
City Cast Portland
🔥 Why Oregon’s fire season just got worse
July 17, 2024 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning, Portland! Keep an eye on air quality as the wildfire smoke arrives in Portland 🔥 Read on for more on this year’s fire season ⬇️

What's CITY Talking About?
Mourning Chef Naomi Pomeroy
The tragic death of beloved local chef Naomi Pomeroy, 49, has garnered local and now national attention. Pomeroy drowned in a tubing accident Saturday near Corvallis. Her cocktail bar Expatriate has won accolades for its food, and she had plans to open an already much-anticipated French bistro this fall. [NBC Today]
- Related: Authorities continued searching for Pomeroy's body as new details emerged in her fatal drowning. [Oregonian]
- Your memories: Did you know Pomeroy or get a chance to dine at Beast or Expatriate? Maybe you love Cornet Custard. Please share your reaction to this sad news with us.
Heat Wave Likely Made Fires Worse
With last week’s heat wave likely contributing to more dry fuels, there are now 22 large wildfires burning across Oregon — far more than last year’s 12 at this point in July. More than 300 firefighters are working on the largest, which is the 132,528-acre Cow Valley fire, in Eastern Oregon. [Oregonian]

The Long Recovery Under Way for Favorite Hiking Spots
Eagle Creek and Opal Creek were devastated by wildfires. As nature heals, Zach Urness, outdoors editor at the Statesman Journal, talks about restoration efforts — and whether they’re safe to visit as this year’s fire season starts looking worse. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
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What To Do
Wednesday, July 17
- 🎵 Music on Main: SOS - A Tribute to The Police | 5 -7 p.m. | Free | Downtown
- 🚲🏊 Bike to the Willamette River!!! — aka Bicycle in your Bathing Suit, Spin to Swim, Pedal to Plunge | 5:45 p.m. (earlier for happy hour) | Free | Ankeny Rainbow Road Plaza (in Buckman neighborhood for start)
- 🏊 Duckworth Summer Wednesdays | 6 - 9 p.m. | Free | Duckworth Dock (Eastbank Esplanade)
- 🎥 ‘Dead Mountaineer's Hotel’ (Church of Film series) | 7 p.m. | $10 | Clinton Street Theater
Thursday, July 18
- 😎 Six Ways From Sunday Concert | 5 - 8 p.m. | Free | Wallace Park
- 🫓 Cookbook Pop-up with Brooklyn's Edy Massih (cookbooks available for purchase) | 5 - 9 p.m. (through Saturday) | Various (Reserve your table on Resy) | Xiao Ye (Hollywood)
- 🎵 Wamba (world beat with African percussions) | 6:30 p.m. | Free | Glenhaven Park
- 🎭🚲 Bike Play 15: The Game of Bike | 7 p.m. (through Sunday) | Free | Wilshire Park
- 🚗 ‘Ferris Bueller's Day Off’ | 7:30 p.m. | Free | Colonel Summers Park
Friday, July 19
- 🎵 Cathedral Park Jazz Festival | 4:30 - 10 p.m. (various times through Sunday) | Free | Cathedral Park
- 😆 Kickstand Comedy in the Park | 6:30 p.m. (6 p.m. blankets drop) | Free | Laurelhurst Park
- 🎵 Ache Son (traditional Cuban music) | 6:30 p.m. | Free | Glenwood Park
- 🎵📽️ ‘D.E.B.S.’ w/ DJ Chelsea Starr | 6:30 p.m. | $15 | Tomorrow Theater (Southeast Division)
- 🎭 ‘Julius Caesar’ (Original Practice Shakespeare Festival) | 7 p.m. | Free | Irving Park
- 🎥 ’Jazz on a Summer's Day’ | 7:30 p.m. | Free | Fernhill Park
- 🏳️🌈🪩 Rainbow Moon Silent Disco | 7:30 p.m. | $30 | Leach Gardens (Pleasant Valley)
- 📲 Nothing Left to Lose Multimedia Festival | 7:30 p.m. | $25 (through Saturday) | Shaking the Tree Theatre (Hosford-Abernethy)

This week in notable Portland bumper stickers: Here's one from reader Nancy. I'll see you tomorrow.
Free · Daily


