🌱COVID Testing Reopens + Break-Ins Rampant + Zoo Condor Lays Egg

Happy Tuesday, Portland! The city keeps on moving and we have to do what we can to keep up with it. Hopefully I can help out a little with that. Let me tell you about today.

First, today's weather:

Foggy in the morning, but sun comes in the afternoon. High temp of 46, but with the wind it's going to feel a bit colder.

Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. There's cause for celebration at the Oregon Zoo! The first California condor egg of the year has been laid at the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation. If all goes as hoped, the condor should hatch in March. Last year 10 condor chicks were raised. There are only about 500 of these endangered birds in the world, zoo officials said. (KOIN)
2. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has been the uncontested ruler of liquor sales in the state, but we may see a challenge to that on November's ballot. The Northwest Grocery Association is working toward putting a measure on the November ballot that would wrest liquor sales away from state stores and allow its members — Fred Meyer, Albertson’s and others — to sell liquor as grocery stores do in Washington and other states. (Willamette Week)
3. The Portland Expo Center testing and vaccination site is reopening after a brief break. Following nearly two years as an Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)-run site, it will now be operated by the Oregon Health Authority and become a "no appointment needed" drive-thru clinic with expanded hours. It will be open seven days a week for both testing and vaccinations. (KGW)
4. Bar and restaurant owners across Portland say break-ins are rampant, and now with frequent repair costs, some are worried about staying afloat. KATU reached out to Portland Police to ask when current hiring may help address these issues, and we're still waiting to hear back. In December, PPB said it's at the beginning of a long rebuilding process. (KATU)
5. Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time, especially here in Oregon. The state does not have an adequate number of public defenders to keep up with crime, officials say. According to the American Bar Association, a new study shows Oregon needs nearly 1,300 more full-time public defenders to handle the current criminal caseload. The ABA says the state has about 31% of the number of public defenders needed to provide adequate representation for adult and juvenile cases. (KOIN)

Last week, we told you about our new favorite non-alcoholic go-to — the refreshingly bitter drinks from our partners at Betera. They’re chef-created from natural botanicals, lightly effervescent and worthy of life beyond “Dry January.” We mentioned that their Ginger-Orange was excellent; we’ve since tried Elderflower-Lime and loved it as well — light and floral with the perfect amount of zing. We're converts.

Enough of you took Betera up on their 15% discount on first orders for Patch Daily readers that they’ve extended the offer for another week. Use PATCH15 at checkout. Highly recommended — try Betera here.

Today in Portland:

• It's usually not hard to find blue grass music in this town and tonight it's happening at the Rose City Book Pub. Grab a beer and hear some music at the most literary bar in Portland. 7:00 - 10:00 PM.
• Are you a fan of William Burroughs? Then you may want to be at the Clinton Street Theater in SE Portland for their Documentarian Tuesdays as they present Burroughs: The Movie. Now viewers can enjoy the invigorating candidness of Burroughs: The Movie, a one-of-a-kind nonfiction portrait that was brought to life with the help of a remarkable crew of friends, including Jim Jarmusch and Tom DiCillo. 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
• Looking for a free night of music? Christopher Worth and Jacob Westfall curate and host this weekly event for singer, songwriters. The first part of the night showcases artists playing one song each, then a featured artist presents a longer set, followed by more artists. It’s a great listening room environment and all are welcome. All ages for the first hour. 7:30 - 10:30 PM.
• In the mood for some samurai action? The Grindhouse Film Festival presents an extremely rare 35mm print of Lone Wolf and Cub. Tomisaburo Wakayama stars as Lone Wolf, “the greatest samurai in the empire." When he is betrayed and his wife murdered by the shogun’s ninjas, he takes his young son on "the road to hell" and seeks out blood-soaked vengeance. Showtime is 7:30 PM.
• Jamband Lost Ox will be playing at the Goodfoot tonight. Based out of Portland, Oregon, they have been unleashing their uniquely progressive brand of outlaw funk & Americana upon the once unsuspecting public since 2017. The music starts at 9:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• With the COVID pandemic we've been living through, everyone is worried about getting sick. So, it's a pretty good thing that, here in Portland, we have access to a plethora of natural medicine. I'm talking about cannabis, my friends, and if you don't know the range of therapeutic cannabis in our fine town, the Willamette Week has your back. Here's their take on how you can use cannabis to keep yourself healthy. (Willamette Week)
• I'm an art lover and I'm very pleased at how much art one can find around Portland. One of my favorite galleries is Nucleus Gallery in SE Portland. I encourage you to check them out. To give you an idea of what this gallery is like, here's an Instagram post about one of their exhibits; The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian. (Instagram)
• When someone mentions rap, Portland is not the first city to come to mind, but we have an amazingly vibrant rap scene. One such home grown artist is Portland-born rapper and Benson Polytechnic High School graduate Aminé. He’s certainly the most well-known and successful hip-hop act to ever come from the Rose City, and with every release he shows that it’s not just a fluke. He'll be back here in his hometown for a stop on his The Best Tour Ever Tour. Give him a listen. (Portland Mercury)
• Trifone Walter Ferrante is the maestro behind Bari Food Cart, a small operation he runs in Portland that serves a delicacy from southern Italy: panzerotti. Walter’s passion for food and hospitality started at a young age back in Italy and brought him to the states where he worked in many restaurants as a server. Once the idea came to make and serve panzerotti, hand-held fried turnovers that are known all around the city of Bari, he knew he had to make it happen. (YouTube)

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We're into another week, my friends, and I'm happy to keep you informed. If you like what I'm throwing down, I'll be back, right here, tomorrow, to talk all about Portland.

— Dominic Anaya

About me: Doctor, educator and now a writer/artist, I'm just chillin' in Portland, OR with my wife, our ferrets, our chickens and our goats.