Your Daily Guide

PCC Strike Ends

The first ever strike at Portland Community College has ended after three weeks. Classes are expected to resume on Monday, a week after the scheduled end of spring break. The faculty union reached a deal, though it still needs to be ratified by its 1,600 members. The union representing staff settled earlier. [Oregonian]

Portland’s James Beard Finalists

The James Beard awards, nicknamed the “Oscars of the Food World,” are a big deal for Portland bars and restaurants. This year our city has three nominations — a relatively small number, given Portland’s record of punching above its weight for these culinary honors. [Oregonian]

• The 3 finalists: Scotch Lodge for Outstanding Bar, as well as Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Gado Gado and Ryan Roadhouse of Nodoguro for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific.

Blazers Sale Goes Through

The NBA has approved the widely anticipated sale of the Portland Trail Blazers to the group led by billionaire Tom Dundon — for a reported $4.25 billion. It’s the first time the team has changed hands since the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen bought the team back in 1988. The proceeds, according to his will, will go to philanthropy. [OPB]

Out on the Oregon Coast, April means it’s time to celebrate the puffin’s seasonal return to Cannon Beach, which will host an annual Puffin Welcome Ceremony on April 13.

It’s also time to pay taxes (including the local ones for arts, homeless services, and preschools). And watch out for April Fools Day!

Here’s some other happenings this month:

🍴 Food & Drink

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about food and drink this month, starting today:

Portland Sourdough Showcase | April 1

This afternoon, you can sample sourdough bread from the best bakers around. It’s the second annual celebration of National Sourdough Day. (We’re so into sourdough, shouldn’t this be an official city holiday?)

Pipsqueak Bagels | April 11

There are plenty of bagel shops around town (I like Henry Higgins; podcast host Claudia Meza likes Sincerely Bagel), but everyone seems to hope for even better options. Baker Madilyn Gibbons has been selling her bagels at farmers markets and Puff Coffee, but now will have her own shop in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood.

• Other exciting openings: Portland Monthly has a run-down of the most anticipated restaurant and bar openings coming this spring and summer — including one that opened in the last several days: Guay Tiew (specialty: Thai street noodles).

🦀 Astoria Warrenton Crab & Wine Fest | April 24

Get yourself some crab at this local festival on the Oregon Coast. (Hat tip to our contributor Brianna Wheeler for this one.)

🗳️ Civic Engagement

There are a couple chances to make sure your voice is heard this month:

City Budget Input

The city is preparing for its next budget year by hearing from Portlanders. (Hat tip to senior creative producer Giulia Fiaoni for this one.)

Catch the one in your district (District 2 already hosted one this past month):

• 🏛️ District 4 Budget Open House | April 4 | Portland Building (Downtown)
• 🏛️ District 3 Budget Open House | April 8 | Marysville Elementary School (Foster-Powell)
• 🏛️ District 1 Budget Open House | April 13 | Sacramento Elementary School (Parkrose Heights)

✅ Register to Vote | April 28

April 28 is the last day to register to vote for the May primary. If you’re new to town, it takes just a few minutes. And the May primary is scheduled to include a vote on repealing the gas tax.

Other Fun and Quirky Happenings Around Town

Of course, we’ll have more things to do in our daily events listings. But here are a few particularly intriguing ones to start filling in your calendar for the month.

• 🎬 Pee-wee's Most Favoritest Films | Starting April 5 | Portland Art Museum
• 🎭 Fertile Ground Festival | Starting April 10 | various locations
• 🚴 The Ladds 500 | April 11 | Ladd Circle
• 💃 80s Video Dance Attack 21st Anniversary Party | April 18 | Revolution Hall

For more ideas for the month, check out the City Cast Portland podcast’s guide to the month.