🦠 Killing the creature from Portland’s green lagoon

Star Portland Chef Takes New York

The chef of Kann, one of Portland’s hottest restaurants, will be expanding his empire to New York. Gregory Gourdet will be in charge of all the dining options at Printemps, the first U.S. location of the Paris luxury department store. Gourdet worked in New York at Jean-Georges’ restaurants before coming to Portland and competing on “Top Chef.” Kann won the 2023 James Beard Award for best new restaurant. [Eater New York]

Portland Government Changes Soon

Though the official change doesn’t happen till next year, Portland’s change in form of government takes a first step next month, with new deputy city administrators starting to oversee the city's bureaus. The new City Council will hold the city administrator accountable, instead of their current role managing the bureaus themselves. The transition raises questions about whether the city needs so many bureaus and the high-paid bureau directors that come with that structure. [KGW]

Pharmacies Are Closing

Among U.S. states, Oregon has “the second fewest retail pharmacies per 100,000 residents,” according to data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs. Only Alaska has a lower rate. [Oregonian]

The gates to Chinatown with its two bronze lions are at Northwest 4th Avenue and Burnside. Portland’s New Chinatown/Japantown is on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was Portland’s new Chinatown back in the 19th century. And it was for a time the second largest Chinatown in the United States (after San Francisco). But the gate and its sculptures are relatively recent — erected in 1986.

A shoutout to the first 10 readers who got the answer: Amy Long, Keahi Selhorst, Kellie Russ, Mark Linder, Brian Finlayson, Sue Kerr, Beth Sethi, Jim Tung, Derek B., and Kerstan.

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The Plan To Banish a Toxic Nuisance From the Willamette River

Blooms of harmful algae are common in the Willamette River during the summer months. They can be toxic to humans and pets, shutting down swimming for weeks at a time. But where does all of this harmful algae come from? And why can’t we find ways to prevent it from happening? Willie Levenson of the river advocacy group Human Access Project talks about the plan to fight a major source of the river’s harmful algae blooms.