Merry Christmas to everyone (except trolley fans) Lake Oswego is trying to redevelop the Foothills District again — but isn't considering extending street car service That's what killed the last planning effort in 2013 There will be a big opportunity once the old sewage treatment plant is demo'd

ZooZoo, the physical mask comedy at Imago Theatre, is a wordless two-act collection that comes together like a marvelous puzzle. Full review, and why you need to see this live before the run ends Jan. 4 🔗 ⬇️

The This American Life episode about the misconception that “Portland is a Warzone” has to explain what a bioswale and that might be the new most Portland thing ever

Here is a boozy advent calendar ranked and reviewed. Of course, I didn't do it all in one sitting—I did about half of it in one sitting.

Find my full list here. I found a lot to love in film this year… too many titles reflecting my sadly aging corpus and degrading brain with desperate clarity boxd.it/CP2pW

I am comfortable with one critic panning Marty Supreme and another putting it on his Top 10 Movies of 2025 list. The purpose of art is to discuss art. Even more good news: @sinacolad.bsky.social's two favorite movies this year haven't even come out yet.

Don't have time to write a think piece on how much of human cognition is memorizing and reciting phrases one has heard before. I'm just going to be mean and say if you're not trying to understand and communicate you're basically a chatbot.

The holidays are such a brutal war between people who have time to celebrate them and people who do not.

"Christmas Eve Can Kill You" Recorded by Andy Shauf and Madi Diaz Produced and Mixed by Andy Shauf Written by Dennis Linded Originally recorded by The Everly Brothers

Thousands are without power in much of the Pacific Northwest, City Council staffers unionize, Multnomah County Chair will not run for her seat again, and more than 10 other stories to start your day. | ✍️ @suzettesmith.bsky.social

Haven't seen Marty Supreme, but this is a lively and interesting review.

A24's big new film, Marty Supreme, is "another movie by and for insecure men," writes critic HR Smith. Read the full review of the film ⬇️

pro tip: if they're sending you marketing emails and they don't offer an opt out link, just block them.

13 stories to start the day in Portland: East Portland city councilors urge Mayor Keith Wilson to use hidden $21 million for rent stabilization. Preschool for All could double enrollment, but will we have that many preschoolers? ✍️ @suzettesmith.bsky.social

coworker: everything is collapsing me, reframing: isn't a collapse just another way of coming together

NYT looks at potential conflicts between Lip-Bu Tan's role as Intel's CEO and his side gig as a chip industry investor.

Truly one of the most challenging parts of our media moment is helping audiences build literacy around those who do the work of journalism and those who try to pass that work off as their own by minimizing the source.

The last affordable snack place at PDX airport is gone and will be replaced by a “more expensive” cafe, according to staff.

Frank Gehry's buildings leaked

People describing my culture coverage: she wrote a very alluring preview of the art museum My coverage: It’s like actually worth $27.50 now

10 news stories this morning: ✅ City council puts a financial crackdown on detention facilities ✅ Columbia CEO challenges flat earthers ✅ Luigi Mangione is back in court All the Good Morning, News ⬇️

A very meta front page for @oregonian.com today tells the surprisingly dramatic story of the very first edition of the newspaper 175 years ago www.oregonlive.com/history/2025...

Trying to pick today's Good Morning, News image like

Everyone thinks they want to work in a fun office until you come in at 9 am and your coworkers are blasting Creed.

Having a dedicated person to do our social media is so humbling. Like are you sure that every post shouldn't be set to "Rashiku' Ikimasho?" No? Really? Well, you're the professional.

Misinformation, spread both by earnest would-be allies and and opportunists seeking to cash in, is compounding ICE fears in and around Portland. @gosiawoz.bsky.social reports:

AI is such a personality hire

🗞 In the new issue of Street Roots: County motel shelters successful but lacking support, Milepost 5 safety and health code violations, homelessness in Corvallis and more. Find a vendor in your neighborhood to purchase this week's issue: streetroots.org/vendors#locate

If you didn't get to go to that Tomorrow Theater screening of 'Frankenstein' where Guillermo del Toro discussed the rise of AI and the future of stop-motion animation, @sinacolad.bsky.social wrote it up.

•Portland City Council bans AI rent price fixing •PBOT blames slippery bike lanes on early leaf fall •And finally, over 200 words on my critical vendetta against twee indie band Pomplamoose It's Good Morning, News!!

The founder of Patreon Jack Conte has a band with his wife called Pomplamousse, and I don’t like it. And I really don’t like this time they mocked Beyoncé during their whitewashed cover of “Single Ladies.”

Every year I suggest we come together an form neighborhood bike lane adoption squads and every year people tell me PBOT has a bike lane sweeper.

Portlanders always complain about wanting more Jewish delis and then they let them go out of business. Is that a FAIR thing to say? IDK, but looks like we’re getting another shot on Nov 28–next to Tomorrow Theater no less.

Are you planning a Stranger Thingsgiving? Will you be cooking to people running from demogorgons instead of the parade? Will you be hidden beneath the dessert table with your ipad?

As the Icelandic post-rock group Sigur Rós wind down their multi-year tour with Wordless Music Orchestra, it seems unlikely this is the last time we'll see them with an orchestra. It just works too well.

A cool halloween costume for Friends of Noise would be like everyone in Anton Chigurh wigs as Friend-o Noise.

I wish there was like a really good local band called Punk Martini

"as we swerve into the homestretch of the actual 2025, that anger feels prescient—rejuvenating, even. Tearing society apart at its sinew, screaming into the face of every rich monster who’s made your life miserable, bathing in their pain: That’s that me espresso." - @sinacolad.bsky.social

Act I, Victor Frankenstein: I beheld the wretch—the miserable monster whom I had created. Act II, Frankenstein's monster: My maker told his tale and I tell mine Act III, Henry Clerval: You'll never believe it but like a third of the original text is devoted to ME—Victor's best friend Clerval.

Wake up and crank Arthur Russell's "Close My Eyes"

Two former editors at The Nib, Shay Mirk and Eleri Harris, have created the only primer on ethical comics reporting.

• The US government reopens • Portland City Council gets spicy (testimony not teargas) • RIP the penny (it's still money tho) • It's Good Morning News!

UPDATE: A Texas military contractor rescinded its offer to lease land at the Newport Municipal Airport, city officials announced tonight. But Newport believes ICE is still working to build a detention center somewhere on the Oregon Coast. Details here: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Public job postings for “detention officers” based in Newport, a request for septic tank services and a bid to lease 4 acres at the airport all suggest ICE is planning to build a detention facility

My other favorite Guillermo del Toro bit tonight was the 2-3 times he dragged a Portland sushi restaurant for not carrying uni

Guillermo del Toro on Jacob Elordi: “6ft 6, beauty and wisdom”

A federal judge has permanently barred the Trump Administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland, following a long back-and-forth battle. Oregon leaders are celebrating the decision, but DOJ lawyers are already discussing an appeal.

Repertory film screenings trend surreal and nonlinear this month, with cinemas showing The Double Life of Véronique, The Color of Pomegranates, Memoria, and other films that ask for your focus and faith. Read why they're worth it on Second Run.

Tom Collins receives about $280 a month in SNAP benefits. “If SNAP went away, it would be very inconvenient,” he said. “I would have to fight at food pantries for food. And it would be a fight, because there’s a lot of people dependent on SNAP.”

A permanent injunction is now in place barring the National Guard in Portland due to extremely small protests.