🌱 Downtown Experiencing A Revival + Portland Police Under Attack

What's up, Portland! We've got a busy Wednesday here in Cascadia. Downtown is seeing more activity, graffiti is costing us millions and we've got a new brewery in town. Let me give you the deets.

First, today's weather:

Wow, we've got a hot one here! Endless sun and a high of 93 is the theme of the day.

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Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. After a few rough years, downtown Portland may be on the rebound! A new report released by the Downtown Portland Clean & Safe organization shows a dramatic increase in people in the downtown area compared to just a year ago. Between March and June of this year, the report shows nearly 7 million people have walked through the downtown area. It’s a 64% increase compared to the just over 4 million people that passed through in 2021. Two million people walked through downtown during the same time period in 2020, during the peak of the pandemic. (KPTV)
2. It was never an easy time to be a police officer, but the FBI is looking into credible security threats to PPB officers. Kieran Ramsey, an FBI special agent in charge of the region, wouldn’t confirm or deny any specific investigations but said law enforcement has been subject to an increased threat level recently. “If you look at even recently, in the metro area, there were a number of instances with officers being assaulted,” Ramsey said. “I think it’s by the grace of God that we’re not attending a police funeral.” (KOIN)
3. Tuesday I mentioned that a man wanted for thousands of dollars in damages due to graffiti had turned himself in, but how does that damage get repaired? Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Transportation awarded $2 million to a contractor in order to clean up graffiti and litter. The funding isn't free money — it all comes from tax dollars and it's costing taxpayers every year. "It's all over the place. It's alongside the freeways, it's on the highway signs themselves ... we've got extra crews out there, we've got our own maintenance crews out there taking this on," said Don Hamilton, a spokesman for ODOT. (KGW)
4. The Portland Public Schools board will be voting on whether to increase incentive pay for substitute teachers. PPS leaders are asking its school board to raise the incentive pay for substitute positions at 25 schools in the district. These would be schools with historically low numbers of substitutes. The current incentive pay for substitutes is $15 for a full day and $10 for a half day. The proposed incentive pay that PPS will discuss with its board Tuesday night is $50 for a full day and $35 for a half day. (KATU)
5. The iconic Thompson Elk Fountain will be returning to its original location downtown, but not before the city of Portland makes a few changes to SW Main Street. Crews have been hard at work adding a dedicated bike lane between SW 3rd and SW 4th, where the Main curves around the statue. The Portland Bureau of Transportation had a little fun with the bike lane art just to the east of where the fountain will stand. The bike rider is adorned with antlers on its helmet. (KATU)

Today in Portland:

• Cosmic Monkey Comics in NE Portland is hosting a 1FIRST COMICS signing! Featuring Jared Sams Space Negro: The Last Negro about the cosmic adventures of the last Black man in the universe! Plus, Matt and John Yuan, a writer/artist duo who have a whole line of books under their belt, and have most recently dropped Love Town, a noir-drenched tale of vampires, bullets and blood! 3 - 6 p.m.
• There's a new brewery in town and Culmination Brewing is helping it out with an Entre Compas Collab Release Party! Come join them as they celebrate their dear friend Nick Herrera, owner of Entre Compas. Nick has pioneered the brewing industry by opening the first Portland-based Mexican-American owned brewery and to celebrate his success, they brewed Verano IPA, a West Coast Summer IPA, together. The party kicks off at 4 p.m.
• This isn't your ordinary trivia night. This is Drag Trivia - Trivia Night at Donnie Vegas in NE Portland! All you need to do is bring YOURSELF and up to 5 additional friends to create your team (Yes, you can also be a team of 1). From there they supply all the gaming supplies for five rounds of Trivia. Doors open at 7 p.m.
• It's time for Music on Main again and tonight's band is Jujuba! Jujuba delivers a funky, danceable style of Nigerian Afrobeat and juju music. These free outdoor concerts are held on Main Street next to Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall—between Southwest Broadway and Park Avenue in downtown Portland. 5 - 7 p.m.
• It's The End of the World! And they're playing at Kelly's Olympian in downtown Portland. This collective has strived to be your premier destination for theatrical pop rock since 2020 and they thrive on the pursuit of bringing un-recreatable experiences to the evening. They'll be joined by Slam Piece, a two-man band that creates a full sound and epic jams. Showtime is 8 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "Last Thursday on Alberta is an absolute blast, especially in the summer. This monthly art walk and street fair showcases independent artists, performers, local bands, makers and more to celebrate their art on Northeast Alberta Street." (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "This week we’re saying goodbye to “Metamorphosis Mural,” “Frida and Diego Are Here,” and “Magdalena Cape” that remained on view after the “Mexican Modernism” exhibition. " (Portland Art Museum via Instagram)
• Talk about Portland icons! The Alibi Tiki Lounge in North Portland is celebrating its 75th anniversary this weekend. “As you look around, it’s completely frozen in time.” Marcus Archambeault owns The Alibi Tiki Lounge. “This is one of the oldest continuously operated tiki bars in the country, if not the oldest, one of the top five,” he said. (KPTV)
• I guess macrame is back in style. Who knew? I haven't seen that since the 70's. Personally, I blame Emily Katz, the Portland macramé artist and influencer whose origin story with the craft dates to 2013, when she was struck by the sudden desire to make a macramé plant holder and reached out to her long-estranged mother for help. Now you can find a workshop in Portland to help you make your own macrame creations. (PDX Monthly)
• Congratulations to comedian Shain Brenden! He's been dubbed Portland's Funniest Person. Presented by Helium Comedy Club annually (excluding 2020) since 2010, PFP is the only local comedy contest or honor that really carries any weight. TORY WARD took the runner up position despite what we thought was a poor showing from a talented comic, and self-described "soft-handed cowboy" JORDAN CASNER placed third. (Portland Mercury)
• When it comes to quirky, funky, and boldly unique businesses, few American cities can hold a candle to the innate eccentricities of Portland. So it should surprise no one that we're home to some of the most strangely unique bars and restaurants. From quasi-haunted cocktail bars to feminist sports bars to clown-themed dives, the City of Roses gives you a vast array of places to get your weird on. (Tasting Table)

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Stay cool, my friends. I might cool down with an ice cold, West Coast Summer IPA like Verano IPA. Or maybe a Mai Tai at the Alibi. Looking over this newsletter, maybe I have too many choices. Plan your day wisely, Portland, and come on back tomorrow so I can, once more, give you way too many choices.

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Portland Daily? Contact me at portland@patch.com