his reflection in the mirror, so he wasn’t allowed in the shoe department, with its ground-level mirrors,” explained Tim Braun, executive assistant to Heykamp.

Iggy lived to be almost 20 years old and died in the early 2000s. To this day, Knudsen has a plastic version of the reptile in his office to remind him of his former pet.
Asked

What’s your favorite local legend, true or otherwise?
Ours is the claim that people used to kayak the subterranean currents of Tanner Creek.
Share the tall tale
Bella Organic Farm
 
Events
Friday, Sept. 27
Saturday, Sept. 28
  • Kintsugi: The Restorative Art of Naoko Fukumaru | Saturday, Sept. 28-Monday, Jan. 27 | Times vary | Portland Japanese Garden | $16+ | Learn more about this fascinating technique of mending damaged ceramics with lacquer and powdered gold.
  • Antique Autos on the Lawn | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Pittock Mansion | Free | The Horseless Carriage Club of Portland will showcase their vintage cars for the public to enjoy.
  • Jupiter Hotel’s 20th Anniversary Block Party | Saturday, Sept. 28 | 1-6:30 p.m. | The Jupiter Hotel | Free | Celebrate two decades of Portland’s “original independent hotel” with a creative market and performances from big-name local bands.
Sunday, Sept. 29
  • Festa Italiana | Sunday, Sept. 29 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | Oaks Amusement Park | $5 | Say buongiorno to a day of Italian food, music + culture.
More weekend events
Click here to have your event featured.
6AM City In-House pt 2
 
News Notes
Development
  • Oregon Humane Society will pay for safety improvements outside of its Northeast Portland campus, which sits along “one of the most dangerous corridors in the city.” PBOT has no budget for the project, so the nonprofit will contribute just over $3.3 million to fund the project, expected to finish August 2026. Woof. (KGW)
Ranked
  • Congrats to all the residents of Kerns on living in the fifth-coolest neighborhood in the world, at least according to Time Out. Specific shoutouts include the newly opened vintage store Goodbye Horses, pop-up dinner spot Farag’s, and staying the night at Kex Hotel. We concur. (Time Out)
Active
  • All Bodies Strong is the gym that’s pushing Portland’s size-inclusive fitness movement forward. Founded by couple and former powerlifters Christina Malone and Will Lay, the space emphasizes developing mobility and strength in a fun setting versus harping on weight loss. Read more about the local fat liberation movement. (Portland Monthly)
Civic
  • Want to help shape the next 50 years of our region? Join Metro’s Future Vision Commission and give your two cents on issues like land use, transportation, housing, climate, nature, arts, and culture. The group is looking for 15-20 people of diverse backgrounds + perspectives. Apply by Sunday, Oct. 20. (Portland Tribune)
Try This
  • The World Sausagefest & Heavy Games are coming to Southeast Portland tomorrow, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Local butchers, breweries, and bands will be on hand hawking meat, beer, and live music for $5 admission. The festivities also include feats of brawn, like keg tossing + heavy ax throwing. (KOIN)
Shop
  • Any guesses on which player has the best-selling jersey in the NWSL? Sophia Smith of the Portland Thorns. Through Week 20 of this season, her name + No. 9 are top of the charts, followed by San Diego Wave’s recently retired star Alex Morgan and Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman. Grab one for yourself. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Job
Sports
  • The Oregon Ducks get Big Ten conference play underway this weekend in... checks notes... Pasadena, California? When they take the field, Dan Lanning’s squad has a chance to answer many of the questions surrounding the program. Hear the latest on the team with Locked On.
    Wellness
    • ICYMI, the Couples Clinic of Portland now offers counseling for children, adolescents, and families, with openings as early as next week. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation or new client session with Jordan Nickel-Dubin or Josh Wilson — simply click on their names to find their bios.*
    Seasonal
    • Need a space for a fall celebration? Head to Bella Organic Farm. Their private Event Garden offers Portlanders a great place to host a birthday party, picnic, family gathering, or corporate event of 30 people. Explore booking options — and start planning your event on Sauvie Island.*
     
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    Today’s edition by:
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    From the editor
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