City Cast Portland
🥐 America’s best bakery is in Portland
June 18, 2025 · — Adrian González
Good morning, Portland! It’s City Cast editor Adrian González back in the saddle for a couple days.
It’s that time of the year when we all yearn to be on a river, and the folks at Mosquito Fleet are helping infuse climate activism into water recreation on the Willamette. Perhaps this is how I get over my fear of kayaks.
What's CITY Talking About?
Portland Bakery Wins Big
The James Beard Foundation named Jinju Patisserie America’s Most Outstanding Bakery of 2025, marking the third consecutive year a Portland establishment has picked up a national award from the organization. Co-owners Kyurim Lee and Jin Caldwell have been serving their famous hyper-laminated croissants in North Portland since 2019. “We did it. We really did it,” said Lee. [Oregonian 🔒]
- In other food news: State lawmakers have designated the T-bone steak as Oregon’s official cut of beef. [Oregon Capital Chronicle]
Ex-Staffers Call Out DA Vazquez for Discrimination
Two women are threatening to sue the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, claiming they faced racism and retaliation after District Attorney Nathan Vazquez was sworn in. Vazquez, who criticized his predecessor for similar complaints, denies any wrongdoing. [OPB]
The Great (Kid-Friendly) Outdoors
School’s out and it’s time to get the kiddos off their screens and outside. Outdoors expert Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding joins the City Cast Portland podcast today to share easy, low-stress outdoor adventures for city kids. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
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What To Do
Wednesday, June 18
- 😆 Jared Kassebaum: The Rise and Continued Rise of a Midwest Prince | Kickstand Comedy (Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood)
- 🔥 Roast City Summer Tournament | Dante’s (Old Town-Chinatown neighborhood)
- 🕺 Mount Tabor Dance Community | Peninsula Park
- 🍺 Portland Beer Week | various locations
Thursday, June 19
- 🎉 Juneteenth: a Celebration of Black & Queer Music | Bar Botellón (Kerns neighborhood)
- 🎬 Power of Place: Juneteenth | PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater (Richmond neighborhood)
- 🎉 Juneteenth Celebration at the MESO Makers Market | King neighborhood
- 🌱 Free Admission at Leach Botanical Garden | Pleasant Valley neighborhood
- 🍺 Portland Beer Week | various locations
Friday, June 20
- 🎵 After the Revolution: The Life and Music of Chen Yi and Zhou Long | The Reser (Beaverton)
- 🎥 Animation: Script to Screen (Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts) | Lakewood Center (Lake Oswego)
- 😆 Heart Throb: The Dream Date Show | Kickstand Comedy (Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood)
- 🎵 Golden Hour at Lan Su: Bollywood Vibes | Lan Su Chinese Garden (Old Town-Chinatown neighborhood)
- 👗 Dress for Success Summer Closet Sale | Dress for Success Oregon (Hollywood neighborhood)
- 🍺 Portland Beer Week | various locations
- 🎨 Marina Grize: In-Between Touch (opening reception) | Adams and Ollman (Pearl District)
- 🚶 World Refugee Day PDX Walk | Salmon Street Springs (Downtown)
- 😆 Kickstand Comedy in the Park | Laurelhurst Park
Thanks for reading, friend. We'll be off tomorrow for Juneteenth, but we'll be back on Friday with a special newsletter featuring stories from across the City Cast network!
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