For the last 12 years or so, I’ve been peeing on the same section of a remote Jersey barrier in St. Johns. It’s a ritual I do on my bike rides and is very interesting to see what over a decade of my piss will do to a small area of cement. (It’s almost like special powers!). Anyway, I encourage others to pick a random remote spot and do the same. Channel your inner dog and claim your spot!

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, or dropping off your leftovers by the office BECAUSE WE ARE HUNGRY. Thanks for your support!

Good Afternoon, Portland! I made a waffle out of leftover stuffing, and I demand your respect.

IN LOCAL NEWS:
If you were half in the bag or out the door on Wednesday evening, you may have missed the results of an environmental assessment, conducted by ODOT, that say the proposed addition of lanes to I-5 in the Rose Quarter area would have no significant environmental impact to the area— okay, some at first, but not a lot in the long run, the report says. The projects detractors disagree. Isabella Garcia breaks it all down.

• And a late report from the Portland Police revealed the name of the man police shot on Saturday morning. Mercury News Editor Alex Zielinski has the juice on what we know so far—which is frustratingly little.

• Speaking of things that we know very little about—there are only two weeks until Measure 114 takes effect (slide whistle noise).

Less than two weeks remain for Oregon officials to hammer out a complex permitting regime for firearm ownership under Measure 114, and that could put the state in a constitutionally precarious spot.
https://t.co/JjfurzA0Y7

— OPB (@OPB) November 25, 2022

• More slide whistle noise:

Republican Joe Kent’s intentions are clearer: rally for a recount and possibly lawyer up for further action.

https://t.co/PlHQztZzAc#Clarkwa #Vanwa #election2022 #3rdDistrict

— The Columbian (@thecolumbian) November 25, 2022

• If you now find yourself in need of a drink, take note that Monday November 28-Sunday December 4 will be the Mercury's first ever Holiday Drink Week. You deserve something fancy and weird and at participating locations around Portland, you’ll find that fancy for just $7!

IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
• The man who murdered six coworkers at a Walmart in Virginia left a note—ugh murders don't deserve attention, but okay—and you'll never believe it, but it's mostly about how superior he felt to those around him. Sure, there's some stuff about the holy spirit in there too. Also deeply frustrating, is the ease with which he was able to purchase a 9-millimeter handgun that very morning, just hours before he attacked and murdered his colleagues.

• Former President Donald Trump enjoyed a Thanksgiving Eve dinner with Kanye West and one of the nation's most prominent white nationalists, Nick Fuentes (who leads the white nationalist group America First, whose adherents call themselves groypers). Trump attempted to deny foreknowledge of who Fuentes was, but he had to know who West was, right?

For the sake of this tweet, let's just assume this is true. How does Nick Fuentes get into Mar-a-Lago undetected? Does Trump not ask the man who he is when he sits down w/ a man he claims not to know? Why is Trump having dinner w/Kanye West after his recent comments? So many qs. https://t.co/a4znPwerdr

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) November 25, 2022

• Twitter-famous surrealist comedian Dril is a bit of a low stakes enigma—but we were delighted to read more about him in this Washington Post interview, conducted by Taylor Lorenz. Somewhat surprising, he's pro-Elon—of just goofin'?

Dril said he’d be willing to work at Twitter himself if Musk asked. “I think it would be my duty to answer the call,” Dril said. “I would absolutely do it. I would be his dog, I would follow his every order like a disgusting dog. I would beg for his mercy and I would learn to code if it pleased him.”

• As Elon Musk continues to destroy Twitter, and tank its value, NPR put together a smorgasbord of social media platforms where Twitter quitters might seek retreat.

• The ball is my day off, and the dog is my perpetual surprise and shock at its finite nature:

Such a professional pic.twitter.com/qbxXSsG4bm

— Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) November 25, 2022

Calling all holiday gift givers!

You love giving gifts, AND supporting the local small business community, right? Well, this holiday season you have a choice where to spend your money. Through the haze of Black Friday ads for corporate retailers and 2nd-day-air delivery promises, if you look closely enough, you can find LOTS of local mom & pop shops bringing you lovingly-curated gift options. Don't forget: These businesses are the backbone of the city, and your buying choices can help ensure they stay that way. Support local and shop local... and the Mercury is here to help with our annual HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE!

And trust us when we say, our gift guide has something for EVERYONE on your holiday list—and that includes those hard-to-shop-for people! All these prezzies are conveniently listed under easy-to-use categories, such as gifts for Artsy Folks, Foodies, Stoners, Fashion Hounds, Adventurers, Lovers, and SO MUCH MORE!

Plus! Since more gift ideas are being added every day, come back often to check out what's new. So what are you waiting for? Show your favorite people (and Portland's local businesses) lots of love this holiday season... with the Mercury Holiday Gift Guide!

Deadshot
The kitsch-tastic holiday cocktail pop-up phenomenon Miracle, which was invented by New York bar owner Greg Boehm in 2014 and has expanded to over 100 bars around the world, will kick off at Deadshot from 4 pm to midnight on Black Friday. Look forward to cozy drinks like spiked chai, hot buttered rum, and the "Snowball Old Fashioned," plus a food menu by the Filipino pop-up Sunrice.
Hosford-Abernethy

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! If you're thinking of contributing to capitalism today, please also consider shopping local! And a great way to get some inspo is to check out the Mercury's HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE, which is cram-jammed full of amazing, interesting gifts for all types of peeps from local, Portland stores that could use your support. Thank you, and let's cram-jam some NEWS!

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• In case you missed it, Portland Police has finally released a modicum of info about last Saturday's deadly shooting of a man by an officer/officers.  According to an updated press release, Jaquez Clark-Johnson was the man killed, though little else is known other than he was driving a car that fit the description used in a robbery. We also don't know what happened after officers "attempted to contact" the man before the shooting began. Oh, and once again the police have not released the name of the officer/officers who killed Clark-Johnson, even though they are required to by city regulations. In short, business as usual!

Adding additional lanes to Interstate 5 in the Rose Quarter will have no significant impact on the environment, according to a new assessment from the federal and state transportation departments. Critics are skeptical of the findings. https://t.co/MVrUIm8RAe

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) November 23, 2022

• Thanks to a frightening surge in RSV cases, OHSU and Randall Children's Hospital are taking drastic steps to free up pediatric beds—including turning away teenagers in mental health crises.

• Today in why one should think twice about looking inside a random, roadside backpack: "Human skull in backpack found by corrections work crew near I-5 north of Salem."

Portland loves John Waters and the feeling seems to be mutual. He's spending his 77th birthday here, giving a one-off performance. Leading up to the day, there's a week of cult film screenings in his honor.https://t.co/Hx9zBVx7UR

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) November 23, 2022

• In the weather, expect rain to develop today with a mostly cloudy day tomorrow, and the occasional showery-shower on Sunday!

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• According to police, the Virginia Walmart shooter who killed six of his fellow employees wrote a "death note" blaming Satan for what he did, and—notably— he bought his deadly weapon on the day of the shooting.

What if gun owners had to pass a test? Czech Republic offers an answer.https://t.co/VuJJMlV6kw

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 25, 2022

• The scrappy, young United States team is taking on powerhouse England today in the World Cup, starting at 11 am this morning. GOOOOOOOOAL!

• After a hilarious botched attempt to charge people for their Twitter verification checkmark, "World's Best Boss" Elon Musk is launching a second sure-to-be-botched attempt next week... which will include different colored checkmarks. (Oh, and people who have been suspended due to hate talk and bigotry are now being welcomed back to the site. So, that'll be fun.)

Meet Winston, the "razzle dazzle" French bulldog that just won this year's National Dog Show. He's a very good pup indeed. https://t.co/oA973CSUmR

— NPR (@NPR) November 24, 2022

• Adidas is launching an investigation into accusations that former collaborator Kanye West sexually harassed employees and also used (surprise) antisemitic language.

• And finally... if you're flying back to Portland today, I hope your family is treating you like this:

Get you friends that send you off at the airport with a Haka pic.twitter.com/uPM0cDH1Tp

— Wu-Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) November 24, 2022

It's the worst time of the year. Spending time with family not bad, but fuck the stress that goes with it. Don't want the drama of others politics, I swear to Christ people forget what little they know about driving during the holidays. Food? Traditional spread? Might have been awesome during the great depression, but now it's an unappetizing fiscal drain. Music? I'd rather blow my brains out than hear Christmas music, please stop playing that trash, it's torture.

BEHOLD! It's the the Portland Mercury’s HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK! That's correct: Get ready for an ENTIRE WEEK (November 28-December 4) of specially crafted, original holiday themed cocktails mixed by the best bartenders in town… and get this, they're 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)! TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE DELICIOUS BOOZY CONCOCTIONS HERE!

Stay tuned to holidaydrinkweek.com and the Mercury for announcements—then plot your strategic course with our handy-dandy Holiday Drink map and set sail on a river of booze starting November 28! 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, are you ready for HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK? Great! Just remember a few friendly rules:

• Drink responsibly! This goes without saying, but because we love you and don't want you to die, PLEASE be safe and smart with your cocktail consumption—and NEVER drink and drive.

• Be patient! We all need a drink (or 10) right now. But so do our friends, neighbors, and sworn enemies! So if a bar is slammed, or if they run out of those little umbrellas? Be cool—it'll all get sorted soon enough! And if you want to help things go smoothly, pay in cash—it’ll save time, and your server will appreciate it. Speaking of which....

• Tip your bartenders, and order food! Sure, the best part of Holiday Drink Week are those $7 drinks… but each location also has great food, and their talented bartenders will be working hard to keep those holiday cocktails pouring! So relax, grab a bite, and let your bartenders and waitstaff know how much you appreciate ‘em!

Now get ready for the booziest, funnest week of your life, the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK! Coming at ya November 28 - December 4!

A Portland man named Immanueal Jaquez Clark-Johnson was killed by a Portland police officer early Saturday morning, according to an updated press release from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). 

Per the PPB, officers suspected that Clark-Johnson, 30, was responsible for an armed robbery that took place shortly after midnight on November 19 near SE Powell Blvd. and SE Foster Rd. That's because Clark-Johnson was driving a car that fit the description of the supposed robber's vehicle. 

PPB noticed Clark-Johnson driving on SE Steele St. alongside Reed College, and followed the car until it stopped in a nearby parking lot. PPB's press release did not indicate whether Clark-Johnson was actually pulled over by police or if he simply parked on his own volition. PPB did not explain what happened after officers "attempted to contact" Clark-Johnson. Yet, at 12:41 am, the bureau notes that at least one officer shot Clark-Johnson. An autopsy reviewed by PPB shows that Clark-Johnson died from the gunshot wound.

There's a lot that remains unknown about the shooting. PPB has not explained why officers decided to shoot Clark-Johnson. PPB has not said whether or not they confirmed that Clark-Johnson was responsible for the earlier robbery, nor have they explained if he was armed at the time he was shot. The bureau has not clarified how many officers fired at Clark-Johnson, or if there was anyone else in his car when he was shot. It's also unknown why officers decided to shoot Clark-Johnson.

In what's become a new trend, PPB has also chosen to withhold the name of the officers involved in this shooting, despite being required to. Per city policy, the identity of PPB officers involved in a "deadly force" incident like this must be released within 24 hours of the event. That policy allows for an exemption in circumstances involving a "credible security threat."

PPB first mentioned the security threat exemption in July, after officers shot and killed a man who was firing a gun in Southeast Portland yard. At the time, PPB withheld the identities of the officers responsible, citing threats of "doxing"—the act of sharing the home address or other personal information of someone online to prompt harassment of that person and their family. A month later, three other PPB officers shot at a Portlander, and the bureau again withheld their names due to alleged doxing concerns. At the time, PPB announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was investigating these threats. 

Portland officers have fired their guns at members of the public three additional times since (including Saturday), and had their identities protected by police. PPB has not acknowledged if those officers were facing a security threat as well.

There is no mention of why police chose not to follow this bureau policy in the most recent PPB press release. The Saturday shooting marks the ninth time PPB officers shot at Portlanders in 2022. Clark-Johnson is the fourth person to die from a Portland officer's bullets this year.

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! If you're anything like me, you're already thinkin'... about HOLIDAY DRINKIN'! That's why it's time to get pumped for the Mercury's HOLIDAY DRINK WEEK—featuring $7 festive cocktails concocted by the city's best bartenders! It's starts this coming Monday, November 28... so save a little room in your liver, okay? Now let's drink up some NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• In the new, post-pandemic Portland, businesses take priority over people. You see it with repeated homeless sweeps meant to appease the city's rich, political action groups formed by big business interests whose sole purpose is to spread disinformation, and a city council that, come January, will boast four out of five members that are squarely in the pockets of local real estate baron Jordan Schnitzer and the Portland Business Alliance. Therefore it shouldn't be any big surprise that homegrown, popular ice cream makers Salt & Straw is the latest company to threaten to move their headquarters out of state due to perceived safety concerns from the homeless. OH, of course they would rather NOT leave and will supposedly do everything in their power to help support local leaders "find solutions"—but sure, let's try threats first. Lucky for us, there are plenty of fantastic ice cream makers in town who remain loyal to the city that gave them success... and even better? No long lines! For all those businesses threatening to leave, I hope you enjoy "out of state." (I hear Arizona is nice!)

A snippet from: https://t.co/k6pSRp38BQ pic.twitter.com/fNv4PO9XTB

— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) November 22, 2022

• In a related story: "Portland auditor withdraws $5,520 fine against Rene Gonzalez’s city council campaign." The auditor’s office reportedly made this call following a decision to revoke the fine by Judge Joe L. Allen, who based his ruling on the testimony of a bunch of witnesses who were chosen by (and most likely work with) Jordan Schnitzer. Make of that what you will! 

• ALSO RELATED (I'm on a roll!): In case you missed it, the Oregonian Editorial Board penned an opinion piece begging Portland to support the criminalizing and mass incarceration of the homeless—a plan cooked up by the Mayor, Commissioner Dan Ryan, and mayoral aide Sam Adams with pressure from city hall's wealthy overlords... and WITHOUT asking a single local homelessness expert. It's almost like they all belong to one big club! This is me:

IN OTHER LOCAL NEWS: 

• According to a new environmental assessment from the federal and state transportation departments, the planned expansion of the I-5 corridor in the Rose Quarter will have no significant impact on the environment—a claim that's being met with substantial disbelief from expansion critics. Our Isabella Garcia has more on the story.

• Ummmm... it's a little bit late in the game, but Multnomah County health officials are asking families that include children under three years of age to skip any large Thanksgiving gatherings tomorrow due to the surge surge in RSV cases that are quickly overrunning the state's pediatric hospital beds.

In this week's HEAR IN PORTLAND music column from @JenniferKayMo, we're loving new releases from Volcanic Pinnacles, Milc, and Rules.—PLUS hot news about upcoming shows from TEKE::TEKE, Jinx Monsoon, and BenDeLaCreme.https://t.co/5MmB8QNvuC

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) November 23, 2022

• Hurrah! Delightfully trashy auteur John Waters has chosen to celebrate his 77th birthday right here in Portland! And to honor his varied career, the Clinton Street Theater will be showing some of his greatest hits, all damn week long! Our Suzette Smith has all the details.

• IN THE WEATHER: Hey, you can expect a pretty nice Thanksgiving day tomorrow with sunny skies and highs around 54 degrees. Pro tip: Stretch out before any of your amateur backyard flag football games. 

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• Police have identified the man who killed six people and wounded six others in a Virginia Walmart as a night manager who was armed with a handgun and multiple ammunition magazines. He followed his rampage by killing himself.

• Meanwhile, in an effort to inspire more mass shootings (like the one at Colorado's Club Q), rightwing media stars (looking right at Tucker Carlson) are ramping up their anti-LGBTQ propaganda.

A long line of voters forms in heavily-Democratic DeKalb County, one of the handful of counties to allow early voting this week in the runoff between Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker. #gapol #gasen pic.twitter.com/ShiVLKV7t8

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) November 23, 2022

• Targeting the country's electricity grid, Russian missiles have knocked out power for the vast majority of Ukraine cities—along with some water services and public transportation.

• So far, former Veep Mike Pence has resisted testifying before the January 6 committee... but will he be so tight-lipped now that the DOJ is knocking at his door?

‘OneLove’ armbands sell out at soccer's #FIFAWorldCup in Qatar despite a ban https://t.co/q4Pikap9cb pic.twitter.com/fe4T7J9XmU

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 23, 2022

• If you're flying over the Thanksgiving holiday... and I can't believe I have to say this... don't pack your cat into your suitcase.

• And finally... if you let one relative into your house for Thanksgiving dinner....

It’s a trap…😏🤣🐱🐈🐈‍⬛ pic.twitter.com/bZmjo8cduj

— Fred Schultz (@FredSchultz35) November 23, 2022

These past couple years have been rough for many of us. We've found out who people really were, often with heartbreaking results. But another thing these times of difficulty has done is shown us who the real leaders of our society are. They are the people who are full of kindness and charity. They are the one's who show up and get things done without worrying about credit. They are the one's who hide from the spotlight rather than shamelessly self-promote. There are plenty of good people in this world. I'm incredibly thankful for all of them and I look forward to amplifying their nature during this next year.

Adding additional lanes to Interstate 5 in the Rose Quarter will have no significant impact on the environment, according to a new environmental assessment from the federal and state transportation departments. Critics of the project believe that the agencies’ calculation fails to account for an increase in vehicle demand that will accompany lane expansion and are urging the state to use tolling to address congestion in the corridor before spending over $1 billion to widen the freeway.

“They are putting their thumbs on the scale to make these absurd claims that a billion dollar freeway expansion is somehow good for traffic, the planet, and the community’s lungs,” said Aaron Brown, a member of environmental group No More Freeways, during a press conference.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) was directed by the state legislature in 2017 to address congestion in the Rose Quarter section of I-5. The area is considered the worst bottleneck in the state, creating hours of congestion along a major freight route. ODOT’s solution was a proposal to add two “auxiliary lanes”—lanes added for onramp-to-offramp connections—and to study traffic tolling possibilities as a solution.

An environmental assessment of the project conducted by ODOT and the Federal Highway Administration in 2019 found that the proposed lane changes to the corridor would have no significant impact on the environment.

However, ODOT changed the design of the project following that determination, after hearing opposition from city leaders and community groups. The updated design proposed constructing a cover to dome over the freeway and act like a city block, connecting the historic Albina neighborhood that was splintered by I-5’s creation in the 1950s. In January, the Federal Highway Administration determined that the project’s design had changed enough since the original assessment that it rescinded its initial findings and required ODOT to perform an updated environmental assessment.

The updated environmental assessment, released last week, is nearly identical to the first assessment. The assessment finds that while the project may lead to a short term increase in air pollutants during construction, it will not have long-term impacts on air pollution in the project area. The report also found that regardless of the project, there will be an overall decrease in air pollution in the Rose Quarter section of I-5 by 2045 due to advances in fuel efficiency technology.

Advocates with No More Freeways believe that ODOT is not adequately accounting for induced demand—an observed phenomenon that when more space for cars is created, more cars will come to fill that space.

ODOT’s assessment does not attribute any changes in traffic along the corridor to induced demand. In its traffic projections, ODOT uses regional travel demand models from Metro, paired with highway capacity software to calculate projected freeway usage in 2045. According to ODOT’s calculations, trips would increase by 5 to 14 percent by 2045 along the corridor if the project is built, which the agency attributes to improved traffic flow, not additional demand.

No More Freeways believes that the agency should use modeling tools that place more emphasis on induced demand, like the calculator developed by nonpartisan energy research group Rocky Mountain Institute, to more accurately predict the impacts of adding additional lanes.

Joe Cortright, an economist and member of No More Freeways, said that because ODOT didn’t put more emphasis on the impact of induced demand in its modeling, the agency has “grossly underestimated the negative environmental effects on the region in the community.”

“The [I-5 expansion plan] is a safety improvement project that does not substantially improve highway capacity and is not expected to induce growth or create other effects that would cause indirect impacts,” the assessment states.

ODOT is using traffic projections from 2015 to inform its analysis, which critics say skews the findings due to both regional growth since 2015 and pandemic-related impacts on travel. ODOT’s own findings also indicate that adding tolling to the corridor during peak commute times would resolve congestion issues regardless of whether additional lanes are added, as first reported by the Oregonian. The state is planning on introducing tolling along parts of I-5 in 2026 and is expected to use tolling revenue to help pay for the $1.25 billion construction project.

Advocates with No More Freeways believe that ODOT could decrease the cost of the project, address congestion, and restore land to the Albina neighborhood by building the freeway cover, tolling the corridor as planned to reduce congestion, and not adding auxiliary lanes.

“We think capping the freeway is an excellent idea,” said Chris Smith, member of No More Freeways. “We simply don't believe that you need to widen it in order to cap it. Capping the existing freeway would go a long way toward restoring some of the restorative justice aspects that the neighborhood deserves.”

ODOT is accepting public comment on the environmental assessment until January 4, 2023, and hosting a virtual open house about the project on December 14. The agency is also taking public comment on its regional tolling plan until January 6, 2023, and holding two informational public webinars on the plan on November 29 and 30. 

This long weekend, there's a veritable cornucopia of cheap and easy events to check out, from the 38th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony to the 75th Anniversary Model Railroad Show and from Mike Bennett's Snow Day to Spectrum Holigay Art Market. For more ideas, check out our guide to this week's top events, and for suggestions on where shop local this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, check out our full guide to holiday markets. 

Local Comic Shop Day
In celebration of Local Comic Shop Day, which honors the role of locally owned, independent comic shops as "fire-starters of pop culture," Cosmic Monkey will offer a special selection of premium titles, listed here.
(Cosmic Monkey Comics, Rose City Park, free)

Calling all holiday gift givers!

You love giving gifts, AND supporting the local small business community, right? Well, this holiday season you have a choice where to spend your money. Through the haze of Black Friday ads for corporate retailers and 2nd-day-air delivery promises, if you look closely enough, you can find LOTS of local mom & pop shops bringing you lovingly-curated gift options. Don't forget: These businesses are the backbone of the city, and your buying choices can help ensure they stay that way. Support local and shop local... and the Mercury is here to help with our annual HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE!

And trust us when we say, our gift guide has something for EVERYONE on your holiday list—and that includes those hard-to-shop-for people! All these prezzies are conveniently listed under easy-to-use categories, such as gifts for Artsy Folks, Foodies, Stoners, Fashion Hounds, Adventurers, Lovers, and SO MUCH MORE!

Plus! Since more gift ideas are being added every day, come back often to check out what's new. So what are you waiting for? Show your favorite people (and Portland's local businesses) lots of love this holiday season... with the Mercury Holiday Gift Guide!

Despite seasonal focus on holiday shopping chaos, things are still looking promising on the Portland music front. There’s no shortage of releases to get into, and even a couple of upcoming shows that will warm things up. This week we’re stoked about a new project from rapper Milc, new single from Rules., and upcoming shows from epic local twosome Volcanic Pinnacles, Japanese psych rockers TEKE::TEKE, and music-minded drag performers Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme. 

MUST-SEE: 

Can’t miss upcoming events.

Saxophonist Tony Mowe (Modest Mouse, Phil Hesh) and drummer Mark Musselman formed Volcanic Pinnacles in 2012, and over the last decade, they've released a trio of EPs. Now the Portland-based jazz and post-rock duo are now finally releasing their debut LP Tablelands, on December 2. They recorded the experimental and cinematic album at Iconica Studios in Hollywood, CA, where the project was produced by Justin Longerbeam—whose collaboration credits include Portland’s claim-to-fame gems like Siren and the Sea’s For Bathing, and numerous hip-hop and R&B projects such as Chanti Darling’s RnB Vol. 1 and Blossom’s Tease, among others. Tablelands opens with a nine-minute track called, “Spirits of the Highest Clouds and Deepest Waters,” which lets you know how things are going to be: epic. At the close of final track “May All Beings Be Liberated,” it's apparent how much the whole ambient project feels like an uprising followed by war, and the deadly quiet that follows. Fans of British group Sons of Kemet will absolutely love “Festoon.” Days prior to Tablelands’ release, the band will play a celebratory show at the Doug Fir; they'll also have vinyl versions of the album available for presale. Get there promptly so as not to miss stellar openers, like instrumental post-rock four-piece a Collective Subconscious, and soul-fired singer-songwriter Yawa (FKA Amenta Abioto). (Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside, Wed Nov 30, 8 pm, $15, tickets here, 21+)

MUST-LISTEN: 

New release(s) from a Portland-relevant artist.   

We’re no stranger to discussing the recent releases of Portland-based rapper Milc—who's also one half of emcee duo Load B—like this year’s Windbreaker and 2021’s Tiger Milc. However, we'd feel remiss if we didn’t also alert readers to this local rap-goodness: On November 15, the stand-out emcee dropped yet another notable project, Neutral Milc Hotel. (The title pulled from ’90s indie band Neutral Milk Hotel.) With Oakland producer Televangel exclusively providing beats, the project kicks off with the vibe-setting opening track “King of Carrot Flowers pt. 4.”  There's a plenty of wordplay and references to take in, but we're especially fond of tracks “Ronald Reagan,” “Red Scare,” and “Dinner with Jay-Z.” The good news is with beats this euphonious and delivery this enjoyable, audiences are likely to tap repeat. 

<a href="https://televangel.bandcamp.com/album/neutral-milc-motel">Neutral Milc Motel by Milc & Televangel</a>

On Friday, a new single from indie rock project Rules. dropped, to the delight local audiences. Rules. is the solo project of drummer Parker Hall, who says he learned to play guitar and sing in order to record his 2019 solo EP Nights and Weekends—on which he sang, drummed, and played bass and guitar. The super chill new Rules. track “You Got It,” was mixed by Larry Crane at Jackpot! Studios, and mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Audio. It tells a couple’s mundane life story in three simple verses, ie. "You get your first paycheck in two weeks time/ Just enough to shop online." As Hall explains in an email, “it’s a tongue-in-cheek thing about a suburban white couple in California and their life struggles.”

ADDED TO THE QUEUE: 

Some upcoming music buzz to put on your radar.

This December show from Montreal-based Japanese psych-rock band TEKE TEKE is sure to coax hibernating music fans out of their winter cocoons. Fronted by captivating lead singer Maya Kuroki, the seven-piece group blends Eastern influences with West, fusing Japanese instruments with psych and punk guitar into exceedingly energetic and layered live shows (yes, that’s a cowbell you hear). Last year Kill Rock Stars released the group's debut, Shirushi, to much acclaim. There's another record in the works for summer 2023—co-produced with Daniel Schlett—but for now they’re taking their spit-fire songs on the road, providing a chance to catch live renditions of cinematic surf rock and psychedelia tracks like “Kala Kala” and “Meikyu” in intimate settings. Miraculously, the show isn’t sold out yet. (Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth, Tues, Dec 13, 8 pm, $14, tickets here, 21+) 

Who cares that his holiday show is happening after Christmas? I dare say we’ll accept a holiday show from hometown hero Jinkx Monsoon whenever she damn well wants to deliver! While Jinkx Monsoon grew up in Portland and got her start performing at spots like the now defunct Escape Nightclub, she and BenDeLaCreme rose to drag stardom after appearing on multiple seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race. In 2020, the two co-starred on The Jinkx & Dela Holiday Special, and it was definitely repeat-worthy entertainment. So this live show is a must-see, if you can swing it. Look forward to being blown away by top-notch comedic stage presence and Monsoon’s impressive pipes. Expect social commentary, reads, and of course, commiserating (with humor!) about the holidays. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Tues, Dec 27, 8 pm, $49-89 and up, tickets here, all ages)

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! And a very fine Drinksgiving to you. While this sub-holiday is mostly a circumstance of having Thursday off, and—in many cases—finding yourself back in your home town at the same time as far-flung friends, at least it's based on happenstance and not genocide! Raise a glass of whatever the evening calls for, stay up until you'll be too tired to fight your family on anything but the most important issues, and for goodness peas take a cab home! Now here's the news!

IN LOCAL NEWS:
• A related plug: Monday November 28-Sunday December 4 will be the Mercury's first ever Holiday Drink Week. Coming a little too late for Drinksgiving, but just in time to add some spice holiday to catchups, you’ll find $7 specially crafted cocktails at participating locations across Portland, and (against all reason and sense) they'll be available all day long. Take THAT seasonal depression!

• Okay, now for news news: According to a class action lawsuit, a new payroll system at Fred Meyer stores created widespread errors, causing some employees to only receive partial payment or in other cases none at all. While the issues remain unresolved a Fred Meyer representative told KOIN that, chain of hypermarket superstores, they "understand the impact."

• While Mount Hood Meadows originally planned to open its winter ski season this weekend, the ski park said this week that it would unfortunately need to delay the opening due to a lack of snow.

• People love to hate on the City of Roses, but do they know about our incredible market scene? Now you know:

The supply chain is all sorts of messed up and it’s prime porch thief season, so skip the hassles of holiday shopping at markets like ScanFair and Crafty Wonderland, which feature some of the city’s finest vendors, makers, and artisans. https://t.co/91vauFCiJd

— EverOut Portland (@EverOutPortland) November 23, 2022

• On Friday, a new exhibit from local artist Mike Bennett, titled Snow Day, opens to the public. “It’s ultimately a beautiful winter forest with a lot of original characters that you’ll get to explore,” Bennett told KOIN. “Mixed in is more of a seasonal store, as well, with photo opportunities and a lot of surprises and surprise guests throughout the season.”

IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
• People are without power in Ukraine, in cities from Lviv to Kharkiv, after a barrage of missiles from Russia bombarded the nation's energy facilities. The country's grid was barely recovering from another recent Russian attack, also aimed at energy systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had just announced a plan for such outages—which will grow more dangerous and deadly as winter sets in—called Points of Invincibility: a series of government centers to provide basic services ("electricity, mobile communications, internet access, heat, water, and first-aid supplies") in the event of prolonged blackouts.

• The nation awakens to another mass shooting, this time at a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia. A gunman fatally shot six people and wounded at least four others, the New York Times reports. He was found with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gun wound, also dead. Vice News reports that the gunman was a store manager and his victims were in the employee break room.

• Update on the horrible mass shooting that happened three days ago: Anderson Lee Aldrich, the person disarmed after they allegedly killed five people at Club Q in Colorado Springs on Saturday night will appear in court today. Prosecutors have yet to file formal charges, but Aldrich's defense said late last night that the suspect is nonbinary—and I don't have to tell you that's going to lead to a lot of bullshit think pieces.

• American poet Bernadette Mayer died yesterday. She was 77.

Bernadette Mayer, from MIDWINTER DAY pic.twitter.com/AIsF58aghT

— Ryan Ruby (@_ryanruby_) November 23, 2022

• Facing off against court challenges to the legality of the Biden-Harris loan forgiveness plan, President Biden has extended the pause on student loan repayment until June 2023. Payments were set to begin in January, but the new extension moves repayments to 60 days after that June 30—why didn't they just say August? That is also a question I have!

• Here's a little something for the people who like to see former President Donald Trump upset. The Supreme Court said yesterday that the House can have his tax records.

• Now, here's your energy for the day:

@olliollioxenfreee #catsoftiktok #fyp #christmastree ♬ Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus

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! Recently, while drunk, I asserted that “all meat is ghost meat,” and while I don’t think I’m correct, I do think I’m right. Now for the news!

IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt announced yesterday that, going forward, his office will publish weekly lists of cases that are dismissed due to a lack of public defenders. He called the defense attorney shortage "a threat to public safety." While this may feel like a confusing new development, it's actually been brewing, in one way or another, with no obvious solution in sight.

• A man who murdered his wife and her sister before killing himself was allegedly wearing a GPS ankle tracker, which could have brought help if law enforcement saw him violating a condition of his release, but Washington County Circuit Court said they don't monitor the trackers outside normal business hours.

Last week, there was a double murder/suicide in Washington County.

The man accused of killing his wife and her sister had been arrested 6-weeks earlier, accused of domestic violence.

He wasn't supposed to see his family & had a GPS monitor. https://t.co/O48W5NXmyy

— Genevieve Reaume (@GenevieveReaume) November 22, 2022

• Have you picked out a holiday after-feast—or a in lieu of feast—movie? If Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio—which opens on 35mm at the Hollywood tomorrow—has your interest peaked, check out Chase Hutchinson's review! 

• Also in Portland movie and movie-adjacent news, John Waters will celebrate his 77th birthday at Aladdin Theater, and the Clinton is running a week of Waters' cult films to celebrate—it's all happening in April, but we figured you would want a heads up!

• I continue to have no clue what you should buy for your loved ones during this winter holiday buying things time, but the Mercury's HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE has a ton of ideas, separated into categories like: artsy, foodie, stoner—better known as the three genders.

IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
• A brief order from the Supreme Court today ended the years long debate over former President Donald Trump's tax returns. The Treasury Department will turn over six years worth of returns to the House, ending a legal battle that began in 2019.

• Amidst confusion over whether or not a future for student loan forgiveness remains, the nation's education department began sending out emails to applicants whose petitions had already been approved, in an attempt to keep them informed. "We will discharge your approved debt if and when we prevail in court,” the Hill reports the emails read. On Twitter, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wrote: “Borrowers, remember, we will not stop fighting for you.”

• The tech world implosion (or decadal return to the sea?) continues, as Hewlett-Packard announced it plans to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs over the next three years.

• You may remember the erroneous news from last week, about Russia firing on Poland—it's now believed Ukraine fired a Russian missile and some Russian missile in defense and one hit a silo in Poland. Associated Press fired the reporter with the faulty news, but it's not yet clear why he alone took the fall. 

Here are the messages showing the chaotic editorial process that resulted in last week’s erroneous AP story about missiles hitting Poland.

The AP fired @JimLaPorta, but these messages show a rushed process with misunderstandings by multiple parties: https://t.co/KjGjYWGt2V pic.twitter.com/gSEEiEVUfg

— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) November 22, 2022

• This is the vibe not only for watching movies without subtitles but also just for life in general, lately. Everything makes so much sense!

@jaykmatt

 

♬ original sound - BenAllenCurry

The supply chain is all sorts of messed up and it’s prime porch thief season, so skip the hassles of holiday shopping and support local businesses with these curated markets featuring the city’s finest vendors, makers, and artisans. From procrastinators to folks looking to support social causes with their dollars to shoppers looking for a luxe experience, there's a market this season that will fit your needs. Happy shopping, happy gifting, and happy holidays! 

Buckman Makers Market & Bar Hop
Bounce between Ecliptic's Moon Room, Cascade Brewing Barrel House, Rogue's Eastside Pub to shop 30 local makers while enjoying local brews.
Various locations (Fri Nov 25)

Indigenous Marketplace: Winter Pop-Ups
Find unique gifts handcrafted by 15 Indigenous and Black vendors at this weekend pop-up, then warm up with bevvies and snacks inside Bar Carlo.
Bar Carlo, Foster-Powell (Nov 25-26)

Portland holds a lot of love for John Waters. The cult classic film director tours through nearly every winter holiday season, like a scandalous Santa—sans presents, plus vices. However, this year's John Waters Christmas show on December 1 is already sold out, potentially disappointing those who missed him due to widespread cancelations in 2020, or who weren't going out yet in 2021.

There's good news: Waters has elected to return in April 2023 to celebrate his birthday in Portland with another show—which won't be holiday themed. And at least one local cinematic institution responded to the show announcement by programming a week of cult film screenings in his honor. April is beginning to look very JohnWaters.

Aladdin Theater announced recently that Waters will celebrate his 77th birthday on April 22, performing his newer spoken word show End of the World, which touches on themes of sexual transgression, despair, the movie business, and how to "embrace stupidity in an intellectual way."

The Clinton Street Theater similarly announced they're throwing themselves into the John Waters birthday spirit as well, programming a week of classic Waters films around the Aladdin show, like Polyester (1981), Serial Mom (1994), and one of Waters' earliest films Multiple Maniacs (1970), among others.

"We'll have more surprises in store and a poster made by a local artist to share soon," Aaron Colter, one of the Clinton's co-owners, told the Mercury. Coulter also reminded the Mercury that Waters recorded a special message on the occasion of the Clinton's hundredth birthday. Birthday recognize birthday. You can watch it below:

John Waters performs End of the World at Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Sat April 22, 8 pm, $37-$125, tickets here, all ages; the Happy Birthday John Waters series screens Mon Apr 17 - Sun Apr 23 at Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton, various times, $8, tickets here, all ages

[ Read more ]

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!

Morning, Portland! We might actually see some rain today and a high in the low 50s. Now onto the news.

In local news:

• The Grant County Sheriff arrested a leader of a US Forest Service crew in October after a prescribed burn “escaped”—exceeded the fire line—and burned about 20 acres of private land. The incident has sparked a debate over what it means to keep communities safe against fire. “The sheriff felt like he was protecting the community and restoring justice, and I think it’s just the opposite,” a fire ecologist told OPB. “One of the intentions of that prescribed fire was to make the community safer in the event of a future wildfire.”

• Students at Portland Community College now have access to a plane to practice aviation repairs and learn about mechanics on—neat! The plane was a donation from Alaska Airlines, which is retiring a fleet of 20-year-old planes. The airline industry is expecting a shortage of workers in the next 20 years, incentivizing industry giants to collaborate with training programs to provide access to modern plane technology.

• A Q & A with Shannon Singleton, the outgoing director of the Joint Office of Homeless Service:

Outgoing JOHS Director Singleton addresses the inner workings of the region's largest homelessness agency, the public's misgivings about its output, and hopes for the future.https://t.co/buMbTliyRx

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) November 21, 2022

• Twenty environmental and community groups are calling on the city to walk back its approval of a permit given to Zenith Energy last month, claiming that the city should have gathered public input before making a decision about the permit. The city maintains that it didn't have to seek public input, because determining whether fuel trains should continue to run through Portland neighborhoods was strictly an administrative decision.

•  Rich in detail and often darker in tone, Guillermo del Torro’s Pinocchio breathes new life into a fantasy story done to death, writes film critic Chase Hutchinson. However, it could have gone a little harder on the fascism. The film opens Wednesday at the Hollywood Theater.

Portlanders mourn victims of mass shooting at LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs https://t.co/vw9rr7ZByi

— KGW News (@KGWNews) November 22, 2022

In national news:

• Alabama is pausing executions after the state failed to properly administer a lethal injection for the third time since 2018, an unprecedented blunder. Governor Kay Ivey ordered a review of the state’s lethal injection process to identify the problems, but largely implied that the failed executions were the fault of “criminals hijacking the system,” not prison staff or the state’s equipment. Failed lethal injection includes not being able to find a vein, not being able to establish an IV line, and a failure to properly check the drugs used in the execution.

• President Biden pardoned two turkeys named Chocolate and Chip Monday, an annual Thanksgiving tradition. According to the White House Historical Association, the turkey pardon tradition started out as more of a competition of what turkey farmer would provide the White House with a Thanksgiving turkey that slowly evolved into an official presidential pardon starting with George H. Bush, who pardoned the turkey due to animal rights protesters.

A mother. A bartender living his dream. A woman who helped other trans women.

Here's what we know about the victims killed in the Club Q shooting in Colorado. (@CPRNews) https://t.co/qd1UYl6qpx

— NPR (@NPR) November 22, 2022

• New York issued its first 36 licenses for cannabis dispensaries Monday since legalizing recreational marijuana in March 2021. The state plans to give out 175 licenses during its first round of applications, with a preference for applicants with past marijuana convictions.

• I wasn’t sure what I expected to find when Tampax was trending on Twitter yesterday, but it sure wasn’t this:

You're in their DMs. We're in them.
We are not the same.

— Tampax US (@Tampax) November 21, 2022