City Cast Portland
🛹 Where Portland's giant skate park will drop in
January 5, 2024
It’s already Friday! Check out some music and films to see this weekend. Or you extend the holiday season with a visit to Zoo Lights. More below!
What's CITY Talking About?
Skatepark for Old Town
Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan announced plans to move forward on a $15 million skatepark near the west end of the Steel Bridge. Ryan says it will be good for the neighborhood. [KOIN]
- Related: Skateboard enthusiasts have been pushing for this skatepark. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
Flu and COVID Rise in Oregon
COVID cases are rising statewide, and flu is up too, particularly in Southwest Oregon. “Adults in acute care hospital beds due to COVID jumped by 30%” in the last week, OPB reports. Health officials are offering reminders that everyone is eligible for flu and COVID boosters; there are also RSV vaccines available for people who are older than 60 or pregnant, as well as RSV medications for children. [OPB]
First Coast Guard Rescue of 2024
A Golden Retriever fell from a cliff near Cannon Beach, and the Coast Guard made its first rescue of the year in Oregon. The beloved pet, named Leo, broke his jaw in multiple places, but survived. [Oregonian]
Crime Spike Face-off and Other News
On the weekly round-up of this week’s news, there’s more finger-pointing among our city leaders on who’s responsible for a supposed crime wave. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
What To Do
Friday, Jan. 5
- 🪡 AIDS Memorial Quilt (exhibit) | 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (today - Feb. 19) | $19 | OMSI
- 🎄 Zoo Lights | 4:30 - 7 p.m. (final weekend) | $12 | Oregon Zoo
- 🎨 Artist Who Teach (gallery opening) | 5 - 8 p.m. | Free | Old Town
- 🎶 Night Heron and Sun Atoms with Lowland Painters | 8 p.m. | $22.23 | Mississippi Studios
Saturday, Jan. 6
- 🎄 Zoo Lights | 4:30 - 7 p.m. (final weekend) | $12 | Oregon Zoo
- 🎨 ‘Turn Me Over: Molly Lecko Herro and Alim Ringgold’ (gallery opening) | 5 - 8 p.m. | Free | Kenton
- 🇰🇷 Korean Food and Dance Social | 5 - 9 p.m. | Free Admission | Vancouver
- 🎥 Lord of the Rings Trilogy: ‘The Two Towers’ | 6:30 p.m. | $8 | OMSI
- 🎭 ’Ama, the Diver’ (play) | 7:30 p.m. | $17 (sliding scale available) | Foster-Powell
- 🎵 Black Tie / White Noise: Aladdin Sane | 7 and 9:30 p.m. | $26.19 | Jack London Revue
- 🎭 ‘Freedom of Speech’ (one-woman play) | 7:30 p.m. | $27.50 | Humboldt
Sunday, Jan. 7
- 🎉 O-Shogatsu Festival, Japanese New Year | 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | $21.95 | Portland Japanese Garden
- 🦁 Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ | Various Times (through Jan. 28) | $55.50+ | Keller Auditorium
- 🎄 Zoo Lights | 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. (final weekend) | $12 | Oregon Zoo
- 🎭 ’Ama, the Diver’ (play) | 7:30 p.m. | $17 (sliding scale available) | Foster-Powell
- 🎥 Lord of the Rings Trilogy: ‘The Return of the King’ | 6:30 p.m. | $8 | OMSI
Monday, Jan. 8
- 💡 Bridgetown Trivia | 7 p.m. | Free Admission | Northeast Alberta Street
- 📚 ‘The Price of Humanity: How Philanthropy Went Wrong — and How to Fix It’ (reading) | 7 p.m. | Free | Powell’s City of Books
- 🎣 Early Fishing on the Columbia River (history pub) | 7 p.m. | $5 | McMenamins Edgefield
Today on City Cast
A Crime Spike Face-off, Unchecked Jail Practices, and ODOT’s Dire Warnings
The Multnomah County Jail refused to fully comply with last year’s audit. There was more finger-pointing among our city leaders on who’s responsible for a supposed crime wave. And ODOT offered a stark winter warning about stranded drivers and hazardous roads. KBOO news director Althea Billings joins City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza and executive producer John Notarianni to discuss the day’s news.
Woodrow Wilson would be rolling in his grave.
The Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan drama turned 30 years old this week. The reporter who broke the story tells all, including that he delayed on returning the call tipping him off to the international scandal.
I hope you have a scandal-free weekend!
— Rachel Monahan
Edited by John Notarianni
Free · Daily