Last call. Your business could be in front of thousands when you secure your spot in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide. Save 20% with code PGG2025 at checkout. The deadline for submissions is May 23.
The Portland Rose Festival is a tradition that blossoms like no other, rooted in the city since 1907. On Friday, May 23, it returns for more than two weeks, bringing Stumptown “All Together Now!” for some fun.
Opening Night | Friday, May 23 | 5-10 p.m.
CityFair’s rollicking rides and carnival games get up and running and bloom go the fireworks (at 9:45 p.m.).
Oregon Brewers Festival | Saturday, May 24-Monday, June 9
Revived from the dead a few years ago, this shindig allows attendees to sip on suds from 30+ hand-selected new beers and ciders from local brewers.
Grand Floral Parade | Saturday, June 7 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
What’s not to love about floats made of flowers, marching bands, and vintage vehicles? Familiarize yourself with this year’s route.
Vanport Mosaic Festival | Thursday, May 22-Sunday, June 1 | Times vary | Various locations | This festival works to make sure the stories of marginalized communities living in Portland are never forgotten — come listen to lectures, take dance classes, tour neighborhoods, and connect.
Friday, May 23
“SAW: The Musical” | Friday, May 23-Sunday, June 8 | Times vary | Alberta Abbey | $33+ | Bet you didn’t know Jigsaw liked to sing while he tortured the morally gray. (This production also has a splash zone, if that gives you any more insight.)
Saturday, May 24
The Portland Ballet: “Current/Classic” | Saturday, May 24, Saturday, May 24 | Times vary | PSU Lincoln Performance Hall | $15+ | Get a little taste of all kinds of ballet, from Balachine’s “Concerto Barocco” to “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Crayola” by Dennis Spaight.
Double Exposure: Hayao Miyazaki | Saturday, May 24, Saturday, May 24 | Times vary | Tomorrow Theater | $15+ | Enjoy a full day in the fantastical world created by the legendary director with back-to-back screenings of “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Princess Mononoke (4K restoration).”
Tuesday, May 27
Writers Happy Hour | 5:30-7 p.m. | Bold Coffee & Books | Free | Grab a cup of joe, make some new creative friends, or get some tips on dealing with the woes of writer’s block.
Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers | 7:30 p.m. | Providence Park | $34+ | The Colorado team is about to rapidly find out that our trees aren’t quickly washed away.
Ballots are still being counted for Tuesday’s special election, which included school board seats and a $1.83 billion bond measure for Portland Public Schools, but plenty of races have shown big leads already. Follow along with live election results. (KGW)
Biz
Portland-based sustainable shoemaker Keen is moving its factory from Swan Island to a new 60,000-sqft facility in Kentucky in order to be close to its distribution center near Louisville. Keen closed their local factory last month, but did not say how many jobs were affected. (KGW)
Trending
Stephen Colbert made fun of us this week on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” but for good reason — someone showed him the Portland Bangers’ new mascot Saucy T. Sausage. “Not only is he horrifying, he’s wearing his own children as hair!” was one of his more memorable quips. (The Oregonian + KGW)
Edu
Renovations on the University of Oregon’s new Portland campus are officially complete. To celebrate, the university will host a grand opening on Thursday, May 29 featuring school leaders + elected officials, self-guided tours, and refreshments. (Portland Tribune)
Development
A piece of land that was previously slated to become a new hotel will now become a food cart pod instead. Formerly the location of the 130-year-old Lotus bar, the now parking lot is expected to make its transformation later this year. (Portland Business Journal)
Eat
Still stuck thinking about the Roman Empire? A new restaurant pop-up will now let you taste it, too. Created by Tavern at Heathman chef Caraway Alexander, Salona features a menu of dishes taken directly from history. Look for chicken wings fried in grape must and a salad with one of the world’s first salad dressings. (Eater Portland)
Listen
The Oregon Ducks are still in the middle of their recruiting season, so how are their pursuits going? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Oregon Ducks with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
On top of finding lots of neat goods, Portlanders can also reach out to Comeunity PDX about hosting a gathering or class in their event space. | Photo via Comeunity PDX
Happy Small Business Week, Portland.
We’ve been shining the light on a few of PDX’s small businesses this month. We started by introducing Pro Time Lawn Seed, but now we’d like to turn the spotlight over to Comeunity PDX, a retailer that sells only locally made products and then pours a portion of those sales back into the community.
Here’s how Comeunity PDX would describe its business.
How would you describe your business in two sentences or less?
What’s unique about the small business scene in Portland?
What is unique about Portland’s small business scene is how much we support each other. We are each others teammates, sounding boards, and problems solvers in an often solitary environment.
Pass the mic. What other small business in town should everyone know about, and why?
Sara J. Handmade and JP General in Multnomah village. They are doing great work, and their businesses are amazing.
When someone visits your small business for the first time, the one thing they have to do, see, or try is _____.
Enjoy the journey. It’s a small, curated shop. It might look sparse, but there is so much to discover and lots of laughs and smiles to be had.
The Buy
A great deal from Amazon’s Memorial Day sale. Note: Prices subject to change.
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