Something Queer About Portland's Film Festival, and No We Don't Mean Weird

It's time again for the Portland Queer Documentary Film festival, and the famously weird town will be inundated with with a healthy dose of Queer art, culture and best of all cinema. Chief amongst all, however, will be Travis Mathew and James Franco's “Interior. Leather Bar.” and Buck Angel's “Mr. Angel.

Portland Peacefully Protests Water Fluoridation

In DC it's all about Benghazi or the IRS, but in Portland, Oregon the first thing on the docket is weirdness, of course. A close second, however, would be the raging fluoride debate, which has sparked protests throughout the city. Completely peaceful, but underlining a unique divide in the already culturally diverse city, it's anyone's guess which way the water fluoridation debate will blow.

Second Annual Feast Portland Coming In September

Already amongst the most popular events in Portland, the second annual Bon Appétit Presents: Feast Portland is coming to town and with it a host of major stars both local and international. Alongside this great collection of entertainers and musicians comes a host of events to make September's big meal one heck of a day to remember.

Portland's Space Gallery Hosts Portland Chamber Music Festival

>With a charmingly relaxed environment, the Space Gallery in Portland has made it easy to let loose and enjoy a cocktail to the sweet sound of classical music. Featuring songs from composers Zorn and Reich, with deliciously sophisticated pieces to accompany some seriously satisfying cocktails, the Gallery has gone above and beyond.

University of Portland sells Dalai Lama Event Tickets

Appearing for an event called The Dalai Lama Environmental Summit in Portland, Oregon, the University of Portland will begin to sell tickets on May 9th for the Dalai Lama's “Universal Responsibility and the Inner Environment: the Nature of Mind” public address. Appearing along with the Dalai Lama will be local religious leaders from various world faiths, including the Archdiocese of Portland.

Tickets go on sale today for the Dalai Lama’s visit to Portland on May 9-11. Tickets are $25 for each event.

Education Initiative Announced in Portland

In a time fraught with austerity and the tightening of belts, Portland is once more going against the grain, this time by introducing a major revitalization initiative for Portland's public schools, with aspects targeting students all the way from kindergarten to college readiness and beyond. The project's eventual goal is to raise $2 to $5 million for the assistance of Portland's high school graduates to make it to college.

Comic Con Portland Leaves Sufficiently Weird Memories

Comic Con's the world over are notorious for being a little on the odd side, but combined with Portland's traditional weirdness, the weekend's festivities – up to an including a bagpipe solo from Darth Vadar on a unicycle – left attendees with fond and sufficiently weird memories to burn an inescapable hole in their hearts for years to come.

Portland Proposes Clean Power from Pipes

In a move that screams “perpetual energy” – and not in a good way – Portland's Lucid Energy Inc. has proposed a new form of turbine to be placed within the city's water system to provide energy to sell back to the grid. It's easy to wonder how much energy they expect to harvest, since they must use energy to pump the water, but the proposal is quite serious and has precedent in Riverside California. If Successful, the program will provide a welcome boost to the city's energy supply for minimal costs.

Portland's Sick Day Battle Drags On

The politics regarding Portland's fight for a family inclusive sick day option has exposed a nasty face for local businesses opposed to the institution of the legislation. Reminiscent of the most scathing parodies of the political face of big business, residents in the city are being forced to buckle down for an even longer fight to share the right to take a sick day off in the same way as residents of almost 145 other countries around the globe.

Portland Students Make Art in Wake of Newton

There are few if any whom the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut did not reach, and middle school students in Portland, Oregon are no exception. Coming together in an effort to heal the incurable wounds inflicted that day, they have set about creating an outlet in art for their pent up emotions and as a means of reaching out in solidarity with their fellow students.

Electric Car Enthusiast Praises Portland Power

With Savings of nearly $1,500 a month and an environmentally friendly means of transportation to boot, the Portland area's public charging stations may be well worth the praise Dennis Harkema has given as it transforms the otherwise unfeasible vehicle into a cost cutting, tree-hugging dream come true.

Victims of Superstom Sandy Find New Home

Far and away from the roiling Atlantic, Portland has become the new home for two golden retrievers, refugees from the ravages of Superstorm Sandy. The two dogs, forcibly abandoned when their owner was rescued from flood-waters, are healthy and well, but looking for a new home well away from the east coast.

Portland Firefighter to Receive $50,000 amidst Controversy

The waters surrounding the affair are murky, but what is clear is that the City of Portland is maneuvering to pay – or avoid paying – the former firefighter Tom Hurley a sum of nearly $50,000 as part of compensation for issues arising from the firefighters employment status from April of 2007 to December of 2010. The City has been hesitant to pay, citing his service term as insufficient to qualify for benefits.

Microsoft and Apple Make Portland a Battleground

The tech giants Apple and Microsoft have chosen Portland, Oregon as their next field of battle, drawing up their battle lines with retail outlets literally inches apart. Speculation runs rampant as to which store will prevail, but many view Apple as the favorite to win in such a direct-to-user format in what is familiar territory for the Apple store.

Portland Puppy Reunited with Adopted Parents

After having their puppy stolen, the Belzer family thought they would never see their adopted puppy again. However, the thief returned the puppy himself and this Portland family was able to have their "Best Christmas ever," according to Lauren Belzer.

Minimum Wage Hike in Oregon Helps a Happy New Year

Come January 1st, 2013, residents making minimum wage in Portland (and the rest of Oregon) are going to get a little boost to their income, which should help ease those struggling to make it. While $26 a month might not sound like much money, it's enough to get a few more meals on tables and that's a tremendous thing.

Delectable Concoctions at Portland Restaurant

Just reading through this write-up about a Portland restaurant called Lincoln is making my mouth water. So much so that It's now on my list of restaurants I must eat at the next time I'm going through the Pacific Northwest (more often than you might think) and I'm definitely going to order a plate of this scrumptious-looking fettuccine.

Upstart Allows Per-Mile Auto Insurance in Oregon

Using a little device that plugs right into a car's diagnostic port (usually just below the steering wheel), a Portland based company is now allowing Oregonians to pay for their auto insurance at rates directly related to how much they actually drive. For telecommuters and people who carpool or use public transportation, this could be a great chance to save some cash, especially for this holiday season.

Oregon Zoo to Keep Unnamed Baby Elephant

Due to the unorthodox nature concerning animal care contracts, like the one between Have Trunk Will Travel and the Oregon Zoo, a currently unnamed elephant calf born last week in Portland will stay in the Oregon Zoo for the duration of its life. It's interesting seeing how the companies work with each other, which show a kindred love of animals and is quite refreshing compared to the way many regular businesses work.