City Cast Portland
Big, bold, and block-size ideas for reinventing Downtown
December 13, 2023
Hello! Did you get outside for some sunshine yesterday? There should be some sun breaks today if you have any time to get outside. Taking advantage of the sun is one of those rules for surviving Portland. More on that later.
What's CITY Talking About?
Mayor Blasts Anti-Portland Ads
Mayor Ted Wheeler took aim at the advocacy group People for Portland for their anti-Portland billboards. “People should be proud of the work that the city of Portland is doing under withering circumstances to ensure the recovery of this city,” Wheeler told OPB. The response from the group: “Only a desperate politician would blame a billboard for the reality that exists right underneath it.” [OPB]
How to Reinvent Downtown
Just as Gov. Tina Kotek came up with an official plan, Portland Monthly has solicited their own ideas for reinventing Downtown Portland. They span smaller projects (for example, pop-up shops and art installations in empty storefronts) to the more ambitious (creating a more walkable central city like in European cities). [Portland Monthly]
Sen. Wyden Champions Mental Health
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has championed a way for schools to secure Medicaid funding for mental health care. About 40% of Oregon children qualify for Medicaid health insurance, and schools may soon be able to use Medicaid funding to pay school psychologists and school social workers, thanks to an impending rule change. [Oregonian]
10 Essential Rules for Portland
Here’s an unofficial guide to surviving and thriving in Portland. These are the city’s unspoken rules. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
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Where Is It?
Last week’s scavenger hunt was for an iconic staircase in Mt. Tabor. In addition to hosting a forest in the city, the park has a bunch of hikable stairs. I recommend a trip up if you haven’t been. But many of you have already been.
A shout out to the first ten readers who named the spot: Weston Ruter, Chris Cullen, Erin McMahon, Roxanne Thomas, Kati Stenstrom, Linda Christian, Greg Lang, Christopher Murray, Larry Crane, and Dave Culpepper.
Do you know this Portland spot?
What To Do
Wednesday, Dec. 13
- 🎄 Christmas Festival of Lights | 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. | $6+ | Madison South
- ⛵ Christmas Ships Parade | 7 p.m. | Free | Willamette Riverfront
Thursday, Dec. 14
- 🎄 Christmas Festival of Lights | 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. | $6+ | Madison South
- 🤣 The Eric Andre Show Live | 6 p.m. | $55+ | Downtown
- ⛵ Christmas Ships Parade | 7 p.m. | Free | Willamette Riverfront
- 🤣 Jimmy Carr: Terribly Funny | 7 & 9:30 p.m. | $35+ | Downtown
Friday, Dec. 15
- 🎄 Christmas Festival of Lights | 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. | $6+ | Madison South
- 🕎 Light Up The Night - A Hanukkah Dance Party | 6 - 10 p.m. | $5 suggested donation | Mt. Tabor
- 🦚 Peacock Lane Opening Night | 6 - 11 p.m. all month long | Free | Sunnyside
- ⛵ Christmas Ships Parade | 7 p.m. | Free | Willamette Riverfront
- 🍹 Sleigh Love (holiday cocktails) | Ongoing | Free Admission | Buckman
- 🎭 Origami Night (poetry show) | 7 p.m. | $15 | Northwest
Today on City Cast
10 Essential Rules for Surviving Portland
Portland has its own set of unwritten rules: Even our street names have unique pronunciations. The City Cast Podcast team spells out some of the unofficial rules for how to survive and thrive in our city.
People in Portland have this uncanny ability to both be night owls but also wake up at the crack of dawn and get out into the world.
The rain wasn’t great for ski season. I’m hoping for a little snow at least in the mountains. How about you?
— Rachel Monahan
Edited by John Notarianni and copy edited by Giulia Fiaoni
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