Ahh, the smell of fresh paint. Today we’re excited to share some updates to our newsletter design. We hope these changes will help us deliver an even better reader experience — but as with most remodels, we may experience a few hiccups along the way. If your email doesn’t look quite right or if you have feedback on ways we can continue to improve, please drop us a line.
‘The tattoo ink never runs dry’
The Portland Vintage Trolley was a heritage streetcar service operating from 1991 to 2014 along what’s now TriMet’s MAX Blue Line.|Photo by Steve Morgan
In Portland, the dream of the ‘90s was alive well into the 2000s. Some might even say it still exists, survived by part-time coffee shop workers, grunge fashion, young retirees, and bird art. Join us as we bop down memory lane like we’re filming a music video with Fred Armisen.
Population: 486,083
Mayors: Bud Clark (1985-1993), Vera Katz (1993-2005)
1990: The first phase of downtown Portland’s Pioneer Place shopping mall opens.
1991: Portland establishes a sister city relationship with Mutare, Zimbabwe. President George H.W. Bush’s administration dubs Portland “Little Beirut.”
1992: The “Dream Team” — featuring basketball legends Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen, and Magic Johnson — dominates the Tournament of the Americas at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The first Portland Farmers Market is held near the Broadway Bridge.
1993: An estimated 10,000 people participate in or watch the Portland Pride Parade as it travels two miles through downtown.
1994: Portland-based figure skater Tonya Harding is stripped of her national title amid an international scandal involving rival Nancy Kerrigan.
1995: The Moda Center, formerly known as the Rose Garden, opens with a David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails concert.
1996: The Willamette River floods in early February and volunteers erect “Vera’s Wall” to protect downtown Portland.
1997: Prince brings his “Jam of the Year” tour to the Moda Center. The city of Portland approves a deal with Hoyt Street Properties to develop 34 acres in the Pearl District.
1998: Rodgers, a local chain of five-and-dime stores founded in 1938, closes its last three locations.
Craft Your Own Grimoire Journal Workshop | Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Art Design Xchange | $25+ | Unleash your inner creativity by crafting a personalized grimoire — a journal for thoughts, spells, and magical experiences.
Thursday, Oct. 17
Cinema of Horrors Drive-In: “Hocus Pocus” | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 7-10 p.m. | Clark County Event Center & Fairgrounds, Ridgefield | $69 | Park the car and watch this beloved 1993 flick for a scare-free family night.
Lower School Open House | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 6-8 p.m. | Oregon Episcopal School | Free | Parents and guardians of Pre-K to 5th graders are invited to this open house at a school where your child is known, valued, and celebrated, with an ever-evolving, innovative, and expansive curriculum.*
Friday, Oct. 18
“The Pirates of Penzance” | Friday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 27 | Times vary | Brunish Theatre | $27+ | Local performers will whisk you away to the high seas in this classic opera full of humor, romance, and swashbuckling adventure.
Oaks Park Scaregrounds | Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Nov. 2 | Times vary | Oaks Amusement Park | $23+ | “Oregon’s largest haunted attraction” offers three frightening featured attractions, as well as thrill rides, “zombie archery,” labyrinth games, and more.
Saturday, Oct. 19
“Psychedelic Rock Posters and Fashion of the 1960s” | Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, March 30 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Portland Art Museum | $22+ | Reminisce about your own 1960s experience or encounter the mind-blowing rock posters of San Francisco + beyond for the first time.
Pumpkins and Pints | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 12-5 p.m. | Stickmen Brewing Company, Tualatin | Free | Watch a giant vegetable weigh-off (or bring your own XL produce to compete) and enjoy wood-fired pizza + craft beer.
Andy Stokes | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 8 p.m. | Jack London Revue | $25+ | Listen to the soulful voice of this legendary R&B artist and Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductee.
No one can predict when “the big one” will rattle the PNW, but we can be prepared. The Great Oregon ShakeOut is part of a global earthquake drill tomorrow, Oct. 17. At 10:17 a.m., folks are encouraged to practice responding to a quake by following these steps.
Development
A vacant gravel lot in Slabtown is one step closer to getting a green glow-up. The Block 290 property will become a public park, with cleanup work to begin once the site is fully transferred to the city in December. Portland Parks & Recreation said design work and community engagement will follow. (Portland Business Journal)
Real Estate
Storybook on the outside, modern luxury on the inside. An English cottage whose unique leaded glass window earned it the name “Spider House” is for sale in Grant Park. Built in 1925 by architect Carl L. Linde, the 7,200-sqft home features no shortage of happily ever after amenities. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Traffic
New videos offer a bird’s eye view of how the future Interstate Bridge will fit into the landscape of Portland + Vancouver. The virtual fly-overs show the design options under consideration for the $6 billion project, including single- and double-decker structures, various lane configurations, and off-ramp layouts. (KGW)
Civic
Did you know that Portland has garage sale rules? While residents don’t need a permit to host a yard or garage sale, only four are allowed per year, and each sale can last no more than three days.
National
We’re just over two months away from the holidays — and it’s time to start planning. If you want a package to arrive in time, review the USPS’ 2024 shipping deadlines. (WTHR)
Health
Imagine sitting in a busy cafe surrounded by chatter and music, yet hearing every word of the conversation crystal clear. With this revolutionary hearing aid, background noise fades, and the voices you care about come through with perfect clarity.*
Number
$125. That’s how much you can save on the HP Smart Tank 6001 printer for a limited time. Bonus: A two-year supply of ink is included with your purchase.*
Category
Seasonal
🎃 Let the gourd times roll
Oregon Zoo elephants pulverize giant pumpkins during last year’s Squish the Squash event. | Photo by Shervin Hess/Oregon Zoo
“First they destroy them, then they enjoy them.”
No, those words aren’t from a horror film — Oregon Zoo elephant curator Steve Lefave is referring to the Squish the Squash event, a Halloween tradition the people and pachyderms of Portland have enjoyed for over two decades.
Tomorrow, Oct. 17, at 10:30 a.m., the zoo’s Asian elephants will get to work demolishing some of the region’s largest pumpkins.
The tradition started in 1999 when Hoffman’s Dairy Garden of Canby provided an 828-lb pumpkin for the elephant family to enjoy. Since then, local farmers have continued to donate overstock pumpkins each year for the zoo to use.
The event is a lead-up for the zoo’s Howloween celebrations, held across two weekends, Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27.
The Buy
The Buy
An easy Halloween costume — snag these Inside Out t-shirts and have the whole family dress up as Disgust, Anger, Anxiety, and your other favorite emotions for a hilarious and topical group look.
Remember the white fox spotted in Portland last week? She’s now in the care of the Bird Alliance of Oregon and the riddle of her identity has been solved. The organization said she’s an Arctic fox — a species not native to this area — who was likely living in captivity. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will determine her future.
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