Update 12/3 2:35 pm:

In its final vote Saturday, the Charter Review Commission revoted on multiple amendments, saving proposed amendments from failing, advancing amendments straight to the voters, and bringing a new proposed charter amendment before City Council. Portland voters will see nine proposed charter amendments in the form of five or six ballot measures on the November 2024, and an additional six proposed amendments will go before City Council for final deliberation.

The Charter Review Commission members originally expected to not have enough people present Saturday to meet quorum and change any votes made during their previous work session earlier this week, but 16 of the 17 commissioners were present at the meeting and interested in revoting on several proposals.

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! Multnomah County and hospital officials are asking people to mask up until the end of the year (more on that below), so you know what that means: Video of a cat with a McDonalds bag on its head and dialogue from Tom Hardy, as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• TODAY IN PIPING HOT RESIGNATION TEA: In June 2022, the head of Business for a Better Portland, stepped down, treating the transition as a standard decision. Today, she posted a blog explaining her exit was actually motivated by an alleged threat of litigation from the Portland Business Alliance. News Editor Alex Zielinski has the story.

• IN MORE HOT RESIGNATION NEWS: Commissioner Dan Ryan's communication director and senior policy advisor, Margaux Weeke, left her position this past October—just before Ryan and Mayor Ted Wheeler announced their plan to ban street camping and force unsheltered homeless people into large encampments. Today, Street Roots published the letter she wrote, regarding her departure. “It is my strong belief that forcing hundreds of unhoused people into large, sanctioned camping sites with minimal services will cause irreparable trauma and unnecessary deaths,” Weeke wrote. Read the whole letter on Street Roots' site.

• TRAIN TALK: This afternoon, I came across a very SE 11th scene: a man turning on his hazards and jumping out of his car to help drivers stuck in the southbound divot of road between SE Division and train tracks, blocked by what appeared to be a stopped / intermittently crawling cargo train. In August, Bike Portland wrote about PBOT's plans to apply for a grant to study the intersection, which would "look at the feasibility of more grade-separated crossings or undercrossings, as well as potential non-infrastructure solutions like wayfinding to give people information ahead of time about when trains are coming." A PBOT representative told the Mercury the agency submitted an application, but it's unlikely they'll hear an outcome until next year.

The person helping these cars back out shouts to others on SE Division that the train blocking SE 11th has been stopped for an hour. pic.twitter.com/mvhSnsY4II

— Suzette Smith (@suzettesmith) December 2, 2022

NEW OPENINGS

Artisserie Fine Bakery
This bakery opened on November 10, serving French pastries, macarons, wedding cakes, fresh bread, and espresso drinks.
Nob Hill
Pickup

In June 2022, Ashley Henry stepped down as the head of Business for a Better Portland—a Portland business advocacy organization Henry had founded five years prior—and handed the role over to former state Representative Karin Power. At the time, it was characterized as a standard decision to transition leadership, rooted in Henry's need to take a pause after five years fighting for small businesses to have a seat at the table in citywide policy discussions.

On Thursday evening, Henry revealed that her decision to leave was slightly less copacetic.

In a post published to her online blog, Henry explained that her exit was motivated by an alleged threat of litigation from the Portland Business Alliance (PBA), a more conservative and engrained business lobby known for representing the policy demands of the city's largest companies. She went on to claim that PBA threatened to sue her and Business for a Better Portland over her public comments on how PBA relies on public fees to stay afloat.

Now we don't want you to panic, but... PANIC! The wildly festive Portland Mercury’s HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK is happening right now, but it all ENDS THIS SUNDAY, December 4! And not only are these specially crafted, original holiday themed cocktails mixed by the best bartenders in town, they're also only $7 each!

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 location, you’ll find $7 specially crafted cocktails, and even better? They'll be available ALL DAY (not just during happy hour)!

You're panicking, aren't you? WELL CALM DOWN, because we've constructed a handy-dandy Holiday Drink Week map so you can easily plot your festive course to holiday bliss!

Stay tuned to holidaydrinkweek.com and the Mercury for announcements, and remember, you'll get even more hot tips if you sign up for Mercury and EverOut newsletters, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Say, do you love the Mercury’s Food and Drink promotions (such as Highball, Burger Week, Pizza Week, and more)? Then please consider becoming a recurring contributor to the Mercury. We would never be able to do these fun things without you!

So in conclusion, DON'T PANIC! You still have time to enjoy all the holiday deliciousness of the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK... but don't dilly or dally, because the fun ends Sunday!

This weekend is full of events that are holly and jolly and cheap and easy, from the Christmas Ships Parade to MAITA with The Fourth Wall and Phone Voice, plus a whole haul of holiday markets, including Nuestra Navidad JUNTOS, Unique Markets: Portland Holiday Market, Wellspent Market Holiday Bazaar, and WoodWorker Holiday Market. Looking for more ideas for this weekend and beyond? Get a glance at the month ahead with our complete guide to December events.

FRIDAY

FOOD & DRINK

Oyster Pop-Up Bar with Boneyard Beer
Gulp briny bivalves from Hama Hama Oysters served with lemon, hot sauce, and white wine mignonette, paired with crisp IPAs from Boneyard Beer.
(Chill N Fill, North Portland)

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! Hey thirsty person! The  Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK is happening RIGHT NOW and it ends this Sunday, December 4! Get all sorts of creative, holiday-themed fancy cocktails concocted by your fave Portland bartenders... and get this: They're only $7 each! Now let's dive into some thirsty NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• As if yesterday's big Portland Thorns news (described below) wasn't enough, check out this head-spinning story from The Athletic: Coach Rhian Wilkinson has resigned from the Portland Thorns after admitting a "complicated" text relationship between herself and a player that turned into deeper feelings. The act was self-reported to HR by Wilkinson, and while the relationship reportedly went no further and she was cleared of wrongdoing following an investigation, Wilkinson said she is resigning anyway because the players learned about the dalliance first, and asked her to resign. Read her full press release below:

pic.twitter.com/EPT1y6aH8z

— Rhian Wilkinson (@rhirhi8) December 2, 2022

• And ICYMI: After months of pressure, Timbers/Thorns owner Merritt Paulson announced yesterday that he's selling the Portland Thorns following management's part in the wide-ranging abuse scandal that rocked the National Women’s Soccer League. HOWEVER! In another example of the half-measures he's taken so far, Paulson is refusing to sell the Timbers, who have their own share of management-involved scandals. Abe Asher has the details!

• For those looking for a good explainer on how the Portland Business Alliance has wormed its way into City Hall, and is now controlling major local government decisions, here's a really good primer.

Writing this is risky personally and professionally, but it’s imperative for me to share what I learned about how things really work here. If Portland’s going to get better, we must grapple with the city’s underlying dysfunction. https://t.co/ycFckVYdZL

— Ashley Henry (@ashleyhenrypdx) December 2, 2022

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! Don't panic... but, you know, PANIC! Because the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK is happening RIGHT NOW and it ends this Sunday, December 4! Get all sorts of creative, holiday-themed fancy cocktails concocted by your fave Portland bartenders... and get this: They're only $7 each! So once again, don't... PANIC! (Now let's read some non-panicky NEWS.)

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• More half-assing it from Merritt Paulson: After months of pressure, the Timbers/Thorns owner announced this morning that he's selling the Portland Thorns following management's part in the wide-ranging abuse scandal that rocked the National Women’s Soccer League. HOWEVER! He's refusing to sell the Timbers, which have their own share of management-involved scandals. It's like, "Hey Merritt Paulson! You must give me a sandwich!" And he's like, "Of course... you're right. Here's some mayonnaise." And you're like, "No, an ENTIRE sandwich!" And he's like, "Sorry, absolutely. Here's half of a Bread & Butter pickle chip." (Anyway, check out the great story from Abe Asher!)

• Journalism 101 reminder: SNITCHES GET STITCHES.

Psilocybin isn’t legal in Oregon, but a Portland shop is selling it anyway https://t.co/JlgoUeaaTk

— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) December 2, 2022

• This Friday, a federal judge is expected to hear arguments over whether the voter-approved Measure 114—one of the toughest gun restriction laws in the nation—is constitutional. The case was, of course, brought about by the most trustworthy people in Oregon: "the Oregon Firearms Federation, a local sheriff and a gun store owner." The suit is also presumably supported by other cowards who crawl through their lives in fear while turning a blind eye to mass shootings. 

Billboard charting hip-hop artist Bryce Vine has announced his Serotonin tour with a Portland stop next spring. PNW-based indie rock project Goth Babe will light up Edgefield in July with a concert on the lawn. Plus, soulful singer-songwriter Mac Ayres will also stop by on his Comfortable Enough tour next year. Read on for details on those and other newly announced events, plus some news you can use.

ON SALE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

MUSIC

An Evening with Natalie Merchant
Keller Auditorium (Sept 23, 2023)

Bryce Vine: Serotonin Tour
Roseland Theater (Mar 5, 2023)

The Charlatans with Ride
Crystal Ballroom (Feb 15, 2023)

PIZZA

Apizza Scholls
Serious Eats founder Ed Levine once dubbed this "Neo-Neapolitan" pizza destination "one of the top five pizzerias in America."
Sunnyside
Pickup, delivery, dine-in

UPDATE - Dec 2, 10 am: Okay, like we said it would, that sold out fast! Congrats to the ticket holders (SOLIDARITY GROWL).

Listen, it's on me that I didn't post the first whispers of this weekend's Susperia screening, where songs from Daria Argento's 1977 horror film will be played live by Claudio Simonetti's Goblin—the latest version of the  Italian prog band who wrote the original score. In the past, such screenings sold out immediately, and that's absolutely what happened—even with two screenings instead of one.

So let me hip you quickly to a new development: the Hollywood just added an encore showing on Sat Dec 3, at 3:30 pm. The encore screening won't have a full concert afterward (as the evening ones will), but that's still a good amount of breathy growling for your $45 ticket.

Portland’s contemporary art scene may be small compared to that of other West Coast cities, but don’t call it boring. The past two years alone have seen a number of exciting changes: PNCA merged with Willamette University, c3:initiative changed its name to Stelo, and Disjecta became Oregon Contemporary. Galleries all over town opened, closed, moved locations, and shifted visions. 

The start of the pandemic sparked fears of an arts apocalypse, but it turns out the arts community is resilient and determined enough to weather all sorts of challenges. (The fact that creativity is built into this sector doesn’t hurt either.) 

Two notable local galleries, Blackfish and Chefas Projects, recently announced their plans to move and expand. And while their agendas—one a long-running member-owned cooperative and the other a one-woman operation with a sunny perspective—might sound similar, a little investigation revealed how different their experiences have been. 

Merritt Paulson announced Thursday morning that he is selling the Portland Thorns, bringing to an end his stewardship of one of the country’s most successful women’s sports franchises in the aftermath of an abuse scandal that rocked the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Paulson’s impending sale of the Thorns, however, will not end his involvement in professional sports in Portland. Paulson is maintaining his ownership of the Portland Timbers, despite calls from supporters that he sell both teams. 

“I believe it is in [the] best interest of the Thorns to have a new owner so that the Club can operate at the league level with a fresh voice to be a driving force for the NWSL,” Paulson wrote in a statement. “This has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe this is the best way to position the Thorns for continued success during this next chapter of the NWSL and the sport.”

LET'S GO, BRAINY PANTS! 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, we'll be testing your knowledge about local Pinocchios, celebrity Santas, and wealthy businesses who make their fortune in Portland and then run away at the first sign of trouble, and NO, I'm NOT really surprised! 😡

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? Ummmmm... not so great? And get this: Only 14 (!!) out of hundreds correctly answered that Thanksgiving dinner should be served no later than 5 pm! (Most of you said 7 pm? What? DO YOU WANT ME TO STARVE TO DEATH???)

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!