Sandwiches, charcuterie, chips and salsa, seasonal fruit, beverages… the options are endless when it comes to building your picnic menu in a place like Portland.
An Xuyên Bakery | Pan-Asian sandwiches, meat pies, baked goods
Splurge on a picture-perfect picnic by hiring a local company to set everything up for you (and take it all down when you’re done). Picnics with Elegance is PNW-prepared with clear pop-up tents, and Wild Rose Picnics brings your South of France vacation dreams to life at Carriage House Lavender.
Mayday Parade | 7 p.m. | Crystal Ballroom | $41+ | The 2005-made rock band is touring with their new album “Sweet” — sweet.
Saturday, May 10
Doggie Dash Portland by Oregon Humane Society | 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Tom McCall Waterfront Park | $20+ | Lace up those sneaks to support local pups or try to win some prizes by putting your pooch to the test in peanut butter licking competitions.
Black Fae Day | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Carver Event Center, Damascus | $10+ | Dust off your fairy wings and throw on some glitter — it’s time for waltzing the night away, shopping from 20+ Black-owned businesses, and sipping on magical libations.
Pressed Flower Frames Craft Workshop | 1-2:30 p.m. | Pure Bliss Bakery & Cafe, Oregon City | $35+ | Have a sweet little afternoon chewing on pastries while you make this spring-y piece of home decor.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland Timbers | 7:30 p.m. | Providence Park | $30+ | This Kansas City team will be sporting a big L on their forehead once we’re through with them.
Sunday, May 11
Amazing Bubble Man | 2 p.m. | Alberta Abbey | $12+ | An 11-year-old named Corbin once called this bubbletastic performance “better than Cirque du Soleil.”
Monday, May 12
Forest Pub: Stories of the PNW Told by Tree Rings | 7-8:30 p.m. | McMenamins Mission Theater | $10+ | New research is showing us that tree rings can tell us a lot more than just the tree’s age — learn how they can help us understand an ecosystem’s climate and local culture.
Presented by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
OMSI has some egg-cellent tricks up their sleeves for this brunch-themed event. | Photo courtesy of OMSI
Imagine a brunch experience where every bite is not just delicious, but also a scientific discovery.
At OMSI After Dark: Brunch Club, you’ll savor brunch bites and cocktails while uncovering the chemical reaction behind your favorite breakfast aromas.
With activities like a drag brunch, a Taylor Swift laser show, and dozens of cocktail samplers, this 21+ event, happening Wednesday, May 28 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., redefines brunch with a tasty twist on science exploration.
The calculators at city hall are working extra hard these days — Metro has presented its Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Budget, bringing numerous funding cuts to help address a budget deficit. Those who would like to provide feedback on the $8.5 billion budget may do so over the course of the hearing process that is scheduled to conclude June 12. (Portland Business Journal)
Traffic
Plans to toll drivers on the Interstate Bridge have been pushed back a year and are now set to start in spring 2027, according to a Oregon Transportation Commission meeting agenda. The tolls, which are intended to help pay for repairs on the bridge, have been delayed due to other parts of the process taking longer. (KGW)
Development
North Park Blocks is about to get two acres bigger, with construction set to begin on the space in late 2026. Early plans for the new, 30,000-sqft plot of land include a paved urban plaza, seating areas, art installations, lighting, and space for events. (Portland Business Journal)
Biz
Start(up) your engines. PDX Startup Week returns next week, May 12-17 with a series of 45 events meant to provide networking opportunities, education, and shared spaces for the city’s budding businesses. Most events are free to attend — a full calendar can be found online. (Portland Business Journal)
Closing
A northeast Portland jewelry shop is closing shop after 40 years of business as its owners are ready to retire. Van Tin Jewelry does not have an exact closing date set yet, but it’s hoping to sell all of its inventory before its final day. (KGW)
Environment
Beware of garlic mustard — we mean the plant, not the condiment. A group of Portland conservationists have been working to track the invasive flowering herb in order to prevent its spread into surrounding forests. Locals are encouraged to learn how to identify the plant so they can help dispose of it. (KGW)
Sports
While the Oregon Ducks saw a lot of recruiting flips to other universities, it’s not time to panic about 2026, yet. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Ducks with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Wellness
What if there were a pathway to unlocking a new level of mental clarity and peace? This transformation might be closer than you think. Discover how Active Path Mental Health patients have found relief from treatment-resistant depression with TMS therapy — listen to their stories.*
Stat
$8,000+. That’s how much you could spend if your dog breaks a bone in a car crash, fall, or collision — from wound treatment and x-rays to emergency surgery and aftercare. Luckily,this pet insurance plan could reimburse you up to 90% of that cost.*
Wellness
Struggling to shed pounds? Simple is a science-backed app that helps users lose weight with habit trackers, fasting schedules, and personal coaching. Join millions who’ve already lost weight without medication, sustainably. Take the quiz to start your journey and get 50% off.*
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Feature your biz in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide
Put your business in front of thousands of daily readers. | Graphic by 6AM City
This month, we launched our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide to showcase gifts that say I appreciate you to parents, grandparents, neighbors, mentors, and life-long friends.
While we’ve already filled all our slots ahead of Mother’s Day, we’ve opened up a few more for Father’s Day.
Whether your business offers a neat product, one-of-a-kind gift, or unique service that could be enjoyed by a father figure — we want to feature it. Secure your spot by Friday, May 23.
While we can’t promise that Pro Time Lawn Seed’s Fleur de Lawn seeds will bring you baby hawks + bunnies, we can promise that your photos will look even cuter if it does attract them. | Photo via Pro Time Lawn Seed
Happy Small Business Week, Portland. We know small businesses are the heart of our community, so earlier this year, we asked local small businesses to tell us about themselves. They delivered.
We’ll be shining the spotlight on a few of PDX’s small businesses this month, starting with Pro Time Lawn Seed, an alternative lawnscaping company that launched in 1979 with the intention of helping Portland area homeowners create beautiful outdoor spaces that benefit the local ecosystem.
Here’s how Pro Time Lawn Seed would describe its business.
Tell us about yourself.
[We’re a] home/garden shop with e-commerce website that specializes in eco-lawns, eco-meadows, wildflowers, and Pacific Northwest native seed mixes.
What’s unique about the small business scene in Portland?
Trend-setting and eco-conscious, Portland customers help unique businesses like ours test and develop new products that everyone wants...eventually!
Pass the mic. What other small business in town should everyone know about, and why? Imaginary Authors, a fragrance company — just a unique combination of scent, memory and story. Hard to describe!
When someone visits your small business for the first time, the one thing they have to do, see, or try is _____.
Fleur de Lawn, a flowering and self-fertilizing eco-lawn with pink and white lawn daisies. Gorgeous!
The Buy
It’s easy to support small businesses across the globe when you shop unique + one-of-a-kind products on Etsy. One of our favorite things to browse is Etsy’s selection of custom artwork. These are five of our favorites:
I cannot handle how cute Pro Time Lawn Seed’s Fleur de Lawn flowers are once they bloom. I’m quite a whimsical gal and the idea of having a lawn full of little flowers + pollinating bees sounds incredibly ideal.
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