🌱 Man/Daughter Attacked On Esplanade + Voting Rights For Noncitizens

I'm back and rested after the long weekend. I hope you had plenty of fun, but here we are at Wednesday again. Not that Wednesday isn't fun, it's just not, you know, the weekend. Still, we've got some fun for you today.

First, today's weather:

It's a mostly cloudy day, with the chance of a morning sprinkle and a high of 75. I know others might not share my opinion, but I'm loving these overcast summer days. I didn't move to Portland for the sun, you know.

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Here are the top five stories today in Portland:

1. Portland's restaurant scene is one of the city's shining jewels that has earned it a national reputation as one of America's foodie destinations, but inflation may soon price some diners from eating out. “Restaurants, just like consumers, are dealing with an incredible challenge,” said Jason Brandt, the president & CEO of Oregon’s Restaurant and Lodging Association. According to the group's records, the state’s wholesale food costs have gone up 18% each year since 2020, the highest increase in the past 50 years. (KGW)
2. A man has been arrested for a bias crime after punching a California man and his daughter on the Eastbank Esplanade on Saturday afternoon, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Officers talked with the victims, a 36-year-old California man and his five-year-old daughter. They learned the man was riding bikes with his wife and daughter when the suspect came up to them, made comments about his perception that they were of Japanese descent and began punching the man in the head. He also punched the girl in her bike helmet numerous times. Witnesses quickly stepped in and the suspect began walking away. (KPTV)
3. Portland Fire & Rescue banned fireworks in the city this Fourth of July, much to the appreciation of pet owners, but not everyone was happy with the rule. For groups like Peninsula Optimistic Club, the Fourth of July is normally a time for fundraising by selling fireworks. Treasurer John Teuscher said it typically raises about $15,000 for youth groups and local scholarships over the holiday. Some other nonprofits moved fireworks sales outside of Portland city limits. Teuscher said that was not an easy option for his group. (KATU)
4. For months, Portland’s volunteer charter review commission has been the group nabbing headlines as members put together a package aimed at overhauling the city’s government and election system. All the while, with very few taking notice, Multnomah County’s comparable commission has been quietly working on its own momentous change: a ballot measure that could give residents who are not U.S. citizens the right to vote in local elections. (OPB)
5. It's the end of an era! After 21 years, the beloved French bakery and wine bar Pix Pâtisserie is closing its doors for good. In a heartfelt announcement, owner Cheryl Wakerhauser said she’s been planning her retirement from the restaurant industry for some time. Now, she’s giving her fans 51 days to enjoy the restaurant, its wine selection and its movie screening and Flamenco Fridays before it all comes to an end. (KOIN.com)

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Today in Portland:

• If you're looking for a far-out time, head to the Hollywood Theater for SHROOMS N' SPACE IN 16MM! This collection of classic 16mm short films can feel almost alien sometimes, with their formal - yet unassuming - quiet artistry. It's hard to say who the target demographic might be for these films. Perhaps everyone. Perhaps you. Tickets available online. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
• Join the fun and plumb the dizzying heights (or murky depths?) of your factoid knowledge with Untapped Trivia at Swift Cider. Play in-person at the taproom or connect to play virtually from home. Untapped Trivia is always more than just your 4 rounds of typical pub trivia, and always free to play. 7 - 9 p.m.
• I guess everyone is into playing some games tonight. At the 4th Wall, it's family game night. They’ve got Mario Kart, they’ve got Smash Bros, they’ve got Jackbox Games. This isn’t a tournament, it’s just a good time. They’ve also got pizza, popcorn, and root beer on tap. A little something for everybody! The fun starts at 7 p.m.
• No’madd the Unconquerable embarks on a perilous quest to confront the veiled intruders that threaten his land. His journey takes him beyond the sea of storms to a land masked in legend. Now you can meet the creators of this legend, writer Andrew Kafoury and artist Aaron McConnell! They'll be at Excaliber Comics in SE Portland for an exclusive in-person signing for their inaugural Battle Quest Comics issue! 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Powell's Books presents Rick Emerson in a virtual conversation with Chelsea Cain. In 1971, Go Ask Alice reinvented the young adult genre with a blistering portrayal of sex, psychosis and teenage self-destruction. In reality, Go Ask Alice and Jay's Journal came from the same dark place: Beatrice Sparks, a serial con artist who betrayed a grieving family, stole a dead boy's memory and lied her way to the National Book Awards. Rick Emerson’s Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries (BenBella) is a true story of contagious deception. Register online for this free virtual discussion. 5:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Have a safe holiday, friends ❤️" (Portland Trail Blazers via Instagram)
• Travel Portland: "Happy 4th of July from all of us in Portland! We hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday. If you're still making plans this evening, hit the link in our bio for a rundown of fireworks displays. " (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Today we’re talking SPARK BIRDS!💥 What is the first bird that grabbed your attention and made you interested in learning more about it? Share what intrigued you - its coloring? Its song? Behavior? Spill the B! 📷: @tinyseedphotography ..." (Portland Audubon via Instagram)
• If you're a pet owner who considers that pet a part of your family, you're not alone. Far from it. A survey from Oregon Values and Beliefs Center found that nearly all Oregonians consider their pets part of their family (93%). And, as family members, most pets get to sleep in their owners’ beds (71%). Roughly two-thirds of Oregonians said their pets often reduce their stress levels or feelings of loneliness. (KOIN)
• We all know that Portland is going through some rough times right now, but at least we're not Eastern Oregon. The population of Mormon crickets has exploded in recent years in Eastern Oregon’s Gillam County. Now, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is supporting local volunteers who are taking measures into their own hands, to fight back against the pests. And they've found some unlikely allies — goats! (OPB)
• Here's a very Portland, Fourth of July post from the Unipiper. (Instagram)

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How's that for a Wednesday? Like I said, not the weekend, but a darn fine day nonetheless. And it's been my honor and privilege to tell you all about it. Come on back again tomorrow and I'm going to do it all again. That's just how much I love 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.

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