You need to have a mortgage in order to know your neighbors, apparently.

Portland Central Eastside Parking Policy bright spot:

Gross meter revenue for FY25–26 is $756,000 to date, up from $394,000 in the same period last year.

Attributed to rate increases and adding Saturday hours/enforcement.

aesthetic

EPG "in the future we'll have public commentary like in full council."
then immediately
"today will the be exception. we will be hearing from panels of 'community leaders'"

The first "leader":
Portland Metro Chamber President and CEO.

Shocker.

My kingdom for a sunday parkways that utilizes major arterials like they do in Mexico

Vancouver City Council could vote to oppose shorter I-5 light rail route Planned light rail stops were reduced from two to one, with light rail terminating at the Vancouver waterfront.

They always "cost cut" mega-projects right at the end of the process. They always start with cutting the transit, bike and pedestrian improvements. That's how they, ODOT+WSDOT +consultants, get you.

older busses had operator controlled releases, sometimes you really did need to ask for "backdoor!" if they didn't anticipate your exit

I forgot where I learned this but my trick is a pinky on the hand, but it shouldn't take months of practice to exit the bus through the back. I understand it's a huge complaint for drivers the way those doors work.

It depends on what category you're looking for, here are some that I recommend broadly:

Xin Ding
Master Kong
Din Tai Fung
Dough Zone
Duck House
Tasty Corner
Zien Hang

Considering how wildly fuzzy Frog Ferry's math has been when it comes to things like appraising pro-bono work or you know, what the numbers look like on their invoices sent to public agencies, a few free ferry rides could be valued at $10,000 or more.

Frog Ferry officials say these will be tax-deductible, and owners will get benefits and perks. Interestingly they fail to note you would have to calculate the value of those perks which would reduce your tax deduction.

"To get the first boat on the water, Frog Ferry needs $22 million."

We have lots of good Chinese food in Portland. Come visit.

They are dealing with a total of only 40 storefronts, definitely a much different scenario for enforcement.

New vacant storefront ordinance goes into effect in Portland A new ordinance impacts commercial property owners in Portland whose spaces have been vacant for six months or more.

Maybe Portland should take a page from the other Portland's playbook. Fines for commercial storefront owners who don't fill their spaces with businesses or art.

wgme.com/news/local/n...

Portland City Council:
Let's reduce taxes on the city's smallest businesses!

Oregonian Ed Board / PDX Metro Chamber:
Awesome! Wait no, not like that. That's low hanging fruit that doesn't help the big corporations + landlords! 3/12 councilors voted against this other thing that easily passed waa 😭

New Yorkers are the fastest walk and talkers in the nation.

Frog Ferry will probably get that PCEF money, too.

Easily. I missed that one, have a link / context?

Completely spaced on The Get Down, would slot it above Aladdin. Hawthorne should be between Roseland and Crystal.
Todo: Showdown, High Limit Room.

Yes. Are they perfect? No.

I've had such a bad experience at Crystal enough times I basically refuse to go. I am really pumped for the new monqui spot to open that should relieve most of the bands I want to see who end up at Crystal. Rev Hall is the shit.

I am glad to hear this about Wonder! I have heard great things about accessibility considerations at the new Off Beat, haven't been yet myself. Have you been to Rev / Miss, how are they in your experience?

Good calls here. Haven't been to showdown yet, Moda in the smaller configuration is underrated, I have a tough time with the sound there and the typical moda price gouging, plus the last couple of years the beer selection there has been embarrassingly bad.

It's really neck and neck between Roseland and Crystal for security staff and protocol ruining the vibes. Last couple times at Roseland they were rather nice and chipper. YMMV.

Totally fair. Top 3 could all swap with each other. There is something cozy and relaxing about Polaris that I find truly enamoring.

Yup, Hawthorne is pretty bad, haven't been to a show there in a long time and forgot they existed.

Agreed on the sightlines at Rev, those painful balcony seats are one reason I have them slotted below Mississippi. No coincidence my top 3 are all run by the same folks.

I haven't been yet, thanks for the nudge to get to a show there.

nopo always punching above its weight when it comes to portland culture