Vaccinations Required +Nightlife Discrimination+ Afghan Refugees

Hello, fellow fun lovers! It's the weekend and that means it's time for joy. And we're in luck, because this is Portland, a town that built on the bedrock of fun. Let me tell you about what's going on.

First, today's weather: More clouds than sun today and that's just the way I like it. The high temp will be around 74, which is just fine by me.

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. Anyone hoping to see a show at some of Portland’s biggest performing arts venues will now need to show proof of vaccination, or else provide a recent negative test result for COVID-19 upon arrival. Metro, which manages operations of the Portland’5 Center for the Arts, made the announcement Thursday. By allowing guests to show negative test results within 48 hours of the performance, Metro is offering a way for unvaccinated people to still see performances. Portland venues under the Portland’5 umbrella are Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Winningstad Theatre, Keller Auditorium, Newmark Theatre and Brunish Theatre. (Oregon Live)
2. Multnomah County employees will face the choice of get vaccinated or be laid off, as the county declares an ultimatum with an October 18th deadline. The county employs around 6,000 people. Some exemptions will be granted, such as for medical or religious reasons. (KOIN)
3. A former Portland club owner has reached a settlement with several Black Portlanders who accused him of using arbitrary dress code rules to discriminate against Black patrons. That club owner, Chris Lenahan, previously owned several prominent clubs in Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood, including Dirty Nightlife, Splash Bar, Shake Bar, the Barrel Room, and the Paris Theatre. (Portland Mercury)
4. If you're paying attention to international news, you know that Afghanistan is a chaotic place right now, with thousands trying to flee the country and wondering where they can go. This week, many Oregon state legislators and Governor Kate Brown offered their support and welcome to refugees and called on the Biden administration to lift refugee admission caps and take emergency actions to save lives. (KPTV)
5. In a press conference given yesterday Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Police Chief Chuck Lovell were joined by representatives from the Oregon Justice Resource Center, Don’t Shoot Portland, United Mutual Aid Network, and the Portland Interfaith Clergy Resistance. They called on city leaders to take more action to prevent violence against marginalized communities. (KATU)

Today in Portland

• Dead Sometimes returns to Ruse Brewing on Saturday, August 21, 2021! Keeping the timeless sound of the Grateful Dead alive for the next generation, Dead Sometimes brings together the songs you love to sing with the jams that make you dance. 5:00 PM.
• Transcend the August heat with the August Darlings at a picnic you'll never forget. Join us for two sets of music, light refreshments, and spiked (with what?) spritzers in Jacob's Garage Grand Courtyard. White attire required. Doors at 6:00 PM.
• It's the Fremont Fest Swing Dance at NE Portland spot the Blind Ox. This all-ages event has music and dance lessons all day long. Dancers should be masked and vaccinated. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Are you a dog owner? Do you love wine? Then you should check out SE Portland wine bar Cellar Dog. And tonight is the perfect time to do it, since it will have local musician Nora Meier on site playing her brand of coffee house music. 7:00 PM.
• If you're a fan of local community radio station KBOO (and if you're not, you should definitely check it out. It frickin' ROCKS!), then you may want to head down to the Clinton Street Theater for their fundraiser: Long Strange Trip. This documentary follows the 30-year career of the Grateful Dead. Emerging from the Bay Area's vibrant 1960s counterculture, the Grateful Dead were a motley crew whose unique sound sprang from an eclectic blend of influences: bluegrass, folk ballads, R&B, free-form jazz, classical and jug band. 6:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Trail Blazers: "July 2016 — As Dame D.O.L.L.A. releases his 4th album, we look back at his 26th birthday as he celebrated with family & friends by performing his first concert. The sold-out crowd at the Crystal Ballroom was treated to a show that also i..." (Instagram)
• Are you a fan of both books and the Audubon Society? What am I saying? You're in Portland, so of course you are! Well, its used book sale is going on this weekend. Volunteers have unearthed a whole clutch of fine books that are ready to leave the nest. From vintage bird encyclopedias to heart-warming stories about animals, adventure-ready travel books to in-depth environmental histories, you’ll find a wide selection of good reads. (Audubon Portland)
• For those of you who take the trip down to City Hall on Wednesdays to see the City Council meetings (and if you don't, and you're a Portland resident, I suggest you do. It's a fascinating thing to see your local government in action), you can skip the rest of the month. Not only is it closed to the public due to COVID-19, officials are also claiming that these meetings are cancelled due to lack of an agenda. (Portland.gov)
• For those of you who enjoyed seeing Lemmy Koopa's (AKA Mike Bennett) cut-out creations throughout the pandemic, you should know that he's taking over the old bank in St. John's and turning it into Crypto-Zoo 2: Museum of Mystery! An entire alphabet of monsters! A new cryptid every day! So much more! - Begins September 20th! (Reddit)
• After a 17 month hiatus, we can once again visit the Belmont goats. Named for the Southeast Portland street where they used to live, the Belmont Goats currently reside in North Portland’s University Park neighborhood. Their field has been closed since March 13, 2020, but they are returning to open goat hours, with a couple of basic precautions:
  • Hand sanitizer will be provided.
  • All guests will be required to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth while inside the field. (Willamette Week)

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That's it and I'm going to leave you to your weekend. Have fun, be kind to each other and make the world a better place. I'll be doing the same, but not so much that I'll forget to meet you all back here next week and tell you more news about Portland. If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors into the fold. 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? Contact me at portland@patch.com.