City Cast Portland
This Portland pizza shop named among America's best
June 30, 2023
Hello, Portland! This is City Cast Portland lead producer John Notarianni filling in for Rachel. Are you in town this weekend? I wonder if it’s going to feel empty. Maybe there won’t be a line for Crema’s coffee and pastries? Brunch at Screen Door? What else might get quiet on a sort-of holiday weekend? Drop us a line!
What's CITY Talking About?
Oregon Universities on Affirmative Action Ruling
The Supreme Court’s ruling striking down race-based admission policies made national headlines yesterday, but many of Oregon’s largest public colleges and universities have already forsworn race-based admissions policies. The University of Oregon, which does still consider race as a factor in admissions, said it “will carefully review the decision and, if necessary, make changes to comply” ahead of the ruling. [🔒 Oregonian]
Where Measure 110’s Money is Going
The Oregon Health Authority released a new dashboard showing how the state has been spending millions of dollars in grants that were part of the state’s 2020 drug decriminalization law. During the second half of 2022, the biggest expenditures went to housing and peer support services. [The Lund Report]
Ken's Artisan Pizza Ranked by Actual Italians
The accolades keep coming: the Italian pizza-ranking group 50 Top Pizza says our revered pizza maker is the 3rd best in the United States. Ken’s Artisan Pizza was also given the Green Oven award, which highlights a pizzeria’s dedication to sustainability. [KOIN]
- Portland’s pizza culture is nothing to sniff at: Here’s some of the city’s best. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
What Passed, What Failed, and What Got Screwed Up in the 2023 Legislature
It started off with a bang, but then the walkout threw a wrench into the best-laid plans. We’re breaking down another bumpy year of lawmaking in Salem. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
What To Do
🥯 ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Costume Exhibit | Friday - Sunday | Various times
Check out Movie Madness’ newest addition: the martial arts costume Michelle Yeoh wore in EEAAO. They’ll also be playing Yeoh’s films all weekend long! [Free to attend, Sunnyside]
🍻 Portland Craft Beer Festival | Friday - Sunday | Various times
Craft brews, music, and food, what’s not to love? Ticket includes a keepsake cup and 10 tasting vouchers. [$40 online, $50 at the door, Northwest Portland]
🦧 Zoo Nights: Jackstraw | Friday | 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
PNW Bluegrass legends Jackstraw will be providing the jams for an evening at the zoo. [$24]
🧑🎤 The Secret Grove Festival | Friday | 8 p.m.
The traveling fest full of mystery makes its first stop in Portland. There will be two main stages, food trucks, and surprise entertainment. [$20, Buckman]
👟 Mornin’ Miles Club | Saturday | 8 a.m.
Get up early and get your steps in. They’ll have marked courses ranging from three to seven miles, plus a plethora of local vendors. [Free, Ellsworth Springs]
🕯️ Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyoncé | Saturday | 6:30 & 9 p.m.
The series of music by literal candlelight continues with the music of the pop icon. [$42.50+, Concordia]
🎞️ ‘Rear Window’ on 35mm | Saturday - Sunday | 3 p.m.
Trust me, I’ve seen this 35mm print of Hitchcock’s classic — you don’t want to miss it. [$7+, Hollywood District]
🎸 Waterfront Blues Festival | Saturday - Tuesday | Various times
Summer is for music festivals. This one is headlined by blues icons like Buddy Guy. [$45+, Southwest Portland]
🦞 Crawdad Fest | Saturday | 12 - 8 p.m.
Cartside Food Carts is going creole with a crawfish boil. The event supports Ales for ALS, a fundraising program for ALS research. [Free, Eliot]
🥣 Cartoons & Cereal | Saturday | 9 a.m.
Bring the kids or relive your childhood with this classic combo. Bottomless bowls of cereal are just $5! [Free to attend, cereal for purchase, Ladd’s Addition]
🪴 Carnivorous Plants | Sunday | 10 a.m.
If yesterday’s story about the corpse flower piqued your interest, go learn about these gnarly plants and which are best for controlling which kind of insect. [Free, Southeast Portland]
🛼 Secret Roller Disco Block Party | Sunday | 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Skate your heart out and enjoy all the treats, including food, entertainment, tattoos, and more. [Free, Buckman]
Today on City Cast
What Passed, What Didn’t, and What Still Needs Work in the 2023 Legislature
Host Claudia Meza wraps up this year’s legislative session with Oregon Public Broadcasting’s politics and government reporter, Dirk VanderHart, and our very own lead producer, John Notarianni. We’re talking about what passed, what failed, and what will continue gumming up the process for the next go around.
It was a game of brinksmanship where it became more and more evident that the Republicans were not going to blink.
📝 A note from Rachel:
Last weekend, I got the chance to hike around the park at sunset. It felt like a vacation in town. I hope you’re finding a way to get away from it all – literally or figuratively!”
Enjoy your sort-of holiday weekend. We'll have a short newsletter with headlines and events for you on Monday. And finally, a thank you to City Cast editor Adrian González for helping with today’s newsletter.
— John Notarianni
Free · Daily