City Cast Portland
🍷 Why Oregon's world-class wine industry is struggling
July 2, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning! 🏥 After two recent deaths, first responders are urging people to stay safe in the water. One quick reminder: Even if you know how to swim, the experts advise wearing a life jacket while you’re out paddling and boating 🚣
What's CITY Talking About?
The Mild Winter Led To More Tree-Killing Pests
Sitka spruces along the coast are dying in greater numbers this year. Scientists say the mild winter may have been good for the spruce aphids that are killing off trees, particularly near Yachats. Climate change means a variety of tree-killing pests are thriving in Oregon, which is bad news for fir and ash trees. [OPB]
A Higher Parks Levy on November Ballot
After wrapping up this fiscal year’s budget, Portland City Council is looking to raise more money for parks. The city’s parks levy will expire this year, and the Council is nearing an agreement to refer a renewal to the November ballot. They’re looking at raising the property tax to somewhere between $1.35 and $1.50 per $1,000 assessed property value — up from 80 cents. [Willamette Week]
Oregon Wine Industry’s Accolades and Struggles
The Willamette Valley was just named the best wine destination in the world. At the same time, sales are down, tariffs are looming, immigration crackdowns are rattling workers, and wildfire season has grown more intense — making it harder to harder for Oregon vineyards to survive. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
What To Do
Wednesday, July 2
- 🎵 Jonathan Richman | Aladdin Theater (Brooklyn neighborhood)
- 🍁 Behind the Shoji: Annual Summer Marketplace | Portland Japanese Garden (Washington Park)
- 🦶 Sasquatch: Ancestral Guardians | World Forestry Center (Washington Park)
- 🚲 Bike to Swim in the Willamette River | Crema (Buckman neighborhood)
- 🥽 Lloyd Live: At the Dock | Duckworth Dock (Eastbank Esplanade)
Thursday, July 3
- 🖼️ Free First Thursday | Portland Art Museum
- 🎨 First Thursday Street Gallery | Pearl District
- 🐘 Jacquie Roar (ZooNights) | Oregon Zoo
- 🍃 Pop-Up Nature | Hoyt Arboretum
Friday, July 4
- 🎶 Waterfront Blues Festival | Downtown Portland
- 🍺 Portland Craft Beer Festival | Elizabeth Caruthers Park (South Waterfront)
- 🚲 Fourth of July Kids Bike Parade! | Rose City Park United Methodist Church (Rose City Park neighborhood)
- 🎾 Mount Tabor Open | Mount Tabor Park Tennis Courts
- 🎨 First Friday Art Walk | East Side
- 😆 Kickstand Comedy in the Park | Laurelhurst Park
- 🎆 4th of July Celebration (drone show) | Cook Family Park (Tigard)
- 🎆 4th of July Celebration and Concert | Veterans Memorial Park (Beaverton)
- 🎉 Hillsboro Rotary 4th of July Parade | Downtown Hillsboro
- 🎆 Waterfront Blues Festival Fireworks | Downtown Portland
⭐ Oregon’s sea stars — both the ochre and the sunflower species — are no longer facing a die-off, but scientists and volunteers are closely monitoring their populations.
“Recent research has found that the sunflower sea star recovery is being hampered by exposure to pesticides and microplastics,” the Oregonian reports.
Free · Daily