Where to find Portland's best cheap meals

4th Murder in 3 Hazelwood Blocks

There have been four murders since August within three blocks of a drug treatment and housing program in East Portland’s Hazelwood neighborhood. The latest victim may have lived at the Blackburn Center, though it’s not clear he was an intended target and there is no reported causal connection between the violence and the center. [Oregonian]

Lots of Evictions, Higher Homelessness Count

The number of people who are unhoused in Multnomah County rose by 20% to 6,297, and the number living unsheltered (not in emergency shelter or temporary housing) rose 29% to 3,944 since last year. In 2022, there were 6,600 evictions in the county. [Willamette Week]

Ranked Choice for Entire State?

Statewide ranked choice voting may be headed to the November 2024 ballot. The system has already been adopted in Portland and Multnomah County. If voters’ top choice candidate does not gain enough votes, their second (or third) choice is given consideration. Measures for open primaries and campaign finance reform are already in process. [Willamette Week]

Portland’s Traffic Police, Heat Waves, and Taxes

Catch up on the week’s news with the City Cast Portland podcast’s rundown of the return of traffic enforcement, this weekend’s heat wave, the current tax burden, and other news from this week. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Bridgetown Sextet | Saturday | 5:30 p.m.

The Portland group plays ​​1920s and 30s jazz, stomp, blues, and swing. [$15, Boise]

Evil Babylon | Saturday | 7:30 p.m.

This Portland-made rock opera is a “phantasmagorical, psychosexual science-fiction movie musical masterpiece.” [$10, Hollywood]

Lone Fir Cemetery’s Guided Historical Tour | Saturday | 10 a.m.

"Tours highlight Portland’s founders and regionally-known pioneers.” [$10 suggested donation, Buckman]

Portland Chamber Orchestra Presents From Darkness To Light | Saturday | 7:30 p.m.

Soloist Michelle Bushkova will perform two concerti on two different instruments with the Portland Chamber Orchestra. A pre-show panel discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. [$19+, Beaverton]

Celebrate Spring with Rumi | Saturday | 7 p.m.

There will be Turkish music, whirling dervishes, and Rumi poetry. [$20, University Park]

St. Johns Bizarre | Saturday | 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Catch the entertainment, on two stages, and food and crafts. [Free, St. Johns]

Bird Songs of Opera | Saturday-Sunday | 7:30 p.m.

“Trade your opera glasses for binoculars at 'Bird Songs of Opera,' for a recital that reimagines iconic opera arias as the songs of Oregon birds!” [$20+, University Park]

Mother’s Day | Sunday | All Day

Don’t forget if it's a day you need to remember.

‘Plums for Months’ | Monday | 7 p.m.

Zaji Cox discusses her book of short essays about “growing up mixed-race and low-income on the outskirts of Portland.” [Free, Pearl District]

‘Trolls 2’ | Monday | 7:30 p.m.

This is part of Sequelopolis, a film series of sequels, even though "Trolls 2" isn’t really an actual sequel to "Trolls." [$10, Hollywood]

It’s one of my favorite moments of the week, when I get to contemplate where I should aspire to eat in the near or distant future. Here’s what I’m considering this week:

The Best Affordable Food

This is an accessible list of great eats. Basilisk and its fried chicken, ​Bao Bao and its steam buns, Life of Pie Pizza’s happy hour deals are all ones I can vouch for. Also on the list are La Bonita’s burritos and Tanaka’s katsu sandwiches. [Eater Portland]

Spendy Spot in Pearl

The Mercury gives a positive review of the Janken, a new expensive Japanese and Korean fusion restaurant in the Pearl. There’s truffle oil and gold leaf, some of which may be overdone. “It’s like going to a restaurant in Vegas without the plane ticket,” writes restaurant critic Andrea Damewood. “For those of us who sometimes want to put on a full-ass outfit, and throw caution (plus a few hundred bucks) to wind for the sake of having a MOMENT, this is about as good as you can do in casual Portland.” [Portland Mercury]

Friday Brunch

The Woodsman Tavern, Lazy Susan, and Toki all offer tasty Friday brunches, writes the Oregonian’s Michael Russell. That’s useful if you don’t have to work today or can find a way to knock off work for a bit. (Shh, I’m going to find a way to get to Toki some weekday.) [Oregonian]

Another Best Pizza List

Here’s another list of Portland’s best pizza. Which you know will either confirm your prior biases or is simply a hate-read — take your pick. Predictably perhaps, Ken’s Pizza gets the No. 1 slot. [Tasting Table]

Traffic Patrols Are Back, Portland’s Sky-High Taxes, and Scorching Weekend Temps

Today on City Cast Portland we’re talking about the return of the traffic enforcement division, our unexpected spring heatwave, and the ever-rising tax burden of living in Portland. Joining host Claudia Meza is City Cast’s director of newsletters, Bryan Vance, and our very own lead producer, John Notarianni.