Oregon
A Quick Trip To Portland (Oregon, Not Maine)
Posted on April 17, 2024
Posted by Athena Scalzi
In a recent post of mine, I said that I felt like I wasn’t doing much of the things I enjoy lately. One of these things is travel, and another is spending time with friends. When the opportunity arises to combine the two, who could say no? So at the end of March, I popped over to the West coast to spend a few days with an old college pal who is currently living in Portland, Oregon. She played tour guide and showed me around to some amazing spots in Portland. We hung out, had good food, good drinks, and had a great time overall. I thought I’d share some highlights with y’all!
I had been to Portland once before, when I was sixteen for the 2015 Westercon. From what I remembered, I quite liked Portland, and coming back almost ten years later seemed like a lot of fun.
My flight arrived into PDX at 8:30pm, and I ended up making it to my friends place at about 9:30, so they suggested a place that was open late for food. Specifically, a place that is only open late, that being between 7pm to midnight, and they only serve coffee, tea, and desserts.
I thought that sounded just like my cup of tea (ha!), and we walked a few blocks to Rimsky-Korsakoffee House. I was so excited to try it, but when we stepped inside I realized I had literally been here before. Some very cool people from Westercon had taken me here, and it was only when I saw that familiar, whimsical, cozy string lighting that I recognized it. Regardless, I was more than happy to be back, and had a difficult time choosing what dessert to get.
I ended up getting the Ginger Cake with Warm Caramel Sauce, and an orange cappuccino. The ginger cake was for sure an amazing choice if I do say so myself, as it was warm, moist, and spiced to perfection. The orange cappuccino was a wonderful pairing. Honestly if I lived in Portland I would make it a point to try every dessert listed.
The next morning, it was a short jaunt over to Flour Bloom, a coffee shop that has plants, pastries, and, you guessed it, coffee!
There was art for sale from local artists, tons of plants you could buy, and a photobooth. My friend and I both got “The Flower Child”, which is a honey-lavender-rose latte with cardamom and dried rose petals.
(Though we got the same drink, my friend got hers with oat milk, so it’s a slightly different color than mine.)
After our coffee, my friend took me all around the Industrial District and we explored so many different and super unique antique/vintage/thrift stores.
One of them had this vintage style kitchen that was totally to die for.
As well as this super cool wall of old stereos!
After gettin’ my thrift on (I bought so many trinkets), we headed to McMenamin’s Kennedy School. It’s basically an old elementary school that got repurposed into a hotel and restaurant type of thing.
Again, I realized I’d been here before, but my friend and I got to do something I didn’t do last time, which was spend an hour in their soaking pool. I love me a good warm body of water to relax in, especially when accompanied by a crisp, cold cider. I got the blackberry cider and my friend got the blood orange ginger cider. I didn’t take any pictures of the pool or anything because it was prohibited (which is totally understandable). It was a great time despite it being a little crowded.
For dinner we went to a modern Japanese place not far from my friend’s apartment called Wa Kitchen Kuu, where we tried a sake flight, some seriously good chicken, and I also got a roll.
Everything was so delish, I was tempted to go back for dinner or lunch another day, but my friend said we should try to avoid repeats and I agreed.
After dinner we went to Studio One to see a movie, and it was unlike any theater I’ve seen before. Each auditorium has a different name and is set up with all sorts of comfy furniture, like couches and plush chairs. There’s also tables for your drinks and food. Which, by the way, you can order your drinks and food right from your seat! Like real, hot food, not just movie theater popcorn. And also drinks with alcohol in them! It was so luxe.
We had already had dinner so I just got a drink and a crème brûlée, which was extremely yummy. We had intended on seeing Godzilla: Minus One, but accidentally saw Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. It was very bad. But honestly laughing at it the whole time with my friend was so fun it was worth seeing that garbage.
And that completed my first full day in Portland! The next day, my friend and I got breakfast at a place called Harlow which is classified on Google as a health food restaurant and I can totally see why. I got the pesto garden scramble which was eggs, seasonal vegetables, yams, potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale, with walnut basil pesto. Plus a side of quinoa.
This was so tasty and filling, and I felt so healthy eating it! The bee pollen on top of my turmeric golden latte with coconut milk might’ve been too healthy for my taste, but these veggies, eggs, and pesto really hit it out of the park.
Later on we grabbed a quick bubble tea from Mochinut. I got the Thai tea which is one of my favorite kinds of boba to get.
That night we were going to a club called 45 East for a rave, and I had nothing to wear to said rave, so we went shopping at this very interesting shop that had Halloween costumes, huge platform shoes, lingerie, wild accessories, all sorts of funky stuff! I threw together an outfit of a black dress, neon green fishnets, and these absolutely amazing Demonia boots.
I’d always wanted to go to a rave and I was not disappointed. The music was boppin’, the people were friendly, the lights were colorful, and it was so much fun. My feet definitely hurt from dancing, though.
After that we popped over to a nearby restaurant for a quick bite and a drink, and I got a seriously delicious drink called “Dirty Pretty Dirty Chai” which was chai infused vodka, Mr. Black cold brew, miso-vanilla, and oatmilk. I also got these strange, fried deviled eggs.
They were certainly something.
The next day I got to go to the infamous Portland Saturday Market. It’s basically a giant art vendor market and there’s also things that aren’t art, like clothing, home decor, and food (not that home decor and clothing can’t be works of art).
There was so much to see, so many more vendors than I thought there would be! If I hadn’t had to fly home with my suitcase, I would’ve bought way more stuff. But I ended up buying a few items like a shirt, some stickers, and I got some food, too. My favorite thing I ate was this rice pudding.
Following the market, my friend took me to Lan Su Chinese Garden, which was a beautiful place full of Chinese history, culture, and gorgeous foliage. Not only did we walk through the tranquil gardens, but we stopped at the lovely tea house and had tea and pastries. I honestly didn’t take many pictures because I was trying to really soak everything in and just enjoy the flowers, tea, and nice weather. It was an excellent time.
After walking around downtown for a bit and exploring some more, we stopped at Dan & Louis Oyster Bar, and I was so excited to get some West coast oysters while being in the actual West coast!
These oysters were really good, I honestly wanted to get more but I ended up being pretty full from the clam chowder, calamari, and shrimp cocktail we had.
That night we went to my friend’s friend’s party, a Queer Prom, and I met so many amazing people and had such a fun time, and the party lasted late into the night.
And then the next day I flew home!
My time in Portland was time very well spent, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I loved hanging with my friend and meeting her friends, had so much good food, saw so much unique, cool stuff, and was just glad to be out doing something I like to do. It was great.
Have you ever been to Portland, or maybe even live in Portland? Do you have recommendations for me for the next time I go? Do you like thrifting and West coast oysters? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day!
-AMS
The Oregon Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a Lane County man who once photographed child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey and was convicted in 2021 on several child pornography charges.
Randall DeWitt Simons, 73, of Oakridge, was charged in 2019 with 15 counts of first-degree encouraging child sex abuse. He was later convicted on every count and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Simons was first arrested after authorities began investigating a report from a restaurant in Oakridge that someone had been using the restaurant’s Wi-Fi to download inappropriate and concerning images.
Law enforcement officers directed the business to track, log, and report all of the user’s internet activity to the investigating officer for more than a year, without a warrant.
Police tracked the computer’s IP address from the restaurant’s Wi-Fi system, which led officers to a man who lived near the restaurant and had given Simons a computer, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Lane County Circuit Court. Investigators obtained a warrant to search the laptop in Simon’s home, relying on information they had collected over time. He was subsequently arrested.
On March 26, the court ruled warrantless internet surveillance on public Wi-Fi violates privacy.
In an opinion written by Justice Bronson D. James, the court held that the Oregon Constitution recognizes people have a right to privacy in their internet browsing activities and the right is not extinguished when they use a publicly accessible wireless network. It’s even true in cases where that access is conditioned on a person accepting a terms-of-service agreement that says a provider may monitor activity and cooperate with law enforcement, James wrote.
During criminal proceedings in the Lane County Circuit Court, Simons moved to controvert the warrant and suppress the evidence obtained by police, arguing the business was a “state actor for purposes of Article I, section 9, and that its year-long warrantless surveillance was an unconstitutional, warrantless search attributable to the state,” the Supreme Court opinion said.
The Circuit Court denied Simon’s motion. The Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision in part and stated Simons had no cognizable privacy interest in his internet activities performed on a third-party network.
The Oregon Supreme Court rejected the state’s argument.
“The mere fact that a person accesses the internet through a public network does not eliminate their Article I, section 9, right to privacy in their online activities,” according to James. “Even when access is expressly conditioned on a user’s acceptance of terms-of-service provisions purporting to alert the user that the provider may monitor activity and cooperate with law enforcement.”
Justice K. Bushong suggested in a partial dissent the Court should reconsider its approach in a future case to what constitutes a “search” under the Oregon Constitution. The court’s decision reverses the Court of Appeals and sends the case back to the Lane County Circuit Court for further proceedings.
Simons has maintained his innocence since he was arrested in 2019.
Simons had been a photographer for 6-year-old Colorado beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey a few months before her still-unsolved 1996 murder, the Associated Press reported in 1998.
In October 1998, Simons was arrested on a charge of indecent exposure in Lincoln County, Colorado. According to the book “Perfect Murder, Perfect Town” by Lawrence Schiller, Simons was arrested in 1998 for allegedly walking nude down a residential street in the small town of Genoa, Colorado. Simons allegedly offered to the arresting deputy unprovoked, “I didn’t kill JonBenét.”
Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.
Umatilla, Morrow counties establish Young Republicans of Oregon chapter
Published 8:00 pm Wednesday, March 25, 2026
IRRIGON — Young Republicans living in Umatilla and Morrow counties now can join a local chapter of the statewide Young Republicans of Oregon organization.
The Umatilla Morrow Young Republicans will advance Republican values and leadership in young residents through political training, networking opportunities and connection to Republican leaders. The group is focused on young adults, generally attracting college-aged people, though it includes people aged 18 to 40.
The five Young Republicans of Oregon members living in Umatilla and Morrow counties elected three officers to lead their new chapter. Irrigon’s Evan Purves was elected chair, with Connor Roberts of Hermiston as his vice chair and Kaelyn Moore of Milton-Freewater serving as secretary.
“I am super grateful for this opportunity to lead my neighbors,” Purves said. “It’s going to be really fun. We have some good events planned.”
Purves, 19, is a student at Blue Mountain Community College who eventually hopes to pursue a four-year degree in public administration. He initially became interested in the Young Republicans during an internship with Oregon state Rep. Greg Smith, of Heppner. He said it was an experience that showed him how the legislature works.
The internship also inspired him to step into a leadership role with the Young Republicans and help establish a local chapter of the organization. The newest chapter of the Young Republicans of Oregon, which was announced Monday, March 23, has been in the works since November 2025.
The Young Republicans of Oregon State Chair, Tanner Elliott, said the new chapter — the fourth chapter statewide — indicates momentum for conservative values.
“In less than a year, we’ve continued expanding because young conservatives are stepping up and getting involved in their communities,” Elliott said. “I want to congratulate the chapter’s leadership team on their election and especially commend their new chair Evan Purves for taking on this role. I’m confident this group will make a meaningful impact in Eastern Oregon and help drive our organization forward.”
Future plans in Umatilla, Morrow counties
The leadership team of UMYR already is making efforts to effect change.
In early May, Purves said, Umatilla Morrow Young Republicans will host a door knocking campaign in support of Smith’s reelection campaign. There also will be an official kickoff event the same weekend celebrating the new chapter and outlining priorities for the future.
“If there’s anything that we might struggle with is membership,” he said. “The recruiting part is us going out there and hosting events and socials, having opportunities for people to come out and do something fun that anybody’s invited to.”
Regarding other priorities, voter engagement is important to Purves,
“Even though we live in a big conservative area, there’s not a lot of politically engaged people, especially in my generation,” he said. “We want to get them involved.”
He said one of his concerns is businesses leaving the state due to policies that aren’t friendly to corporations, a common issue raised by Republican lawmakers. The decisions being made impact every community, he said, and he wants to have a say in what the leaders are doing.
“These bills affect all of us,” he said. “It’s just important to get people involved and get people to vote and be a part of it.”
People interested in updates on the efforts of the Umatilla Morrow Young Republicans can follow the group on Facebook or Instagram or become a member at yro.gop.
Doorbell camera shows fireball streaking across the sky over Stow, Ohio,
Thousands of people across eastern Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania heard a loud boom that the National Weather Service (NWS) said may have been caused by a meteor.
Yet another meteor has entered the Earth’s atmosphere.
Onlookers across parts of California, Nevada, Washington and Oregon spotted another space rock streaking across the sky on Monday, March 23.
Jason Jenkins, who spotted the fireball while driving to work, told ABC News that the meteor reminded him of a “lightning strike because it was so bright.”
“The video doesn’t do justice on how bright and close it seemed,” Jenkins added.
The American Meteor Society received 137 witness reports and 11 videos chronicling the brief but dazzling moment.
Watch ‘fireball’ streak across Oregon skyline
Videos show green fireball streaking across night sky
A green fireball was seen crossing the sky in the Pacific Northwest.
From northeast Ohio to Texas, the March 23 event was the latest in a series of sightings across the U.S. this week. Those sightings were characterized by a “loud boom” and a rogue meteor fragment.
Hundreds of people in California, Nevada and Arizona captured another “shooting star” on camera this last weekend. The vast majority of reports came out of California.
A bright, glowing orb zipping through the night sky, trailed closely by a signature fiery “tail,” is seen in various clips shared by awestruck residents over the course of the week. Some even reported a greenish-yellow glow as the space rock lit up the sky for about five seconds.
What is a meteor?
Meteors, like comets or asteroids, are space rocks that orbit the sun, according to NASA.
Often called “shooting stars,” meteors come from meteoroids − small, often pebble-sized pieces that break off asteroids or comets. When a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, it becomes a meteor.
Because meteors enter the atmosphere at such high speeds, the space rocks burn up as they fall from our sky, creating the streak of light we commonly know as a shooting star or “fireball.”
If a meteor survives the entry and ends up on the ground (or lodged in someone’s roof), it is then called a meteorite.
Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY
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