PORTLAND DRIZZLE

🫗Monday for you. Sunny today, high near 87, with another big heat wave coming this week. About 100 city employees get laid off starting today as Portland's budget cuts take effect. A major fire burned on the waterftont, and new steakhouse The Malarkey opened in the Pearl. Also it’s nickel beer night at the Pickles game and it’s sold out. NICKEL BEERS!

A large fire tore through the vacant Centennial Mills warehouse on Northwest Naito Parkway near the Fremont Bridge Sunday afternoon, sending plumes of smoke visible for miles. Portland Fire & Rescue arrived to heavy fire on the first floor spreading fast to the second, and quickly declared it an "unsafe building," meaning crews could only fight it from outside. A grass fire broke out next to the warehouse on top of the main blaze, and a water tower beside the building caught fire too, with a spokesperson warning it could collapse onto nearby railroad tracks. Crews said the building appeared to be leaning inward, and they're hoping any collapse stays that way. Naito Parkway was shut down completely while crews worked the scene. KGW

About 100 Portland city employees are laid off starting today, the sharpest cut in a budget season that trimmed roughly 140 positions citywide. The $8.5 billion budget, adopted in June to close a record $170 million shortfall, keeps every fire station, park, and pool open, and protects all police jobs. It does not protect much else. Homeless shelter funding drops 31 percent, street outreach support falls by more than a third, and bureaus across the city lose techs, admins, and support staff. Council later clawed back about 30 of those positions in a follow-up vote, restoring some public safety and parks jobs. The rest, effective today, are just gone. portland.gov

One person is dead and five others injured after gunfire broke out at a house party in Northeast Portland's Cully neighborhood early Sunday morning. Police said officers responded to the 5800 block of Northeast Alberta Street just after 3:30am and found two victims with gunshot wounds; four more turned up at hospitals in private vehicles. The dead victim was an 18 year old man. The other five, including a 15 year old, are expected to survive. Investigators described the scene as chaotic, with hundreds of people in the area and shell casings scattered across three blocks. Officers had visited the same party earlier in the night for noise complaints but left believing it had cooled down. No arrests have been made. portland.gov

The Malarkey, celebrity chef Brian Malarkey's 10,000-square-foot Pearl District steakhouse, opened its doors this week at 1210 NW Hoyt. Think wood-fired steaks, a raw bar, a sunken cocktail lounge, and a private dining nook honoring Portland-born aviator Hazel Ying Lee. Theatrical, loud, and very on-brand. I haven’t made it there yet but here’s what Christian R said on Google:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“Went in blind on just the second day they were opened and I was blown away. The environment and vibe of the place were very Portland and makes you feel at home. I havent seen a large scale restaurant like this open up in Portland in a long time. When it was described as a steakhouse I was a bit surprised because they have so much variety of food. The ceviche was my favorite for sure. Need to go back just for that. Tried steak, pork and multiple sides & drinks everything was just great. For me it is a special occasion type restaurant for sure but it was definitely worth it. Fun atmosphere, service was top notch and they really made it feel different than other good restaurants.”

We mark the birthday of Portland-born actor Gordon Scott, who left the Rose City for Hollywood and swung through five Tarzan films in the 1950s.

Enjoy those 5 cent beers responsibly! jk go nuts.

by Michael Simpson Contact: [email protected]