🌱 Scared of Portland + Public Autopsy + Property Taxes Soar

It's the weekend my friends and that means fun. I guess we're in Portland, so it's all fun, all the time. This is an action packed Saturday, so let me get right into it.

First, today's weather:

Wow, we actually have a pretty clear day today. Mostly sun and a high of 56. Enjoy!

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. The results of a survey conducted by Travel Portland were presented by Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps at Wednesday's City Council meeting. Some of what he said was hard to hear. "A significant chunk of humanity is afraid of spending time and money in our city. This new skepticism of Portland is a significant factor holding back our city's cultural and economic recovery," said Mapps. (KATU)
2. Two proposals are vying for a plot of land near Northeast 42nd and Simpson. One proposal is from the Albina Sports Program and involves a large sports complex, which would include a turf soccer and football field, baseball diamonds, and an indoor 365,000-square-foot multi-sport facility. The other one is that it should be a site for one of Commissioner Dan Ryan's Safe Rest Villages. The decision is ultimately up to Portland Public Schools, who owns the land. (KPTV.com)
3. In an ethically questionable move, the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront hosted a live autopsy and dissection of a human corpse inside a hotel meeting room, despite strong objections from the Multnomah County Medical Examiner. The autopsy, organized by a media company called Death Science, was part of the Oddities & Curiosities Expo. On the expo’s website, the traveling event promotes itself, “For Lovers of the Strange, Unusual and Bizarre…”(KGW.com)
4. While unvaccinated people continue to be the largest source of new COVID-19 cases in Oregon, more than a fourth of the new cases occurred in people who had been vaccinated. (Portland Patch)
5. Our tax dollars at work? That's what's on many property owners' minds when they saw their latest tax bill. Several people who spoke with KOIN 6 News this week said they’re seeing 10% and 11% increases and they want to know why. (KOIN.com)

Today in Portland:

• If you're a gun owner, or even considering getting one, the responsible thing would be to educate yourself in the proper loading, storage and carrying of firearms. Equip 2 Conceal will be holding an online concealed carry class this evening. This online concealed carry class fulfills the training required to certify for an Oregon CCW permit. The class is from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.
• Hey, do you like tequila? If you said yes, then you should swing by Carlita's: Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey in NW Portland for its Dia De Los Muertos Fiesta Tequila Tasting. The establishment has an amazing selection of tequilas for you to try and will be featuring a special margarita for the night: The Hornitos Plata Green Apple Margarita! The event goes from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
• There will be a Halloween Costume Party at the Blue Diamond in NE Portland tonight featuring Nayibe Rojas Geebsville. There is also a costume contest with cash and gift prizes. Make your reservations online. Doors open at 5:00 PM.
• This isn't your ordinary dance party. Dance with Joy Studios in SE Portland will be having a Halloween Swing Dance Party! They'll begin with a fun dance lesson and then really start the night with the DJ spinning West Coast Swing, Hustle, NC2, Ballroom, Latin, EC/Lindy, Country & your special requests! Halloween costumes encouraged. Tickets available online. Lesson starts at 7:30 PM.
• Since this is the weekend for pretending you're someone else, SE Portland bar No Fun is hosting a night of cover bands. Performing tonight will be Morning Glory, covering Oasis, The Stronks, a Strokes tribute band, and Wilclone, a Wilco tribute band. Proof of vaccination required for entry. Cash only cover at the door. The fun stats at 7:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Anyone else stand up any time @greg.brown03 is near the rim " (Instagram)
• Travel Portland: "Portland is full of amazingly talented tattoo artists! Tag your favorites in the comments below and check out the link in our bio for our PDX tattoo guide. #ThisIsPortland : @gadzooxpdx / @sideshowalleytattoo #PDX #PDXNOW #TravelPor..." (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "A young male Bewick's Wren learns how to sing not only from his father, but from adult males in his parents' territory. In fact, his song will be slightly different from his father's as he makes it his own with small deviations. The song..." (Facebook)
• What makes a ghost town? The state of Oregon, which has more than 200 ghost towns (more than any other state), legally defines a ghost town as an incorporated city with land acquired under a US patent, that does not have a sufficient number of registered electors residing within the city, and is of historic interest. Here's a list of Oregon ghost towns that can give visitors a sense of the state's past. Plus, it's totally spooky season, so you know I'm going to include anything even remotely involving ghosts. (Portland Monthly)
• I always love reporting on state superlatives, so here's another for you. Did you know that Oregon is the home of the World's Largest Log Cabin. Measuring 206 feet long, 102 feet wide and 72 feet high (approximately 7 stories), its construction was said to have cost approximately $30,000 (about $935,000 today). (Vintage Everyday)
• Airbnb is doing what it can to prevent Halloween parties from happening at its rentals. I can't say I blame the company. Airbnb said it will be blocking one-night reservations on Halloween weekend except for guests who have a track record of positive reviews on the site. Airbnb, which prohibits unauthorized parties, previously introduced a similar tactic in 2020, which the company said resulted in 49 percent fewer parties taking place. (KPTV)

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Holy Halloween, Batman, it's going to be quite a weekend! Use it to the fullest, no matter where your tastes may lie. Have your Halloween fun, but make sure to meet me back here next week for more talk about our favorite haunt, the city of Portland. If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? You can email me at portland@patch.com.