Friday's sunny and warm, high near 80. Remember Romeo, the cute dog from yesterday? Someone adopted him! Romeo is now called Jefe, and he has a new home with the father of one of our Drizzle readers, Ren W. My heart is full today! Pride weekend kicks off downtown, Cathedral Park's jazz festival tunes up in St. Johns, and Chris Stapleton takes over Providence Park tonight. Basically pick a direction and there's a party. Portland in July doing its one good trick.
Jefe with his happy new Dad
🚨 THE NEWS
Pearl District residents didn't wait for City Hall
A group of volunteers just launched Pearl Patrol, an all-volunteer foot patrol covering 120 blocks, four parks, and dozens of small businesses in the neighborhood. Patrollers wear white vests, walk in pairs, and keep a direct line to Portland Police and Portland Street Response, whose citywide calls jumped from 3,796 in Q2 2025 to 5,528 this year. PDNA president Bruce Studer says it's a response to staffing and budget pressure at the city. Organizer Jim Rice frames it less as vigilante energy and more as neighbors showing up for neighbors. No badges, no weapons, just vests and phone numbers. Sometimes community means doing the walk yourself. KPTV
Naked, alleged, and not guilty (so far)
A Portland man pleaded not guilty Monday to trying to kidnap a 7-year-old girl at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where witnesses say police took more than 30 minutes to respond. Daniel Vasey, 31, faces attempted kidnapping, assault, and harassment charges after allegedly grabbing the girl from her family Saturday while naked. Bystanders restrained him until officers arrived. Police blame the delay on a domestic violence call downtown that pulled in a SWAT team for seven hours, leaving Central Precinct short nine officers that night. Vasey is due back in court July 31. The family was visiting from out of state. Portland's summer, unfortunately, comes with its own kind of weather. KATU
Pride weekend is here, whether the calendar agrees or not
Pride weekend is officially here, even though Pride Month wrapped weeks ago (Portland runs on its own calendar). The Portland Pride Waterfront Festival takes over Tom McCall Waterfront Park Saturday and Sunday, with the parade stepping off Sunday at 11 a.m. from the North Park Blocks. This year's theme is Made with Pride, honoring the LGBTQIA2S+ community's creativity and entrepreneurship. Suggested donation is $10, nobody turned away. Beyond the festival, expect drag brunches, a Dyke March, late-night parties at Crystal Ballroom, and CC Slaughters hosting the parade's hub all weekend. However you celebrate, Portland's doing it loud this year. KOIN
TOP 20 FOOD CARTS SPOTLIGHT
The Heist Bar & Food Carts, photo from Google
Craving something? Portland Mercury's Top 20 Food Carts list is stacked. Dig into Frybaby's gochujang wings, dripping and crisp. Try A Comer's tacos de canasta, steamed in chile oil until they're floppy and rich. Kee’s #Loaded Kitchen serves cornmeal-battered catfish in a plate so large - “how large is it!?” - really quite large. And Cookie McCakeFace's stuffed cookies are borderline illegal. Go hungry. Go often.
📚 ON THIS DAY
The Hollywood Theatre opened its doors on July 17, 1926. A century later it's still showing movies in the same building. They are celebrating with a whole week of their favorite movies HERE
🥳 UPCOMING EVENTS
