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. Bonus points for including the type of device and software/platform you’re reading our newsletter on.
Top Stories
Hey Portland, it’s Ben. Nothing fuels the day ahead (or soaks up the... questionable decisions of the night before) quite like a breakfast burrito. You’ll need extra oomph to lift the one at La Bonita, and Fried Egg I’m In Love also veers from its staple breakfast sandwiches quite successfully. But nothing makes our mouths water quite like The Dog House PDX, which starts with egg + tater tots and lets you customize from there.
Portland decades: the 1990s | Less traffic, no cellphones, and a thriving counter-culture contributed to an era many longtime Portlanders consider the city’s golden age.
Portland Film Festival | Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 20 | 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. | Kennedy School Theater | $8+ | Bring the popcorn for “one of the coolest film festivals in the world,” where audience members get to enjoy 90 works across diverse genres.
Howloween | Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Oregon Zoo | $0+ | Costumed trick-or-treaters will learn about healthy wildlife habitats on a fun scavenger hunt that ends with treat bags filled with items from companies using deforestation-free palm oil.
Portland Water Lantern Festival | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Laurelhurst Park | $29+ | Connect with the community at this magical evening of food, games, vendors + music, concluding with the launch of thousands of personalized lanterns on the pond.
Spirit of Halloweentown | Saturday, Oct. 19-Thursday, Oct. 31 | Locations vary, St. Helens | Free | The town where cult-favorite flicks “Halloweentown” and “Twilight” were filmed revives the magic of the season with decorations, themed attractions, events, and more.
Science On Tap: Curing Climate Change? | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 7 p.m. | Alberta Rose Theatre | $15+ | Learn from scientists how particles interact in the atmosphere and what’s being done to mitigate negative outcomes.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Saturday, Oct. 26-Thursday, Oct. 31 | Times vary | The Old Church Concert Hall | $35+ | Flickering flames or spirits just beyond the veil — you decide as you listen to the chilling compositions.
Foot traffic in downtown Portland reached a post-pandemic high this summer. The nonprofit Downtown Portland Clean & Safe said ~2.4 million people visited the area each month from June through August, representing a 2% overall increase — and a 6% uptick during weekends — compared to 2023.
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)
Coming Soon
The stars have aligned for Fates Bread and Bottle Co., a new bottle shop and wine bar that looks to entice customers with global grapes and mouthwatering focaccia bread. Want to keep up with all the most recent restaurant and bars that are opening or closing in our area? Read more on our website.
Wellness
Posture check — this is your weekly reminder to straighten your back. If that felt good, imagine how nice a stretch at Yoga Refuge would feel. Find your flow at these Portland yoga studios.
Travel
Want to make sure your holiday trips take off without a hitch? Check out our guide to Portland International Airport for a full food rundown and to know just how early you should arrive to get through security. Bon voyage.
Sports
The worry of a potential trap game at Purdue turned out to be unfounded for Oregon football. They beat the Boilermakers 35-0 on Friday night, earning them a 7-0 record moving into the weekend. Hear the game’s breakdown from “Locked On Ducks.”
City Guide
City Guide
Bend there, but have you done this?
Indulge in the nostalgia and maybe even take home some merch. | Photo by Chris Light
Itching to get out of town? Here are some things to check out on the other side of the Cascades.
Drive time: Portland to Bend, ~3.5 hours
The last Blockbuster on Earth Back in civilization, there is one fun activity that’s only slightly less dusty. Movie buffs must make the pilgrimage to this remnant of a bygone era, when Friday nights were all about searching the stacks for a flick or two.
Shred the slopes For some of the best fresh pow-pow you can find, Mt. Bachelor is the place to be. Visitors can buy single- or multi-day lift tickets, as well as rent gear.
Shop the Old Mill District You’ll find big brands like American Eagle and lululemon as well as local boutiques like Tumalo Art Co. and Amejko Artistry. When your tummy starts grumbling, grab a bite at Greg’s Grill.
Explore museums Learn about the area’s natural history at the High Desert Museum (the river otters are particularly playful). Then turn your focus to the people that make up a place at the Deschutes Historical Museum, which has exhibits on Native American tribes, homesteaders + loggers, and more.
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