⚾ A major league stadium in the suburbs??

Swim Lessons for All Second-Graders

Portland Parks & Recreation has begun offering free swim lessons to second-graders at Portland Public Schools. So far six schools have been able to swing the logistics of the two-day-a-week lessons: Scott, Boise, Woodstock, Sunnyside, Rieke, and Maplewood. The district pays for transportation to indoor pools, and the parks bureau covers the cost of lessons. [Oregonian 🔒]

Portland’s Graffiti Woes

There was a nearly sixfold increase in graffiti complaints to the city between 2020 and 2022. At the same time, budgets to fix the problem have shrunk: The Oregon Department of Transportation’s graffiti removal budget fell to $210,000 for the current two-year budget cycle, down from $1 million in the previous biennium, while the Portland Bureau of Transportation has exhausted at least one set of funds for it. [Willamette Week]

MLB to… Beaverton?

The group working to bring Major League Baseball to Portland has opted against a Lloyd District stadium in favor of one at Beaverton’s RedTail Golf Center. It’s a 160-acre suburban location, which would make it the largest development project in league history. The group MLB to PDX is negotiating to make the $50 million purchase. [John Canzano]

• Related: What is happening at the Lloyd Center. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

It’s time for my favorite part of the week — reader responses:

North Mississippi Avenue

I wrote up a guide to North Mississippi Avenue last week.

While the intention was to provide readers with a sampling of the places, I did leave off a couple of notable Mississippi institutions that are definitely worth a mention:

🐰 She Bop

This women-owned sex shop has been around since 2009 and is inclusive and welcoming. (Fun fact: they’re named for a Cyndi Lauper song.)

🍴Gravy

The restaurant has been around for 20 years and was instrumental in transforming that area of town. They have a delicious breakfast specialty.

🏡 Honey I’m Home

This is a home goods shop that opened last year — and owned by a sister of a newsletter reader.

🍚 Little Bloom

"There is a food cart at the little pod between ReBuilding Center and the Sons of Haiti Lodge that I just absolutely crave. The cart is called Little Bloom. The owner of the cart is from Laos, and she makes some of the best Lao and Thai food in the city in my mind, and she is one of the sweetest people in Portland.” — Bryan Steelman, ¿Por Qué No? Taquería

Local Cures for Loneliness

After a segment on loneliness, I heard from a couple of readers about clubs that might help to fight loneliness:

• If you’re into sewing, check out Columbia River Sewing, which has chapters across the metro area 🪡
• There’s also “a social community for badass sober women here in Portland” called My Sober Girlfriends. If you’re looking to connect with people who are also staying sober.

And a reader has a recommendation of a hobby:

“Gardening helps one think forward, not back. Planting is anticipating growth. Gardens come back from winter, and this causes excitement every year when loneliness and depression are at its highest. A beautiful garden, or even a garden in the works, allows neighbors to talk to one another and form connections. Giving flowers or greenery bouquets are an act of love. Gardening helps with physical fitness and flexibility. So my answer is garden, garden, garden. ” — Dannell Davis

Your Guide to February in Portland

City Cast Portland producers Giulia Fiaoni and John Notarianni join host Claudia Meza for our guide for the month of February in Portland. It’s our top picks in food, entertainment, and everything in between: Do you want to know where in town you can actually celebrate Mardi Gras, eat a chopped Italian sandwich, or maybe pose with a sorta-infamous ax? We’ve got you covered.