It's official. This will be the last summer Portlanders and visiting music lovers can accidentally bonk their faces into the mirrored bathroom walls of the Doug Fir Lounge.

After 19 years, the restaurant and venue will leave its retro and wood grain territory at 830 E Burnside. But it's not moving out of Portland—it's moving further in. 

Documents filed with the Secretary of State confirmed rumors that the Doug Fir's new home will be at 301 SE Morrison—a building that formerly housed late night restaurant Le Bistro Montage. Montage closed in June of 2020, citing financial difficulties brought upon by the pandemic, but returned as a food cart less than two months later.

The Mercury also confirmed the news with Doug Fir staff who said the team had planned to announce the move in the second or third week of March and promised schematics, photos, and further clarifications in the coming weeks.

Update, February 25, 2:28 pm:

Seven emergency shelters in the Portland area will reopen Saturday at 8 pm through at least Sunday morning. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson extended the regional state of emergency declaration though Monday as forecasts indicate another round of snowfall Saturday evening.

About 849 Portlanders stayed at the emergency shelters Friday night—the busiest night so far during the ongoing winter storm. 

Emergency shelters open at 8 pm:

• Arbor Lodge, 7440 N. Denver Ave., Portland
• Salvation Army, 5325 N. Williams Ave., Portland
• East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave., Portland
• Charles Jordan Community Center, 9009 N. Foss Ave., Portland
• Friendly House, 1737 N.W. 26th Ave., Portland
• Lloyd Center, 988 Lloyd Center, Portland
• Cook Plaza, 19415 S.E. Stark St., Gresham Continue reading »

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! If you're hating the world because you're snowed in and think you've missed the Mercury's HIGHBALL week... you are in luck! Almost all the Highball locations will continue serving their creative $8 specialty cocktails until Sunday, March 5! So no need to burn the entire earth just yet... have a drink, and read this NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Dangerously frigid temps are hanging on through the weekend, which means all six of the city's emergency warming shelters will remain open at least through Saturday morning—but they have getting dangerously close to full capacity and officials say they need help from citizens within walking distance who can work a shift and help keep the needy alive.

URGENT: We are facing a critical need for help from the community to keep our warming shelters open!
Community members who are able to offer support at a warming shelter are encouraged to SIGN UP HERE➡️https://t.co/28GKMI3HIf pic.twitter.com/YwHIehgiUZ

— Multnomah County, OR (@multco) February 24, 2023

• It's official: Our current city council is packed with devious liars. As we reported earlier this week, Portland City Council shot down a proposal that would've let voters decide on instituting a "transparency watchdog" because, according to them, they "didn't have time to review" the idea. BUT! The Oregonian revealed today that (surprise!) THE COUNCIL LIED, and the real reason they wouldn't approve the proposal is because the city auditor refused to "weaken the powers of the proposed transparency advocate." From the O:

Most council members wanted to water down language in the proposal that, as drafted, would have allowed the new watchdog to “investigate acts of city officials, departments, bureaus, offices, and agencies that relate to records or transparency,” records show.

I'm not sure why these particular council members were so worried about being investigated in the future... because WE'RE VOTING EVERY ONE OF THESE LIARS OUT OF OFFICE IN 2024.

Good news, everybody! Thanks (but no thanks) to the snow storm that's locked everyone inside over the past few days, we've decided to EXTEND Portland's favorite week of drinking, the Mercury's HIGHBALL WEEK!

That's right, we're not going to let a snowstorm ruin our chance to sample some of the most creative, delicious $8 cocktails that our city's best bars have to offer, which is why most of our Highball participants are extending your opportunity to sample these amazing cocktails through Sunday, March 5. 

As a reminder, we've teamed up with the finest bars and restaurants in Portland—along with our cocktail-lovin' pals at Jim Beam—to bring you this one-of-a-kind booze-tacular! At each of Highball's locations, you'll find $8 specially crafted cocktails, and even better? They'll be available ALL DAY (not just during happy hour)! 

Check out this looooong list of the participating bars that will be serving up Highball cocktails through Sunday, March 5:

NEW OPENINGS AND RETURNS

Frybaby
First-generation Korean American chef Sunny Hatch opened this cheeky Korean fried chicken cart in the Lil' America pod last Saturday, February 18, slinging wings tossed in sauces like spicy gochujang, soy garlic, and snow cheese.
Buckman
Pickup

With just one chilly weekend separating the Portland Timbers from the start of their thirteenth season in Major League Soccer on Monday night against Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park, the dust has hardly settled from one of the most tumultuous periods in the club’s history. 

Last October, an investigation conducted by U.S. Soccer found that Timbers and Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson and then-President of Soccer Gavin Wilkinson helped cover up and perpetuate the abuse of players in the National Women’s Soccer League by former Thorns coach Paul Riley. 

It also found that Paulson, Wilkinson, and then-President of Business Mike Golub made sexist or inappropriate comments to Thorns personnel and the club as a whole attempted to impede the subsequent investigation. Golub was already under scrutiny after 10 former club employees in August accused him of inappropriate workplace conduct and creating a hostile environment for women.

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Good Morning, Portland! Bus in the snow / way to go. It only happens once a year / it only happens once a lifetime / make the most of it. 

IN LOCAL NEWS:
• People of Portland! If you are able—PLEASE SHOVEL AND SALT YOUR SIDEWALKS. You can use kitchen salt! If you don't have a shovel (because you live in Portland), you might have a garden shovel (because you live in Portland). Other things you can repurpose into shovels: cardboard, small garbage cans, pots and pans! When I was a lazy teen in Detroit, I used to just pour hot water on my front steps (and salt after).

• Plenty of schools are closed today. However, in most cases, online classes continue as scheduled—natch.

• The Timbers season opener game scheduled for Saturday—POSTPONED. Now the season will open on Monday, with tickets for Saturday honored.

Your own personal jesus has answered your prayers—British new wave legends Depeche Mode will return to Portland on their Memento Mori tour this fall. Queen of all drag queens Jinkx Monsoon will entertain their hometown masses. Plus, a slew of outdoor summer concerts have been announced, including big names like Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Indigo Girls & Neko Case, and Jason Mraz.

ON SALE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

MUSIC

Bebe Rexha: Best F’n Night of My Life
Crystal Ballroom (Wed June 7)

Cigarettes After Sex
Edgefield (Sat Aug 26)

Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Aladdin Theater (Wed July 12)

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Good afternoon, Portland! My lord, there is a lot of snow out there! But to offset it, there's also plenty of NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• In case you missed it (lol) the Portland area has been hit over the last 24 hours with a near-record breaking amount of snow. Thursday registered as the snowiest day in the city since 1943, with 10.8 inches piling up at the airport, stranding would-be air travelers, and leaving people across the city struggling to get home. To make matters more challenging, transportation officials weren't quite prepared for the severity of the storm. 

Jon and his wife Rebecca walked for one hour this morning in the snow to open Blanchet House’s cafe for people experiencing homelessness in Old Town Portland. They got the coffee going at 5:20 am and served a hot breakfast until 7:30. He even called an ambulance for one man who… https://t.co/uANPO0oXum pic.twitter.com/Kh0QlpLwIL

— Blanchet House & Farm (@blanchethouse) February 23, 2023

• Three emergency warming shelters are open all day today with temperatures still below freezing, while four more shelters will open at 8 pm this evening. The temperature is not forecasted to climb back above freezing until midday tomorrow. Isabella Garcia has more details. 

UPDATE: Three emergency shelters in Portland will remain open throughout the day Thursday and all four will reopen overnight. Officials are asking for volunteers to help staff the shelters. https://t.co/VpHxhUZukJ

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) February 23, 2023

• City Council continues to cover itself in glory. 🙄 On Wednesday, council members voted to table a proposed May ballot measure that would have given voters the opportunity to create a new transparency watchdog, and had the audacity to claim that a) the city is already transparent, b) they didn't have time to read the proposal (they did, they just didn't bother), and c) it shouldn't be put on the ballot because... it would pass? (That one was courtesy of the mayor.) City Auditor Simone Rede was not shy in expressing her frustration... which was echoed across the city. Isabella Garcia has the full outrageous story. 

Who's ready to see some shows? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland's best concerts—our way of saying thanks to our great readers and spread the word about some fantastic upcoming performances! (Psst... if you want to say thanks to the Mercury, please consider making a small monthly contribution to keep us alive and kickin'!) And oh boy, do we have some great shows coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT!

• ENTER TO WIN FREE TIX to see Ben Rector on March 10 at Keller Auditorium!

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Ben Rector creates piano-based contemporary pop full of powerful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. His third full-length album, 2010’s Into The Morning reached number 11 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Rector also gained exposure through performing alongside the likes of Five for Fighting and Dave Barnes. His 2011 album, Something Like This, established Rector as a pop sensation. Walking in Between followed in 2013, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart. Get your tickets now, or enter to win here!

Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay, Fri March 10, 7:30 pm, $39.50-$59.50, all ages

• ENTER TO WIN FREE TIX to see Queensrÿche on March 21 at the Crystal Ballroom!

Queensrÿche have launched their first headlining campaign in the US supporting the release of their sixteenth studio album, Digital Noise Alliance! The band also has a special message just for you: "This touring package is amped up and very much looking forward to seeing all of you! Come on out and let's have a great time together, as live music is as vibrant as ever once again!” Direct support on the Digital Noise Alliance Tour comes from Marty Friedman, with Trauma opening the night for each show. Get your tickets now, or enter to win here!

Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Tues March 21, $35-$45, 21+

GOOD LUCK, and all winners will be notified by Monday at noon. And check back next week for more FREE TIX from the Mercury!

At a press conference in early February, Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), had an announcement: if the state’s respiratory illness trends continue to improve, it will likely lift its mask mandate for healthcare settings.  

The lifting of the mandate for healthcare settings would be another milestone in the state’s rollback of its pandemic-era public health measures—a signal that, while COVID-19 remains an active threat, it is no longer one worth taking specific precautions to combat. 

“We recognize that we are entering yet another important, more sustainable phase of the pandemic,” Sidelinger said during the press conference. 

The announcement rankled a number of Oregonians who see masking, particularly in hospitals and clinics, as a simple and effective way to combat the spread of the virus. But Hazel Wheeler, Director of Patient Support Services and Safety at the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center and Foundation, said the state masking requirement in healthcare settings is always going to have a limited level of efficacy if patients and staff members alike are going about the rest of their lives maskless. 

Brave the winter weather and warm up with fun and frugal activities and events, from Hungry Hungry Hip-Hop to CSA Share Fair and from The Portland Mercury's Highball to Chili Con V: A Song of Spice and Fire.

FRIDAY

COMEDY

Butter: The Comedy Show
The silliness continues! This edition of Butter, a recurring comedy show that brings open-minded laughs to Funhouse Lounge all year long, features funny fiends Nate Hart, Johnny Taylor, Drew Grizzly, and Arlo Weierhauser. Brett "Breadstick" Sisun will turn up for some groovy tunes, too.
(Funhouse Lounge, Hosford-Abernethy, $10 at door)

HEY THERE, GORGEOUS BRAIN! It's time once again to put your brainy-brain to the test with this week's edition of POP QUIZ PDX—our weekly, local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week, you'll test your amazing knowledge on such topics as Damian Lillard's latest award, old-timey poker players on water skis (you won't believe it), and how those rural Oregon counties who want to move to Idaho are getting ROASTED. (Saaaaaad trommmmbooooone! 😢)

Also, guess what? You can also enter to win FREE PIZZA from our friends at the always delicious Atlas Pizza, just for taking the quiz and signing up for our brainy newsletters during the last question!

But before we continue... HOW DID YOU DO ON THE PREVIOUS QUIZ? Pretty dang good! And when asked how we should punish the perpetrators of the OLCC booze scandal, you were very definitive in your answer: "Destroy the OLCC monopoly and privatize liquor sales, RAAAAAAHH!!" Wow. Somebody really wants to buy their booze at the grocery store!

OKAY, TIME FOR A NEW QUIZ! Take this week's quiz below, take our previous pop quizzes here, and come back next week for a brand spankin' new quiz! (Having a tough time answering this quiz? It's probably because you aren't getting Mercury newsletters! HINT! HINT!) Now crank up that cerebellum, because it's time to get BRAINY!

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! And welcome to our winter wonderland. The near record-breaking snow has slowed to a stop (at least temporarily) in the city, but continues south and west to the coast, and it's a chilly 27 degrees this morning. So stay home and READ SOME NEWS! 

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• We'll learn more about this "snow thing" in a minute, but first, THIS IS SOME BULLSHIT RIGHT HERE: Yesterday afternoon, as many of you were fighting the traffic home, our city council decided you shouldn't be allowed to elect a transparency watchdog... because they love transparency so much? City Auditor Simone Rede brought the proposal to council, who could've taken an easy win and approved the idea which would've been voted on in May, so the new transparency advocate position would be in place and ready to rock when Charter Reform kicks off in 2025. BUT! As our Isabella Garcia writes, not only did every member of the council vote to table the decision indefinitely—claiming they didn't have enough time to vet it (Narrator's voice: They had plenty of time)—they sprung a surprise, head-spinning, UN-transparent resolution on the room at the last minute, unanimously voting in favor of making the auditor review the city's policies on transparency, and offer suggestions on how to improve it. In other words, THE JOB OF THE TRANSPARENCY ADVOCATE THEY JUST VOTED AGAINST. (Long story short: Our council hates charter reform, wants to torpedo it, and it's your job as a good Portland citizen to vote every one of them out in 2024.)

Portland City Council sidelined a proposal Wednesday that would’ve empowered Portland voters to determine if the city should create a new transparency watchdog—opting instead to pass their own surprise resolution. https://t.co/4GWlkHxH0Z

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) February 23, 2023

• Phew. Now let's talk "snow": Almost 11 inches (!) of the white stuff fell in Portland last night, the second-highest total ever. But wait! Apparently there is more on the way as forecasters are predicting more snow showers—some heavy—this morning before stopping in the afternoon. We can still expect frigid temps into Friday, with the high only expected to reach 36 degrees.

Radar Update 655am PST 2/23: Snow is FINALLY winding down over the Portland metro, but continues to fall from Forest Grove to Gales Creek to just north of McMinnville. Heavy snow showers continue at the coast. Have an updated snow report? If so, please tag us with your report! pic.twitter.com/MfGlfEDlUE

— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) February 23, 2023

• Meanwhile, all Portland schools are closed today, more than 3,000 people lost power in Southwest parts of the city last night, riders on TriMet should expect significant delays in service, and snow plows are diligently working to clear the roads—which isn't easy, since a lot of nincompoops abandoned their cars in the middle of the streets during last night's traffic jam. Way to go, ding-dongs.

If you left your car like this last night drop your @ we just want to talk pic.twitter.com/WL9In9QLZV

— Portland Streetcar (@PDXStreetcar) February 23, 2023