Check out Lan Su's colorful Lunar New Year display at their lantern viewing nights.
Celebrated across many Asian cultures, Lunar New Year is a time of renewal, gathering with family, and enjoying festive foods. This year, Lunar New Year falls on Tuesday, February 1, ushering in the Year of the Tiger, known for power, boldness, and doing it big! Celebrate the occasion with events from Chinese New Year 2022 at Lan Su Chinese Garden to Oregon 2022 Lunar New Year Celebration and holiday food specials.
FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS
HeyDay andYoonique Tea The rice flour doughnut pop-up HeyDay will pack up specialLunar New Year boxes, filled with six baked doughnuts (black sesame matcha, ube, coconut mango, chocolate, pandan mung bean, and passionfruit), plus a lucky red envelope. Pickup is available from 11 am-8 pm on Friday, January 28 at Yoonique Tea. Yoonique Tea will also offerlucky red envelopes for sale in a variety of designs. Creston-Kenilworth PickupRead on EverOut »
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!
Plans are moving forward on a new, earthquake-resistant Burnside Bridge.MULTNOMAH COUNTY
Good afternoon, Portland! Hope you're enjoying the sunny sunshine. Here are the day's headlines:
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• A Multnomah County committee voted yesterday to advance plans for a new, earthquake-resistant Burnside Bridge with one less lane for cars in an effort to expedite the construction process and save taxpayers some $240 million. Construction, already pushed back a year, could commence as soon as 2025.
• Criminal justice reform advocates and leaders in the state legislature are hopeful that a bill compensating wrongly convicted Oregonians for the time they spent behind bars will pass in the upcoming legislative session after it died in committee in 2021. The Oregon Department of Justice supports its passage.
This Wednesday, Portland City Council will take public comment on a decision to seek vendors for a police body camera program. It's the first step in the latest plan to get cops equipped with cameras.
I’m a heterosexual cisgender male who loves prostate stimulation. I discovered it later in life, but it's been a staple for the last fifteen years. I'm worried I'm pushing the envelope too much and need your advice. Lately, the last six months or so, I will have an orgasm that’s so intense I have pain just to the right of the base of my penis & balls immediately afterwards. If I push a finger in toward the center of my body, it's tender. It goes away after a few minutes, but sometimes my right ball remains sensitive. I've even taken an ibuprofen to lessen the pain and I've had a prostate exam when it's happening and I do self-exams of my testicles regularly, and I've noticed no changes. Usually my next orgasm is normal, and there’s no pain or sensitivity afterwards. As I said, though, it happens after intense sessions with a lot of prostate stimulation. While I've been practicing butt stuff for a long time, I feel as I've only perfected it in the last year or so. I should also state that my sessions last up to two hours, and I'm erect during most of that time. I obviously don't want to hurt myself, and I don't think I am, but it's a concern. It's very hard to stop something that feels so incredibly good. I'm a little uncomfortable talking with my urologist because he treats me like a long-lost uncle. At our first visit, I told him very directly that my father had prostate cancer and I really wanted him to take his time with the exam and to really make sure all is well with my prostate. I added that the last exam I got from my primary care physician didn't last long enough to feel very accurate and encouraged my urologist to take as much time as he wanted up there. He did not. Hoping you can help me out.
Who's ready to see some shows? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS TUESDAY—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 going this week! CHECK 'EM OUT!
One night only! Vocal legend Kurt Elling (“The standout male jazz vocalist of our time”—New York Times) joins guitarist extraordinaire Charlie Hunter, drummer Corey Fonville (Butcher Brown), and Kenny Banks. Jr. on keys for a unique, soulful, sassy, and jazzy evening where they'll be performing their Grammy nominated SuperBlue album... live! Tickets on sale now!
Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Fri Feb 4, 7 pm, $39.75-59.75, All Ages, Proof of Full COVID vaccination or negative COVID test required for entry
John Luther Adams’ The Wind in High Places sets the stage for themes of natural wonder, searching, and exaltation. Composed in northern Alaska, the piece evokes a bare, vast, and rocky landscape using only open strings and natural harmonics. Benjamin Britten’s first quartet begins in these upper sororities, before plunging earthbound in this vivacious work filled with human drama. Beethoven’s Op. 132, written near the end of his life, concludes the program. Its slow movement, the “Holy Song of Thanksgiving,” represents Beethoven’s deep gratitude for recovery from a nearly fatal illness. Tickets on sale now!
PSU Lincoln Recital Hall, Room 75, 1620 SW Park, Thurs Feb 3, All Ages, $28, proof of full COVID vaccination and masks required for entry
GOOD LUCK, and all winners will be notified by this Thursday. And check back next week for another MercuryFREE TICKET TUESDAY!
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!
Mark Cuban opened an online pharmacy that aims to offer generic prescription drugs at affordable prices.Tom Pennington / Getty Images
Good morning, Portland! While that dense fog returned this morning, the sun has already started to break through and we're set for another gorgeous winter day. Onto the headlines.
In local news:
• In an OPB interview, Portland Public Schools superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero reiterated the district’s mission to keep students in schools when possible and objected to allegations from school nurses that the district does not have specific metrics it’s using to determine when to move schools temporarily online. OPB’s Dave Miller also pressed Guerrero on the (very publicly) strained relationship between the district and teachers’ union. I think the full 20-minute segment is worth your time.
• Wordle—the puzzle app that gives players limited chances to guess a daily word—has taken the internet by storm, growing from 90 to 300,000 players just one month after debuting last November. Now there are over 2.7 million players. But, did you know that the word game was made by a University of Oregon alum? Sko Ducks!
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!
Supreme Court will hear challenges to affirmative action which could strike another blow against civil rights.Andrew Burton / Getty News
Good afternoon, Portland! If the country's precipitous democratic decline has left you frustrated, I hope you followed Jen Psaki's advice and went to a kickboxing class or had a margarita over the weekend. Here are the headlines.
Hometown rap hero Aminé returns to Portland January 29 for his "Best Tour Ever Tour," and our @JenniferKayMo has the canary yellow preview.https://t.co/XUZNKA212a — Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) January 24, 2022
Portland, are you ready for Aminé's Best Tour Ever?!
The last full week of January is here, and the month is going out with a bang. Whether you'd rather hear sharp observations from Janeane Garofalo and Cathy Park Hong or concerts from Aminé and Built to Spill, read on for this week's top picks.
MONDAY
FOOD & DRINK
For Esmé Pop-Up Welcome 2022 with this pop-up from Luna Contreras and bartender Michelle Ruocco, featuring wood-fired Mexican bar snacks and cocktails. (Cafe Olli, King)Read on EverOut »
Aminé returns to Portland to kick off his "The Best Tour Ever Tour" on January 29.Clubbanana.com
While Portland-born rapper and Benson Polytechnic High School graduate Aminé lives in Los Angeles nowadays, the fact that he continues to proudly represent Portland (and his native neighborhood of Woodlawn) is undeniable.
He’s certainly the most well-known and successful hip-hop act to ever come from the Rose City, and with every release he shows that it’s not just a fluke. Many were introduced to the artist by his viral hit “Caroline” from 2016—the music video for which sees him horsing around outside a Big Kahuna Burger restaurant (a fictional Hawaiian-themed fast food chain made famous from Quentin Tarantino films) while wearing a Pulp Fiction T-shirt, riding in a sedan, playing video games, and eating bananas.
Since then, the artist has continued to evolve over the last several years while increasingly repping his hometown. His video for “Shimmy,” a song off his 2020 project Limbo, is a love letter to Portland in which the artist showcases essential Portland landmarks like Providence Park, the Oregon Convention Center, the Alberta Arts District, as well as food staples like Kee’s Loaded Kitchen food cart (along with owner Kiauna Nelson), and a Mike’s Drive-In location. The joyful rapper has become known for his striking visuals, using a banana mascot as well including canary yellow in his video imagery and stage aesthetics.
Since his 2017 studio debut Good for You, Aminé has been making all kinds of celebratory star caliber moves—from his political anti-Trump rap tacked on at the end of “Caroline” during his post election performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, to making his acting debut in a 2020 episode of HBO’s Insecure, playing Kelly’s obliviously sincere love interest Darnell.
His latest effort, TWOPOINTFIVE, the sequel to 2018’s ONEPOINTFIVE, is overwhelmingly produced by Lido and longtime collaborator Pasqué, and maintains Aminé’s tendency to make bright, colorful music. The hyper-pop-tinged lead single, “Charmader,” is a pleasant earworm that provides a preview for what to expect on the full 12-track project. In the almost cartoonish music video we see Aminé hanging out with a giant Clifford-sized doodle at a cabin in the woods, working out with his bae, smoking weed, chopping vegetables (next to, you guessed it, bananas), pruning flowers, and shuffling through his vinyl collection. It’s a perfectly upbeat visual for a song that hears him rap “People be so phony, that’s why I be on my lonely.”
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!
On today's episode of Dr. Fauci Explains It All... Pool photo / Getty Images
Good morning, Portland! Hope you enjoyed the weekend's sunny skies—we're headed into a week of dense fog and generally "stagnant air." Turn on your headlights and keep your head on a swivel, Portlanders. Now, for the news:
- The majority of Portland city employees represented by the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU) have voted to authorize a strike amid a standstill over contract negotiations with the city. This means that the 1,200 city employees represented by DCTU could go on strike if—or, when—the union’s bargaining team believes it’s necessary to move negotiations forward.
- A person died after being hit by a car Saturday night, marking Portland’s eighth traffic fatality of 2022. The hit-and-run took place on SE Powell and 160th Ave just after 7 pm Saturday. SE Powell, which is owned by the state, is a known high-crash corridor in Portland, and in the process of being transferred to the city for better safety oversight.
- A report published Friday by the American Bar Association found that Oregon’s public defense system has less than one-third of the public defenders required to meet current caseloads. Not great! Given that public defense in criminal cases is required under the US Constitution, it seems like only a matter of time until Oregon is slapped with a federal lawsuit.
They might be too young to drive, but the Portland climate activists of Youth Vs. ODOT are still determined to turn U.S. transportation policy around — starting with the freeway next door.@mslaurabliss reports: https://t.co/tYqfbyxsHA
RuPaul's Drag Race Viewing Party The 14th season of RuPaul's Drag Race has already seen Lizzo as the guest judge, so we're excited to see what else the producers (and queens) have in store. Sashay your way to the bar for viewing parties every Friday. (Scandals, West End, free)Read on EverOut »
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!
Hey, I'm in there somewhere. :(Courtesy OHA
It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday! Remember that song? What's that Rebecca Black up to these days anyway? Trick question: I know the answer, she is still making music and she's on Instagram and she actually seems very fun and well-adjusted and queer and I'm happy for her! FUN FUN FUN FUN.
• As Alex reported earlier today, a majority of city workers who are represented by the District Council of Trade Unions has voted to strike following stalled contract negotiations. Portland City Commissioners put out a statement that said they "remain incredibly grateful to our employees and all they bring to Portland." That's the message to the public. To the union, they offered a 1.6% cost of living increase retro for 2021, a year during which inflation has hit over 6%. Gratitude? More like splat-itude. As in the offer went splat. Because it was bad.
60's Cafe and Diner This retro diner with a location in Lincoln City opened an outpost in Tualatin earlier this month, serving up onion rings, mozzarella sticks, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, and more. Tualatin Pickup, dine-inRead on EverOut »
"All this week's Mercury stories, AND a solitary confinement cell painted entirely yellow? I AM IN HEAVEN!" Heru Anggara / iStock /Getty Images Plus
Whooo! You're a BUSY BEE. Look, it's completely understandable that since you've been SO busy, you may have missed some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! So while you're lounging about this weekend, catch up on the knowledge you need by reading some of these A+++ Mercury articles! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.)
Diego Valeri’s nine years in Portland were about much more than soccer, but this goal in March, 2013, all the way back at the beginning, is as natural an entry point as any. It was one of the first signs that Valeri was about to change the trajectory of Timbers soccer forever—that the club’s history was going to someday be divisible by "Before and After" Valeri eras.
It was opening day at Jeld-Wen Field, and the Timbers, having struggled mightily through their first two MLS seasons, were already trailing the New York Red Bulls 1-0 in the fourteenth minute when Valeri received a pass on the top of the New York box.
With a defender rushing out to meet him, Valeri dinked the ball onto his opposite foot past the Red Bulls center back, chested it forward, and then, with the outside of his foot, spun it past New York goalkeeper Luis Robles into the far corner of the net to tie the game.
“Everyone on the field was like ‘What the fuck did I just see? Oh my god,” Shawn Levy, an author and longtime member of the Timbers Army, said.
That reaction would be repeated time and time and time again over the next nine years as this Argentinian midfielder from Lanús dazzled MLS and cemented his place in the hearts of Timbers fans with his consummate class and embrace of everything that sets the Portland soccer community apart.
“[He was] the finest player, the finest person, the finest Portlander,” Levy said. “It’s just incalculable what he’s done here.”
Portland Water Bureau is one of the many city bureaus staffed by members of DCTU.City of Portland
The majority of city employees represented by the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU) have voted to authorize a strike amid a standstill over contract negotiations with the city.
“After nearly two years working through a global pandemic, and facing unprecedented challenges, it’s time the City recognizes the sacrifices our members make day in and day out," said DCTU President Rob Martineau in a Thursday press release.
DCTU is a conglomeration of several unions representing city staff, including AFSCME Local 189, IBEW Local 48, Plumbers Local 290, Painters and Allied Trades District Council 5, Machinists District Lodge 24, Auto Mechanics District Lodge 24, and Operating Engineers Local 701. DCTU's 1,200 members work in nearly all city departments, and are employed as administrative staff, building inspectors, water filtration experts, electricians, police record keepers, accountants, and others.
The majority of DCTU members work for Portland Water Bureau, Portland Bureau of Transportation, Development Services, and Portland Police Bureau (as non-sworn staff).
DCTU has been negotiating its current contract with the city for two years, but reached an impasse in December after neither side could reach agreement over wage increases.
