There's nothing like a hot and steamy play, set in a late 1940s New Orleans summer, when it's actually below freezing outside. Stuck under all your layers and sweating in your own right, you might find yourself transported into Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire.
Within the bright and versatile set design of Imago Theatre, Southern belle-fatale Blanche DuBois (Meghan Daaboul) appears. She steps off the titular streetcar, makes a transfer to "Cemeteries," and eventually finds the way to her sister Stella (Jaiden Wirth)'s apartment in an area called Elysian Fields.
Desire, Cemeteries, and Elysian Fields were all real transit and place names when Williams was writing the work—he lived just a half block from the Desire Line (later replaced by the Desire Bus)—but he uses them in Streetcar to obvious allegory. Blanche follows desire to the hazy, eternal summer of the afterlife—metaphorically.
Immediately stunned by an uncouth neighbor who asks if she's lost, even this is all too much for Blanche. She discovers her sister has a very small apartment, and a feeling of doom sets in, leading us into the story of genteel decline and the mannerly death of her spirit.
This week, we're delving into new places to grab coffee, wings, and poke and celebrating the arrival of a new s'mores bar from the mind behind Nico's Ice Cream. Plus, find out which local spots landed on this year's James Beard semifinalist list and and where to grab char siu croissants. For more ideas, check out our food and drink guide.
OPENINGS
Baristopia Coffee This bright, airy cafe soft opened in Beaverton on January 16, serving espresso drinks and drip coffee with beans roasted in house as well as matcha, tea, hot chocolate, sparkling water, and pastries. Specialty drinks include the "Nico" (a latte with orange bitters, cinnamon, vanilla, and a sprinkle of fresh orange zest) and an Americano with coconut syrup. Beaverton
Portland, if you love the Mercury's annual Burger Week, then you're going to flip ass-over-teakettle for our newest (and perhaps funnest) food week ever... the Portland Mercury's WIENER WEEK!
That's correct: For one short week (this Monday, January 27 through Sunday, February 2), more than 40 (!) of the city’s boldest chefs will craft their most creative, flavor-packed wieners for just $8 a pop. And a special thanks from our pals at Zenner’s and Jim Beam for all their support!
Whether you like ‘em spicy, saucy, or piled high with unexpected toppings, we promise these buns will be packed with something new and exciting!
Celebrate Dry January: Worry Not! X Jockomo Finish Dry January strong with this fun booze-free bash hosted by non-alcoholic event series Worry Not! in collaboration with Le Pigeon chef Michael Cooks' pop-up Jockomo. Cooks will dish up West Coast-inspired soul food tacos with fillings like lemon pepper chicken, Southern fried rockfish, chicken creole, and crispy fried cabbage, paired with beverages by self-described "certified mocktologist" Cliff Seminerio. JULIANNE BELL (White Pepper, Montavilla, free)
If you appreciate the Mercury's interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible.
Good Morning, Portland. What a week.
IN LOCAL NEWS: • Portland Police and the Port of Portland Police Department announced Thursday that the agencies purchased a $150,000 robot dog (with a federal grant) to add to the local bomb squad's small arsenal of six (now seven) machines meantfor use in high risk scenarios, like potential bomb or hostage situations. The Oregonianattended a demonstration where the Boston Dynamics Agile Mobile Robot AKA "Spot" worked in tandem with a living, bomb-sniffing dog, who alerted on a bag that Spot quickly picked up and moved. The Oregonian notes that the robot dog won't be armed and "is not intended to confront people." She's pretty good on stairs. The episode of Black Mirror that you're reaching for is "Metalhead."
• The area's environmental advocates had hopes that Portland's new City Council would be able to challenge or reverse the previous council's permissiveness with Zenith Energy's 6-mile liquid fuels tank farm in Northwest Portland. However, a meeting this week left many wondering if there's much the current council can do, or if the Land Use Statement is essentially "preordained" to go forward. Mercury reporter Taylor Griggs explains the confusing situation.
Rock legend Billy Idol hits the road this year with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails will “peel it back” at the Moda Center this August. Plus, early-aughts rock band Shinedown heads to Portland this summer. Read on for details on those and other newly announced events.
Tickets go on sale at 10 am unless otherwise noted.
Few other industrial activities in Portland have drawn the level of public scrutiny that Zenith Energy’s crude oil storage and transport facility has. The company’s operations have catalyzed climate protests and public backlash. The city of Portland has also been denounced for its oversight of the company, which critics say has been overly permissive.
Environmental advocates, disappointed in how previous Portland City Council members handled Zenith, hoped the new Council would challenge or reverse past decisions allowing the company to operate in Northwest Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) hub. Just three weeks into the new Portland City Council term, councilors confronted the Zenith issue head-on—but after back-to-back work and listening sessions on January 21, it’s still unclear what jurisdiction they have to challenge the company.
The city of Portland is currently tasked to make a decision whether to provide Zenith with new land use credentials, as required by the state. Company critics and some City Council members have seen this moment as a potential turning point to limit Zenith’s operations and try to curb its environmental impact.
Who's ready to have some fun? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland's best concerts and events—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 fun events coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT!
Enjoy cinematic indie rock from Seattle-based singer-songwriter Damien Jurado and his backing band, when Jurado returns to Portland with his acclaimed 2002 album, I Break Chairs! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, Wed Jan 29, 8 pm, $38.50, 21+
Hailed by American Songwriter for their "mind-bending musicality," moe. is treasured for their mesmerizing musical synergy, unfettered showmanship, and smart, resonant songcraft. These Buffalo-born icons have been favorites of the jam and improv rock scenes since the early ‘90s — catch the band once more when they return to Portland for two nights on the "Circle Of Giants" Tour! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Thurs Jan 30, 8 pm, $52.17, all ages
Portland-based folk-rock band The Builders and The Butchers shares a special hybrid of folk, country and twangy rock from their forthcoming album, The Spark! This show is part of Portland Music Month — enjoy an evening of music while supporting local creators! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, Fri Jan 31, 9 pm, $27.07, 21+
Even after their 20+ years of accolades and recognition, legendary outfit funk six-piece The Motet are still exploring new sonic ideas. Listen LIVE as they share infectious grooves and immaculate, layered arrangements from their highly-anticipated 10th studio album, Love Time! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Sat Feb 1, 8 pm, $40.65, all ages
• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see Exquisite Creatures Revealed which closes Feb 17 at OMSI!
It’s your last chance to see Exquisite Creatures Revealed, an exhibition from local artist Christopher Marley, on view at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry until February 17! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair here!
OMSI, 1945 SE Water, until Mon Feb 17, $15-$23, all ages
PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater events are one-night-only mash-ups of two or more experiences—like local artists and creatives doing their thing related to a film or playful extras that up the fun factor. Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair here!
Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division, various days, times, & prices, all ages
GOOD LUCK! Winners will be notified on Monday, and check back next week for more FREE TIX from the Mercury!
If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s newsreporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. 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 MORNING, PORTLAND!👋
Along with the wisewords our writers have been giving you about how to deal with the vile Donny administration, I'd like to take just a moment to remind you that a certain orange turd does not get to live rent-free in your head. True fear only comes when you are completely helpless, and you are definitely NOT. So do your best to distinguish between the mindless, drooling bullshit, and the stuff that we really need to be paying attention to, and join the Mercury in helping protect and defend those here in our community who are actually going to be affected (especially from local Trump enablers). See? Actually, you're not helpless at all. Now let's check out the important (and occasionally fun) stuff in the NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Oh, and speaking of local Trump enablers, new Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez is showing off his farts and proclaiming that, unlike his predecessor (former DA Mike Schmidt), he's going to start seeking charges against law-breaking protesters. One problem with all this impotent tough-guy talk: Schmidt actually did charge law-breaking vandals (like the five arrested on Tuesday following a peaceful Waterfront Park protest) during his tenure, as well as those who committed violence. So what exactly was the point of this pointless, sparsely-attended press conference? Possibly it was just more blowhard posturing by a ladder-climbing politician who learned nothing from watching the failed political career of fellow macho blowhard, Rene Gonzalez.
“Tiffany & I knew that electoral politics would not bring about liberation, but we also knew that divesting from them entirely cedes power to the people who slash public programs to save on their tax bills, who propose jails instead of housing, who enthusiastically press the yes button on genocide.”
• Anyway, while Vasquez was bloviating across town, Mayor Keith Wilson was unveiling his $28 million homeless shelter expansion plan to a somewhat skeptical audience of city and county officials yesterday. Wilson aims to add 1,500 overnight shelter beds and open four day centers by December, though that $28 million is a big ask when the city is staring down a predicted $100 million budget shortfall this fiscal year. The mayor is expected to unveil his budget (and how the city will pay for the proposed shelters) by the end of February.
Lisa Freeman is the subject of a BOLI civil rights investigation, but other former city employees say the office has a problem with structural racism much larger than just one staff member.
In a November 2024 decision, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) dismissed Badon’s case against Freeman. The BOLI decision cited a lack of evidence that Badon was fired in retaliation for her HR complaints, and said any allegations or evidence of racial discrimination on Freeman’s part are “outside the scope of the complaint…which only relates to allegations of Complainant’s reporting of such discrimination, and adverse action motivated by those reports.”
Freeman now works as Councilor Sameer Kanal’s chief of staff. She emphatically refuted the Mercury’s earlier reporting on this issue. Neither Freeman nor Badon responded to a request for comment on the results of the BOLI investigation.
Original story:
This story has been corrected to clarify Badon's role at the city and clarify her length of time working with Freeman.
Lisa Freeman, a candidate running for Portland City Council in District 4, is the subject of a complaint filed with Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). The complaint, filed last November by a former staffer in Portland’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), alleges Freeman “has a history of discrimination against people in the BIPOC community” and says she created “a hostile workplace for [the complainant] and other employees.”
The Office of Violence Prevention was created in 2006 to address a growing problem of gang activity and youth gun violence. Its programs include street outreach to reduce the risk of young people becoming victims or perpetrators of violence, and to “limit their future involvement with the criminal justice system.”
The office has long relied on BIPOC staff, especially for leading outreach work to people most at risk of being impacted by gun violence, which disproportionately impacts communities of color. Black Portlanders in particular represent just about 6 percent of the population, but 40 percent of the shooting victims between 2019-2024. But complaints and employee exits suggest the city failed to create a workplace that supported non-white staff.
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 morning, Portland! It's going to be cool and dry again today. It's time for the rain to return, methinks. According to the trusty 8-14 day precipitation outlook from the National Weather Service, that should happen sometime toward the end of the month. Fingers crossed the National Weather Service is not banished as a federal agency in the coming days/months/years.
Image: NOAA/NWS
First, a quick message about the state of the news. The new Trump administration is already a complete shitshow, as was expected. While it's crucial to stay up-to-date on what's going on so you can make moves accordingly, that doesn't mean we all have to follow every single little piece of bullshit that comes out of the White House over the next four years. Don't burn yourself out on day three, and be wary of pundits and news-types who purposefully work to stir outrage and hysteria in the name of informing the public.
I guess what I'm saying is you're not OBLIGATED to doomscroll. And please remember, not everyone on the internet knows what they're talking about, even if they phrase things in scary and intellectual-sounding ways.
That being said, when it comes to the Mercury's daily news digest, READ ON!
Back in 1996, young filmmaker Ondi Timoner had an ambitious plan: She would follow 10 young underground rock bands for one year and film them, as they all reached for their respective grip on a brass ring of fame, success, and financial solvency that—thanks to the world-altering arrival of Nirvana—suddenly seemed within reach.
But as the project, dubbed The Cut, moved forward, Timoner was drawn to the Brian Jonestown Massacre, a scuzzy gang of '60s psych-pop revivalists from LA with two impossibly charismatic members—hyperprolific front man Anton Newcombe and tambourine player Joel Gion. And the BJM wouldn't stop hyping a band from Portland, the Dandy Warhols, that trucked in a more bubblegum glam sound, but were part of Newcombe’s foggy plan to foment a musical revolution.
So Ondi Timoner and her brother/ partner-in-film David Timoner decided to train their cameras on the two musical acts, as they made their play at mainstream success, following them both over the course of eight years. They captured the bands' mutual appreciation turn into a weird rivalry, as the Dandys began making waves and playing festivals in Europe, and the BJM continued to find new ways to self-destruct.
The resulting film Dig!, released in 2004, was an incredible document of the post-grunge musical landscape and a bleakly hilarious film. For one, you get to watch the ego of the impossibly-handsome Dandys frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor go from comfortably large to the size of a small moon, as his band levels up. On the other side, we see the BJM’s prospects quite literally collapse in a heap, via onstage fights, altercations with audience members, and Newcombe’s mental health spiral. Frustrated by the Dandys’ good fortune, Newcome releases a 12-inch single with the cutting anthem “Not If You Were the Last Dandy on Earth!” and sends the band a package that includes shotgun shells with the names of the Dandys written on each one.
I’m a lesbian in a big city. My partner of five years is the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met, and we are deeply in love, and plan to spend the rest of our lives together. She has a son from an early-in-life marriage to a man. He is eighteen years old, a senior in high school, and living at home with his mother. (My partner and I do not live together.) About two years ago he got swept up in MAGA hate, toxic masculinity, and virulent homophobia. He is incredibly verbally abusive to my partner and increasingly to me. He has threatened her physically a couple of times. He has called me a pedophile and refers to me as “that piece of shit.” He has said that Trump is going to “take care of people like” me and his mother! All his friends are MAGA bros, but he is too embarrassed by his gay mother to bring them around. My sister says it’s past time for this young man [to] find his own place to live but my partner doesn’t want to throw him out because that’s what’s been done to so many queer young people and of course she loves him. She has a lot of justifications for why he turned out this way. I am hesitant to keep weighing in because he’s her kid, but it affects me and our relationship. He is the angriest and most hateful person, and he thinks I am preventing his mother from living a “normal life.” I don’t know what boundaries I should set but I’m not willing to give up this woman who I love with all my heart. I would welcome any advice you might have.
This Relationship Under Mounting Pressure
I agree with you and your sister: your girlfriend should give her adult child a reasonable amount of time to find someplace else to live — perhaps he might be happier living with his father — and then make an appointment with a locksmith to have the locks on her house changed on a set date. (If this were happening to me, that reasonable about of time would be thirty minutes, and that set date would be today’s date.)
Your girlfriend also needs to stop making false equivalencies: yes, hateful parents have thrown out kids because they disapproved of their child’s sexual orientation or gender identity. But your partner wouldn’t be throwing her son out (read: politely asking him to move out) because she disapproves of his political identity. The problem here isn’t this kid’s loathsome political beliefs — it’s not that he’s a MAGA bro — but his unacceptable behavior: he’s threatened his mother with violence and verbally abused his mother’s partner. Queer adult children who threaten their loving parents with violence and are towering assholes to their parents’ opposite-sex partners deserve to get tossed out on their asses too.
Don't let winter's frigid temps keep you from living your best life. We're giving you plenty of reasons to leave the house this week, with tip-top events from Bright Eyes to Thuy – Wings World Tour and from FAN EXPO Portland to Stumptown Stages' production of Hairspray.
TUESDAY
FILM
In the Mood for Love Wong Kar-wai's masterful romance is set in '60s Hong Kong, where a lonely married journalist meets a similarly isolated woman. When the two realize that their respective partners are cheating on them, they form an intimate bond and wrestle with the allure of a sordid affair. Christopher Doyle's vivid cinematography helped cement In the Mood for Love as a major stylistic influence on the last 20 years of film. And sure, there are a lot of reasons that the film sounds good on paper, but it's also one of the most deeply affecting stories I've ever witnessed on screen. Don't sleep on it. LINDSAY COSTELLO (Clinton Street Theater, Hosford-Abernethy)
Hello, everyone! Welcome back to the Trash Report, coming in one day late this week because I was off work yesterday for MLK Jr. day and a national day of service/spiraling. It's nice to come to you all on a Tuesday. I feel like on Mondays everybody opens their devices with hopes for a fresh new week whereas by Tuesday we're already a little bit tired and a little beat down, which is the theme of America right now. The vibe is: Oh god, there's still so much left. The only way out is through so I'm just gonna start writing stuff, okay?
Bad News
Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term yesterday and a bunch of people who spent the better part of the past year insisting that he was the greatest threat ever posed to our nation watched it happen while glad-handing each other. Because of The Norms, you see. We love norms! Normie norm norms. When you see a child crying because his parents have been deported, simply remind him that norms are important. When your daughter cannot access the healthcare that could save her life, you just gotta tell her that she has norms, which are even better than healthcare. This could be a thing we liberals do— instead of sponsoring a child in Africa for 10 cents a day or whatever, we pick out an American family experiencing Trump-induced suffering (shouldn't be hard to find!) and remind them that while their struggle is a bummer, it's a necessary byproduct of our sweet, sweet norms. A make-a-norm foundation. In fact, I am going to change my name to Elinorm Jones, I just love them so much!
